The second Regan realized Michael was proposing, she chucked her purse behind her onto the sand. π Not set it down. Not carefully place it somewhere. CHUCKED IT.
And honestly, that pretty much tells you everything you need to know about this Zota Beach Resort proposal on Longboat Key.
Michael had used his birthday as the perfect cover story for a getaway to Longboat Key, so Regan thought they were simply there celebrating him. Meanwhile, he and I had been planning the actual reason for the trip: he was going to ask his high school sweetheart to marry him on the beach at sunset.
A Surprise Proposal at Zota Beach Resort, Longboat Key
One of my favorite parts of photographing surprise proposals is helping with everything that happens before I ever pick up my camera.
Michael and I scouted the area ahead of time using Google Maps and chose a stretch of beach just south of Zota Beach Resort. We figured out where he and Regan would walk from, where I needed to be, and most importantly, where the light would be as the sun started to drop.
That kind of planning matters SO much with a surprise proposal. You don’t get to tell someone to move three feet to the left because the light is better once they’re already realizing they’re about to get engaged. π We want the moment to feel completely spontaneous to them while secretly having a whole little game plan happening behind the scenes.
When it was time, Michael and Regan walked south down the beach from Zota, right into that gorgeous Longboat Key golden-hour light.
And then Michael got down on one knee.
Cue the flying purse.
Regan’s reaction was EVERYTHING. No hesitation. No awareness of where that purse even landed. Just complete shock, excitement and pure freaking joy.
Those are the moments I live for as a proposal photographer because you can’t direct them. You can’t recreate them. They happen once, exactly as they are, and I get to freeze them forever.
Golden Hour Engagement Photos on Longboat Key
After the initial shock wore off β and we recovered the purse π β we spent the rest of golden hour celebrating and taking engagement photos along the beach.
And can we please talk about Regan’s yellow dress?!
Against the sand, water and warm sunset light, it was absolute perfection. Easily one of my favorite color moments I’ve photographed all year.
But what I loved even more was watching these two together.
Michael and Regan are high school sweethearts who have been together for what feels like forever, and you could see that history between them immediately. They weren’t afraid to laugh, move, be ridiculous together and just enjoy what had happened.
There was no forcing anything. They were just HAPPY.
Michael also described himself as a bit of a last-minute planner, which makes the fact that he pulled off this entire surprise even better. Between the birthday cover story, the Longboat Key getaway and a sunset proposal she genuinely didn’t see coming, I’d say he freaking nailed it.
Planning a Longboat Key Beach Proposal
If you’re thinking about proposing on Longboat Key, having a plan for the actual location makes a huge difference β especially if you’re staying at one of the resorts and need to get your person onto the beach without making anything feel suspicious.
For my proposal clients, I help figure out things like exactly where the proposal should happen, what time gives us the best light, which direction you’ll approach from and where I’ll be positioned so I’m not obviously standing there with two giant cameras waiting for you. π
The goal is for you to know exactly what you’re doing while your partner has absolutely no clue.
And once they say YES, we’re already standing in a beautiful location at the best time of day, so we can roll right into a mini engagement session while all of that adrenaline and excitement is still happening.
If you’re planning something similar, my Sarasota Proposal Guide walks through even more of what goes into planning and photographing a surprise proposal around Sarasota and the surrounding beaches.
Proposal Photography + Content Creation
Rachel of @contentbyrachr joined me for Michael and Regan’s proposal to capture behind-the-scenes video and social-ready content alongside my photography.
She’s one of my go-to collaborators, and content creation can be added to almost any proposal or session I photograph. You get the polished, timeless photographs from me plus the movement, reactions and little in-between moments on video β without having to choose between the two.
After we wrapped up on the beach, Michael and Regan headed off to celebrate their brand-new engagement with dinner at CW Prime at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort.
Basically: birthday trip successfully hijacked. Surprise successfully pulled off. High school sweethearts officially ENGAGED. π₯Ή
Michael + Regan, thank you for letting me be there for this one. The flying purse will live rent-free in my brain forever. π
Planning Your Own Longboat Key Proposal?
Whether you’re staying at Zota Beach Resort, planning a sunset beach proposal somewhere else on Longboat Key, or you have absolutely no idea where to start β that’s okay. Helping you figure out the logistics without ruining the surprise is part of the fun.
If you’re looking for a Longboat Key proposal photographer or planning a Sarasota beach proposal, reach out and let’s start scheming.
You bring the ring. I’ll help with the light, location and game plan.
And hopefully your person brings a purse they’re willing to sacrifice to the occasion. π
Dinner at The St. Regis
After the proposal, they celebrated with dinner at CW Prime at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, a gorgeous way to close out the night.
Congratulations again, Michael and Regan. This Zota Beach Resort proposal will always mark the start of your next chapter together. If you’re planning your own Sarasota beach proposal, I’d love to help you plan it.
