When it’s time for that special moment, you want your loved ones near. For some, getting down on one knee for the big question is a family affair. To mark this major moment, it only makes sense to bring the kids along! Find the many marriage proposal ideas we can use to include your family!
Why It’s Better When The Entire Family Is There
While planning a marriage proposal with young children is absolutely possible, it does require a little more preparations. I have found that the best route is to stage the surprise proposal like it’s a family photoshoot. It feels natural, and gives us the flexibility to move people around without raising suspicion. Because children have limited attention spans, these sessions simply require a little extra flexibility!
Here’s my Guide for Family Photo Sessions at the Grand Canyon!
Once everyone has settled into your Grand Canyon photography session, we photograph the family first while everyone is fresh, excited and engaged. As attention spans begin to disappear (which is completely normal), that’s usually the perfect time to create a natural separation.
My assistant can keep the children entertained by quietly taking them nearby to play. I can then focus on photographing intimate portraits between the two of you. That’s when the proposal happens! Afterwards, everyone reunites to celebrate together and we continue with family photographs.
How We Pull It Off: Meet Your Surprise Proposal Photography Team
What makes the greatest difference for your session is the inclusion of my photo assistant. Sarah Kay isn’t just present to watch the children, she is also a part of my photography team supporting me as I capture the best shots! Here’s how she assists in the success of bringing these marriage proposal ideas to life:
- Keeps children happy and entertained.
- Moves children in and out of photos when appropriate.
- Keeps little ones safe near the canyon rim.
- Helps redirect attention when children are finished taking photos.
- Supports the proposal remaining a complete surprise!
See my entire guide on How To Plan a Grand Canyon Proposal
Without another adult available, it becomes incredibly difficult to safely manage young children while also guaranteeing your surprise proposal photos. Having support frees me up to provide my best as your Grand Canyon proposal photographer while everyone remains safe and happy.
If there’s an older child involved, we can sometimes make it work without an assistant, but every situation is different and we’ll talk through what makes the most sense for your family.
Supply Checklist to Make Everything Easier
I recommend arriving with a bag already packed with everything your children might need:
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Favorite toys
- Extra diapers
- Wipes
- Band-Aids
- Sunscreen
- Jackets
- We also provide small activity kits designed to both entertain children and photograph beautifully.
If a child completely reaches their limit with the weather, the excitement, or simply being photographed, some parents will allow Sarah Kay to return with them to the car. There they can cool down, have a snack, or relax while we finish capturing your session.
How to Incorporate Kids Into Your Marriage Proposal Ideas
Sometimes, the proposal isn’t just to your partner. I have photographed proposals where the one proposing also surprises their partner’s child with a meaningful gift. This gift can be a necklace to symbolize becoming a family together. Those moments are incredibly emotional and deserve the time they need.
When children are old enough to understand what’s happening, they often become an important part of the story rather than simply being present for it. We may want to photograph their reaction to the proposal, give them a special moment of their own, or simply allow everyone the time to slow down and enjoy officially becoming a family together.
Every family is different, and we’re always happy to help come up with creative marriage proposal ideas for including children based on their ages and personalities. Maybe they can help discover the ring, present a flower or another meaningful gift, or become a part of the proposal itself. When children are part of the proposal, there’s so much that we can do!
The Part With Just The Two of You
These couples portraits are just as important as the proposal itself. While including your children creates incredibly meaningful memories, it’s equally valuable to make time for photographs of the two of you celebrating this milestone together.
By the end of the session, you’ll have a gallery that tells the complete story: from family portraits, to the proposal itself, to your children’s reactions, and quiet moments together as a newly-engaged couple.
What Your Grand Canyon Proposal Package Looks Like
Any proposal session that includes children, extended family, or additional guests requires my 1.5 hours proposal session package. This gives us the extra time so everyone has room to breathe instead of feeling rushed.
Here is what your package includes:
- Sunrise or sunset session
- Top secret locations
- Flawless surprise plan using my local expertise
- Family photography session
- Time for celebrating afterwards
- Beautiful couples portraits
- Guaranteed 30-day photo gallery turnaround
- High-res downloads of all edited images
If children are old enough to actively participate in the proposal, or you’re planning something more elaborate than a traditional surprise proposal, then we may require an even longer session. Every family is unique, and we’ll build a timeline that gives these marriage proposal ideas the time that they deserve!
Larger Family Groups
Some couples will even follow the proposal with a larger family reunion or gathering as part of the engagement celebration. These sessions also require my 1.5 hours proposal session package as a minimum with the possibility of additional add-ons depending upon the event size. In many cases, I recommend bringing my assistant along even when there aren’t young children involved.
Depending on what you’re envisioning, we can provide the following event inclusions:
- Assistant to organize and guide family members
- Champagne or sparkling cider
- Charcuterie boards
- Cake pops or desserts
- Plates, napkins, utensils, and cleanup
While everyone is celebrating together, I can quietly steal the newly-engaged couple away for intimate portraits before bringing everyone back together again. Those few minutes make a tremendous difference in creating relaxed photographs without making family members feel like they’re simply waiting around.
Because this becomes more of an event than simply a proposal, it’s nice to build in a little time for everyone to slow down. Sharing food, celebrating together, hugging, laughing, and taking family photographs all become part of the experience while giving the couple a chance to slip away for a few quiet portraits together.
Whatever you’re imagining, we’ll help create a plan that feels natural and meaningful for your family!
Vendors
Elopement Destination | Grand Canyon National Park
Photographer | Terri Attridge Photography
Assistant | Sarah Kay
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