Surprise Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Proposal | A Queer Love Story
Introduction
When Sonya first reached out to me to help her plan her Hawaii Volcanoes National Park proposal to her partner Bryce, I literally screeched. These two were exactly my type of people – reverent toward nature, wanting something out of the ordinary, and strong women. Sonya & Bryce were already planning to be in Oahu to visit with family, but added a few extra days to their trip because they knew they wanted to experience Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. And little did Bryce know, Sonya had the ultimate surprise planned for her – a surprise proposal in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
If you’ve already proposed and want to learn more about eloping in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you can read my full guide here: How to Elope in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The Couple: Sonya & Bryce
I could gush over this couple all day long. They are two beautiful, smart, funny women who met while in the army and have started to build their life together. During the course of dating, they both agreed that they would propose to each other and that Sonya would be the first to propose. They agreed to consult each other about the rings (If you’re going to wear this piece of jewelry for life you want to love it – am I right??) but that the actual proposals would be a surprise.
Sonya knew that she wanted to propose to Bryce while in Hawaii, and she fell in love with the look and feel of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as they were researching places to stay. She loved it so much that they added a 3 day detour from Oahu to come to the park. And when she found their Airbnb, she knew that she wanted to propose there and then go into the park for engagement photos.
When Sonya reached out to me, she not only wanted a Hawaii proposal photographer who can handle the stress and fast pace of proposals. She also wanted someone who could help her plan her Big Island proposal from the east coast of the US and help her think through all of the details of the proposal and their time spent in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. And those are things I can always deliver on.
As of writing this post, Bryce is planning her proposal to Sonya, but they have already started talking about wedding plans!
The Perfect Proposal Location: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
What I love about this proposal & engagement session is that Sonya and I talked numerous times about all the best options for a timeline and locations. She considered every possible option and made choices that she thought Bryce would like best (and spoiler – Bryce loved everything Sonya had planned).
We started with the actual proposal. Sonya knew that she and Bryce would definitely want something very private. And as large as the park is, there is no way to fully guarantee a private proposal in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Especially during the week between Christmas and New Year, when Sonya planned the proposal. Plus Sonya loved the aesthetics of the Airbnb she booked for their stay. So we decided that the best course of action was for the proposal to happen there as soon as they arrived on the Big Island from Oahu. This presented a few challenges that we were able to work through.
- Clothes – Sonya wanted both her and Bryce to be dressed nicely for the actual proposal, so she came up with a ruse to justify wearing those clothes on the short flight over from Oahu.
- Decor – Sonya had also created some decor and purchased lots of flameless candles, florals & vases that she had a specific vision for. She shipped all of those things to me just before they left for their Hawaii trip. I kept those things and coordinated with the airbnb host to get into the house before Sonya & Bryce would arrive so I could set up all the decor ahead of time. It was a mad dash to get everything unloaded and set up, but I was able to make it happen just in time!
After the proposal, Sonya & Bryce celebrated with a beautiful meal in Hilo. They were joined at the restaurant by her sister and boyfriend (who they were visiting in Oahu). During the proposal planning process, I created a spreadsheet with options for dining that could easily be sorted by distance from their airbnb. I also prioritized restaurants with gluten free options to better meet their dietary needs.
And because Sonya loved the look and feel of Volcanoes National Park so much, we knew that we had to include a photo session in the park during their 3-day stay. When we looked at their timeline, it just made the most sense for them to do that shoot the morning after the actual proposal. Sonya knew that they would be so excited after she actually proposed and would want to just celebrate with each other and their family.
So, the next morning, we got up early and went into the park, starting at the end of Chain of Craters Road to take epic portraits on the cliffs overlooking the ocean & on the giant lava flows. We wanted to start there so we could take advantage of the early morning light and bright blue skies. Starting there early meant we did not see a single other person until after we finished taking photos and started driving back up towards Kilauea Iki Trail.
We then worked our way back up towards Kilauea Iki Trail, so we could also get some cool shots of them in the fern forest and with Kilauea smoking in the background. Getting to the trail a little bit later in the morning meant we would have more light filtering through the trees, to get that beautiful dappled light that Sonya loved. This area of the park is very easily accessible with limited parking, so can be challenging to access during peak times of year and during the day.
My full guide to eloping in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park includes everything you need to know about different locations in the park you can consider for your proposal
A Gorgeous AirBnB for Proposals near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The outfits
Like I mentioned before, Sonya created a ruse that would ensure she and her partner Bryce were dressed up during their flight from Oahu to Hilo. She wore a really simple white dress and Bryce wore a stylish shirt and pant combo that were perfect for popping the question and celebrating with a nice meal afterwards.
During their engagement session in Volcanoes National Park, the couple opted for a coordinating green outfit to “pop” against the dramatic lava flows and cliffs at the end of Chain of Craters Road. Their green outfits looked perfect in the fern forest while we were on the Kilauea Iki trail, too.
After their session in the park, we returned to the airbnb so they could have breakfast (loving prepared by Sonya’s sister and boyfriend) and then we took advantage of the giant tub on the lanai! Sonya & Bryce got into bathing suits for some romantic portraits in the outdoor bubble bath.
Bonus: The Ring
Sonya & Bryce worked together to design her ring. They decided on this style because Bryce is extremely active and the low profile suits her lifestyle. She also loves green, so the green sapphire is perfect for the ring she’ll wear every day!
A Unique, Non-Beach Hawaii Proposal
Sonya & Bryce aren’t big beach people, which made Volcanoes National Park the perfect location for their proposal and engagement session. They were able to get some photos near the ocean at the end of Chain of Craters Road without getting sand in their shoes. IYKYK!
For the actual proposal, Sonya had a vision of a candlelit & flower-lined staircase leading up to the lanai, where more candles and custom made Mexican shot glasses with tequila and lime would be waiting for them! Sonya and I spent a good deal of time on Facetime and email planning the details and coordinating getting those supplies from her (on the east coast of the US) to me in Hawaii. On the day of the proposal, I arrived at the airbnb before Sonya & Bryce to set up the candles, flowers, shot glasses, and a bonus charcuterie board with gluten free options. The vision for one of the floral arrangements wasn’t possible because of slight changes to the airbnb from the photos, but I was able to improvise and use the floral arrangements elsewhere.
Surprise Proposal Set Up in Hawaii
The best part of this proposal and engagement session was that it was relaxed! Sonya and I spent a great deal of time ahead of their trip to Hawaii planning every detail meticulously, so when they actually got here and she popped the question, they could really take their time to enjoy those fresh few moments of being engaged.
As I mentioned before, Sonya had a very specific vision for the proposal set up. So we spent plenty of time planning and coordinating all of the details, including shipping the candles, vases, and faux florals to me. Sonya created a beautiful floral hoop at the last minute and traveled all the way to Hawaii with it because it wouldn’t have shipped on time. So I coordinated with her sister (who they were traveling with) to meet her in a parking lot to collect the hoop. I then hurried off to the airbnb to complete the setup of all the decor, as discussed while Sonya, Bryce, and their family spent time exploring Hilo.
Sonya & Bryce love Mexico and tequila, so a super special detail that Sonya included were these handmade shot glasses from Mexico and a bottle of chilled Patron (with salt & lime, of course!). After they had a few moments to cry together, they invited Sonya’s sister and boyfriend to join them for a celebratory tequila shot! Sonya was so thoughtful, she even had a shot glass made for me so that I could celebrate with them, too.
There was no set up required for their engagement photo shoot in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park the next morning. Sonya and I had discussed during the planning phase which locations in the park would be ideal for her and Bryce, so I planned a morning timeline for us that started with driving to the End of Chain of Craters Road first for epic cliff side and lava field photos. We ended the morning in the park with an easy hike along a short portion of the Kilauea Iki Trail for beautiful fern forest engagement photos. If you’re looking for more ideas on locations like these, I break down the best spots in my guide to eloping in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Proposal Trip Itinerary
Sonya & Bryce knew they wanted to spend some time on the Big Island of Hawaii, even if that meant flying over from Oahu in the middle of their trip. They were so drawn to the look and feel of the forest surrounding Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and of course wanted to experience that national park as well. As they started planning their Hawaii Volcanoes National Park proposal, it felt like the perfect opportunity to slow down and really take in this part of the island. So, they flew into Hilo and rented a car to drive the 40 minutes to their Airbnb in Volcano Village, just outside the park entrance.
On day one, they got to explore Hilo while they waited to check into the Airbnb/while I finished setting up for the proposal. On day two of their trip, we spent the morning together exploring the park and taking epic photos to celebrate their engagement. They returned to the park with their family later in the afternoon. And on day three of their trip, they spent a bit more time exploring Hilo before returning their rental car and heading back to Oahu.
Reviews from Sonya & Bryce
Brianna made it possible for me to plan the perfect surprise proposal in Hawaii while living on the East Coast. Her professionalism, communication, and skill made it easy to trust her with such an important moment.
Throughout the planning process Brianna was responsive, organized, and detail-oriented. I had a clear idea of what I wanted and she was truly invested in bringing my vision to life. Brianna took careful notes during our conversations and thought of everything from a customized playlist to a beautiful charcuterie board snack. She considered timing, lighting, and location. Every plan had a backup, nothing was left to chance, and she executed every detail flawlessly.
Beyond her planning, Brianna’s photography is outstanding. My partner and I are usually awkward in photos, but she made us feel completely comfortable and natural. Her artistic vision is beautiful, and the photos show our joy and the beauty of Hawaii.
Brianna’s work is truly exceptional, and her passion for love and life’s special moments shines through in everything she does.
-Sonya
We could not have asked for a better engagement photographer! She was incredibly sweet, attentive, and genuinely invested in making us feel comfortable the entire time. From start to finish, she went so far above and beyond just taking photos — she helped with setup, planning, and all the little details that made the experience seamless. Especially being the one that was proposed to, I had no idea what was going on behind the scenes until afterward!
Since we’re not from Hawaii, she used her knowledge of the area and found the BEST spots to get photos. She also gave a little bit of a guided tour while we were there! Additionally, she coordinated secret meetups and timing perfectly to make sure the proposal stayed a complete surprise.
On top of all that, the sneak peek photos were absolutely gorgeous — we were blown away by how beautiful they turned out. We’re so grateful for her hard work, professionalism, and kindness, and we can’t recommend her enough! We cannot wait to get the final pictures back!
-Bryce
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