newly engaged couple embrace with view of notre dame cathedral in paris

Surprise Proposal on Pont de la Tournelle in Paris

There is no more romantic city in the world for a marriage proposal than Paris, France. The city is filled with charming squares, monuments, incredible vistas, and oozes romance from every street corner. As a Paris surprise proposal photographer, I was thrilled to be contacted for a surprise marriage proposal photoshoot in the heart of Paris.

newly engaged couple embrace after surprise proposal in paris

Preparing a Surprise Proposal in Paris

Preparing to propose to the one you love in a foreign country can be daunting, especially if you don’t speak French. How will you find a Paris surprise proposal photographer to capture your special moment? Not only do I photograph surprise proposals in Paris, but I help each individual plan their proposal, from the best time of day to the most romantic location that suits each couple. As an American in Paris, English is my native language, so there are no communication issues, and I’ve lived in Paris for over a decade and know the city incredibly well, not only beautiful spots, but great spots for a surprise proposal. This is incredibly important, because not every location in Paris is ideal as a proposal spot.

A Special Trip from New York City to Paris

A whirlwind birthday celebration, New York to Paris, for a couple who know and love Paris. Philip contacted me about a surprise proposal for he and his love, Chloe. They met in law school, and were friends for a long time, but friendship bloomed into love.

man proposes to woman on pont de la tournelle in paris
newly engaged couple kiss after their engagement on the pont de la tournelle
woman puts her new engagement ring in paris france
newly engaged couple kiss passionately on the pont de la tournelle

Paris, a City of Love

Now, Philip was taking Chloe to Paris for her birthday, a city she adores, and he couldn’t wait to ask her to marry him in the City of Love. He had the perfect plan, he’d arranged for a very special dinner at the world famous Tour d’Argent, one of the most amazing restaurants in Paris. From the restaurant, they’d have a view of the charming Ile St Louis, and in the distance, Notre Dame Cathedral, still under heavy scaffolding to repair damage from the 2019 fire, but still beautiful to look at and consider its history and importance in the history of Paris.

newly engaged couple embrace right after their proposal in paris
woman embraces man after surprise proposal in paris with view of notre dame
newly engaged couple look at each other in paris
woman looks at new engagement ring in paris
newly engaged couple kiss after their surprise proposal with view of notre dame in paris
newly engaged couple embrace after surprise proposal in paris
newly engaged couple kiss passionately after their surprise proposal in paris
man lifts woman after engagement in paris with view of notre dame

A Unique Parisian View

Philips idea was to walk to the restaurant, not too far from their hotel, and on the way to the restaurant, he’d pull Chloe aside to admire the view and propose to her. We worked on a location together, and came up with the Pont de la Tournelle. This is the first time I’ve ever photographed a proposal on this bridge, most clients prefer a view of the Eiffel Tower. There is no view of the Eiffel Tower from this bridge, but there is a beautiful view of the back of Notre Dame Cathedral, as well as the river and beautiful buildings.

newly engaged couple embrace with view of charming paris neighborhood
newly engaged couple show off engagement ring in paris
newly engaged couple walk hand in hand in paris with view of notre dame cathedral
newly engaged couple beam at each other after their engagement in paris
newly engaged couple kiss passionately along the banks of the seine river in paris
newly engaged couple laugn along the seine river in paris

The nice thing about this bridge also, is that there are several spots, almost like little balconies, where you can pull off the bridge to get a view of Paris. I was waiting in one of these spots, Philip and Chloe approached me taking photos, of course she didn’t know who I was. She asked me if I minded taking a photo of the two of them with her cell phone, which was an easy request, so I photographed them with her phone, and gave it back to her.

Chloe had no idea what was going on, of course, so she walked away, but Philip pulled her back and got on one knee. She was really, truly surprised. Her energy and happiness was palpable, and it was a joy to photograph these moments. She was incredibly lovely, and I loved being around this couple and photographing their Paris love story.

We then walked around the island for a bit together, heading to the cobblestone streets along the Seine River, and then up into the neighborhood for some Paris Charm. We ended with a front view of Notre Dame, and I was incredibly happy to share in this couple’s joy!

Wishing Philip and Chloe an amazing life together and thank you for choosing me to capture your surprise proposal!

newly engaged couple embrace in the latin quarter in paris
newly engaged couple kiss passionately on charming street in paris
newly engaged couple enjoy cute paris neighborhood
newly engaged couple embrace and kiss in cute parisian neighborhood
newly engaged couple dance in paris
newly engaged couple walk hand in hand in latin quarter in paris
newly engaged couple smile and embrace with view of notre dame cathedral in paris
newly engaged couple embrace with view of notre dame cathedral in paris
passionate couple kissing at dusk with notre dame cathedral in paris

Karina Leigh Photography

If you’ve love to capture your surprise proposal in Paris with incredible photos to cherish forever, don’t hesitate to reach out! I’ll help you plan the proposal of your dreams!

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I adore capturing love stories in France! From the grandeur of the most romantic city on earth, Paris, to the colorful and lively seaside city of Nice, to the lavender fields and olive groves of charming Provence, France is filled with stunning beauty. To better understand my approach and my style, have a look at my work, by selecting a category below. Here, you'll get a better idea of how I can tell your love story, too!

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