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She Popped the Question, He Said Yes! A Surprise Proposal at the Louvre Pyramids

A woman kneels while holding a ring, proposing to a man who stands smiling and looking down at her. This surprise proposal unfolds in front of the Louvre Museum with its iconic glass pyramids and iconic Parisian facades in the background. Both are dressed casually, the man in a blazer and jeans, and the woman in black leggings and a black dress.

Imagine this: you’re standing in front of the iconic Louvre Pyramids in Paris, with the love of your life by your side. You can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the beauty of the moment, knowing that this is something you will remember for the rest of your life.

Why? Because you’re about to propose!

For Alison and Brandon, this dream became a reality when Alison surprised Brandon with a proposal at the Louvre Pyramids. What a privilege for me to photograph her getting down on one knee!

This was such a meaningful proposal in so many ways. Though they had gotten engaged a year before, they hadn’t had the chance to do a big, romantic celebration of their engagement. So on the one-year anniversary of their original engagement, Alison decided to surprise Brandon with an engagement ring (and love-filled family heirloom) of his own. And what better place to do it than the romantic city of Paris?

Alison and Brandon are a couple who find the joy in every moment, no matter how big or small. They celebrate their monthly anniversary every month, and it’s no coincidence that the day Alison chose to propose was not only the anniversary of their original engagement, but also on the day of that monthly anniversary! And given how much they love traveling together, Paris was just the right place for her to pop the question.

We started the day as if it was just a regular couples’ photo shoot in Paris. Brandon had no idea it would turn into a surprise proposal later on!

I met them at Pont Alexandre III, a beautiful bridge in central Paris. Their makeup artist Joleen Emory came along for touchups, too, which was absolutely wonderful. We started off with some romantic photos of the two of them in the glow of early morning.

  • A couple holds each other close with their faces almost touching, silhouetted against the morning sun on Pont Alexandre III, with the Seine River in the background. The sky is tinged with soft, warm hues, creating a romantic ambiance.
  • A couple holding hands and walking on the beautiful Pont Alexandre III with large light posts and a golden statue in the background. Trees and the glass dome of the Grand Palais are visible behind them.
  • An Indian man wearing a navy blazer and a white woman in a black dress stand together on the ornate Pont Alexandre III. Ornate street lamps line the bridge in the background as they lean against the stone railing, sharing a moment of laughter and looking off into the distance.
  • A couple stands close together on Pont Alexandre III, smiling and looking into each other's eyes. The bridge features ornate stone and ironwork, with decorative lamps and carvings in the background.
  • A smiling couple holds hands while walking on the magnificent Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris. Lamp posts line the path, and a golden statue gleams in the background. The sky is clear, and trees gently rustle behind the bridge.

And we also took the time to stage a fun photo idea of Alison’s involving an umbrella and a bottle of Champagne!

  • A man stands on a ledge, pouring champagne from a bottle onto an orangey brown umbrella held by a woman in a black dress. She holds a champagne glass and smiles as the liquid cascades off the umbrella and into the glass.
  • A person in a black dress and black tights holds an umbrella in one hand and a champagne glass in front of it to catch the champagne pouring off the umbrella. Her partner stands behind her drinking the remainder of the champagne straight from the bottle. Behind them we can see some of the architecture of Pont Alexandre III.
  • Two people stand on stone steps at the edge of a bridge. On the left, a man in a blue blazer, blue jeans, and red shoes looks at the camera. On the right, a woman in a black dress holds an brown umbrella and a half-full champagne glass, smiling up at the man.

From there, we went to the Louvre, and that’s when Alison and I went into surprise proposal mode. We took a few “normal” romantic photos there first. Then, in front of the stunning glass pyramids, Alison got down on one knee. The rest is history! I felt so lucky to be the photographer capturing it all, from the way Brandon’s face lit up when he realized what was happening, to their celebration afterwards too!

  • A woman is kneeling for a surprise proposal to her partner in front of the Louvre Museum in Paris. He is turning around to face her and is just starting to realize what's happening. Both are dressed in casual yet stylish clothing, with the glass pyramids and historic architecture of the museum visible in the background.
  • A woman kneels for a surprise proposal in front of the Louvre Pyramid in Paris. Her partner has just turned around, and he looks surprised and excited with arms open wide. The glass and metal structure of two pyramids forms a striking backdrop, adding to the magic of the moment.
  • A woman in a black dress and leggings and a man in a blue blazer, jeans, and red shoes are sharing smiles during this meaningful moment in front of the modern glass Louvre pyramids. The woman has just finished proposing to the man, and puts an engagement ring on his hand.
A woman kneels while holding a ring, proposing to a man who stands smiling and looking at her. This surprise proposal unfolds in front of the Louvre Museum with its iconic glass pyramids in the background. Both are dressed casually, the man in a blazer and jeans, and the woman in black leggings and a long top.

After some more photos around the Louvre, we finished off in a nearby Parisian cafe. The newly-engaged couple ordered a cafe crème, an incredible hot chocolate, and croissants—of course croissants! And they toasted this new milestone in style.

  • A couple sits at an outdoor café table near the Louvre. The man on the left, wearing a blue blazer and patterned shirt, holds a coffee cup. The woman on the right, in a black blouse, has her elbow playfully on his shoulder, now that she has pulled off a surprise proposal for him. Croissants await on the table.
  • Close-up of two people sitting at a table in a cozy café, each holding a drink. One person has a cup of coffee, and the other has a whipped cream-topped hot chocolate drink. On the table are two croissants. They are both wearing engagement rings after the surprise proposal that she carefully planned.
  • A man and a woman sit at a small round table outside a cozy Paris café, enjoying croissants and hot drinks. They clink glasses in a toast following the woman proposing to her soon-to-be-husband.
  • A man and a woman pose on a Paris street holding croissants at the end of their photoshoot. Their vibe is a little bit serious, a little bit "too cool for school."
  • A top-down view shows two hands resting on a Parisian cafe table. One person holds a cup of coffee, while the other holds a hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, with two croissants on a floral plate waiting to be eaten. There is an engagement ring on the hand of each partner.

Alison and Brandon’s love for traveling and celebrating every moment in their relationship was so evident throughout our photo session together. They were completely at ease with each other, laughing and joking as if they were the only two people in the world. And the moment that she proposed could not have been more full of love! I felt so lucky to witness and photograph these moments for them.

This amazing couple recently tied the knot in Canada, and it has been such a joy for me to see their journey continue from afar! A huge congratulations to you both!!

Psst! Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase an item, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting my work!

Vendors & Credits from this Paris Photo Session:

Photographer: Paige Gribb Photography (more info on my couples’ photography here!)

Locations: Paris, France! Pont Alexandre III, Louvre Pyramids, Parisian Cafe

Hair & Makeup: Joleen Emory

Extras: Mini Bottle of Veuve Clicquot

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