Katie + Jake | Boulder Engagement Proposal | St. Julien Hotel

Happy May friends! I am currently recovering from a spinal fusion, so I will be spending the majority of this month in bed. I am sure I will get caught up on all of my editing and blogging in no time. My first post in the new month is a really fun one. Jake hired me about three months before his Boulder engagement proposal at the St. Julien Hotel. We corresponded a fair amount figuring out the logistics for this surprise proposal. I am so impressed with his amazing planning everything turned out incredible, and she enthusiastically accepted.

Jake had planned a “staycation” for these two in Boulder. Katie spent some time at the spa, and they planned to also meet some family for brunch. On the way out for “brunch” he led her out back, under the gazebo, where I was waiting for them! Jake had things decorated so beautifully. I was seriously so impressed, most guys couldn’t have pulled this all off. He had tables filled with framed photos throughout their relationship, some glasses and a bottle of champagne. The colorful floral arches of fresh flowers were incredible! They even included Katie’s favorite flowers. The backdrop couldn’t have been any more perfect. There had been a snow storm the day before, so the gazebo was pretty drippy, but it didn’t damper anyone’s mood.

After Jake read some sweet words to Katie from his phone, he got down on his knee and presented her with a jaw-dropping ring in a beautiful velvet ring box. After she said yes, and a lot of hugs and kisses, they enjoyed some champagne together. Then I took some engagement style photos for them. I love the juxtaposition of the colorful spring flowers and the dusting of the snow on the ground. A true representation of spring in Colorado. Now, if this wasn’t a big enough surprise for Katie, Jake had another big one up his sleeve. I thanked them and wished them well with their wedding planning journey. Then I gave some hugs and left the hotel. But really I walked a few blocks away to the restaurant Jungle, where about 50 of their loved ones were waiting.

The surprise engagement party was also a huge success! Jake planned the menu, had a few floral centerpieces created. There were also several wedding themed balloons decorating the room. There was a little miscommunication between Jake and his mom, the guests didn’t end up hiding in time. But it still worked out just fine, and Katie was super surprised. I did document a little over an hour at Jungle. Since that was almost entirely candids, guests eating and drinking, and talking, I decided to just share the actual proposal for this post.

This is definitely one of my favorites from Jake & Katie’s Boulder engagement proposal. I just love all of the color in this scene…the spring flowers and blossoming trees, the blue of the mountains, and all the greenery around. All these colors looked great against the white snow and the gazebo.

Jake, I can’t thank you enough for trusting me to capture such an important day in your lives. It was so wonderful working with you both, and I really hope to be your future wedding photographer as well 🙂 This was such an awesome event, so I have no doubt your wedding day will be incredible! Next on the blog, Rylee’s college cap and gown senior session at CSU. I cannot believe it’s already been four years since I captured her high school graduation portraits. Sheesh, time flies!

I have to admit that proposals do still make me a little nervous. I haven’t done all that many of them still, and they are fairly unpredictable. Thankfully all of the ones I have done have turned out wonderfully! For another really well planned, beautiful proposal check out Maung and Mun’s Denver Clocktower session HERE.