A Surprise Proposal at Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs
When Layton first reached out to me about photographing his surprise proposal, he already had a pretty good idea of where he wanted it to happen.
He had found a Reel on my Instagram from an elopement I photographed at Glen Eyrie Castle and loved that the photos didn't really look like Colorado. Or even the United States. The castle felt European and elegant, and that last part mattered most to him because elegance felt like his soon-to-be fiancé, Jackie.
Before I knew much else about the two of them, I knew that he really wanted to get this right for her.
And after hearing their story, I understood why.
Layton and Jackie actually went to the same high school, although they didn't date then. In his words, he was the nerdy kid, and she was relatively popular. It wasn't until after high school, when they ended up working at the same place, that he finally worked up the courage to ask her on a date.
Years later, he was planning to ask her a much bigger question.
Planning a Surprise Proposal at Glen Eyrie Castle
Layton and Jackie were coming from Florida and making a road trip out of their time in Colorado, with stops in Vail and the Maroon Bells before arriving in Colorado Springs.
Which meant Layton had another challenge: he was secretly planning a proposal in a city he didn't know particularly well.
That's where I came in.
About a week before their proposal, I went to Glen Eyrie to scout everything myself. And because their proposal was going to happen at 10 a.m., I specifically went around the same time of day.
Ten o'clock on a sunny Colorado morning isn't necessarily the light I would choose if I were planning a regular portrait session. It's bright. It's direct. There are shadows to think about.
But a surprise proposal isn't just a photo shoot. The moment comes first.
So rather than wishing for different light, I wanted to know exactly what the light would be doing when they were actually there.
I walked the grounds looking for the spot where Layton could get down on one knee with the entire castle behind them. I figured out where I could position myself to capture Jackie's reaction without immediately giving myself away. And I walked around looking for pockets of better light and different backgrounds we could use for their engagement photos afterward.
The castle. The gardens. The fountain. The benches. The flowers.
I wanted the proposal itself figured out, but I also wanted us to have somewhere to go once she said yes.
There were logistics, too. I coordinated with Glen Eyrie beforehand, arranged access to the property, and took care of what I needed so there wouldn't be anything for Layton to figure out that morning.
Then I sent him videos.
Where to park. Where to walk. Where to bring Jackie. Exactly where I wanted him to stop.
When you're secretly planning a proposal from Florida, "meet me somewhere on the lawn in front of the castle" isn't particularly helpful.
I wanted him to know exactly what to do.
The Morning of the Proposal
Friday morning was warm, sunny and very bright.
Layton had told Jackie they were going to tea at the castle, and she showed up in a yellow sundress having absolutely no idea I was waiting nearby.
Well, hiding might be a generous description.
There aren't exactly crowds of tourists to disappear into at Glen Eyrie, so I was attempting to look inconspicuous behind the trees with Meta glasses on and a camera around my neck.
Very subtle. 🤣
My bigger concern was finding the balance between being close enough to capture the exact second Layton got down on one knee and far enough away that I wasn't suddenly in Jackie's face during one of the biggest moments of their lives.
I wanted them to have their moment first.
As they walked toward the castle, I stayed behind them. Jackie never noticed me.
And then my heart started RACING.
I was genuinely surprised by how nervous I was. My blood was pumping like I was the one about to propose. There are certain moments you can redo during a photo session.
This isn't one of them.
Layton, meanwhile, seemed completely cool, calm and collected.
He got down on one knee.
Jackie turned around.
And immediately, both of her hands went to her face.
She cried. She looked at him. She looked at the ring. And for a little while, she didn't even realize I was there photographing everything.
Exactly what I'd hoped for.
She'd actually suspected Layton might propose at some point during their Colorado trip. Earlier in their road trip, she thought Vail might be the place. When that came and went without a proposal, she wasn't expecting it anymore.
So three days into Colorado, standing in front of a castle, he genuinely surprised her.
And somehow, despite the fact that they'd never even gone ring shopping together, the ring fit perfectly.
From Surprise Proposal to Engagement Photos
Once the secret was officially out, I could finally come out of hiding.
I introduced myself to Jackie, gave them both hugs, congratulated them, and let everybody's nerves shake out for a minute.
Mostly, we let Jackie stare at her new ring. (And me, I couldn’t stop looking at it!)
Then I took their phones, sunglasses, coat, keys, and everything else they had been carrying and stuffed it all into my backpack. They didn't need to worry about any of it.
For the next hour, their only job was to be newly engaged.
We walked around the Glen Eyrie grounds together, stopping anywhere that felt beautiful. I photographed them around the castle, near the flowers and fountain, and in the little places I'd found while scouting earlier in the week.
And somewhere along the way, Jackie said she felt like Belle from Beauty and the Beast.
Layton had chosen Glen Eyrie because he wanted to give her something elegant and almost European. Then, standing there after he proposed, Jackie told us she felt like she was in a fairy tale.
I'd say he chose well.
Why Glen Eyrie Is Such a Special Place to Propose in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs has no shortage of beautiful places to propose, especially if you're coming here for the mountains.
But Glen Eyrie gives you something completely different.
It's tucked away right next to Garden of the Gods, but once you're on the property, it doesn't feel like you're in the middle of Colorado Springs at all. The castle, stonework, gardens, and surrounding grounds give photographs an entirely different feeling from the mountain-and-red-rock scenery Colorado Springs is known for.
It's also a private property, which means a little more planning is involved. Professional photography requires advance approval and a photography permit, currently priced at $150 per hour. Photography permits cover the outdoor grounds rather than access inside the castle.
For a surprise proposal, though, I think the extra planning is well worth it.
Especially when your person wants to feel like Belle on one of the most memorable days of her life.
Planning a Surprise Proposal in Colorado Springs?
If you're coming to Colorado Springs and know you want to propose here but have absolutely no idea where to start, that's okay.
You don't need to know which location will have the best view. You don't need to know what the light will be doing at a certain time of day, whether you need a permit, where you should park, or exactly where you should stand.
That’s why you hire me.
I'll help you choose a location that feels like the two of you, scout the perfect location, work through the logistics, and make a plan for how it's all going to happen.
And when the moment finally comes, I'll be somewhere nearby trying to look very inconspicuous with a camera around my neck.
You just have to ask the question and then begin the rest of your forever together.
If you're planning a surprise proposal in Colorado Springs, whether you're local or visiting Colorado for the first time, I'd love to help you plan it and photograph the exact moment she says yes and all of the beauty afterwards.
