A Surprise Proposal Vacation in the Smoky Mountains

A Surprise Proposal in the Smoky Mountains

When Justin reached out to me on Instagram, I had a feeling this was going to be something special. He wanted to propose during their vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee—and he had his heart set on April 22nd for the big moment. I checked my schedule immediately. I was available, and I couldn’t wait to help plan the surprise!

The First Message That Started It All

As soon as we locked in the date, planning was officially underway. Justin followed up with the sweetest email:

“Yeah, I’m definitely interested in Foothills! Thank you so much for the help by the way, I genuinely appreciate it. Is there an exact location or would I just GPS to Foothills? And how do you typically go about it, with it being a surprise and all?”

Of course, I already had a sneaky little plan in mind—and he loved the idea!

Planning a Nature-Filled Proposal

Justin told me he wanted the moment to feel peaceful and surrounded by nature. I gave him a few scenic options that would fit his vision. After going over the details together, we chose Foothills Parkway.

Why Foothills Parkway Was the Perfect Pick

Just a short drive from Pigeon Forge, Foothills Parkway checked every box: beautiful mountain views, easy access, and reliable cell service. That way, if anything unexpected popped up, we could still coordinate without a hitch.

The Sneaky Setup

The plan was simple but brilliant. I would arrive early and pretend to be just another tourist photographing the Smoky Mountains. Meanwhile, Justin and his girlfriend would set up their own cameras and tripods—they love vlogging, so this was totally natural for them.

Then, Justin would walk up to me and ask if I could snap a photo of them together. That’s when the real magic would start. I’d use a few little tricks to distract her and create just the right amount of confusion… and then boom! The perfect surprise proposal.

A Slight Delay (But Totally Worth It!)

They were late. Honestly, I was a little nervous! If you’re planning a proposal vacation, please try to be on time—especially for something this big! But I completely understood. They had just arrived in the Smokies that same day, and his girlfriend needed time to freshen up before their first dinner out.

Thankfully, we had cell service, and I could track their location. Everything was still on track.

She Said YES!

The second they arrived, they started setting up their cameras, just like we planned. I got into position, camera in hand. She had absolutely no idea what was about to happen.

Then it happened—he dropped to one knee and proposed with the ring of her dreams! Her reaction was everything. Sweet, emotional, and completely surprised. The moment was pure magic.

Final Thoughts

Justin’s proposal was everything a proposal vacation should be—beautiful, thoughtful, and surrounded by the kind of scenery that takes your breath away. If you’re planning to propose while on vacation, the Smoky Mountains and Foothills Parkway offer the perfect mix of romance and natural beauty. Just make sure to plan ahead, arrive on time, and trust your photographer to capture the moment you’ll never forget.