Last-Minute Marine Proposal at La Jolla Gliderport | Ami & Nahomy's Surprise Engagement Story
Some of our favorite proposal stories begin with a simple message.
On the late afternoon of May 19th, we received an inquiry from Ashley. Her son, Ami, a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, had decided he wanted to propose to his girlfriend, Nahomy, during her upcoming visit from Texas. The proposal was only four days away, scheduled for May 23rd in San Diego.
With such a short timeline, there wasn't much room for overthinking.
Stephanie and I immediately jumped on a call with Ashley to start planning.
We shared examples from previous surprise proposals, discussed different lighting options throughout the day, reviewed several proposal locations throughout San Diego, and began building a game plan that would fit Ami and Nahomy's story.
After discussing several possibilities, we all agreed on one location that never disappoints: La Jolla Gliderport.
Perched high above the Pacific Ocean, the Gliderport offers sweeping coastal views, dramatic cliffs, and some of the most beautiful sunsets in Southern California. It felt like the perfect backdrop for a proposal.
For Ashley, planning everything from hundreds of miles away wasn't easy.
She was trusting two photographers she had never met, in a city she wasn't familiar with, to help pull off one of the most important moments in her son's life.
That trust is something we never take lightly.
Whether a proposal is planned a year in advance or only a few days before, every client who reaches out is placing an incredible amount of faith in us, and we feel a responsibility to deliver.
As the planning continued, Stephanie and I wanted to make this proposal even more meaningful.
The day before the proposal, we drove to La Jolla Gliderport to scout the location.
We walked the cliffs, studied the lighting, watched how the crowds moved through the area, and searched for the perfect place to create something special.
That's when we found it.
Tucked along the coastline was an ideal spot for our Signature Yes setup, complete with our arch, florals, candles, and rose petals overlooking the Pacific.
The idea felt right immediately.
As a small gesture of appreciation for the men and women who serve our country, we wanted to gift the setup to Ami and Nahomy.
The Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis — "Always Faithful" — represents loyalty, commitment, and devotion. As we thought about Ami preparing to ask Nahomy to spend the rest of his life with him, the meaning couldn't have felt more fitting.
We shared the idea with Ashley.
She loved it.
The plan was set.
The morning of the proposal, we were already in San Diego photographing another surprise proposal. Once that session wrapped up, we headed straight to La Jolla to secure the location and begin setting up.
As the afternoon turned into evening, the Pacific Ocean glowed beneath the cliffs while we added the final touches to the setup.
Then we saw them.
Ami and Nahomy slowly made their way toward the overlook.
Before a single word was spoken, Nahomy immediately noticed the setup.
The surprise on her face said everything.
As she approached the arch overlooking the ocean, surrounded by flowers, candles, and the sound of waves crashing below, Ami got down on one knee and asked the question he had traveled, planned, and prepared for.
Without hesitation, she said yes.
The moment was emotional, genuine, and exactly what a proposal should be.
After giving them a few moments to soak everything in, we captured the celebration that followed—laughter, happy tears, hugs, and the excitement that comes from starting a new chapter together.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, we finished the evening with a short engagement session around the cliffs of La Jolla Gliderport, making the most of the final golden light before it disappeared behind the Pacific.
Looking back, it's hard to believe this entire proposal came together in only four days.
But sometimes the best stories aren't the ones planned for months.
Sometimes they're built on trust, a little creativity, a lot of teamwork, and people coming together to make something unforgettable happen.
Ashley trusted us.
Ami trusted us.
And we're grateful we were able to play a small role in helping tell their story.
From military deployments and long-distance relationships to cross-country flights and weekend visits, we've helped couples turn limited time together into unforgettable proposal stories. If you're planning a surprise proposal in San Diego, La Jolla, or anywhere along the Southern California coast, we'll help you find the perfect location, create a seamless plan, and capture the moment your next chapter begins.
Choose Your Proposal Experience
Why La Jolla Gliderport Is One of the Best Places to Propose in San Diego
If you're searching for the best proposal locations in San Diego, La Jolla Gliderport consistently ranks near the top of our list.
With panoramic ocean views, colorful sunsets, soaring paragliders, dramatic coastal cliffs, and easy access to nearby beaches and trails, it's one of the most versatile locations for surprise proposals, engagement photos, and couples sessions.
Whether you're planning something simple and intimate or a fully decorated proposal experience with family and friends nearby, the Gliderport offers an unforgettable backdrop for one of life's biggest moments.
More La Jolla Proposal Stories
Thinking about proposing in La Jolla? You're not alone. Between the ocean views, dramatic cliffs, golden sunsets, and endless scenic overlooks, it's one of our favorite places to photograph surprise proposals in Southern California.
Here are a few other La Jolla proposal stories that may help inspire your own:
A Surprise Proposal at La Jolla Gliderport: When Last Minute Becomes Meant to Be
Another proposal that came together on a short timeline, proving that some of the best moments aren't planned months in advance.
A Last-Minute Pivot That Led to a Perfect Yes | Surprise Proposal at the La Jolla Coastal Trail
When plans changed unexpectedly, our clients trusted the process and ended up with one of the most beautiful proposal experiences imaginable overlooking the Pacific.
Surprise Proposal Photographer San Diego | A Bluffside Yes at La Jolla Cove
A stunning proposal overlooking the coastline at one of San Diego's most iconic locations, followed by an unforgettable engagement session along the cliffs.
Each proposal is different, but they all share one thing in common: a moment that changes two lives forever. Whether you're planning months ahead or only have a few days, La Jolla offers some of the most breathtaking proposal locations in California.
Planning a Surprise Proposal in La Jolla or San Diego?
Whether you're planning months ahead or only have a few days to pull everything together, we help couples create and capture unforgettable proposal experiences throughout La Jolla, Sunset Cliffs, Balboa Park, Coronado, Del Mar, and across Southern California.
From location recommendations and timelines to photography, proposal planning, decor setups, and day-of coordination, we're here to help make sure your moment unfolds exactly the way you've imagined.
Because sometimes the best proposals happen at the very last minute.
Ready to start planning? Contact Last Minute Photoshoot and let's create a proposal story you'll never forget.
