Five Days to Plan a Laguna Beach Yes | Miguel & Jocelyn’s Crescent Bay Proposal
Miguel reached out to Last Minute Photoshoot on July 3 after his original proposal photographer canceled just five days before he planned to propose to Jocelyn. Flying in from South Carolina, he knew he wanted Laguna Beach because one of their first dates had taken place there, but he needed help choosing the perfect location and bringing everything together. Within an hour, we were planning his surprise proposal at Crescent Bay Point Park, complete with our Signature Yes floral arch setup, music, family coordination, an exact GPS pin and a detailed timeline. On July 8, Miguel and Jocelyn walked toward the arch overlooking the Laguna Beach coastline, a violin version of “If I Lose Myself” began playing, Miguel got down on one knee and Jocelyn said yes. We spent the next hour capturing their engagement photos at sunset.
Newly engaged Miguel and Jocelyn share a romantic kiss after their surprise proposal at Crescent Bay Point Park overlooking the Laguna Beach coastline.
Some couples choose Laguna Beach because of the sunsets.
Some choose it because of the coastline.
For Miguel, it was more personal.
One of his first dates with Jocelyn had been in Laguna Beach.
So when he decided this was where he wanted to ask her to marry him, the location already had a piece of their story attached to it.
There was just one problem.
Five days before the proposal, Miguel suddenly didn't have a photographer.
When Miguel reached out after his original photographer canceled, there wasn't time to overthink everything. There was a proposal to save. Within days, we helped turn an unexpected cancellation into a fully planned surprise proposal at Crescent Bay Park. From choosing the location and building the timeline to sending the exact GPS pin, coordinating the surprise, and arriving early to scout the conditions, our job was to remove the uncertainty so Miguel could focus on Jocelyn—and the question he came to Laguna Beach to ask.
If your proposal is only days away, don't assume you're too late. Sometimes all you need is the right plan and a team willing to jump in with you.
Plan Your Laguna Beach Proposal
A July 3rd Message From South Carolina
On July 3, Miguel reached out to Last Minute Photoshoot through one of our website submission forms.
His message explained the situation pretty quickly.
He was flying into Southern California from South Carolina and wanted to propose to his then-girlfriend, Jocelyn, on July 8.
He knew it was last minute.
His original photographer had canceled on him the night before he reached out to us.
Now he needed someone who could not only photograph the proposal, but help him figure out where in Laguna Beach to actually do it.
When we saw the message, we immediately responded.
Within the next hour, Miguel and us were already going back and forth discussing locations, packages and what he envisioned for the proposal.
This is exactly why we built Last Minute Photoshoot around being able to move quickly.
Sometimes someone has been planning for six months.
Sometimes another photographer cancels five days before the proposal.
Either way, the question you're planning to ask is still just as important.
Finding the Right Laguna Beach Proposal Location
Miguel knew he wanted Laguna Beach because of its connection to his relationship with Jocelyn, but he needed help narrowing down the exact location.
Laguna gives you quite a few options.
You have places like Heisler Park, Victoria Beach, Treasure Island Park, Crescent Bay and several other stretches of coastline that can create completely different proposal experiences.
For Miguel's vision, we eventually landed on Crescent Bay Point Park.
It gave us the elevated coastal backdrop we wanted while also providing enough space for the setup Miguel had in mind.
And this wasn't going to be a photo-only proposal.
Miguel wanted to add our Signature Yes setup.
Now we weren't just planning where Miguel would get down on one knee.
We were planning what Jocelyn would see as she approached the proposal.
Adding the Signature Yes Setup
The idea was to create a romantic focal point overlooking the Laguna Beach coastline.
Our Signature Yes setup gave Miguel a decorated proposal location rather than having him simply stop somewhere along the park.
That also changed how we planned everything else.
Where would Miguel and Jocelyn enter?
When should the music begin?
Where would we photograph from?
Where should family be?
What would Jocelyn see first?
And most importantly:
How do we make everything feel effortless for Miguel when he arrives?
The setup may be the part everyone sees in the photographs.
But most of the work happens before the couple ever gets there.
Five Days of Planning
With only a few days between Miguel's first message and July 8, we got to work.
We provided Miguel with a timeline so he knew exactly how the evening should flow.
We sent him a GPS pin to the exact proposal location so there wouldn't be any confusion about where he needed to walk.
As the proposal got closer, we jumped on one final call.
We walked through the plan again.
Arrival.
Parking.
The setup.
Family.
Where we'd be.
Where Miguel needed to go.
And what would happen once he and Jocelyn started approaching us.
By the time we got off the phone, we were both dialed in.
At that point, Miguel really only had one job left:
Show up with Jocelyn.
We'd take care of the rest.
July 8 at Crescent Bay Point Park
Proposal day arrived.
We headed to Crescent Bay Point Park early so we could start preparing everything before Miguel and Jocelyn arrived.
Family was already part of the plan, so we met up with them while getting things ready.
That's another part of proposal photography we love.
Before Miguel and Jocelyn even arrived, we were hearing stories about them from the people closest to them.
It turns a name on our calendar into an actual couple.
You start learning who they are, how everyone is connected and just how much this moment means to the people waiting nearby.
We went over the final details with the family.
Then we finished setting up.
The arch was ready.
Everything was in position.
Cameras were ready.
Now we just needed Miguel.
We sent him a message:
We're ready whenever you are.
The Walk Toward the Arch
Eventually, Miguel let us know they had arrived.
He and Jocelyn parked and started making their way toward the proposal location.
From that point on, there wasn't anything else Miguel needed to coordinate.
This was his moment.
As they began approaching the setup, we started the music.
For proposals with setups like this, we love having a song playing as the couple walks toward everything.
It adds another layer to the moment without Miguel having to say or do anything.
For Miguel and Jocelyn, we played a violin version of "If I Lose Myself."
They kept walking.
The floral arch came into view.
The ocean stretched out behind it.
And Jocelyn began realizing that whatever was waiting ahead was for her.
Miguel Asked. Jocelyn Said Yes.
They reached the arch.
Miguel turned toward Jocelyn.
And five days after contacting us because his original photographer had canceled, he was finally standing exactly where we'd planned.
He started his proposal.
Then Miguel got down on one knee.
He asked Jocelyn to marry him.
She said yes.
We stayed back and captured the moment candidly while everything unfolded between them.
The planning was finished.
The secret was out.
And Miguel officially had a fiancée.
Then We Chased the Light
Once the proposal was over, there was no reason to stop.
We had Laguna Beach.
We had beautiful evening light.
And we had two people who had just gotten engaged.
So we spent the remainder of their session doing one of our favorite things:
chasing the light.
We photographed Miguel and Jocelyn around Crescent Bay Point Park, using the coastal scenery and changing evening light to create their engagement portraits.
Some photos were romantic.
Some were candid.
Some were posed.
And plenty were simply the two of them enjoying the fact that the plan had actually worked.
That's something we always want couples to experience after a surprise proposal.
The proposal itself happens incredibly fast.
You spend days, weeks or months thinking about it.
Then suddenly you're on one knee.
They say yes.
Everyone celebrates.
And it's over.
The engagement session afterward gives you a chance to slow everything down.
Why Crescent Bay Point Park Worked for Miguel & Jocelyn
There are plenty of beautiful places to propose in Laguna Beach.
For Miguel and Jocelyn, Crescent Bay Point Park worked because it gave us something that fit their particular proposal.
Miguel wanted an ocean backdrop.
He wanted a decorated setup.
He wanted family involved.
And he wanted Laguna Beach because the city already meant something to their relationship.
That last part mattered most.
One of their first dates had happened here.
Now another chapter of their relationship would begin here too.
They came back to Laguna Beach as boyfriend and girlfriend.
They left as fiancés.
What Happens When Your Photographer Cancels Before Your Proposal?
Miguel's story is also a good reminder of something we've seen more than once:
Sometimes proposal plans change for reasons completely outside your control.
A photographer cancels.
A location becomes unavailable.
Weather changes.
Travel plans shift.
A vendor backs out.
When something like that happens a few days before your proposal, it's easy to feel like everything is falling apart.
But five days can actually be plenty of time when everyone communicates quickly.
Miguel reached out on July 3.
We responded.
Within an hour, we were already discussing locations and packages.
Then we chose Crescent Bay Point Park, worked out the setup, built the timeline, sent the GPS pin, coordinated with family and had one final planning call.
On July 8, Miguel proposed.
That's why we're such big believers in communication.
Last-minute doesn't have to mean unplanned.
You Shouldn't Be Coordinating Vendors While You're About to Propose
One of our goals with every proposal is getting to the point where our client has almost nothing left to think about on proposal day.
Miguel shouldn't be walking toward Jocelyn thinking:
Is the arch ready?
Where's the photographer?
Does my family know where to stand?
Did someone start the music?
Am I walking toward the right place?
Those are things we can figure out beforehand.
By the time Miguel parked at Crescent Bay Point Park, we had already met with family, finished the setup and gotten ourselves into position.
All he had to do was walk toward us with Jocelyn.
That's the experience we want.
You focus on what you're going to say.
We'll focus on everything happening around you.
In Miguel's Own Words
After the proposal and engagement session, Miguel left us a review about his experience:
"Last Minute Photoshoot did a great job supporting me during my proposal! They were incredibly flexible with my timeline on the day of, and super considerate of our special moment. Sun and Stephanie were communicative and helped support me in getting my plan to work out. We got a few hidden candid shots of the actual proposal, and a beautiful engagement photoshoot afterwards. We had a great experience shooting photos and my fiance is very happy 😊"
Reviews like Miguel's mean a lot to us because they describe what we want Last Minute Photoshoot to be about.
Yes, we want you to love your photographs.
But we also want you to feel supported before we ever take the first one.
Location planning.
Timelines.
GPS pins.
Calls.
Family coordination.
Setup.
Music.
Backup plans.
And communication when something changes.
All of those little pieces eventually lead to one very big moment.
Five Days Later, She Said Yes
On July 3, Miguel was in South Carolina looking for another photographer after his original plans unexpectedly changed.
Five days later, he was standing beneath a floral arch overlooking the Pacific Ocean with Jocelyn in front of him.
Music was playing.
Their family was nearby.
Our cameras were ready.
And one of the places connected to the beginning of their relationship became part of their next chapter.
Miguel got down on one knee.
Jocelyn said yes.
Then we spent the rest of the evening photographing two people who couldn't stop smiling.
Not bad for a last-minute plan. :)
Congratulations again, Miguel & Jocelyn.
Thank you for trusting us with such an important moment, especially after having to change photographers only days before the proposal.
We're grateful we got to help bring everything together and become a small part of your Laguna Beach love story.
— Son & Stephanie
Last Minute Photoshoot
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