Sail Boat Proposal on San Diego Bay

Jan 29

Written By Mackenzie Belen San Diego Wedding Photographer

I can’t believe it took me almost 10 years of living in San Diego to sail on the San Diego bay, but it finally happened!

Sam reached out to me a few weeks before his planned proposal to his girlfriend Char. Sam found me through another photographer friend and he told me of his plans to rent a sail boat ride and surprise Char while they were in town from the Midwest. Sam had talked to Char’s friends and they shared her Pinterest board with Sam and a lot of the saved pins had sailboats involved. So Sam booked a tour with San Diego Sail Adventures with Captain Max and gave me a time to meet the captain before Sam and Char arrived at the docks. Max and I came up with a plan to tell Char that I was doing social media content for San Diego Sail Adventures so Char wouldn’t wonder why the only other person on the sail boat had a camera with her.

Sam and Char arrived and Char radiated with joy and kindness from the moment I met her. I introduced myself and Max went over all the rules as we idled through the docks to get onto the bay.

I shot pictures of the beautiful sunny Fall day in downtown San Diego, Sam and Char walked over to the nose of the sailboat and there is where Char noticed the flowers, blanket and sparkling cider and it clicked. She knew what was about to happen and she could not contain her excitement or tears of joy. Sam guided her to the designated spot as we sailed across the bay, Sam gave her a handwritten note and she read with a smile, holding Sam’s hand.

After she finished the letter, Sam dropped to one knee and presented her with an oval cut ring, proposing to Char. She screamed yes and they embraced and had a moment for themselves.

Char then realized Sam had hired me to document their adventure that afternoon and after they settled from the proposal we began our shoot. We hopped around on the sailboat, taking pictures, hung out and sailed around the bay as the sun set over the coast. At the end, I sat in awe at the young couple who clearly love and adore one another so much, my heart felt so full at the love that poured from Sam and Char. I wish nothing but the best for the couple and for their lives together.