Sheldon reached out to me back in March about proposing to Skyler during their September trip to Washington. They live in Hawaii and were flying over for a friend’s wedding, which ended up being the perfect cover for his plan.


Talking to someone in the proposal stage is always a favorite of mine. They usually have a flood of ideas, and it’s my job to help narrow things down. Sheldon knew he wanted mountains, so we started brainstorming locations until we landed on Rainier.

Two figures stand triumphantly with arms raised against a snow-capped mountain backdrop at sunset.

Finding the Spot


Once Rainier was the plan, I had to find a place that was stunning and private. Since there was still snow at Rainier in the spring, I relied on Google Maps and trip reports. After three hours of geosearching, I found a spot that looked perfect.


I finally got to visit in July once the snow had melted. The first trail I scouted turned out to be a no-go — way too primitive to get to easily. But while I was out there, I found an even better spot. The views were insane, the location was quiet, and it felt like a place meant for a proposal.


When I got back to my car, I actually cried a little. The rush of spending hours trying to find the right place, guessing from maps, and then finally standing in the exact spot and realizing it was perfect was unreal.


I sent Sheldon photos, maps, and detailed instructions. He was in.


Proposal Day


When proposal day came, the nerves set in like they usually do. Sheldon had plenty of last-minute questions and was juggling the challenge of hiding his phone so Skyler wouldn’t catch on.


The weather ended up being incredible. The wildfires had been causing haze for a while, but it had rained the day before, so the air was clear and the light was soft.


On the trail, I passed Sheldon and Skyler and we gave each other a quick smile and kept moving. I got to the top first, set up, and caught my breath just in time for them to arrive.


After walking around a bit, Sheldon got Skyler in position, dropped to one knee, and asked the question. Skyler immediately started crying and wiping tears while Rainier towered behind them.

A couple stands silhouetted against a dramatic mountain landscape during sunset in a series of panoramic photos.
A serene panoramic mountain landscape with evergreen trees scattered across the rugged terrain beneath snow-dusted peaks.
People stand on a rocky outcrop overlooking scenic Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park.
Hikers on a rocky mountain ridge with stunning views of Mount Rainier's snow-capped peaks in the background.
A couple embraces on a rocky overlook with snow-capped Mount Rainier rising majestically in the background.
Two silhouettes dance and laugh together against a backdrop of rolling mountains on a summer evening.
A sequence of black and white dance moves showing arm and body movements in synchronized poses against a neutral backdrop.
A couple shares intimate moments in nature during a sunset photo session in the mountains.
A couple shares joyful laughter together during an intimate moment at sunset.
Hikers traverse a rocky ridge with majestic snow-capped Mount Rainier looming in the background of the Washington landscape.
Two hikers stand silhouetted on a rocky slope with snow-capped Mount Rainier rising majestically in the background.
A couple shares romantic moments against a mountain backdrop while wearing a white shirt and red dress.
A romantic couple embraces while standing on a mountain overlook with a majestic snow-capped peak in the background.
Close up of hands wearing two elegant diamond rings against a white dress background.
A couple in a romantic embrace overlooking a scenic mountain view at sunset share an intimate moment.
A couple shares an intimate embrace and kiss with mountains visible in the blurred background during golden hour.
A couple looks out over a scenic mountain vista with snow-capped peaks and evergreen forests in the background.
A couple stands together on a mountain peak overlooking scenic Mount Rainier in Washington State at sunset.
Two hands reach out to each other in a compassionate gesture against a backdrop of misty mountains at sunrise.
Romantic couple sharing intimate moments against soft lighting in multiple poses.
Mountain landscape proposal photoshoot with dramatic snow-capped peaks in background.
Couple in formal attire poses romantically against mountain backdrop with woman in flowing red dress.
Silhouettes of tall evergreen trees against a misty sunset sky with sunburst peeking through branches.
Two people in formal attire dance joyfully in a mountain forest setting during golden hour sunset.
Couple in white and red outfits dances together in a forest setting during golden hour.
A person stands admiring the golden sunset through tall evergreen trees in a mountainous landscape.
A romantic couple embraces at sunset, with the person in red dress spinning in their partner's arms in golden light.
Romantic couple poses together during golden hour in a scenic outdoor setting with warm autumn tones.
A serene sunset glows through silhouetted pine trees in the wilderness creating a golden atmosphere.
Black and white photo series of a tender romantic moment between two people showing affection and intimacy.
A couple embraces against a scenic mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks in the background.
A couple embraces against a backdrop of Mount Rainier's snowy peaks during a romantic mountain engagement session.
Group of hikers stand along a rocky mountain ridge with Mount Rainier in the background during sunset.
Couple shares romantic moments against a backdrop of misty mountain peaks during sunrise.
A dramatic pink sunset illuminates snow-capped mountain peaks and a hiker silhouetted against the alpine landscape.
Panoramic mountain landscape with evergreen trees silhouetted against pink and purple sunset clouds in wilderness setting.
A couple in white embraces romantically against a mountain backdrop during sunset.

Portraits at Sunset


Sheldon had planned ahead and brought a change of clothes for both of them, which was perfect. After they changed, we explored the area and got some of my favorite images of the year. They ran around, laughed, and just soaked up the fact that they had this place completely to themselves.


As the sun dropped lower, the light shifted from gold to a reddish pink. The mountain looked like it was glowing.


So many photos from this gallery deserve to be printed and hung up somewhere.


Why I Loved This Proposal


Planning this one was such a rewarding process. From hours of geosearching to finding the perfect spot, to watching Sheldon pull it off and seeing Skyler’s reaction, it all came together so well.


Thinking About Proposing at Rainier?


If this sounds like the kind of proposal you want, I’d love to help you plan it. My proposal packages include planning support, detailed instructions, and coverage that lets you relive the moment later.


When you’re ready, reach out here and we’ll find your perfect spot. You can also check out more proposal stories on my blog, like Paulina & Andrew’s Lake Colchuck proposal for another adventurous idea.