Christian and Lauren’s Snoqualmie Falls proposal changed locations more than once, moved forward by several months, and had one final adjustment the night before.


Somehow, it all worked out better than the original plan.


Christian originally reached out to me while planning a trip to the Hoh Rainforest. Lauren loves pretty much anything involving nature and had wanted to visit the Hall of Mosses since they moved to Washington, so he thought he had found the perfect cover for a proposal.


The only problem was that Lauren had started to suspect something.


She had also been giving Christian some not-so-subtle hints that maybe he should propose sooner rather than later.


So, four months ahead of schedule, the plan changed.


Eventually, we landed on Snoqualmie Falls, with Christian and Lauren staying immediately above the falls at Salish Lodge & Spa.


That ended up making the location much more than somewhere they happened to spend the night.

Couple sharing a romantic moment on a mossy rock ledge in front of a majestic misty waterfall.

A Proposal Planned Around Salish Lodge & Spa and Snoqualmie Falls


If you have never been to Snoqualmie Falls, photographs really do not communicate how big it feels once you are standing near it.


The waterfall drops 268 feet into the canyon below, and Salish Lodge & Spa sits directly above the falls. The Lodge is owned by the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe and has been part of this landscape in one form or another for more than a century. Salish Lodge & Spa


Christian and Lauren were staying at the Lodge for their trip, and their team was incredibly accommodating while Christian was putting together the proposal.


Through arrangements made during his stay, Christian was given special access to a lower area near the falls for the proposal.

I want to emphasize special access here. This is not an area I would tell couples to simply walk into or assume is included with a stay. It was specifically coordinated for Christian.


For us, though, it meant photographing the proposal from a perspective I had never been able to use before.


I have photographed around Snoqualmie plenty of times.


I had never stood underneath it like this.


The scale was ridiculous.


And it made the whole thing feel much more secluded than proposing from one of the busier public viewpoints.

Two people stand on a rock before a massive misty waterfall surrounded by lush green vegetation in a dramatic landscape.
Two people stand on a rocky cliff overlooking a misty waterfall in a dramatic outdoor landscape.
Person standing on a rock before a massive waterfall with mist rising, a building visible on the cliff above.
A person proposing on a rocky cliff with a dramatic misty waterfall backdrop in a scenic outdoor setting.
Two hikers stand on a misty rocky hilltop surrounded by lush greenery, facing each other in conversation.
Couple embracing romantically on a misty cliff edge surrounded by lush greenery and dramatic foggy waterfall backdrop.
Couple embracing on a misty rocky hilltop surrounded by wild grass and fog in a romantic outdoor setting.
Couple embracing on a misty rocky outcrop near a waterfall in a dramatic outdoor landscape.
Person standing on mossy rocks before a massive misty waterfall in a lush green forest landscape.
Couple embracing romantically in front of a misty waterfall surrounded by lush greenery and rocky terrain.
Happy couple posing by a misty waterfall, woman showing engagement ring while man hugs her.
A tattooed couple smiling outdoors near a misty waterfall, woman wearing North Face beanie examining her hands.
Couple celebrating engagement near waterfall, woman showing ring while man kisses her cheek, both wearing black.
Couple embracing tightly near misty waterfall on rocky terrain, both dressed in black outdoor attire.
Couple embracing before a misty waterfall surrounded by lush greenery, romantic outdoor photography.

Waiting in the Rain for Christian and Lauren


Naturally, because this was Washington, it was raining.


I was already in position before Christian and Lauren arrived, doing my best to stay hidden near the vegetation while also trying not to look like a random person lurking beside a waterfall with two cameras.


Then, almost perfectly, the weather broke.


Christian brought Lauren into position, the rain stopped, and we got this brief burst of sunlight right as he proposed.


She said yes.


People watching from across the river realized what was happening and started cheering for them.

And then the rain came back.


Honestly, the timing could not have been much better.

Couple embracing on rocks before a misty waterfall surrounded by lush green cliffs on a cloudy day.
A couple shares a romantic moment in front of a waterfall, touching foreheads tenderly in nature.
A romantic couple shares an intimate moment, touching foreheads, as the woman gently cups the man's face.
A couple shares a tender moment as a man kisses a smiling woman on the cheek outdoors.
A smiling couple embraces outdoors near a misty waterfall, woman in patterned dress, man in black jacket.
Two hands reaching toward each other in front of a misty waterfall, with one hand wearing a ring.
Oval diamond halo engagement ring resting on autumn foliage and green stems in natural outdoor setting.
Couple embracing romantically in black and white photo before a stunning waterfall in a rocky canyon.
Couple in black lace outfits share an intimate moment, woman showing engagement ring with elegant manicure.
Couple sharing a romantic moment in front of a misty waterfall surrounded by lush greenery and rocky terrain.
Two hikers stand on a rocky outcrop before a massive misty waterfall surrounded by lush green forest.
Two people stand on driftwood logs near a misty waterfall surrounded by lush green forest.
Black and white photo of a couple kissing in front of a dramatic waterfall surrounded by logs and lush greenery.
Close-up of two hands with nude stiletto nails and silver rings, resting on black lace and fringe fabric.
Couple kissing on rocks by a river surrounded by lush green forest and misty mountains in a romantic outdoor setting.
Couple holding hands near Snoqualmie Falls waterfall, surrounded by lush greenery and fallen logs on a misty day.
Couple exchanging vows on a wooden bridge surrounded by lush, moss-covered trees in a forest.
A hiker walks along a wooden boardwalk trail through a lush, moss-covered old-growth forest with towering trees.

Moody Engagement Photos in the Rain


After the proposal, Christian and Lauren went back and changed before we continued with the rest of their session.

And this is where the gallery changed completely.


They both have a really cool alternative look. Christian is heavily tattooed, and Lauren came back in a darker dress that worked incredibly well with the setting.


By this point the bright pocket of light from the proposal was gone. The sky had become darker, the rain was coming down, and everything around Snoqualmie had that deep blue-green Washington look.


So instead of fighting it, we leaned into it.


Some of my favorite photographs from the session are from that second half because they almost have a Twilight quality to them: dark forest, mist, wet rock, muted light, and Snoqualmie Falls disappearing into the weather behind them.

We were also absolutely freezing by the end.


Worth it.


If you want to see more surprise proposals I have photographed throughout Washington, you can look through my Washington proposal photography portfolio.


Why Salish Lodge Works So Well for a Snoqualmie Falls Proposal


Christian and Lauren’s experience also showed me why Salish Lodge & Spa makes so much sense if Snoqualmie Falls is part of a proposal weekend.


Instead of driving out, proposing, taking photos, and immediately heading home, the location becomes part of the trip.

The Lodge sits directly above the falls, approximately 30 minutes east of Seattle, with rooms designed around the surrounding Snoqualmie River and Pacific Northwest landscape. Several accommodations overlook the river or historic hydroelectric plant, while the property also has its spa and on-site dining. Salish Lodge & Spa


For Christian, the biggest difference was the staff.


There were already enough moving pieces in this proposal. The date had changed, the location had changed multiple times, the weather was unpredictable, and we made another adjustment the night before.


Having the Lodge willing to work with him on the experience made one very important piece much easier.


That is the kind of thing you remember.

Silhouette of a couple standing together admiring a majestic waterfall in a misty forest, black and white photo.

Planning a Snoqualmie Falls Proposal


Snoqualmie Falls is an incredible proposal location, but it is also the kind of place where having backup plans matters.

Weather changes quickly. Public areas can become crowded. The waterfall itself creates mist. And depending on the time of year, the difference between a bright, clear afternoon and a dark, rainy one can be significant.

Christian and Lauren are probably the best possible example of why I approach proposals the way I do.


The plan can change.


That is fine.


My job is to help you adjust it without making the proposal itself feel chaotic.


My Washington proposal photography packages include planning help, timing and location guidance, discreet coverage of the actual proposal, and portraits afterward.


And in this case, those portraits were only the beginning.


I’ll be photographing Christian and Lauren’s wedding in California next year.


After everything we went through to pull this one off, I am very excited for round two.


What Christian Said Afterward


Christian summed up the planning process better than I probably could:

“We did not make it easy on him, upping the timeline by 4 months, changing location 3 times including an emergency change the night before the proposal.”


He also wrote:

“There isn't anyone else I would want to rely on to make such an important day happen.”


Getting good photographs matters.


But for proposals especially, I think being someone you can rely on when the original plan falls apart matters just as much.

If you are planning a proposal at Snoqualmie Falls, around Seattle, or somewhere farther into the Washington mountains, you can reach out here to start planning it.


You do not need to have the entire plan figured out before you contact me.


Sometimes apparently neither do we until the night before.