I was so excited when Pelayo reached out to me about photographing his proposal at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara. The Ritz is one of my favorite locations to shoot. There are just so many cute places to explore and take photos!

I was hiding and pretending to photograph birds (there are tons of bird photographers in this area), waiting for Pelayo and Ashley to come. I didn’t want to miss him going on one knee, so I asked him to send me a selfie of them and tell me what they were wearing and I would do the same. This way Pelayo and I would recognize each other.

As you can see in the photos below, the proposal was beautiful and so emotional! And we got soooo lucky with the weather!! It was the perfect sunny day and sunset!

Here’s a little bit about their story:

Ashley and Pelayo met on Hinge and from the first date knew they were on to something special.

After three years together, Pelayo started planning their proposal in Santa Barbara. Ashley knew that Pelayo was going to propose sometime that summer (she had chosen her own engagement ring, after all), but Pelayo still wanted the actual proposal to be a surprise for her. He convinced Ashley that her ring would not be available for another month, and with the help of Ashley’s parents convinced her he had not yet asked for their blessing.

Pelayo knew he wanted the proposal to overlook the ocean: after hours of research, he decided to do it at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, driving up the week before to find the perfect spot at the resort. He’s so dedicated!

Despite a couple of people almost revealing the surprise, Ashley was not expecting the proposal and was extremely happy with her ring!

If you’re planning a proposal in Santa Barbara, please, fill out my inquiry form and I will answer all of your questions and help you to plan this beautiful moment of your lives! It’s okay if you feel lost at first, I got you and I’ll guide you!