Surprise Proposal at Castello di Amorosa | Calistoga, California

I really love seeing DM's pop up in my IG, with guys inquiring about me photographing proposals! Seriously, listening to their ideas and helping them work out the logistics is really becoming such a fun perk of my job! So when Sal found me on IG and told me about his surprise proposal at Castello di Amorosa, I was ALL IN!I have shot at this gorgeous winery several times already for proposals and a senior session, but I have always come during the week- whoa, Saturdays are a whole different ballgame! Normally, I just drive up and park in the main lot. This time, as I drove up, I could see an employee directing traffic; they were already leading people off to another parking location! I think I ended up in the shipping and receiving area? (In order to leave, I had to do a 100 point turn...yep, I'm that girl-I'm just glad I didn't have to parallel park!)My main concern was making sure I could find a spot where there was a nice view of castle, some shade (it was 1pm) and that I didn't have cars or people in the background. I had told Sal that the best way to make things look less obvious was to find me when they arrived and to casually ask me to take a photo of the who of them with their camera. When they arrived, Lauren saw me (instead of the million other people with a camera) and SHE asked Sal to ask me to take their photo! Thank goodness she picked me, not sure how we would have gotten out of that situation!lolGuys, her reaction was simply the best. Like, her reaction is the reason I love shooting proposals. It doesn't get much better than capturing the pure joy, shock, "mind blown" feeling of someone who is feeling so loved! AND!!! I call it a little mini miracle- not one person walked by behind them the whole time he was down on one knee!!! I didn't have to photoshop anything!Bottom line- want to pop the question in a vineyard? How about while taking a scenic flight over vineyards or over the Golden Gate Bridge? Maybe right before heading up into a hot air balloon? Whatever adventure you have planned, I'm your girl!! Send me a message at stephanie@stephaniehopkins.net and let's start scheming!