Reece & Megan | A Surprise Proposal at Hotel del Coronado

Megan wanted San Diego for her birthday. Reece took that and quietly ran with it — asking her mom’s permission, re-setting her grandmother’s ring, and conspiring with his aunt to create a proposal she never saw coming. Most of the real itinerary was kept a secret, and she had no idea the Del was part of the plan until we were already taking photos.

Getting her to the beach in a nice outfit took some creativity. Reece had tried to get her to pack “something nice” back in Nashville (she couldn’t think of a single reason why), so the morning of, he took her shopping at 75 Degrees & Fuzzy in Carlsbad and quietly enlisted the saleswoman to help. Megan picked out a color that happened to match the shirt hidden in his suitcase — Reece said it felt like God’s way of telling him this was supposed to happen. One fake phone call about a Nobu reservation later, they were headed to the Del.

My favorite part: when they got to the beach, Megan refused to leave her flip flops on the sidewalk, and they argued about it right up until she spotted the flowers — and said how sweet it was that someone was getting engaged. Someone was.

Reece’s favorite photo is the two of them on the lifeguard stand. Megan’s is Reece on one knee.

They celebrated at Nobu, then filled the rest of the week with golf, shopping, boutiques, Disneyland, and surfing — which turned out to be one of their favorite parts of the trip.

Reece and Megan walk across sand at overcast Hotel del Coronado beach
Reece and Megan stand on sand with white flowers between them at beach
Reece on one knee proposes to Megan on the beach, she reacts with surprise
Reece and Megan embrace after the proposal with white flowers at their feet
Reece in light blue shirt stands with Megan in light blue dress on beach
Reece and Megan face each other talking on sand at Hotel del Coronado
Reece and Megan hold hands on beach, looking down at their hands together
Close-up of Megan smiling in light blue top with beach and ocean behind her
Reece and Megan hug on beach with white flowers and candles at their feet
Reece and Megan kiss while embracing on beach, candles and flowers below
Reece and Megan smile at camera displaying engagement ring at Hotel del Coronado
Reece and Megan stand on rocky beach with waves and Hotel del Coronado behind
Reece holds Megan from behind as she looks over her shoulder on the beach
Reece and Megan embrace on sand at Hotel del Coronado, family visible in distance
Megan shows her engagement ring to family members, Hotel del Coronado in background
Megan displays ring to family members gathered on beach at Hotel del Coronado
Megan shows ring to relatives at golden hour on beach as sun sets over ocean
Reece hugs Megan from behind on beach with rocks visible in the background
Megan hugs family member while displaying her engagement ring on the beach
Reece holds white flowers while Megan hugs him from behind on the beach
Reece on one knee proposes to Megan on beach at Hotel del Coronado
Reece and Megan walk together in shallow water at sunrise on the beach
Reece and Megan hold hands walking in shallow beach water at golden hour
Reece and Megan kiss at ocean's edge at sunset on the beach
Reece carries Megan in shallow water at sunset, her arm raised joyfully
Reece carries Megan in shallow sunset water, both laughing at the beach
Reece and Megan stand on turquoise lifeguard stand at Hotel del Coronado
Reece and Megan pose with extended family on beach with flowers and candles
Reece and Megan stand with family members on beach with white flowers below
Reece stands with his parents and sister on beach at Hotel del Coronado
Reece and Megan sit together on beach with white flowers and candles display
Reece and Megan kiss on beach with white flowers and candles in foreground
Reece and Megan embrace on beach with Hotel del Coronado blurred in background
Reece and Megan celebrate with arms raised on beach, Hotel del Coronado behind
Teen in blue tutu lies on cream architectural element beneath ornate columns

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