Peterson and Kassandra met at Target. They were both 16, working the checkout lanes, in the same friend group but dating other people. He didn’t particularly like her at first — she would close her lane and redirect customers to his while she walked around the floor, not doing much of anything. He never held it against her. They were getting paid $10.50 an hour at the time.
They stayed in the same circle. Eventually they started dating.
Planning a Proposal at a Place He’d Never Been
Peterson is Vietnamese. Proposals in Vietnam, as he described it, are not a big production — they’re quieter, more private, less about the visual experience. He was planning something western-style for the first time, for a woman from California who would appreciate the setting, and he had no roadmap.
So he entrusted us and handed us the planner role entirely by him simply picking the date and confirm the direction he wants it to unfold.
Kassandra is a fun and easy going type of girl – “ She just goes with the flow.” as Peterson describes her. She doesn’t want something over the top. She cares more about how the day leads up to the moment than the production of the moment itself. She had one set activity for the trip: she’d bought snorkeling gear. Everything else was loose and exploratory. That flexibility was the cover story.
Our of the many experience options presented to Peterson, he chose Buena Vista Point — a public viewpoint on the Avalon side of the island, walkable and reachable by golf cart, with the kind of unobstructed Pacific view that explains why people come to Catalina in the first place. The lower section of the viewpoint has a tucked away spot that is quieter with a more private feel: stone benches, the remnants of an old structure, a cross visible from the path, and a dip down to a scenic overlook that most people walk past without stopping.
Coordinated with a florist ahead of time — flowers transported from the mainland, which is always more involved, but totally worth it. A statement arrangement piece paired with real lit candles and chilled champagne. Something present but not overly produced, because Kassandra like simple elegance. The backdrop was always going to do the heavy lifting.
We have mapped out a game plan and identified our secret landmark. When he walked down the path with her, he’d know he was in the right place.
Planning your own proposal on Catalina? We’ve put everything we’ve learned from photographing on the island into one place: Guide to Catalina Island proposal and wedding locations.
The Day Of
Peterson had managed the cover story well. Kassandra was thrown off the day before the proposal — he’d done something that made her not expect what was coming. The night before, alone in their hotel room, he filmed himself with their cat sitting in his open suitcase. “I ask your mama the big question tomorrow,” he said quietly to the cat, who was not impressed.
On the day itself, Peterson located our discussed secret landmark. He brought her into the spot as we’ve planned for all along.
He had told himself there was no way he would cry. “I don’t remember the last time I cried,” he said after she said yes.
She saw his face. She cried.
“So we are officially engaged. Do you see? And he cried. He cried,” she said, laughing, still tearful.
A Note on the Small World
As the announcement went out within Kassandra’s circle, we discovered that Bryan and I had previously photographed one of Kassandra’s cousin’s proposals years earlier. Neither of us knew the connection going in.
It’s not a coincidence. I believe the people who care about how something is documented — who want photographs that mean something, not just photographs that happened — will find their way to the same photographers. The right energy attracts the right people. And sometimes those people turn out to be connected in ways nobody planned.
Planning a Proposal on Catalina Island?
Catalina Island proposals are genuinely different from mainland proposals, and they require a different kind of planning. Here’s what matters:
The island runs on ferry schedules. Your start and end time are dictated by when you (and your photographer) arrive and when you (and your photographer) need to leave. Unless you are planning to stay on the island overnight, build your photography window around the ferry — ideally starting two hours before sunset on the East side of the island, which for summer trips means a late-afternoon arrival window.
Flowers have to come from the mainland. There are no florists stationed on the island. Any floral arrangement needs to be transported over, which adds cost and coordination time. Budget accordingly and plan 2–3 weeks ahead for sourcing.
Public spaces are first-come, first-served. Buena Vista Point cannot be reserved. There are no guarantees, and having a backup plan matters. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends, but summer is busy regardless.
Getting around means golf carts, taxis, or feet. Golf cart rentals are typically capped at two hours. Know your route before you arrive — or have someone who does.
A planner changes everything. Peterson didn’t know this island. He didn’t know the vendors. He didn’t know the logistics. He gave us the role of knowing all of it, and that gave him the space to be fully present when the moment came. If you’re considering a Catalina Island proposal and the details feel overwhelming, that’s exactly what proposal planning support is for.
Thinking about proposing on Catalina Island? I’d love to help you plan it. Reach out here.
Catalina is one of the few places near LA where a proposal can be genuinely private, but the logistics take planning — here’s a blog about what to know before booking a Catalina proposal, including ferry timing and setup limits.
Ready to Plan Your Own Surprise Proposal?
Whether you’re local or traveling in — we’d love to help you plan a seamless experience
and document every honest, beautiful moment. 💍✨
