{"id":20523,"date":"2026-07-22T17:57:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T17:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/photography.stephanieip.com\/journal\/?p=20523"},"modified":"2026-10-06T18:39:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T18:39:49","slug":"catalina-island-proposal-photographer-buena-vista-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/photography.stephanieip.com\/journal\/catalina-island-proposal-photographer-buena-vista-point\/","title":{"rendered":"A Surprise Proposal at Buena Vista Point, Catalina Island | K & P"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The Story<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\u2019t particularly like her at first \u2014 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.<\/p>

They stayed in the same circle. Eventually they started dating.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Planning a Proposal at a Place He\u2019d Never Been<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Peterson is Vietnamese. Proposals in Vietnam, as he described it, are not a big production \u2014 they\u2019re 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.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

Kassandra is a fun and easy going type of girl – \u201c She just goes with the flow.\u201d as Peterson describes her. She doesn\u2019t 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\u2019d bought snorkeling gear. Everything else was loose and exploratory. That flexibility was the cover story.<\/p>

Our of the many experience options presented to Peterson, he chose Buena Vista Point \u2014 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.<\/p>

Coordinated with a florist ahead of time \u2014 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.<\/p>

We have mapped out a game plan and identified our secret landmark. When he walked down the path with her, he\u2019d know he was in the right place.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Planning your own proposal on Catalina?<\/strong> We’ve put everything we’ve learned from photographing on the island into one place: Guide to Catalina Island proposal and wedding locations<\/a>.<\/p>

<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

The Day Of<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Peterson had managed the cover story well. Kassandra was thrown off the day before the proposal \u2014 he\u2019d 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. \u201cI ask your mama the big question tomorrow,\u201d<\/em> he said quietly to the cat, who was not impressed.<\/p>

On the day itself, Peterson located our discussed secret landmark. He brought her into the spot as we\u2019ve planned for all along.<\/p>

He had told himself there was no way he would cry. \u201cI don\u2019t remember the last time I cried,\u201d<\/em> he said after she said yes.<\/p>

She saw his face. She cried.<\/p>

\u201cSo we are officially engaged. Do you see? And he cried. He cried,\u201d<\/em> she said, laughing, still tearful.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t