{"id":20876,"date":"2026-09-08T18:13:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T18:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/photography.stephanieip.com\/journal\/?p=20876"},"modified":"2026-09-08T18:28:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T18:28:55","slug":"buena-vista-point-catalina-island-proposal-photographer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/photography.stephanieip.com\/journal\/buena-vista-point-catalina-island-proposal-photographer\/","title":{"rendered":"A Surprise Proposal at Buena Vista Point, Catalina Island | E & J"},"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

She Knew Something Was Coming <\/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

Elexis had a feeling.<\/p>

Josh had told her they were spending the weekend on Catalina Island. He didn\u2019t try to convince her that nothing was coming \u2014 she already knew him well enough to read the signs. What she didn\u2019t know was the path down to the scenic spot we have talked about. The flowers arranged at Buena Vista Point. The ring he\u2019d had made with a pink hidden halo because he\u2019d been paying attention.<\/p>

Sometimes the surprise isn\u2019t what, but how.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/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

Their First Time on the Island<\/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

This was the first time either of them had been to Catalina. Josh came in not knowing the roads, not knowing the terrain, not knowing exactly how steep the path down to Buena Vista Point actually was until we walked through it together on our planning call.<\/p>

He rented a golf cart, figured out the ferry logistics from Long Beach, coordinated the flowers from the mainland, so everything has to be transported over and set up before they arrive. He planned a cover story simple enough to hold: a weekend trip, casual enough to feel true, specific enough to explain why they were on the island at all.<\/p>

Elexis knew they were going to Catalina. She suspected something might happen.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/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

Buena Vista Point <\/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

Buena Vista Point is one of the more well-known proposal locations on Catalina Island, and for good reason: the views are picturesque, the ocean wraps around the viewpoint, and the casino building frames the background from the water side.<\/p>

When you\u2019re standing in this spot, you understand why: the view from there is different from the general overlook. Closer to the water. More enclosed and private.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/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

The Proposal<\/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

Her first words when she saw the ring:<\/p>

\u201cOh my god, so beautiful. There\u2019s a pink. There\u2019s some pink in it because it\u2019s my favorite part.\u201d<\/em><\/p>

She had sent Josh ideas of what she wanted \u2014 general directions, a style she loved, the shapes and sizes that appealed to her. She didn\u2019t know which one he\u2019d choose. He had chosen the one with the hidden halo, the oval shape, and the pink accent she\u2019d mentioned almost in passing.<\/p>

He had been paying attention.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/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