Carl + Bryanna | A Surprise Proposal at Dennis Weaver Park

Some sessions are fun.
Some are meaningful.
And some are both — which was absolutely the case with Carl and Bryanna.

This engagement actually started months before the proposal. Carl reached out to me in late summer of 2025 with a pretty exciting question. He had plans to propose to his girlfriend, Bryanna (Bree), and wanted help pulling off a surprise proposal at Dennis Weaver Park.

We met up and mapped out the entire plan.

The idea was simple but perfect. I would sit at a table in the park pretending to read a book. Carl and Bree would walk by during their “casual walk” before dinner, stop at a certain spot we had already picked out, and that’s when Carl would get down on one knee.

From there, I’d already be photographing everything.

Carl also knew Bree well enough to make sure she’d be dressed for the occasion. He told her they were going for a walk at the park before heading out to dinner, and since Bree loves a good reason to dress up, she looked absolutely stunning when they arrived.

Carl brought flowers, the light was perfect, and everything came together exactly how we planned it.

Watching the moment unfold was so special. The surprise, the emotion, the excitement — it’s one of those moments that happens so quickly but means everything.

Once the initial shock wore off and the excitement settled in a bit, we took advantage of the moment and turned it into a full engagement session around Dennis Weaver Park.

And let me just say… photographing these two is an absolute blast.

Carl is every bit the gentleman you’d expect, and Bree absolutely lights up in front of the camera. They were up for anything, laughing the whole time, and just completely enjoying the moment together.

There’s also a little full-circle moment here for me. I photographed Carl’s senior photos years ago, so getting the call to photograph his proposal and engagement felt incredibly special.

As we explored the park, we kept finding little pockets of beautiful scenery. Just when we thought we were wrapping up, Carl remembered one more spot tucked away in the park.

We walked over and suddenly it felt like we had stepped into a postcard from Vermont. Golden grass, soft light, trees framing the background — it was one of those quiet, unexpectedly beautiful corners of Western Colorado.

Needless to say, we grabbed a few more photos there.

Sessions like this are exactly why I love photographing proposals and engagements. There’s so much excitement and anticipation in the air, and the joy is completely genuine.

Carl and Bree already have their wedding scheduled for 2027, and I truly cannot wait for that day. If this engagement session was any indication, it’s going to be an incredible celebration.

I’m so grateful Carl thought of me to capture this moment for them, and I’m counting down the days until their wedding.

Check out some more of my favorites from this engagement session.