Big Sur Proposal Planning
Ways to heighten your Big Sur Proposal weekend
This blog post is apart of a larger series on planning the perfect Big Sur proposal. You can find the home page here.
In this Blog post we will discuss the best ways, from a locals, perspective, to heighten your Big Sur Proposal!
Having photographed proposals and elopements in Big Sur since 2014, Daniel has the tried and true ways couples in the past have made the most of their proposal week or weekend in Big Sur, California.
Ideal Big Sur Proposal Weekend
Arrival Day
Fly into Monterey. By doing this you save yourself possibly 2-3 hours of travel as if you were fly in to San Jose. The flight into Monterey is breathtaking, and in 10 minutes you're off the plane and in Carmel for a glass of wine. Oh, cant forget the car. Grab a fun car from Turo or Monterey Touring Vehicles and use that as your ride for the weekend.
Immediately head to Carmel-by-the-Sea for a glass of local wine and to debrief the flight, freshen up, and begin planning your next moves. My favorite wineries are:
If you're more beer people, my favorite local brewery is Alvarado Street. They have a downtown Monterey location which is my favorite for atmosphere, but Carmel-by-the-Sea is also a great spot and the beer is the same, amazing.
It is now 2 or 3 pm. What to do next? Begin at the Frank Lloyd Wright House on Carmel Beach and stroll the length of the beach. Me and my wife look for Pebble Beach golf balls in the rocks at the north end. This whole stroll can take 1.5 hours.
Check in time is here. My favorite places to stay are featured in a previous post in length. But here are some great hotels that would work with this itinerary.
- La Playa
- Villa Mara
- or Cypress Inn
After check out, its time for dinner. This is the night I would plan on a sunset view dinner. To me, this is simply the greatest way to continue planning the weekend or even your lives together. Some locations that would work perfect are:
These are my favorite for night one because the views trump the food experience. They are also less Intimate but fun and romantic.
Still have energy? Possibly a late desert at La Playa or even a nightcap at your hotel bar can be pretty epic.
Proposal day
Today's the day. You've come all this way for this moment. Lets make your Big Sur proposal perfect.
Sleep in. Treat yourself. A run through downtown Carmel in the early mornings or even on the beach can be a monumental moment in ones life. I'm a travel addict and use these early morning times to soak in the tourist free neighborhoods and get a fuller picture.
Now this might sound crazy. But I would plan on a second hotel. One in Big Sur for the second night. Here is why. The first day to me is your arrival day and hanging low in Carmel is perfect for getting acclimated, used to the jet lag, and saving more experiences for latter in your trip. So take the morning easy, enjoy your view or last moments in Carmel and pack for the next hotel. You'll be staying at Ventana or Post Ranch Inn. Want to stay closer to town and spend a lot less? Honestly Hyatt Carmel is an amazing substitute.
On your way out do brunch at Taylor Swifts favorite spot, La Bicyclette. *Chefs Kiss* You can totally show uo in your hiking clothes and feel comfortable.
After brunch, its now 10 AM, head to Point Lobos. Do it. It is the gem of the state parks. To do the whole hike. Its flat mostly, and can take about 2 hours if you're' going at a slow pace. Plan on there being no parking but thats okay. You can simply park here and walk in for free. You do not miss out on any beauty at all. Trust me. We never park inside.
Do the walk. Have a snack. Head back to the car. It might be 1 pm or so. Time for lunch. The drive down to South Big Sur (45mins) is so relaxing after a nice little hike. Use this time to take the pull offs. No Rush. Explore. See Calla Lily Valley, see Garrapata, you dont have to do the whole thing, just take some photos and enjoy the slow drive. I would plan on a late lunch here at Nepenthe. Great burgers and fries and the views are insane. Plan on waiting 10 minutes for a table. There is a coffee and ice cream place near by as well. I wont link because it will mess up my back links because it changes ownership every once in a while, google it, you'll see it. haha
After some Lunch and views, time to check in to the hotel. be the first to check in or check in early. Take a dip in the pool. Relax. Use the next few hours to lay low and enjoy your epic hotel.
After getting ready, grab a snack and begin heading up to your proposal spot. We have decided that North Big Sur is the best given the options available. Your Post Ranch inn dinner will be tomorrow, so you excuse for heading to North Big Sur might be, "I found the perfect spot on Reddit" or, lets go drink "this bottle of wine at this epic lookout before dinner". The before dinner part is important, because you'll use this to ensure she is dressed in a way she will appreciate in 10 years looking at the photos.
BAM. The rest is history. This evening is dedicated to sunsets and proposal photos.
Plan on a later dinner somewhere, maybe in Carmel again. Possibly at Chez Noir, after you notified them a month before of your plans. Chef Jonny might want to make this extra special for you two.
The Day after
You are now in Big Sur. Use this to your advantage. Spend the day at the Spa in the Hotel. Check out Pfeiffer Beach. Go on one of the thousand Redwood hikes nearby. Finish the day with another epic sunset dinner. This day is dedicated to basking in the moment and giving her time to enjoy this new bling. Shoot. Maybe spend the nest 4 days here.
