Claudia & Cole’a Point Clear Proposal and After Party was one of those evenings that reminds me why I love photography. Cole hired me to quietly capture the moment he asked Claudia to marry him in followed by portraits with bride-to-be and family and then an after party downtown. From the planning to the celebration, this Point Clear proposal and after party was thoughtful, joyful, and full of surprise.

A Thoughtfully Planned Surprise in Point Clear

Everyone was gathered at Claudia’s family home in Lakewood, which sits along the Robert Trent Jones golf course. Pulling off a surprise proposal here took some serious coordination. Claudia’s sister, Mary Helen, was instrumental in helping me sneak into position without being noticed.

The plan involved parking at a neighbor’s house, cutting through another neighbor’s yard, and then looping around from the back of the green via a sidewalk near the house. All of this while staying completely out of sight. I ended up tucked behind a large tree, keeping low and quiet, while Mary Helen texted me updates to make sure Claudia never spotted me.

The Perfect Moment Under the Mossy Oak

To get Claudia to the exact spot Cole and I had planned for several weeks before and a FaceTime walkthrough earlier that day, Mary Helen worked a little sister magic. She took the family puppy, Skip, for a walk and then called Claudia asking if they could come help with him. Claudia and Cole walked out toward the golf course and stopped right under a mossy oak tree, with the sun shining through the branches behind them.

Claudia was dressed and ready for dinner at The Grand, thinking this was just another part of the evening. Instead, Cole dropped to one knee in the most perfect setting. Quiet, emotional, and beautifully timed, this Point Clear proposal was everything it should be.

Portraits with Family and That Just Engaged Glow

After the proposal, we took couples portraits beneath the oak trees and along the golf course while the excitement settled in. Soon after, their families joined us for a few portraits back at the house. Before they even had time to catch their breath, another surprise was waiting.

As Claudia and Cole walked back from the golf course, friends and family greeted them with confetti poppers, cheering them on and celebrating the newly engaged couple. It was such a fun, high energy moment and a perfect transition into the next part of the night.

A Downtown Fairhope After Party

Instead of heading straight to dinner, Claudia’s mom had secretly planned an after party downtown Fairhope. The celebration took place in the courtyard outside her office at Waters Edge Realty, where friends and family gathered to toast the couple.

The courtyard was full of laughter, hugs, and happy tears. It was so special to watch Claudia and Cole celebrate their Point Clear proposal and after party surrounded by the people who love them most. These moments, the ones immediately after a proposal, are full of emotion and connection and they are always some of my favorites to photograph.

A Point Clear Proposal and After Party to Remember

From the behind the scenes planning to the mossy oak proposal and the downtown Fairhope celebration, this Point Clear proposal and after party was unforgettable. It was such a joy to be trusted with capturing such a meaningful chapter for Claudia and Cole.

If you are planning a proposal in Fairhope or Point Clear and want it documented in a natural, heartfelt way, I would love to help you plan and photograph every moment.

Congratulations to the newly engaged couple!