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For his Nayara Springs surprise proposal, Zach had one very specific requirement:Â Rebecca couldn’t know it was coming.
They were visiting Costa Rica from New York, staying at Nayara Springs in La Fortuna. Surrounded by tropical gardens and rainforest, the hotel offered exactly the setting Zach imagined. Somewhere private, surrounded by nature, where he could ask Rebecca to marry him without an audience.
But there was one complication. Rebecca wasn’t someone who would casually change plans just because Zach suggested taking a walk somewhere unfamiliar.
She liked knowing what was on the itinerary. A recommendation from someone at the hotel, however, was another story.
And that became the plan.
The hotel tour that wasn’t really a hotel tour
When Zach first contacted me, we discussed several locations around La Fortuna, including waterfalls, hanging bridges, and secluded natural areas.
I’d photographed an elopement at Nayara before, so I already knew some of the property’s paths and gardens. I suggested a couple of places that might work, including a quieter trail near a pond and one of the hanging bridges.
Interestingly, the hotel later recommended some of the same areas.
We decided that staying on the property made the most sense. There would be no complicated transportation, the surroundings were beautiful, and the staff could help us adapt if the weather changed.
On the afternoon of August 29, I arrived ahead of the couple. Tony, one of the hotel’s managers, took me to the agreed location where I could wait discreetly.
Then Tony went to meet Rebecca and Zach for what Rebecca believed was a hotel tour.
As they walked past my hiding place, I quietly followed at a distance. Tony stayed behind, leaving them alone as they reached the spot.
Zach got down on one knee.
And Rebecca had absolutely no idea it was coming.
The rain stopped, and everything came together
It had been raining that afternoon, which isn’t unusual around La Fortuna.
One of the reasons we’d chosen Nayara was the flexibility it offered. The property has covered areas, different paths, and several possibilities if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
But that evening, the rain stopped for our entire session.
Everything was still damp, the vegetation looked particularly rich, and the soft light after the rain gave the gardens a beautiful atmosphere.
The proposal happened exactly as Zach had hoped, privately, surrounded by nature, without Rebecca noticing the camera beforehand.
And then came the laughter.
Rebecca discovered that practically everyone involved at the hotel had known about the proposal except her. The whole operation had been happening around her, and she’d walked straight into it.
Photographs that feel like Rebecca and Zach
After the proposal, we spent some time walking through the property and taking photographs together.
Rebecca and Zach are outgoing, funny people, but like many couples, they initially felt a little awkward in front of a camera.
That’s something I never worry too much about.
We talked, laughed, explored the surroundings, and gradually the camera became less important.
Instead of arranging one embrace or kiss after another, I let their personalities lead the session. The photographs became about their expressions, the way they interacted, and the excitement of what had just happened.
I photographed everything digitally using my Leica SL3-S and a 50mm Summilux-SL lens. I particularly enjoyed the color and contrast in those conditions, with the soft evening light and deep greens of the rainforest.
The result feels natural to me. Not because there was no direction at all, but because the photographs came from spending time together rather than asking them to perform.
Why Nayara works so well for a surprise proposal
Having photographed at Nayara on previous occasions, one thing I appreciate about the property is how many different environments it offers without needing to leave the hotel.
There are tropical gardens, paths surrounded by vegetation, hanging bridges, and quieter corners where a couple can have a moment to themselves.
For a surprise proposal, that variety is especially useful.
You can plan a specific location while keeping alternatives available if it rains or the original spot isn’t suitable.
The hotel staff were also essential to making this particular proposal work. Tony helped coordinate the surprise, guided us through the logistics, and made the entire experience feel natural for Rebecca.
For anyone considering a surprise proposal in La Fortuna, my advice is to think beyond choosing a beautiful backdrop.
Think about what your partner would naturally agree to do, how you’ll arrive at the location without raising suspicion, and what happens if the weather changes.
In Rebecca and Zach’s case, a simple hotel tour was the perfect excuse.
And sometimes, the best proposal plans are the ones that don’t feel like plans at all.
