Surprise Proposal and Engagement Photography at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach, California

Crystal Cove State Park is one of the best places for engagement photos in Orange County. It's a beautiful location with amazing scenery and tons of photo opportunities that are perfect for romantic proposals. Just a short distance from Los Angeles and Orange County, Crystal Cove is a wonderful gem located on the Southern California coastline. With sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean atop dramatic seaside cliffs, this is the ideal spot for a golden hour sunset proposal.

We were so excited to photograph Danny’s surprise proposal to his girlfriend—now fiancé—Tina! We took advantage of the stunning natural landscape and instructed Danny to do the surprise proposal on a bluff overlooking all of Crystal Cove. Danny and Tina came here under the guise of a romantic date walking along the sea cliffs and beach, but when Danny got down on one knee, this romantic date turned into an unforgettable moment full of celebration and joy!

After Danny asked Tina (and she said yes!), we took the opportunity to make some memorable engagement photos of the soon-to-be wed couple on the beach at Crystal Cove. The beach is wide and expansive, with plenty of room for couples to find the perfect spot to take their engagement photos.

If you're looking to take engagement photos or propose to your partner here, one tip is that the park tends to get crowded in the evenings—especially on weekends and holidays. So if you want some alone time with your partner for engagement photos, reserve your spot during off-peak hours (e.g., weekday afternoons).

When you think about that picture perfect proposal moment, there is no better place than Crystal Cove State Park and Beach. We hope you enjoy the selection of photos from Danny and Tina's surprise proposal and engagement session below!

This romantic surprise sunset proposal and engagement session was photographed at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach, California.

Palm Springs wedding photographer Todd Danforth Photography is an LGBTQ+ and POC-owned wedding photography team specializing in capturing joyful and candid moments. As storytellers and craftspeople, we believe in the power of visual narratives. Our mission is to create honest and authentic photographs you can share with your loved ones for generations to come.