Alex & Anwen’s Lake District Proposal: Two Named Storms, One Yes

7 days ago

2 min read

Months of planning, then two storms in one weekend!

Alex had been planning this proposal for months. The ring, the spot, the timing, the cover story. All sorted.

Then the forecast landed. Storm Austen on Friday. Storm Boelo right behind it for the weekend. Not one named storm, but two, back to back, in the exact week he’d picked.

We decided we could work with it.

Why we didn’t call it off

I’ve photographed in the Lakes long enough to know that the weather here moves fast. Storms come in waves, and between the waves there are gaps: ten minutes, sometimes twenty, where the rain eases and the light does something incredible.

So we built the plan around that. Somewhere accessible on the shores of Windermere was the spot, sheltered enough to be safe and wild enough to look spectacular. We kept the timing flexible and I watched the weather like a hawk.

The moment

Sunday, late afternoon. The wind was still going, but almer than it had been, the cloud was rolling over the fells, and the rain was on and off.

Anwen had no idea, clutching a water bottle that Alex comically kept trying to take off her. Then Alex got down on one knee, hair blowing everywhere, and she covered her face before he’d even finished asking.

It was a yes. Obviously.

Wild weather, lush photos

The sky was moody and moving, and everything has an energy you just don’t get on a still, sunny day.

The photos from Alex and Anwen’s proposal are some of my favourites this year. Wind in their hair, the two of them laughing. You can feel the weather in every frame, and somehow that makes the moment feel even bigger.

Planning a Lake District proposal? Don’t fear the forecast

The most common question I get about proposals is “what if it rains?” Here’s how I handle it:

I pick location with options. Somewhere with shelter nearby, or a second location a few minutes away.
I try to keep the timing flexible. And we keep in touch during over the days before
Safety comes first. If it’s genuinely unsafe (high winds on an exposed fell, say), we move to plan B. Your photos will still be beautiful.

Planning your own proposal?

If you’re planning to pop the question in the Lake District, have a look at my proposal photography page for how it works, where to propose and what it costs.

Storm, sunshine, or both in the same afternoon, I’ll make sure the moment’s caught. Get in touch and let’s start planning.