The proposal day checklist.

The week before

• Booking confirmed — date, time and exact meeting point agreed with your photographer.
• Ring sized, polished and hidden somewhere your partner never looks.
• Outfits decided for both of you — coordinated, comfortable, weather-real.
• Cover story rehearsed until it sounds boring and believable.
• Weather watched daily; a sheltered plan B agreed with your photographer.
• Dinner or celebration reservation booked for about an hour after the session.
• If they'd want it: manicure booked a day or two ahead.

The night before

• Phone charged; charger packed.
• Ring moved to the jacket or coat pocket you'll actually wear — not luggage.
• First line of what you'll say chosen (the rest can be imperfect).
• Alarm set with a 20-minute buffer. Then an early night.

The morning of

• Eat something — nerves burn fuel.
• Final weather check; confirm plan A or plan B with your photographer.
• Ring check as you leave the door. Pat the pocket. It's there.
• Leave early — arriving calm is the whole trick.

The final hour

• Phone on silent — this hour belongs to the two of you.
• Location pin and timing reconfirmed in one last quiet message.
• Breathe. They're going to say yes.

The moment & right after

• Slow everything down — take their hand, say your line, then ask.
• Forget the camera completely; that's our job, and we're invisible.
• Stay in the bubble for five minutes before any phone calls.
• Champagne, portraits, dinner — in that order. Congratulations.