Leanne & Joey: Surprise Proposal at Clayton Beach & Chuckanuts Engagement Session

Written By Michael Graw
A photo of a young man on one knee and holding a ring box as he proposes to his girlfriend, who is holding her hand to her mouth and is clearly surprised. They're on the beach at Clayton Beach, framed by driftwood and the water at sunset.

A lot of my work takes place in the Cascades, but I also love adventures closer to home. My sessions with Joey and Leanne took me to two of my favorite places around Bellingham: Clayton Beach and the Chuckanuts.

Joey reached out recently with a great idea: he wanted to surprise his long-time partner, Leanne, with a proposal at Clayton Beach down in Larrabee State Park.

Clayton Beach is a local classic, and it’s one of Joey and Leanne’s favorite spots to visit together. It requires just enough of a walk through the woods to feel tucked away, and the views across the water at sunset are just impossible to beat.

The hurdle, as with any surprise proposal, would be getting Leanne down to the sand without tipping her off. Joey had it covered, though — he coordinated with several of Leanne’s friends who fabricated a plan for a “bonfire on the beach.” They talked up the fake event all week to make sure Leanne had it on her schedule and wouldn't suspect a thing.

On the day of the proposal, Joey and I hiked down to Clayton Beach ahead of time. While I scoped out the lighting and found a good spot behind some driftwood to stay out of sight, Joey set up a picnic in the sand complete with a charcuterie board and wine.

A photo of a young man setting up a charcuterie board with grapes, cheese, and wine. The picnic is on a blanket on the beach, surrounded by driftwood and with the sunset in the background.

Before long, we got the text that Leanne and her friends were on their way down the trail. When she finally walked out onto the beach and spotted Joey waiting with the picnic, it was clear the decoy plan had worked perfectly. She was caught completely off guard —and was even more surprised when Joey got down on one knee.

A photo of a young man getting down on one knee to propose to his girlfriend. They're on the beach at Clayton Beach, framed by driftwood and the water at sunset.
A photo of a young man down on one knee and holding a ring box as he proposes to his girlfriend. They're on the beach at Clayton Beach, framed by driftwood and the water at sunset.
A coupe hugging on Clayton Beach after getting engaged. They are in the sand surrounded by driftwood, with the ocean at sunset in the background.

She immediately said yes. After the initial shock wore off and we grabbed a few photos of the newly engaged couple, the two of them sat down to enjoy their picnic and the rest of the evening on the beach together.

A photo of a newly engaged couple standing together looking at the engagement ring. They are at Clayton Beach in Bellingham with sand, driftwood, and the water behind them.
A photo of a young couple sitting together on a picnic blanket in the sand at Clayton Beach, with driftwood behind them. They're smiling at each other and holding wine glasses.
A photo of a couple sitting cross-legged together on a picnic blanket and holding hands. The woman's hand is on top and her engagement ring is in focus in the center of the photo.

A few weeks later, I met back up with Leanne and Joey for a proper engagement photo session to celebrate. They wanted to stick close to home while still capturing the Pacific Northwest vibe (both of them grew up on Whidbey Island!), so I suggested a quiet spot at Arroyo Park in the Chuckanuts where we’d be likely to have the trail all to ourselves.

It was a drizzly, overcast day, which was perfect for taking photos in the mossy forest. The cloud cover created some incredible lighting while the rain made the green moss and ferns really pop.

A photo of a couple walking together, holding hands and smiling at each other, on a wooden bridge at Arroyo Park in Bellingham. The woman is wearing a sundress and the man is wearing a red button-down shirt.
A photo of a couple in a button-down shirt and dress standing together and kissing on a wooden bridge at Arroyo Park in the Chuckanuts. The woman's engagement ring is clearly visible and there's a lush green forest behind them.
A photo of a couple in a button-down shirt and dress standing together and touching foreheads, with the woman's hand on the man's chest. The woman's engagement ring is clearly visible and there's a lush green forest behind them.


We spent the session exploring the trail and chatting about their upcoming wedding, which they were already deep into planning. It was a relaxed, fun afternoon, and a great way to document Leanne and Joey’s new engagement right in our own backyard.

A photo of a couple standing on a wooden bridge in Arroyo Park in Bellingham. They're standing together with the woman's arms around the man's shoulders. There's a creek in the foreground and a mossy forest in the background.
A close-up photo of a couple from their knees to their chests. They're holding hands and the woman's engagement ring is in the center of the photo. They're on a wooden bridge in the middle of a green forest.
A photo of a young couple sitting together on a log in Arroyo Park. There's a stone bridge behind them and the woman is sitting on the man's leg with a hand on his chest.
A photo of a couple in a button-down shirt and dress sitting together on a wooden bridge at Arroyo Park in the Chuckanuts. The woman's engagement ring is clearly visible and there's a lush green forest behind them.


Michael Graw
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