Lake Norman Rainy Proposal

A Rainy, Romantic Surprise Proposal in Charlotte | Bella & Dennis

Some stories feel like they’re meant to be—woven together by perfect timing, unexpected twists, and a little bit of fate. Bella & Dennis’ proposal was one of those stories.

This day almost didn’t happen. Between flight cancellations, tight schedules, and a summer storm rolling in at the last moment, it felt like everything was working against us. But somehow, against all odds, it all came together in a way that was even more magical than we could have planned. And honestly? I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Planning the Perfect Surprise

Bella first reached out to me about booking a session in Charlotte with her long-distance boyfriend, Dennis. They had met while vacationing in New York—one of those serendipitous, “right place, right time” kind of meetings. She lived in Illinois, he lived in South Carolina, and they had spent the past year making long-distance work. She wanted to celebrate their love with a session while she was visiting him, and of course, I was all in.

Shortly after she booked me, I got a message from Dennis on Instagram. He wanted to propose.

So while Bella and I were going back and forth, planning locations and outfits, Dennis and I were secretly working behind the scenes to pull off the perfect surprise.

Bella had seen one of my TikToks and fell in love with the idea of mixing rooftop city shots with romantic lakefront images. We decided to start the session in Uptown Charlotte for that urban, modern feel and then head to Lake Norman for a more intimate, nature-filled setting.

A Major Setback

I had one big concern for the day—their session was set for 4th of July weekend, which meant that anywhere near the lake was going to be packed. Unless you had private access (which we didn’t), finding a quiet spot was going to be nearly impossible. Still, we figured we’d make it work.

But before we could even worry about the crowds, something much bigger almost derailed the whole thing.

The week of the session, I got an email from Dennis. They might have to cancel.

Remember the travel chaos of Summer 2023, when thousands of flights were canceled, and people were stuck in airports for days? Bella was one of those people. She had been in Mexico and was supposed to fly back to Chicago before catching her flight to Charlotte. Instead, she got stranded at the Denver airport for two full days.

By the time Dennis emailed me, she was still trying to figure out how to even get to Chicago, let alone make it to Charlotte in time for our session.

At this point, I was leaving right after their scheduled session for another out-of-state shoot, so rescheduling wasn’t an option. We had no choice but to play it by ear.

And somehow—against all odds—she made it.

She finally caught a flight back to Chicago, rushed to make her connection to Charlotte, and arrived with barely any time to spare. Just like that, we were back on.

A Session Full of Unexpected Magic

The day of the session was beautiful but brutally hot—a classic Southern summer day. We started on top of a parking deck in Uptown Charlotte, with the skyline stretching behind them and the sun beating down. Even in the heat, Bella & Dennis were absolute naturals. The way they laughed together, the way he pulled her close, the way she looked at him—it was effortless.

But then, as we wrapped up the city shots and headed toward Lake Norman, I noticed the sky starting to shift. Dark clouds rolled in. The air got heavier. The storm was coming.

By the time we reached our second location, there were distant rumbles of thunder.

I looked at them and said, “What do you guys think? Should we go for it?”

Without hesitation, they said yes.

That’s when the magic happened.

We started in a more secluded part of the beach, which—just as I had predicted—was packed when we arrived. But as the rain began to fall, the beach started to empty. Families packed up, boats pulled away from the shore, and suddenly, we found ourselves with the place almost entirely to ourselves.

Bella & Dennis didn’t just tolerate the rain; they embraced it. They danced in it, laughed in it, held each other close as the drops fell around them. It was cinematic. It was intimate. It was the kind of moment you can’t plan, only experience.

The Proposal

As the rain softened, Dennis caught my eye and gave me the signal. It was time.

I told them to stand back-to-back and, on the count of three, to turn around and face each other. Bella followed my instructions, completely unaware that in the split second before she turned, Dennis was pulling the ring from his pocket and dropping to one knee.

When she saw him, everything else faded away.

The rain had slowed, the world around them had gone still, and all that was left was this moment—the two of them, on the shore of a quiet lake, making a promise that would last forever.

She said yes.

And just like that, the clouds parted. The rain cleared, leaving behind the softest, dreamiest light. We had just a few more minutes alone on the beach to capture the excitement, the pure joy, the way she looked at the ring on her finger like she couldn’t believe it was real.

And then, slowly, people started making their way back outside, filling the space that had been ours alone for just a little while.

Looking Back

When I think about this day, I think about how easily it could have fallen apart.

Bella almost didn’t make it. The beach was almost too crowded. The storm almost forced us to stop.

But sometimes, the best moments are the ones that come together in the most unexpected ways.

What started as a session filled with uncertainty turned into a proposal that felt like it was pulled straight from a movie—a private beach, a summer storm, a perfectly timed question, and a love story that was just getting started.

Planning a Surprise Proposal?

If you’re thinking about proposing and want the moment captured in a way that feels authentic, intimate, and beautifully cinematic, I’d love to help you plan it. Whether it’s on a beach in the rain, on a mountaintop at sunrise, or in the middle of a busy city, my goal is to create an experience that feels true to you.

Now, scroll down to see the magic of Bella & Dennis’ session for yourself. It’s one you won’t want to miss.