Venice Gondola Proposal: How to Plan a Surprise Engagement
There’s nothing quite like a Venice Gondola Proposal… such a life-changing question at one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Over the past few years, we have helped capture the question for so many love birds. Therefore, we decided to put together a guide with all our favorite Venetian Gondola ride proposal ideas, spots for engagement photos, and how to hire a proposal photographer to capture the moment!
What is the best way to propose on a Venice Gondola?
There are many nice ways to propose on a Venice Gondola for an epic engagement. If you want to avoid crowds, early is best… but sometimes the crowd acts as a natural background and makes it easy for a photographer to hide among all the other people with professional cameras. Another plus to having more people around is that they will applaud and celebrate along with the couple the moment they hear the YES!
To avoid the crowds it’s better to meet around 8 am during high season in the summer, but the Gondolieri start working at 9 am. There are many places without people in Venice because tourists tend to concentrate at San Marco square and the Rialto bridge.
There are many gondola stops around Venice. Every street and canal in the historical center is beautiful so it’s super easy to do the post-engagement shots, without moving around too much.
Planning a Venice Proposal
Adrenaline starts to rush the second you reach for the ring, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed with emotions… so much so, that some people can’t even remember their engagement moment. Hiring a photographer for your surprise proposal will allow you to capture and relive that moment again and again.
We asked our Venice proposal photographer to help answer a few frequently asked questions about capturing a Gondola proposal. Below are their answers:
What do you think about surprise proposals on a Venice Gondola?
I have helped capture dozens of surprise proposals on a Venice Gondola. It’s a very fun job that I like because the challenge is to capture their surprise moment and expression that will always be with them forever.
Surprise proposals on a Venice gondola ride are a bit difficult because I need to be on the gondola with them. It is nearly imporssible to know which route the Gondolier will take, and even if I knew it, it’s difficult to capture the moment from a bridge. The best option would be to do the proposal before jumping on the Gondola, or we could all ride it together by pretending that he/she booked a photographer as a present. Then at some point during the Gondola ride, he/she pops the question.
How do you set up the meeting spot?
After deciding on the exact proposal spot, we usually discuss the details and logistics. The best way to keep track of our locations, especially if it is a surprise proposal, it to use share our live locations on WhatsApp to make sure we can find each other. Unless of course we are all together on the gondola.
Is there a secret signal to give the proposal photographer?
As there are always a lot of people with professional cameras, it is easy for me to blend among them. During the planning process, I ask for pictures of the couple so that I can recognize them on the day of the proposal.
If we want to do it before the Gondola ride, I make visual contact with the one who is preparing the surprise. He or she will then ask me to take a picture of them with their camera. Then I tell them, “That is a nice spot over there!”
That is the moment of the proposal! After popping the question, we can jump on the gondola ride and take some more photos and capture the post-proposal glow.
Are there any additional costs to be aware of?
A Venice Gondola ride costs 80€, and the tour lasts about 30 minutes.
Do you have any other general tips?
Take your time while proposing, tell her/him why you love her/him, and wait for the answer before standing back up. Also, dress well and try to avoid dark colors.
How to Hire a Venice Proposal Photographer
The moment you reach for the ring, adrenaline and emotions start to kick in and you might not even remember the moment! Hiring a secret Venice proposal photographer for your surprise engagement will allow you to capture and relive that moment again and again.
Your marriage proposal is a story you will never tire of telling, so it definitely deserves better than selfies! Capture it with Venice proposal photography that you’ll look back on for years to come.
How does a proposal photoshoot work?
Before choosing a photographer, we recommend having some Venice proposal ideas in mind first! There are two ways a proposal photoshoot usually happens:
- Hire the photographer for a “normal” photoshoot with your partner, but let the photographer in on your secret proposal plan! This is the best way to ensure the photographer captures the moment perfectly, usually at a closer distance and better positioned.
- The photographer can be waiting at the designated spot to secretly capture the moment, paparazzi-style. After the big moment, the photographer can introduce themselves and proceed to capture that post-engagement glow.
After your photo shoot is booked, you will be able to plan and coordinate with your photographer directly.
What’s included in a Venice proposal package?
With every proposal photography package, you’ll get high-resolution engagement photos that are professionally edited and delivered by email in a private online gallery within 5 business days. In your gallery, you will be able to see all the photos from your proposal photoshoot and get to download a certain number of your favorites, depending on your package. It also includes:
- one-on-one planning with your proposal photographer
- photos of the big moment and post-engagement
- private online gallery
- high-resolution photos that are professionally edited
- photos delivered within 5 days
How much does a Venice proposal photographer cost?
We have photographers on our team that specialize in capturing proposals and engagement photoshoots. Check out our list of the best Venice proposal photographers to see pricing, compare portfolios, read customer reviews, and check date availability.
Below are our 3 different Venice proposal packages & pricing:
