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 Venice 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.
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Hiring a Venice Gondola Proposal Photographer
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.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PROPOSAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
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 much does a Venice Gondola proposal package cost?
High-resolution photos are professionally edited and delivered by email in a private online gallery within 5 business days. Choose between 3 different photo packages:
- 1 hour – Includes 30 digital photos
- 90 minutes – Includes 45 digital photos
- 2 hours – Includes 60 digital photos
How are the proposal photos delivered?
All photos are professionally edited and delivered in a free online private gallery where you can download your favorite photos in high-resolution jpg format. Additional files and high-quality prints from our professional partner labs are also available for purchase. You will receive an email with your gallery link within five business days, but usually sooner.
