Nate planned the whole thing so Ryan would never see it coming! On October 25, 2026, at Smokey Ridge Ranch in Apple Hill, I waited in the shop until closing time for Ryan's mom to come get me. Our cover story was that she really wanted some of Smokey Ridge Ranch's apple cider mustard — which is extra funny because she doesn't even like mustard! (I'm sure theirs is incredible, though.) And a huge thank-you to Sara Rangel, the owner, who helped us get everything set up and played her part perfectly — when Ryan's mom came asking for that mustard, Sara knew exactly who they were, just as planned. Ryan, of course, still had no idea! She thought it might happen the next day, somewhere else in Apple Hill. (The one small giveaway: the bulging ring box in Nate's pocket did make her a little suspicious.) Right after closing we had the whole place to ourselves, and we waited until the last chestnut-gathering family headed home — at Smokey Ridge you can pick up your own chestnuts right off the ground, though watch out — they're spiky on the outside!


He was pretty confident she would say yes — they were already in Northern California looking at wedding venues — but he was still nervous, because he wanted it to be perfect. And it was, of course! He dropped to one knee under the chestnut trees (watching out for spikes), held out the ring, and she said yes! Then we wandered the ranch together for portraits — through the chestnut trees first, then the maples, the apple orchard, the vineyard, and the persimmon tree. These two could not stop smiling, and honestly, my cheeks hurt by the end of it from smiling so much right along with them!


Nate + Ryan, thank you for trusting me with one of the biggest moments of your lives!

Man kneeling on one knee holds a ring as a woman in a plaid shirt and red headscarf covers her mouth in surprise during an outdoor proposal.
Black and white photo of a smiling woman with long wavy hair in a plaid flannel shirt and jeans, standing under trees facing a man.
A smiling woman in a red bandana and plaid shirt laughs as a man kneels and holds out a small ring box in a sunlit park.
Black and white photo of a couple kissing outdoors among autumn trees, she in a plaid flannel shirt and he in a light sweater.
A smiling young man in a gray sweater holds a small green box as a woman in a plaid shirt and red bandana gently touches his face outdoors.
Man holding a small green ring box proposes to a woman in a red bandana and plaid shirt who covers her face, surrounded by autumn trees.
A smiling man in a white sweater slides a ring onto the finger of a tearful woman in a red bandana and plaid shirt outdoors.
Black and white photo of a smiling man placing a ring on a tearful woman's finger during an outdoor marriage proposal.
Smiling couple outdoors as a curly-haired man places a ring on the finger of a laughing woman in a plaid shirt and red headscarf.
A laughing couple embraces outdoors among green trees, the woman in a plaid shirt and red bandana covering her smile with her hand.
A smiling couple holds hands outdoors, facing each other among green trees and fallen leaves, she in a red bandana and plaid shirt.
Black and white photo of a laughing man in a polo sweater holding hands with a woman in a plaid shirt and headscarf in an autumn park.
A laughing young man in a white sweater pumps his fist beside a smiling woman in a plaid shirt and red bandana on a tree-lined leafy path.
Black and white photo of a smiling couple embracing among fallen leaves and trees, she wears a plaid shirt and headscarf.
A smiling young man and woman hold hands while walking and laughing together on a sunlit tree-lined path in a park.
A laughing young man in a gray sweater and a smiling woman in a red headband and plaid shirt hold hands in a sunlit autumn orchard.
A laughing young man in a gray sweater embraces a smiling woman in a red bandana and plaid shirt outdoors among green trees.
A curly-haired man and a woman with a red headband touch foreheads in a tender moment outdoors, her hand with a ring resting on his chest.
Smiling man in a light gray cardigan embraces a woman in a plaid shirt, her ringed hand resting on his chest in a tender engagement moment.
A smiling couple embraces under green trees in a park, she wearing a red bandana and plaid shirt, he in a white sweater.
A young couple holds hands while walking along a gravel path surrounded by autumn trees, she in a leather jacket and red headband.
A smiling woman in a red bandana and leather jacket holds hands with a man in a white sweater while walking through an autumn park.
Black and white photo of a couple embracing and holding hands on a leaf-covered path lined with trees in an autumn park.
Smiling couple holding hands and standing together on a leaf-covered path lined with tall autumn trees in a peaceful park.
A couple in casual clothes stands close together smiling, embracing on a leaf-covered path beneath green trees in an autumn park.
A smiling couple dances closely outdoors among autumn trees, she in a red bandana and leather jacket, he in a white sweater.
Smiling couple dancing close with foreheads touching in an autumn forest, she wears a red bandana and leather jacket, he a cream sweater.
A smiling couple dances outdoors on a leaf-covered path among green trees, she in a brown leather jacket and jeans, he in a white sweater.
A young couple dances and twirls together on a leaf-covered path beneath tall green trees in a sunlit autumn park.
A hand with a gold ornate ring set with a pearl rests on a cream knit sweater, beside a brown leather sleeve.
Black and white photo of a couple about to kiss outdoors, the woman wearing a leather jacket and floral headscarf, the man with curly hair.
Black and white photo of a laughing man in a knit polo embracing a woman in a leather jacket and floral headscarf outdoors among trees.
A smiling couple embraces outdoors among green trees, she in a red headscarf and brown leather jacket, he in a cream sweater.
A smiling young couple embraces outdoors in a sunlit park, he in a cream sweater and she in a brown leather jacket and red bandana.
Couple holding hands as they walk away along a leaf-covered path through autumn trees, her wearing a red bandana and brown leather jacket.
A couple holds hands and smiles while walking away on a leaf-covered path through a sunlit autumn forest.
Couple embracing and touching foreheads in a sunlit field surrounded by colorful autumn trees with red and orange fall foliage.
A couple embraces and smiles at each other in warm golden sunlight surrounded by colorful autumn trees in a peaceful outdoor field.
Smiling couple embracing in a sunlit field surrounded by colorful autumn trees, perfect for engagement or fall portrait photography.
Couple embracing in a sunlit autumn park with colorful red and orange fall foliage and golden light filtering through the trees.
A man in a cream sweater kisses the forehead of a smiling woman in a red headscarf and leather jacket in a sunlit autumn park.
Couple embracing in an autumn park, a curly-haired man in a cream sweater holding a smiling woman in a brown leather jacket.
Smiling couple embracing outdoors in warm autumn light, the woman wearing a red bandana and brown leather jacket beside a curly-haired man.
A smiling woman in a brown leather jacket embraces a curly-haired man in a white sweater as he kisses her forehead in a sunlit autumn park.
Smiling young couple embracing outdoors in warm autumn light, the woman in a brown leather jacket and the man hugging her from behind.
A smiling couple holds hands while walking through a sunlit field, surrounded by vibrant red and orange autumn trees.
Smiling couple holding hands and walking through a sunlit autumn field with vibrant red and orange fall foliage in the background.
Woman in a red bandana and brown leather jacket holds hands with a partner while walking through an autumn apple orchard path.
A smiling couple holds hands while walking away through an orchard path lined with apple trees, she in a red headscarf and leather jacket.
Man lifting a smiling woman with red hair in a loving embrace between rows of fruit trees in an autumn orchard.
A smiling couple embraces in an orchard as a man in a cream sweater lifts a woman in a red bandana and leather jacket off the ground.
A couple shares a kiss in an orchard as he lifts her off the ground, she wears a red bandana, leather jacket and jeans.
A smiling couple embraces in an apple orchard as a man in a cream sweater lifts a laughing woman in a leather jacket among fruit trees.
Smiling couple embracing in a sunlit apple orchard, the woman in a brown leather jacket and the man in a light sweater.
A smiling young woman in a brown leather jacket embraces a curly-haired man in a gray sweater among orchard trees.
Laughing young couple embracing in a sunny apple orchard, the woman in a brown leather jacket and the man in a cream sweater.
A smiling young man gives a laughing young woman in a red bandana and leather jacket a piggyback ride along a leafy autumn path.
Black and white photo of a smiling couple embracing in an orchard, the man kissing her forehead as they stand among trees on grass.
A laughing couple embraces outdoors among green trees, she in a red headscarf and brown leather jacket, he in a light linen shirt.
Smiling young couple holding hands outdoors, the man in a cream polo and the woman in a brown leather jacket and red headscarf.
Smiling couple embracing outdoors among green trees, she in a red floral headscarf and brown leather jacket, he in a cream knit polo.
Two people in brown leather jackets hold dried autumn leaves and a gold pendant necklace in their cupped hands.
Hand wearing an ornate vintage-style gold ring with a center gem rests on another hand in front of green and yellow autumn leaves.
Hand wearing a gold winged insect ring with a small pearl, resting on another hand beside green apple leaves and yellow autumn foliage.
Black and white portrait of a smiling young woman in a leather jacket embraced from behind by a curly-haired man in a polo shirt outdoors.
Smiling couple standing close together on a grassy path between apple trees in an autumn orchard, perfect for engagement photos.
Couple embracing in a sunlit autumn orchard, standing on a grassy path between fruit trees with golden leaves.
Couple in an embrace in a sunlit apple orchard, the woman in a red headscarf and leather jacket kissing the man's cheek.
Young couple walking hand in hand through an autumn orchard with fruit trees and golden leaves on a grassy path.
A young couple holds hands and walks together through an orchard of autumn trees on a grassy path in the countryside.
A man in a gray sweater and a woman in a red headscarf and brown jacket walk together through an orchard with leafy trees.
A smiling young couple walks arm in arm through an autumn orchard, surrounded by apple trees and fallen leaves.
Smiling young couple embracing and walking together through a sunlit orchard with grassy ground and fruit trees in autumn.
A smiling young man and woman hold hands while walking through a sunlit orchard, she in a leather jacket and red headband.
A smiling woman in a red bandana and leather jacket holds hands with a curly-haired man while walking through a golden autumn field.
A smiling young woman in a red headscarf and leather jacket sits on a red picnic table talking with a man in a park with autumn foliage.
Couple sitting close together on a red picnic table in a sunny autumn forest clearing with yellow-leafed trees and tall evergreens.
Couple sitting close together on a red picnic table surrounded by autumn trees and tall evergreens in a sunlit, grassy forest clearing.
A smiling young couple sits close together on a red picnic bench outdoors, she in a red headscarf and leather jacket, he in a white shirt.
Couple holding hands as they walk away on a wooden plank bridge through a golden autumn field, she in a red head scarf and leather jacket.
Couple embracing on a grassy path between lush green vineyard rows with autumn-tinted trees under a soft overcast sky.
Couple embracing on a grassy path between lush green vineyard rows with tall evergreen trees in the background.
Couple embracing in a lush green garden, a woman with bright red hair and leather jacket smiling at a man in a light sweater.
A couple embraces between rows of leafy vines in a vineyard, with tall evergreen trees and a soft overcast sky in the background.
A couple in a red headscarf, leather jacket and jeans embrace forehead to forehead on a grassy path between lush green bushes and trees.
Couple embracing among green vines in a sunlit vineyard with tall evergreen trees in the background.
Smiling couple embracing in a sunlit vineyard, the woman in a red bandana and leather jacket, surrounded by green vines and tall trees.
A man lifts a smiling woman in a red bandana into the air while embracing her in a sunlit meadow of wildflowers with tall trees behind.
A man lifts a smiling woman in a red headscarf into an embrace among green vineyard rows with tall evergreen trees behind them.
A smiling couple embraces as a man lifts a woman in a red headscarf between green berry bushes on a grassy path with tall trees behind.
Couple in a romantic dip embrace among wildflowers and green bushes, she wears a red bandana and leather jacket in a sunlit field.
Black and white photo of a couple embracing in a romantic dip kiss among tall wildflowers and leafy plants with a dark forest behind them.
Romantic couple embracing face to face among green vines in a sunlit vineyard, the woman wearing a red headscarf and leather jacket.
Smiling couple embracing in a green field, the woman in a red bandana and leather jacket, with trees softly blurred behind.
A smiling couple embraces in a green meadow, the woman wearing a red bandana and brown leather jacket, the man in a cream sweater.
Smiling couple embracing outdoors, the woman in a red bandana and brown leather jacket, surrounded by lush autumn foliage.
Smiling couple embracing outdoors, a curly-haired man in a cream polo and a woman in a red headscarf and brown leather jacket.
Wild Queen Anne's lace flowers in sharp focus with a blurred couple standing in a sunlit meadow under a soft blue sky.
A couple embraces among lush green vineyard rows under a bright blue sky with wispy clouds, captured in a romantic outdoor engagement photo.
A smiling woman in a red bandana and brown leather jacket is embraced from behind by a curly-haired man in a field of greenery.
A smiling young woman in a red headscarf and brown leather jacket is embraced from behind by a young man in a cream sweater outdoors.
A smiling woman rides piggyback on a man as he walks along a grassy path between green vineyard rows with tall trees behind.
Smiling couple holding hands and walking along a grassy path between green vineyard rows with tall evergreen trees in the background.
A smiling couple holds hands and runs laughing along a grassy path between green vineyard rows with tall evergreen trees in the background.
A smiling couple holds hands and runs along a grassy path between green vineyard rows with tall evergreen trees in the background.
A smiling young couple holds hands and runs laughing along a grassy path between green vineyard rows with tall evergreen trees behind.
A couple holds hands while walking away on wooden pallets through a dry grassy field, she in a red bandana and leather jacket.
Young couple embracing and gazing at each other in a golden grassy field, she wears a red bandana and brown leather jacket.
A couple in an affectionate embrace touching foreheads in a golden grass field, she wears a red bandana and brown leather jacket.
A couple embraces and kisses in a golden autumn field, she wears a red bandana and brown leather jacket.
Couple embracing forehead to forehead in a golden dry grass field, she wears a red bandana and leather jacket, he wears a white sweater.
Black and white photo of a couple embracing closely in a grassy field, her arms wrapped around his neck as they touch foreheads.
Black and white photo of a couple embracing in a tall grass field, the man in a polo shirt nuzzling a woman in a leather jacket.
A smiling young woman and man toss autumn leaves in the air beside a tree with golden foliage in a sunlit park.
A young woman and man laugh while tossing autumn leaves into the air beneath a tree with golden foliage in a leaf-covered park.
Laughing young couple tossing colorful autumn leaves into the air while standing beneath a tree with yellow and green fall foliage.
A smiling young couple tosses autumn leaves into the air beneath a tree with golden yellow foliage in a sunlit park.
Young couple laughing and tossing colorful autumn leaves in the air beneath a tree with yellow and green fall foliage.
Couple kissing under a tree with golden autumn leaves falling around them, she wears a red headscarf and leather jacket.

Planning a proposal, engagement session, or wedding in Apple Hill or anywhere in Northern California? We would love to tell your story next — you can book a consultation here!