Planning a Surprise Proposal at the Mont St Michel ?
Here’s help from professional engagement and proposal photographer Sabina Cowdery of Anibas Photography.
You’re organising a trip to France and you’ve had the idea of planning a surprise proposal at the Mont-st-Michel? You’d love to have that magical moment captured with beautiful photographs? You’ve never been to the Mont-St-Michel and you don’t know where to start or how to make it happen?
Don’t worry…let me help. In the last few years I’ve helped many couples have an unforgettable proposal and engagement photo-shoot and I’ve promptly provided a beautiful set of photos for them to announce their engagement.
I appreciate that it must be hard to try and organise your once-in-a-lifetime proposal at a location you’ve never visited before. That’s what I’m here, not only to capture the images for you that you can treasure for a lifetime but also let me offer you some tips and guidance as I know the location well to allow you to plan your perfect proposal.
The time of day.
This obviously depends on your travel plans and whether you’re staying at the Mont overnight, or at a nearby location. First and foremost, we fit the proposal time around your needs.
For me as a photographer, I would choose a proposal time that is an hour and a half before sunset. If it’s a sunny day this gives us the soft, warm and flattering light that is ideal for not only the proposal moment but also for the photo-shoot around the Mont afterwards.
Depending on the time of year this could be at around 8:30pm in summer to around 4:30pm in Winter. Speaking of winter, as sunrise is much later, then a ‘sunrise’ photo-shoot isn’t too early as it can be around 9am.
If you’re travelling in summer, if at all possible it’s better to avoid 11am – 4pm as there are many, many visitors to the island. But rest assured that even if that’s the only time that’s available to you, I’ll take you to quieter places around the island away from the crowds to enjoy your moment
The Proposal Spot
Choosing the spot that works best for you.
There are THREE locations that work well for proposal locations at the Mont-St-Michel, allowing me to capture the Mont in the background, without other visitors in view. Each have a different look and each have their own pros and cons. Let me show you each of them and then I’ll add plus and minus points to help you work out which would work best for you.
The BRIDGE Proposal Spot
At the Mont St Michel
BRIDGE Proposal Spot
Pros and Cons
PROS
Easiest to explain to your partner as it’s just near where the shuttle buses arrive at the Mont.
Closest to the island so as soon as you’ve enjoyed your proposal moment it’s straight onto the island for your engagement photo-shoot
CONS
It can be busier than the other two locations, but be assured you’ll only be focussing on your magical moment and will forget that there’s anyone else there.
“There aren’t many negatives really. It’s the most popular choice for proposers and my favourite too, but the choice is entirely up to you. This is YOUR moment.”
The MARSHLANDS Proposal Spot
At the Mont St Michel
MARSHLANDS Proposal Spot
Pros and Cons
PROS
It’s away from anyone apart from the odd few people walking
It’s green and sometimes has the pré-salé sheep which can look great.
CONS
It’s the furthest away from the island, taking about 10/15 minutes to walk from the ‘dam’ bus stop
If the weather has been rainy or there have been high tides over the marshlands recently it can be muddy or damp
It is a marshland field that has sheep.
You have green grass before the Mont so it doesn’t look like an island.
It’s probably the hardest one to explain to your partner…as to why you want to go for a walk in a field, rather than heading to the island.
The DAM Proposal Spot
At the Mont St Michel
DAM Proposal Spot
Pros and Cons
PROS
It’s easier to get to than the Marshlands and might have fewer people than the bridge spot.
It’s got a wooden walkway so easier to walk than the marshlands.
It’s easier to explain to your partner than the marshlands as it’s a known viewpoint for photos.
CONS
The Mont is smaller in the background
It’s further away than the bridge and we’d then catch the shuttle bus to the Mont for the engagement shoot around the island.
What about prices and photo packages for your surprise proposal at the Mont St Michel ?
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your ideas and dates.
If you’d like to know more about the tides, the weather and the time of day for your surprise proposal at the Mont-St-Michel keep on reading below…
The tides at the Mont St Michel
You’ve read that the Mont-St-Michel becomes an island at high tide. So how would that affect your proposal and photo-shoot ? Actually, the Mont only becomes completely cut off during the the very high ‘Spring’ tides which only happens on about 12-15 days a year and even then the island is only ‘cut off’ for a couple of hours at high tide. Even then it’s not even knee deep at the entrance to the Mont, I’ve walked through it one time at the end of a shoot.
My point is, don’t worry about the tides. Most of the time the tides won’t affect your proposal at all and I’ll always check when we’re at the planning stage.
The weather at the Mont St Michel
The weather can play a larger part in the organisation of your photo-shoot than anything else. If you haven’ travelled to Normandy before, it in north-western France and doesn’t have the more Mediterranean good weather and sunshine of the south of France. It’s lovely to have a beautiful sunset during the summer months but it isn’t always guaranteed.
Normandy can be overcast and it does rain. What I offer to do is for the day of your photo-shoot I keep the whole day free and we can regularly (discreetly) communicate and adjust the time of the proposal moment if rain is forecast.
Don’t be disappointed if it’s overcast though. From a photography point of view, cloudy weather offers, soft flattering light and can be easier for those with sensitive eyes.
All types of weather can be expected when planning a surprise proposal at the Mont-Saint-Michel.
That’s part of what makes every proposal unique. The weather, the light, the time of day and most importantly…YOU! No two proposals are the same because you are unique. Your reactions, your emotions, your love for each other.
My heart beats fast and I get emotional as each proposal happens as I imagine the nervous anticipation of the person proposing and then shock and excitement of the person receiving the proposal. There’s nothing better than my job in that moment knowing I’m capturing a magical moment in a couple’s life. I’m so lucky to help plan surprise proposals at the Mont St Michel.
Have a flick through these images to see just a small variety of different weather scenarios…
Other information about planning a Surprise Proposal at the Mont St Michel.
If arriving just before the proposal :
If coming via car, you’ll park in the official car parks. The fee for the car park, (that you’ll pay on exit) is in essence your entry fee to the island. The only other fee to pay is if you’d like to visit the Abbey at the top of the island (before or after the photo-shoot.
From the car park you’ll walk to the free shuttle bus stop to catch a shuttle all the way to the island for a ‘Bridge’ proposal.
For a ‘Dam’ or ‘Marshlands’ proposal you’ get off at the second bus stop (near the ‘Le Relais’ hotel and restaurant.
There can be a queue to catch the shuttle bus so you might not catch the first one. It often takes 15-30 minutes to get from the car park to the Island, so allow for that in your planning time before the proposal moment.
“For whichever proposal spot you choose I’d send you an annotated google map image and more information as to exactly where I’d be, what I’d be wearing and how we discreetly manage the proposal moment so that I can capture all the emotions in wonderful images that you can share with family and friends and that you can treasure forever.”
Would you like to check out what clients have said about their surprise proposal photo-shoots at the Mont-St-Michel?
It was a pleasure working with Sabina! Traveled from other country to France and helped me to plan a proposal. Photos were great and the communication excellent!
Bennett, USA
Sabina was fantastic! I reached out with a location and she helped me plan all the details about our engagment and photoshoot afterwards. She knew the best places to take photos and helped us get a range of poses. The resulting pictures were excellent and she was quick to make further edits to the finals when we asked for them. She is a master at her craft!
Tait, US
My fiancé and I had an absolutely wonderful experience with Sabina as she secretly captured our most special moment.
She perfectly executed my fiancé’s vision of how he wanted our engagement moment to be captured- it was absolutely stunning and we are so thrilled. Aside from capturing the actual moment, Sabina then walked us through an entire engagement photoshoot, bearing with us as my fiancé and I were both feeling a bit “camera shy”. She made us feel comfortable in front of the camera and offered suggestions for how and where we might pose together for a variety of shots.
Jordie, USA
I would really recommend Anibas! Took the time to do planning with me for when/where to do my photoshoot. She chose a really beautiful place and the pictures turned out perfect I am really happy with how everything turned out. Again really recommend her for a photoshoot only took 2 days to have everything ready from photoshoot to having the pictures ready for you
500 Star Review !
Sabina was an absolute GEM find for our surprise engagement. My now fiance is camera shy and she made the experience comfortable, fun and she let our personalities show. Thank you for irreplaceable memories!!! 500 star review!
Carlie & Auxane
Jerome, Hong Kong
Sabina was nothing short of spectacular. I hired her to take photographs for a surprise engagement for my now fiancee at Mont Saint Michel. She made the entire planning experience straightforward and was responsive to my questions and provided many helpful suggestions, such as when and where to propose (for the best photos). On the day itself, Sabina was very clear with her location and was kind enough to wait despite us running a little late.
Zoya, USA
Sabina was absolutely wonderful and an amazingly talented photographer. If you are looking for the best, book with her.
Jerome, Hong Kong
The photoshoot itself was a seamless and comfortable experience with Sabina’s expertise shining through. She gave us helpful suggestions for poses while still allowing us to explore and remain candid – where we needed guidance on how to pose for a photo, Sabina was there to provide her recommendation.
We could not be happier to share our engagement moment with Sabina and the photos have turned out stunningly.
I have no complaints and I can whole heartedly recommend her to anyone.
Zak’s Proposal Shoot
I can’t say enough about the incredible experience that Sabina was able to provide. From start to finish, she exceeded all our expectations and made our special day truly unforgettable.
Sabina’s dedication and willingness to go above and beyond stood out right from the beginning. She not only accommodated my request for a unique location but also embraced the adventure with enthusiasm. We decided on Mont St. Michael, and Sabina didn’t hesitate to hike through the mud and fields to capture the perfect angle for our engagement photos.
Tait, US
Sabina was incredibly communicative. She responded promptly to our emails and messages, and was very flexible with our changing of order number (because we loved so many photos and had the hardest time choosing which we wanted… another testament to her work)! Lastly, Sabina edited and sent the photos to us in a really reasonable amount of time; she even offered to send us a few sneak peaks in a matter of a few days so that we had some to enjoy while she finished editing the entire album.
We are overly thrilled with our photos and experience with Sabina and would highly recommend her for any photography needs!
Justin, USA
I went to Anibas Photography & Design to capture a surprise proposal at Mont St Michel. Both the proposal and the photos turned out great, and I wish I could work with Sabina again for other events in the future.
Aside from the photoshoot itself, Sabina also made other aspects of the event very easy. Sabina replied to every email extremely quickly, and her services and pricing were clear from her very first email. She was also sociable and accommodating of my own personal technical difficulties. In line with everything else, Sabina provided us all of our photos very quickly.
Yaswanth, Toronto
My experience with Sabina was awesome. She is very responsive and quite knowledgeable about Mont St Michel. She helped me plan the ideal proposal by offering multiple different options, and suggested the perfect way to set up the moment. She did everything she could to make this successful for us and constantly went above and beyond. She was also very quick with photos turnaround time and they turned out great! I would 100% recommend her as a photographer.
Laurent, France
A surprise photo shoot for my 50th birthday at Mont St Michel.
And a wonderful encounter with Sabina.
A true pro who captures the best moments.
The result is simply magical, a magician who makes the ordinary extraordinary.
BRAVO
Zak’s Proposal Shoot
What I appreciated most about Sabina was her ability to be discreet allowing me to plan and execute a surprise proposal flawlessly. Sabina captured all the genuine emotions and reactions without my fiancé realizing she was there. After the proposal, she was kind enough to capture many more photos all around Mont St. Michael.
Sabina’s talent and passion for photography are evident in every shot she takes, she has a gift for capturing the essence of the moment.
Zak’s Proposal Shoot
If you’re looking for an engagement photographer who is not only incredibly talented but also willing to go the extra mile to make your special moment perfect, look no further than Sabina. She is a true artist and professional, and we couldn’t be happier with the photos she captured.
Thank you, Sabina, for making our engagement day so magical!
Redmond, Hong Kong
Has been a brilliant experience. Sabina has been very patient during our discussion on the arrangement for the photography session. Would definitely recommend the service.
Imani, Sinagapore
Sabina was everything I hoped for and more! Not only did she meet expectations with her performance and professionalism, but she also accommodated us on changes last minute. We had similar visions in mind, and I couldn’t have asked for anyone better than Sabina to capture my husband’s and I’s special moment. Also, a special thank you is needed for including my loved ones!
If there is doubt about scheduling with her, don’t.
Pumchanut,
Sabina helped me with a surprise proposal photoshoot. She is not only a uniquely skilled photographer but also a great planner. I could not have asked for a better photographer!!
Tips to explain your plans to your loved one so they don't realise that you're planning a surprise proposal whilst you're at the Mont-St-Michel.
If you think they'd prefer their proposal and its photo-shoot all dressed up with nice outfits... tell them you've booked a smart restaurant for a nice meal.
For the Marshlands proposal spot...tell them you've heard about the famous pré-salé sheep that eat the marshlands grass around the Mont St Michel. the fields are enclosed part are part of a public pathway and you're free to enter and walk around the area to experience being near the sheep.
If you choose the 'Dam' proposal spot... tell them that it's good to get off the shuttle bus and take photos there first as it's a quieter place with a great view.
If you've chosen the 'Bridge' proposal spot... as you get off the shuttle bus walk AWAY from the island (towards me) suggesting to get away from other visitors getting off the bus, to take a few selfies away from the crowds.
Try and bring only what you need. If you're travelling by car, try and leave bags, drinks bottles or sunglasses in the car... travel light.
Do you have any questions or would you like to get planning ?
Don't hesitate to get in touch with your travel plans and dates.
I'm here to help you with all the planning to make your proposal perfect.
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