Proposal at Stokksnes | Amanda & Shawn

Harry Potter-inspired proposal

When Shawn first reached out, it was to plan what Amanda believed would be a simple couple’s photoshoot during their Iceland trip. They were travelling across the country, chasing waterfalls and black sand beaches — the kind of trip that feels like a dream.

But behind every email and every message, Shawn was quietly crafting something extraordinary. What Amanda didn’t know was that the photoshoot was never just about pictures — it was the stage for a moment he had been imagining for months.

And the idea? A Harry Potter-inspired proposal — a nod to Amanda’s favourite story and a world they both loved.

Planning a proposal from across the world takes effort, trust, and a little magic. Shawn poured his heart into the details, turning an idea into something that felt straight out of the wizarding world.

He worked closely with me behind the scenes — timing, lighting, and logistics all quietly falling into place. Together, we mapped out every step so Amanda would never suspect a thing. The goal was simple: to make the moment feel like it had always been meant to happen there, between the mountains and the sea.

The centrepiece of Shawn’s plan was the golden snitch ring box — a shimmering orb with wings that opened to reveal the engagement ring. Inside it, the symbol of their story. But it wasn’t going to be as simple as just opening it.

Because every good story has a twist.

The Hidden Key in the proposal

Before they arrived at Stokksnes, Shawn had one final touch in mind. He carefully taped a small, delicate key to Amanda’s back — hidden out of sight, waiting to be discovered when the time was right.

As we started the “photoshoot,” the light at Stokksnes was breathtaking. The sun hung low, spilling gold across the black sand dunes. Vestrahorn’s jagged peaks towered in the distance, their reflections shimmering across the wet sand. The wind swept through Amanda’s hair, wild and beautiful.

Shawn smiled, nervous but ready. He stepped closer, holding the golden snitch in his hands.

He gestured for her to turn around. Her fingers brushed her back, feeling the tape, the hidden shape of something small. When she pulled it free, her eyes widened. A tiny key glinted in the light — and in that instant, she knew something was happening.

She fit the key into the snitch, turned it gently, and watched it open in her hands.

Inside, the ring waited.

He asked, she said yes, and the world — for that one fleeting moment — felt like it had stopped.

More Than a Proposal

Proposals like Shawn’s remind us that love stories are personal — and the most powerful moments come when you weave meaning into every detail. Whether it’s a favourite book, a shared memory, or a secret only the two of you understand, those are the things that make your story timeless.

Stokksnes — with its sweeping dunes, dramatic peaks, and open sky — became the perfect canvas. The kind of place that makes you feel small, but alive. The kind of place where magic doesn’t feel imagined — it feels real.

As the wind carried their laughter out toward the sea, the black sand glittered under the soft light. And in the middle of it all, a golden snitch rested open in Amanda’s hands — a tiny piece of their love story, now part of Iceland forever.

How to make your proposal more personal

The best proposals don’t come from a Pinterest board.

They come from you — from your story, your shared laughter, your inside jokes, your quiet moments that no one else sees.

Because at its heart, a proposal isn’t about perfection.

It’s about meaning.

It’s the moment you say this is ours — and every detail, no matter how small, should feel like it could only belong to the two of you.

Whether it’s a helicopter ride over glaciers, a picnic in a wild canyon, or a golden snitch hidden in your partner’s hands — making your proposal personal turns it from a grand gesture into an unforgettable memory.

Here’s how to do it.

1.) Incorporate Shared Passions

Start with what makes your relationship yours. Maybe it’s a favourite book, movie, or shared adventure. Maybe it’s late-night pizza, hiking trips, or something that sounds simple but means everything to the two of you.

Incorporating shared passions doesn’t mean turning your proposal into a performance — it means weaving your story into the moment.

If your partner loves Harry Potter, hide the ring in a golden snitch like Shawn did for Amanda at Stokksnes. If you bonded over travel, plan a route that includes all your favourite types of landscapes — ocean, mountains, waterfalls. If you first met at a concert, bring music into the moment.

It’s these layers that make your proposal feel deeply personal — not just beautiful, but real.

2.) Add Layers of Meaning

The best proposals tell a story. And stories are made of details — the kind of details that reflect who you are as a couple.

Think about small surprises or clues that connect to your shared memories. Maybe it’s a note tucked into your partner’s jacket, a map marking the place you first met, or a symbolic object like a compass or key.

Meaning doesn’t come from extravagance; it comes from intention. Every layer should whisper something about your relationship — where you’ve been, and where you’re going.

A proposal built this way doesn’t just surprise your partner — it moves them. It makes them feel seen.

3.) Think Experience, Not Just Setting

When you picture your proposal, what do you imagine?

If it’s a sweeping view, that’s beautiful. But remember — the most powerful part of your proposal isn’t where it happens, it’s how it feels.

The location is the canvas. The experience is the art.

It’s the anticipation before the question. The wind brushing against your skin. The sound of waves crashing behind you. The way your partner’s eyes widen when they realize what’s happening.

That’s the story you’ll remember — not just the coordinates, but the emotions.

So when planning, focus on the experience. Is it quiet and intimate? Is it playful and adventurous? Do you want laughter, tears, or both? The more you shape it around how you want it to feel, the more personal it becomes.

4.) Collaborate with Your Photographer

A truly personal proposal deserves to be captured by someone who understands your vision — not just technically, but emotionally.

Choose a photographer who knows how to balance artistry with sensitivity. Someone who can stay invisible in the moment, yet still capture the intimacy of the experience.

A good photographer is more than someone pressing a shutter — they’re your guide, your co-conspirator, the calm voice in the storm.

They’ll help with logistics like timing, light, and privacy. They’ll scout locations, prepare backup plans, and even help you figure out where to stand so the photo captures every heartbeat of the moment.

When you collaborate with someone who shares your values and excitement, the result is more than photographs — it’s storytelling in its purest form.

5.) Keep It Real

The truth is, even the best-laid plans will always bend to life’s unpredictability — especially in Iceland. Wind shifts. Clouds roll in. Rings fall in the sand (it’s happened!). But that’s what makes the moment genuine.

Don’t chase perfection — chase presence.

The best proposals aren’t rehearsed; they’re felt. They’re when your partner’s laughter mixes with surprise, or when you forget the speech you practiced but somehow say everything that matters anyway.

Let your partner’s personality guide the energy of the moment. If they’re introverted, make it private and still. If they love adventure, let it be wild and spontaneous.

When your proposal reflects your relationship, it becomes a memory that will never age — because it’s authentically you..

And when you look back, it won’t be the weather, the location, or even the photos that you remember most. It’ll be that feeling: the rush of joy, the sense of time standing still, the quiet knowing that this moment — this imperfect, beautiful, completely human moment — was meant to be.

Why Stokksnes makes a magical place to propose at

Some places feel too wild to be real — and Stokksnes is one of them.

A stretch of black sand shaped by the wind, the Atlantic’s rhythm echoing through the air, and the towering shadow of Vestrahorn rising in the distance. It’s a landscape that doesn’t just exist — it breathes.

That’s what makes a proposal at Stokksnes unforgettable.

This corner of Iceland is remote, raw, and endlessly cinematic. It’s the kind of place where you can hear your own heartbeat in the silence, where every gust of wind carries the weight of something ancient. The beauty here is unfiltered — volcanic dunes shifting beneath your feet, the light changing by the second, and mountains that seem to stand guard over your moment.

For couples who crave both adventure and intimacy, Stokksnes is perfection. It offers that rare balance — the thrill of the unknown and the comfort of solitude. You can walk hand in hand along the windswept dunes, feeling like you’re the only two people in the world. And in a way, you are.

What makes proposals here even more extraordinary is Iceland’s ever-changing weather. One minute, the sky is painted gold with sunlight breaking through the mist. The next fog rolls in and wraps around you like a secret. There’s no way to predict it — and that’s exactly the magic. The unpredictability makes every proposal real. No filters, no staging — just you, your love, and the elements in their purest form.

Proposing here isn’t about posing for perfect photos. It’s about capturing something true — the moment your story shifts from “someday” to “forever.”

At Stokksnes, love doesn’t just stand still for a photo. It belongs to the landscape — wild, breathtaking, and completely free.

Let’s plan it together. Hi 👋 I’m Lisa. Local adventure proposal photographer in Iceland.

Proposals in Iceland? Kinda my second name.

I photograph around 60 of them every year, so you could say we’ve mastered the art of “holy sh*t, did that just happen?!”

From surprise helicopter landings on snow-covered peaks to private moments inside glowing blue ice caves — with nothing but the northern lights and maybe an arctic fox as your witnesses — we’re here for all of it.

You’ll have a team who knows Iceland like their own backyard (because it literally is) and who’s just as hyped about this moment as you are.

Big feelings, big landscapes, zero stress. Let’s make this proposal unforgettable.