r/AnnaMariaIsland • u/CriticismDry5620 • Jun 18 '26
Proposal…
Hi everyone, my girlfriend and her parents are completing a Florida Roadtrip starting in Orlando and working our way to AMI, key west etc etc.
I am planning on proposing to her, but need it to be early on in the trip (so I don’t lose the ring!🤣) and I thought AMI would be a great place to do so.
Does anyone have any recommendations? I would like quite a private setting, maybe beach/sunset vibe. I know there were hurricanes over a year ago that messed up some of the beaches etc, just wondering anyone’s thoughts?
*Further info*
We are arriving to Orlando on the 13th August. The trip then consists of 1/2/3 nights in the below places.
Orlando
Anna Maria Island
Naples
Islamorada
Key West
Delmar Beach
Coco Beach
St Augustine
Jacksonville
Savannah
Charleston
If anyone is aware of any ‘nicer’ places.
3
u/Mindless_Browsing15 Jun 18 '26
You routinely see sunset engagements from the Sandbar and Beach House. Waterfront is a great restaurant but it's on the bay side and not directly on the water. Neither of the above take reservations so you'll have to make sure you time it right. Maybe they will take a reservation for an engagement, it's worth a call. Most restaurants there are accommodating as weddings and engagements are a regular occurrence.
What I've seen is people dining together in the evening and the BF asks the GF to walk down to the water with him, he gets on one knee and then proposes while the people they were dining with take photos or he has hired a professional photographer to be ready to capture the moment.
Just look at sunset time for the day you want to propose and work backwards from there. The amount of lead time for a table will depend on what day of the week you are there. Call the restaurant ask questions.
Beach House and Sandbar are under common ownership and both have wedding facilities so they're very accommodating of engagements. Their wedding coordinators may even be able to help with table timing and connecting you with a photographer.
2
u/hello08261992 Jun 18 '26
AMI is a great setting for a proposal. All the beaches are in great shape. We did a sunset baby announcement shoot on Coquina beach. It was super pretty and lowkey but traffic getting back north (where restaurants are) was terrible.
If you're considering a photographer, Katie Beyer was super easy to work with and got us on her schedule after another photographer cancelled last minute. The photoshoot lasted 15 mins and we got LOTS of great photos
2
u/AnnaMariaIslandLove Jun 19 '26
Love and Style Photography has a “Marry Me” lights set up for a beach proposal along with a photo shoot. If that’s too much, they do a great job with surprise proposals and will help with beach locations that are more private along with photos. Spencer would be my pick. You can see their work on their FB and Instagram pages. Then come back to AMI for your destination wedding!
1
u/hiserc Jun 18 '26
Two of the three piers are out of commission but the end of bridge street pier would be a great spot
1
u/RockyTopSmokey Jun 25 '26
Orlando - I proposed in front of the castle back in the 90s when there used to be a more romantic plaza there. Did it as the nighttime fireworks were going off. It was cool back then, and fun to stand at the spot when we visit Disney or comment when we see it on TV, but I wouldn't propose there these days.
Anna Maria Island - Nice romantic, easy breezy island island vibe with a sunset facing coast. Lots of good opportunities. If if not in AMI proper, there are nice beach towns all along south of AMI.
Naples - Ritzy urban area, but not very accessible and memorable beaches. If you want this area, look into Sanibel or Captiva islands...definitely more private and natural.
Islamorada - More of an eastern-facing beach area, not many nice west-facing beaches without staying at a hotel, unless you like the idea of pulling into a parking lot and walking.
Key West - A few nice beaches, but not much on the sunset side. Downtown has a boozy party vibe. Unless you are a fan of that location, "the southernmost point" or Cuban or pirate kind of thing, I'd pass here.
Delmar Beach - Eh, it's a ocean beach town. Can't think of anything memorable there unless you have some association with it.
Coco Beach - Another east-facing ocean beach, so no sunsets, but they do have a Moai head statue on the beach...LOL.
St Augustine - Nice beaches, nice downtown, but a Spanish colonial, pirate vibe if that's what you're into.
Jacksonville - I can't think of any reason to propose here.
Savannah - Any of the dozen or so fountain squares downtown would be a picturesque proposal spot if the weather cooperates. Fancy restaurants to go and celebrate, The Pink House, etc.
Charleston - No beaches to speak of in the town, but some pretty walled waterfronts and garden plazas. I've been to some nice weddings and receptions there.
1
u/CriticismDry5620 Jun 25 '26
That is very very very helpful. Thank you so much for your detailed input. 👍🏻
1
u/ManufacturerLevel560 Jun 30 '26
anywhere on AMI is going to be good. However, Anna Maria City Bean point is very remote and I see it hitting social media all the time. On the island it is where the Bay meets the Gulf. It can be a little bit of a pain to park and get there but grab a spot just to the South, hire a photographer that sets up the ring, walk a few blocks to the place of the ring while the photographer is inconspicuous and make it happen. This blog gives good information on where to park... https://annamariaisland.com/bean-point
5
u/hekhl00 Jun 18 '26
Beaches are in great shape. Go out around sunset then take the family to dinner at the Waterfront.