Allen’s very first message to me was refreshingly upfront. He had a few ideas, he had a hard time picking one, and he really wanted the whole thing to live up to what Caroline had in mind. Three months, one scouting trip, and a looooong email thread later, he proposed to her at Mayfield Park on a Saturday morning in April, surrounded by her favorite flowers.

Planning a Proposal Around Caroline

On our first call, Allen walked me through everything he knew about how Caroline would want this to go. First, she wanted a proposal in the city. She also did not want a sign, but she did want to celebrate with friends and family afterward. Then, a few weeks into planning, she mentioned (very casually, with no idea why he was asking) that she wouldn’t want anything too public. Allen took all of it to heart.

He also knew her favorite flower was a blue hydrangea, so that ended up shaping the whole setup.

Why Mayfield Park

We talked through a handful of spots from my list of the best places to propose in Austin, and Allen kept coming back to Mayfield. The stone archway, the cottage, the little tower with the red roof. While Caroline was out of town, he went to scout it in person with her sister and sent me photos of the tower in full sun and again under light clouds so we could check the light. Not many clients send me their own lighting tests.

We looked at the tea room at Laguna Gloria next door as a more private option, but it only had weekday times in April, so Mayfield it was.

The Permit Plot Twist

Mayfield photo permits open about 30 days out. The morning they opened, Allen went to book a late morning slot and found the park reserved after 10 for a wedding. We moved the proposal up to 9am, which had a bonus: fewer people wandering the gardens.

The only problem was Caroline. Her friends had already set up a fake brunch for that day, and Allen was worried that without a good reason to be up early, she would sleep right through it and just show up for brunch. He worked it out with their friends so she made it to the park on time.

Blue Hydrangeas in Front of the Tower

For florals, I connected Allen with Kristy at Wow Factor Floral. We went back and forth on cascading pillars and a faux flower arch, but Allen landed on real flowers, partly so he could bring them along to the celebrations afterward. Kristy made 5 floor arrangements of blue hydrangeas with delphinium and larkspur filling in the gaps, each two to three feet tall. Allen asked for white rose petals scattered on the ground between them.

I picked everything up and set it in front of the tower before Caroline arrived. Blue and white against all that April green.

The Proposal

Allen waited in front of the tower while Caroline’s friends walked her into the park, coffee in hand. Good thing they knew to take that coffee from her. She made it past the cottage and through most of the gardens before she spotted him, and the second she did, she knew. She covered her smile the whole way up to him.

Allen got down on one knee in front of the tower’s little red door. She said yes, and then came the hug.

Her friends didn’t stay hidden for long. They came over to see the ring, and we got a group photo with everyone in front of the tower and flowers before the two of them headed off into the gardens.

After the Yes

From there we wandered. We stopped against the stone wall of the tower, walked the garden paths past the purple irises, and ended up at the lily pond by the little waterfall. Allen gave Caroline a piggyback ride with her ring hand front and center, and we finished with a kiss on the stone path. Then they headed off to celebrate with the people they love, which is exactly what Caroline had wanted.

Tips for Planning Your Own Mayfield Park Proposal

Book your photo permit through the City of Austin as soon as the window opens, about 30 days before your date. Weekend slots go fast, and the park is often rented for events later in the day.

Go early. A 9am proposal meant softer light and a much quieter garden.

Also, check the light at the same time of day you plan to propose. You want your spot in full sun or full shade, not spotty light coming through the trees.

Florals and props are allowed, as long as there’s no open flame and nothing damages the property. If you’re thinking about anything big, ask Austin Parks and Recreation first.

Have a rain plan, too. The cottage porch works as a covered backup.

Finally, leave your dog at home. Pets aren’t allowed in the park, which the resident peacocks appreciate.

Allen and Caroline, congratulations! Thank you for letting me be part of this. I can’t wait to see what comes next for you two.

Planning a proposal in Austin and not sure where to start? Send us a message, we would love to help you plan it and be there when it happens.

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Location: Mayfield Park | Florals: Wow Factor Floral | Photography: Photos by Yaz