Seventeen roses. It was one of the first details Dimitry raised when we talked about the flowers, and it told me a lot about how much thought he had put into the day. In Michelle's culture, an even number of flowers is considered bad luck, so the bouquet had to be an odd number. Nothing about the morning would be left to chance, and that included the stems.
A planned surprise for someone who does not like surprises
Dimitry wrote to me from the East Coast of the United States, planning a trip to Japan with Michelle and her parents. He wanted a private proposal with just the two of them, and needed help with almost everything: the location, the flowers, and Michelle's hair and makeup.
There was one more detail that shaped the whole plan. Michelle knew the proposal was happening somewhere in Japan, and she knew the day was being taken care of. What she did not know was which day, or where. And she is not someone who enjoys true surprises. Dimitry's solution was a planned surprise: she would understand something was coming the moment the makeup artist arrived, but the location and the exact moment would stay a mystery.
I liked that approach immediately. A surprise that respects the person receiving it is a better surprise.
We spoke across several calls, and Dimitry was patient about the time difference, which made the planning feel easy even from opposite sides of the world. Between calls, we worked through each piece one at a time.
Choosing the perfect garden and the plan
For the location, Dimitry chose a private garden in Kyoto: Hakuryuen Garden. A private garden gives a proposal something public spots rarely can. The trade-off is that the garden has to be reserved, and the visit is limited to two hours, so the timing needs to be tight and well planned. I secured the permits and confirmed the booking so Dimitry did not have to think about any of it.
We talked about the season too. October is a little early for full autumn color in Kyoto, which usually peaks around late November. I would rather share that honestly before the trip than have anyone arrive expecting red maples and find green ones. A garden like this has its own beauty at any time of year, and the target start of 9:30 AM gave us soft morning light to work with.
For the hair and makeup, Michelle wanted a soft glam look, and Dimitry had told me exactly how she likes her hair, which helped the stylist get it right without having to guess. It is a small thing, but knowing your partner well enough to describe her favorite style to a stranger says a great deal.
The bouquet was roses, in that odd number, put together with Michelle's culture in mind. It is the kind of detail that nobody in the photographs will ever see, and the kind that matters most to the person who thought of it.
The morning at the Hakuryuen Garden
I met Dimitry in the morning and introduced him to the makeup artist. Once everything was set, I drove Michelle's parents to the garden with the makeup artist ahead of the couple, so we could be waiting and set up before anyone else arrived. Dimitry and Michelle traveled in a separate car, and I picked them up from their Airbnb to bring them to the garden.
The rain forecast was the one thing hanging over the morning. The weather had been uncertain in the days before, and I was ready to adapt. But the clouds held back, and the garden stayed dry.
Michelle did not know where the car was taking her. When she stepped into the garden, the location itself was the surprise, and her reaction to it came before Dimitry had said a word. She was struck by how beautiful it was.
Then he asked, and she said yes.
The parents were close enough to share it, which gave the morning a warmth that a completely private moment does not always have. Everyone who mattered most to both of them was there. We had the garden for two hours, and we used all of it.
Before they left the garden, I recommended two restaurants for dinner so they could continue celebrating that evening. A proposal deserves a meal afterward, and Kyoto does dinner better than almost anywhere.
The photos were delivered quickly, and the message that followed was short and happy, and Dimitry later left a review
“Thierry was an absolute amazing person to work with. He took the time to listen and work with me directly across multiple meetings to discuss and help me come up with idea for my planned proposal in Japan. He was accommodating of the time zone difference for me as I am from the east cost of the U.S. He helped me discuss the location of the proposal, arrangements for Hair and Makeup for my now Fiance, as well as flowers and the photo shoot itself. He was communicative, direct, and very easy and enjoyable to work with. The photos after the shoot were delivered quickly and looked amazing. I would highly recommend using Fun Creative for any planned special event as he took the time to really listen and help create an unforgettable experience. I would use Fun Creative again if I ever wanted to plan a special occasion in Japan. His pricing was very reasonable for the services offered and the ability to easily communicate with him as English is my only language made the whole experience smooth.”
And that is exactly what I hope people feel when they plan with us.
Planning a proposal in Kyoto and thinking about adding hair, makeup, flowers, and a private garden to the day? Get in touch and let's put the whole morning together, one detail at a time.
