Timing a Proposal with Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks in Tokyo
Almost everyone looks forward to the new year. Across cultures, there are many ways to welcome it. Some families prepare a lavish feast, some head out to celebrate, and some choose to spend the final days of the year planning a proposal to the love of their life. No matter how it’s celebrated, most people look forward to the fireworks that mark the start of a new chapter.
But for Ken Li, he couldn’t wait until New Year’s Eve. Just days before we all bid farewell to 2025, he proposed to his girlfriend, now fiancée, Caroline. That way, they could end the year and welcome the new one already engaged.
Ken and I began planning the proposal early on, as he wanted to incorporate the annual Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks into the moment. This rare fireworks display took place every Saturday in December at 7:00 p.m., lasting only five minutes. Because of that, timing was everything. We had just five minutes to get the shot right.
Ken booked a King Terrace Suite at Hilton Tokyo Odaiba on December 27, the final day of the Rainbow Fireworks. Planning the proposal was especially tricky, as it needed to remain a surprise while also perfectly timed with the fireworks. Since I wasn’t physically present that day, my associate, Tah Kitti, took over the shoot.
Tah Kitti was given access to the hotel room ahead of time to capture the surprise setup and preparations. We arranged heart-shaped candles on the terrace and created a “timeline hallway,” where photos of Ken and Caroline were displayed along the walls. A lot of time went into planning the decorations, making sure every detail was thought through so the day would run as smoothly as possible.
Although the couple arrived a bit later than planned, Ken was still able to propose exactly the way he envisioned. The moment was intimate, and all the effort they put into the decorations and room setup truly paid off. We also coordinated with the hotel on the day itself, arranging a video to play on the TV with visuals and music to set the mood.
As always, Tah Kitti gave his full effort and even stayed longer to ensure we captured not only the proposal photos and videos, but also the fireworks themselves. He followed my advice on managing the contrast between the bright fireworks and the dark night sky during the 7:00 p.m. shoot.
Ken booked a standard two-hour package with an added static video option, which allowed us to fully cover both the proposal and the fireworks session, and Tah Kitti delivered exactly that.
Everyone involved in the planning process was happy, from the hotel staff to our team. But no one was happier than the couple who had just said yes to forever. Their stay in Japan became even more meaningful because of this moment.
While many were busy wrapping up the year, our team was grateful to end 2025 by capturing another love story. We’ve worked with so many couples over the years, and it never gets old.
If you’re hoping to make your own love story extra special and beautifully documented, we’d love to help. With our experience, we make sure everything feels smooth, thoughtful, and stress-free for you and your partner.
