A Balboa Island Gondola Ride Proposal

The romantic gondola ride proposal on our wedding blog today will give you not only engagement inspiration but plenty of wedding ideas as well! From the beginning, this Balboa island dock mapped Corina & Vartan’s love story, so what better spot to say “Yes” to a life together than there? We love this proposal story, not only for it’s sweet moments and grand surprise, but for the gorgeous decor Debby Boh Events helped arrange dockside! It was the perfect set-up for this couple to enjoy post-proposal and take in everything that just happened.

Debby shares, Vartan always dreamed of doing something extraordinary the day he proposed to the love of his life, Corina, but he also wanted it to be meaningful. He soon realized there was no better place than “their dock” of Balboa Island in Newport Beach. Corina calls it her “thinking dock” and had shared her special place with him on their first date. It became the dock they would visit many times throughout their relationship.

Not only was this the dock they had their first date, it is also where they shared their first kiss, and it was the place he first said “I love you,” so it was here he wanted to ask her to be his wife!

We spent weeks planning and stalking her Pinterest board, and asked her roommate to get as much information about the things she loves. Her favorite flowers are lilacs and she loves all bright colors, so we incorporated that in the floral design and used these Versace plates to tie it all together. We found out she doesn’t like donuts as much as we thought, but lately has been obsessed with churros and tres leche cake! And what better to drink after those desserts than milk?

While we were getting everything in place, Vartan surprised Corina with a gondola ride through the harbor. Since he takes her on surprise dates once a week, she didn’t think anything of it! And in order to keep the ruse going, the gondolier had them both wear blindfolds for a special surprise for them both. Once they got to the dock and Corina took her blindfold off, she finally realized Vartan was going to propose! It was such an emotional and beautiful moment.

They sat down to enjoy their cake and churros and watch the rest of the sunset on their dock. The dock that they had their first date, first kiss, first “I love you,” and now, where they decided to spend the rest of their lives with each other!