The Priority
Brian Wanted Ximena Dressed Up, With No Rough Trail to Ruin It
Brian came to me already knowing what he wanted.
That doesn’t happen as often as you’d think. Most guys reach out with a vibe and a general direction; they need help filling in the details. Brian had a clear picture: he wanted Ximena to look pretty and dressed up for this, not picking her way over rough terrain in the wrong shoes, and he wanted to stay close to the trailhead so the walk in wouldn’t wear on her before the moment itself.
What They Considered
He’d Already Scouted Big Cottonwood Canyon Himself
Brian had done his homework. He’d already been up to Big Cottonwood Canyon, walked the area, and narrowed it down to two spots on his own, before we ever talked.
How It Came Together
Silver Lake Won Because It Checked Every Box
By the time we talked, he’d picked the one: Silver Lake at Brighton.
It’s at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, tucked next to Brighton Ski Resort, with a paved boardwalk loop around the lake, so Ximena could be dressed up without navigating rough terrain. The mountains are right there, not in the background, right there. And it’s a short walk from the trailhead: a big payoff for very little commitment.
If you're picturing the same spot: Silver Lake is a paved boardwalk loop at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, about 35-45 minutes from Salt Lake City, no permit needed, free parking at the Brighton lot. Here's how Brian's day came together.
The Logistics
Brian had already sent me a pin for where he planned to position them. When I got there and walked the spot, I was about 10 feet off from his original location, a little adjustment to get a cleaner angle off the trail. I sent him my exact pin so he knew right where to bring her.
That’s it. That’s the whole logistics conversation. When someone comes in that prepared, my job gets simple.
They arrived, walked the trail, and stopped at the spot. They looked at the lake for a bit and he took a few photos of her while she was posing in front of the lake. He took his chance when she turned for a picture of her looking at the lake and proposed.
What He Hadn’t Told Her
Here’s the part Ximena didn’t know.
Her family had come into town. Not for a visit. For this. They were waiting at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon for the two of them to come back down the mountain engaged.
So after we finished photos at Silver Lake, they drove back down the canyon and her family was there.
That’s two surprises in one evening: the ring at the lake, and the family at the bottom.
The Extra Touches
On top of the regular gallery, we made sure to get iPhone photos and Polaroids.
It sounds like a small detail but it’s important. The professional photos are what they’ll print and frame. The iPhone photos are what go in the text chain to the family in the next five minutes. The Polaroid is the one that ends up on the fridge. Every format captures something a little different, and having all three means the memory lives in a few different places.
Planning a Silver Lake Proposal
Silver Lake is accessible from Memorial Day through early fall; snow closes the road in winter. The trailhead is right at the Brighton Ski Resort parking area, and the boardwalk loop takes about 20–30 minutes to walk in full, though you don’t need to walk the whole loop, just find your spot. Sunset light hits the western face of the mountains in the evening, which gives you warm directional light on the couple and a glowing backdrop. Brian timed it well.
Parking can fill up. Brighton is a popular trailhead, so go earlier than you think or plan for a short wait in the lot on weekends. The mountains are everywhere. No matter which way you face, there’s a ridgeline behind you.
Planning a Proposal at Silver Lake?
Brian had a plan, and he pulled off every piece of it: the ring at the lake, then Ximena’s family waiting at the mouth of the canyon. Two surprises in one evening, all because he scouted the spot ahead of time and thought through the small details, right down to Polaroids for the fridge.
If you’re picturing something similar, that’s what I help make happen: scouting the exact spot, coordinating the surprise, and documenting all of it before she knows it’s happening.
Written by
Jade Jarvis
Utah-based wedding, elopement, and proposal photographer since 2025. I've scouted these locations myself, so the advice here comes from firsthand experience, not guesswork.
