Northern lights proposal in Tromsø – ancestral roots, timing, and a sky full of magic

A surprise trip to Norway, with ancestral roots and hidden plans

Zac had been planning this Northern lights proposal in Tromsø for months. His girlfriend Kacy had no idea what was coming – not even where they were flying. He didn’t reveal the destination until they were at the airport, and when she found out it was Norway, she lit up. Not only had they both dreamed of seeing the aurora borealis, but Kacy’s ancestors were from Norway, which made the trip feel even more special. Zac knew this was the place.

Valentine’s night and the perfect aurora timing

When they landed in Tromsø on the evening of February 14^th – Valentine’s Day – the original plan was to rest and enjoy a quiet night. But if you’ve ever chased the northern lights, you know: timing is everything. The forecast looked great for the night, and not so great for the nights after, so we knew we couldn’t let the opportunity pass. So, we shifted gears and met that same night for what Kacy thought was just a private northern lights tour.

The aurora appears – and so does the big moment

I picked them up from their hotel and we drove away from the city lights into the Arctic wilderness. Kacy was buzzing with excitement about seeing the aurora – still completely unaware of what was about to happen.
As if perfectly timed by the universe, the sky lit up with green ribbons as soon as we arrived. I set up my gear as fast as I could, knowing that with auroras, you never really know how long they’ll last. We began with some portraits under the lights, and Kacy had no idea that something even bigger was about to happen. And then, the big moment came.

Capturing a surprise proposal under the Northern Lights

Now, I won’t give away all my secrets about how I capture proposals under the Northern Lights without spoiling the surprise – but let’s just say Zac pulled it off flawlessly. He got down on one knee under a shimmering aurora sky, and Kacy said yes. Through happy tears and tight hugs, the moment unfolded like a scene from a movie – and I quietly captured every second.
At one point, Kacy looked at me and said, “Gosh, I forgot you were there!” And honestly, that’s one of the best compliments I can receive as a photographer. My goal is always to let people stay in the moment – to forget about the camera and just feel everything. As an extra surprise, I had even made a little time-lapse of the whole proposal for them to keep forever.
The Northern Lights danced for just a few more magical moments before disappearing, and it was perfect. We got what we hoped for.

A snowy winter photo session in Tromsø the next morning

But the story didn’t end there. The next morning, I picked them up again for a second photo adventure – this time in daylight. A soft snowfall had covered Tromsø overnight, turning everything into a dreamy winter wonderland.
We started in a peaceful pine forest, where the trees were heavy with snow and everything felt soft and quiet. Zac and Kacy were glowing – so easy to photograph, so in love, and so present with each other. They laughed, played in the snow, and honestly made my job way too easy.

Final moments by the sea

Afterward, we made a quick stop by the sea. We couldn’t see much of the view with all the snowfall, but honestly, that just added to the atmosphere. It was cold and windy though, so we kept it short and wrapped up the day there.

Why this northern lights proposal in Tromsø was unforgettable

This northern lights proposal in Tromsø was one of those experiences I’ll never forget – and I’m pretty sure Zac and Kacy won’t either. It was emotional, raw, romantic, and real. And for a moment, under a sky full of dancing light, it felt like time stood still.

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