If you’re wondering where to propose in Montreux, chances are you have a few things on your wish list. A beautiful view would be nice. Somewhere that actually feels like Switzerland would be even better. Maybe you’re picturing mountains, Lake Geneva, a castle in the background… and ideally a location where casually leading your partner towards a waiting photographer doesn’t immediately scream YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE PROPOSED TO. 😂
The good news is that Montreux and the Swiss Riviera give us quite a lot to work with. We have vineyards overlooking the lake, little beaches and lakeside paths, forests, mountain viewpoints and, of course, one rather famous castle sitting directly beside Lake Geneva.
For Viraj and Shreya’s surprise proposal, we chose the area around Château de Chillon, just outside Montreux. It gave us beautiful views over the lake, mountains, easy access and enough variety for a little engagement session afterwards. But choosing the location was really only one part of making everything work, because photographing a surprise proposal isn’t quite as simple as turning up with a camera and hoping the person with the ring kneels in roughly the right direction. There is a little more plotting involved than that. 😂
Why Château de Chillon works for a surprise proposal in Montreux
Let’s get the obvious part out of the way first: Château de Chillon is ridiculously beautiful. It sits directly beside Lake Geneva with mountains rising around it, so if you’re travelling through Switzerland dreaming about that whole lake + Alps + unmistakably Swiss scenery situation, you get a lot of it in one place.
It’s also easy to reach from Montreux, which is something I think gets overlooked when planning proposals in Switzerland. Those spectacular mountain locations you see online can be amazing, but sometimes reaching them involves trains, gondolas, hiking and a very specific timetable. Absolutely worth it if that’s your thing, but potentially a little suspicious if you’ve suddenly developed an intense interest in getting your unsuspecting partner to one exact mountain viewpoint at precisely 19:17. Nothing strange happening here, darling. Please just keep walking. 😂
Chillon also gives us lakeside paths, gardens, greenery and different views around the castle, so we have plenty to explore after the proposal. The catch? It isn’t private. This is one of the most famous places on the Swiss Riviera and people quite understandably want to visit it. I can work with the timing, light and quieter corners, but I sadly don’t have the authority to evacuate a Swiss landmark because someone has a ring in their pocket.
If iconic scenery matters more to you than complete privacy, it can work beautifully. If your dream involves nobody else within sight, I’d probably take you somewhere else — and luckily, around Montreux, we have plenty of those options too.
Planning Viraj's surprise proposal in Montreux
When Viraj contacted me, the biggest priority was obviously making sure Shreya didn’t suspect a thing. That sounds fairly straightforward until you realise we’re secretly coordinating three people when one of them isn’t supposed to know that the coordination exists. 😂
We worked through the location, timing and how they would naturally arrive at the proposal spot. I needed to know enough about their plans to be ready and in position, while Viraj needed a clear plan that didn’t involve wandering around looking for his hidden photographer while pretending this was just another perfectly normal walk beside Lake Geneva.
That’s the part you don’t see in the final photographs. Where should you stop? Which direction should you face? Where will I be? What if you’re early or late? What if someone decides our carefully chosen proposal spot is exactly where they would like to sit and eat their sandwich?
This is why planning and communication are such a big part of my proposal experiences. We figure out those little details beforehand so that on the day, you’re not frantically checking your phone or wondering whether you’re standing in the right place. You already have enough to think about. Like, you know… asking someone to marry you.
Making sure Shreya suspected absolutely nothing
On the day itself, I arrived well before them. I’m always early for proposals, but somewhere public like Chillon, I also want time to see what the location looks like that day. Maybe the light is different, maybe it’s busier than expected, maybe someone has indeed claimed our spot for an exceptionally long sandwich break. I’d much rather quietly adjust the plan than arrive three minutes before my couple while sprinting towards a hiding place with two cameras bouncing against my ribs. Very discreet. 😂
Once everything looked good, I got into position and waited. This is the strange part where I suddenly become intensely interested in every couple approaching me. Is that them? No. Is THAT them? Also no. Wait… that’s them.
Viraj knew exactly where he needed to lead Shreya, I knew where I needed to be and Shreya — wonderfully — knew absolutely none of this. She was simply walking beside Lake Geneva with her boyfriend, enjoying what she thought was a normal part of their trip through Switzerland.
Perfect.
The moment Viraj proposed beside Lake Geneva
There’s always something slightly surreal about seeing all that planning suddenly become real. One minute you’re exchanging messages about locations and logistics, and the next you’re watching your couple approach thinking, okay… this is actually happening now.
Viraj guided Shreya towards the spot we’d planned and got down on one knee. Her reaction was immediate: complete surprise, shock on her face, the realisation of what was happening and then all the emotion and laughter that followed.
Those first reactions are the moments I’m most focused on because they’re the one thing we can’t recreate afterwards. If someone blinks during a portrait, we’ll take another one. But that first OH MY GOD, YOU’RE PROPOSING expression exists for about half a second and then it’s gone.
So I kept photographing while they completely disappeared into their own little world: the proposal, the hugs, the laughter and those ridiculous newly-engaged smiles people seem completely incapable of switching off.
Meanwhile, I apparently looked very calm and professional from a distance.
My brain had a slightly different version of events. 😂
And then their surprise proposal accidentally went viral…
I’d set up a little camera to capture some behind-the-scenes footage and later turned it into a reel sharing my inner thoughts while photographing the proposal. There was some oh crap, don’t screw this up, some concern about the extremely strong light and generally a fascinating insight into the exceptionally peaceful mental environment in which photographers operate. 😂
I posted it on Instagram expecting a few people to laugh at the reality behind the pretty photographs. Instead, the internet apparently found photographer panic extremely entertaining.
At the time I’m writing this, the reel has passed 415,000 views and 18,000 likes, which still feels completely bonkers. But underneath everything happening in my head, the important part went exactly as planned: Viraj knew what to do, Shreya had absolutely no idea, I was ready when it happened and they got to have their moment together.
Hundreds of thousands of people watching my internal meltdown afterwards was just an unexpected bonus. 😂
What happened after she said yes
Once the ring was on and the initial WAIT, WE’RE ACTUALLY ENGAGED shock started to settle, I gave them a little space. One of you has probably been planning this for weeks or months and the other discovered the entire plan approximately thirty seconds ago. You deserve a minute.
When they felt ready to start their little engagement session, they let me know and we wondered around Chillon and Lake Geneva capturing these special just-engaged memories. This is honestly one of my favourite parts because suddenly all the pressure is gone. The secret is out, the nervous person carrying the ring can breathe again, and you’re both usually running on enough adrenaline to power a small Swiss village.
We walked, talked and laughed while I gently guided them when needed and photographed everything happening in between. And yes, of course we photographed the ring too. It would be rude not to. 😂
That’s why, for me, proposal photography isn’t simply about those few seconds on one knee. I want the gallery to tell the story around them too: the surprise, the reaction, the hugs, the ridiculous smiles and those first portraits where you’re both still looking at each other like what just happened?
What Viraj and Shreya said afterwards
When Viraj later left me a Google review, one of the things that made me happiest was that he didn’t only mention the photographs. He wrote that I was “on top of everything from the planning and coordination to the execution” and that they felt “incredibly comfortable in front of the camera.”
That’s exactly what I want this experience to feel like. There are already enough nerves involved in asking someone to marry you without also wondering whether you’ve chosen the right spot, whether your photographer is there or what happens if you’re late. My job starts before I press the shutter.
Then Shreya sent me a message after receiving their gallery and told me that looking through the photographs took them “right back to the moment” and that I hadn’t simply taken photos, I’d “captured the feeling of the entire day.”
And yep. That’s the bit that gets me. ❤️
Because Château de Chillon looked beautiful. Lake Geneva looked beautiful. The mountains looked beautiful. But they’re still only the backdrop. Twenty years from now, I want Viraj and Shreya to remember how this felt.
So, is Château de Chillon the best place to propose in Montreux?
This is where I’m probably supposed to tell you that yes, Château de Chillon is THE most romantic proposal location in Montreux and everybody should immediately propose there.
Except… not really. 😂
Chillon was perfect for Viraj and Shreya because they wanted that iconic Swiss scenery, Lake Geneva and the mountains, easy access from Montreux and somewhere beautiful to explore afterwards. But if complete privacy is your priority, I’m probably not going to send you to one of the most visited landmarks on the Swiss Riviera.
That’s why I don’t really believe there is one “best place to propose in Montreux.” If you’re dreaming about vineyards and huge lake views, Lavaux might suit you better — you can see what that looked like during Dimitris and Alisa’s surprise proposal in the Lavaux vineyards. If you want something quieter, I know little lakeside locations I deliberately don’t publish with exact coordinates online, and if mountains are calling your name, we can head above Montreux instead.
That’s what I love about planning proposals around Montreux and the Swiss Riviera: within a relatively small area, we can create completely different experiences. You can also browse my guide to beautiful photoshoot locations around Montreux and Lake Geneva for a little inspiration.
Ultimately, we’re not looking for whichever place Instagram has declared the BEST PROPOSAL LOCATION IN SWITZERLAND. We’re looking for the one that makes sense for you.
Planning your own surprise proposal in Montreux or on the Swiss Riviera?
If you’re secretly carrying an engagement ring around Switzerland right now, good news: you don’t need to know exactly where you’re going to propose before contacting me. Maybe you’re picturing Lake Geneva and mountains, maybe you’ve fallen in love with the UNESCO Lavaux region, or maybe your entire plan currently consists of “We’re coming to Switzerland, I have a ring and I need help.” We can absolutely start there. 😂
When you book a proposal experience with me, I’ll help you choose a location around Montreux, Lavaux and the Swiss Riviera that actually fits the two of you, work out the timing and create a discreet communication plan so you know exactly what needs to happen on the day. I’ll be there early and ready, your partner will hopefully remain completely oblivious and, once the secret is out, you can forget about the logistics and enjoy the fact that holy crap, you’re engaged.
My Swiss Riviera surprise proposal experiences currently start at CHF 650 and include planning and location guidance, our communication plan, photography of the proposal, a relaxed engagement session afterwards and sneak peeks within 48 hours.
Discover my surprise proposal experiences in Switzerland →
Tell me what you’re planning below!
Or, if you’re currently somewhere between “I bought the ring” and “what the hell do I do now?”, book a free discovery call and we’ll figure it out together. 😂
You might also enjoy
Your Photographer
I’m Maaike Jansen
Your outdoor photographer, mountain nerd, and calm-in-the-chaos guide for meaningful adventures in Switzerland.
I create relaxed photography experiences for couples, families, friends, and wild-hearted travellers exploring the Swiss Riviera and the Alps.
Whether you’re dreaming of a lakeside sunset near Château de Chillon, a stroll through the Lavaux vineyards, or a mountain adventure with breathtaking views, I’ll help you plan an experience that feels natural, easy, and genuinely fun.
No awkward posing.
No rushing from one viewpoint to the next.
Just beautiful places, meaningful moments, and photographs you’ll still treasure years from now.
Plan your Swiss Riviera proposal
Sustainable & Leave no trace certified
Proudly Practicing Leave No Trace Values – the earth is worth it
Elopement Education certified
Empowering intentional, meaningful elopements — because your love deserves more than a template.
Copyright © 2015 – 2026 MAAIKE JANSEN PHOTOGRAPHY