If you're planning to pop the question this holiday season, Baker Beach is the place I recommend more than any other in San Francisco. You get the full Golden Gate Bridge stretching across the frame, the Marin Headlands behind it and the Pacific rolling in at your feet. December is the most popular month of the year to get engaged, and now is the time to plan it.

Why Baker Beach is San Francisco's top proposal spot

Baker Beach sits on the western edge of the Presidio, a short drive from almost anywhere in the city. It's about a mile of sand with an unobstructed postcard view of the bridge, and it's open around the clock. You can plan around sunset, golden hour or a quiet early morning before the crowds show up.

Baker Beach visitor info

• Address: 1770 Gibson Road, San Francisco (inside the Presidio)

• Hours: The beach is open 24 hours. The parking lots close one hour after sunset, and overnight parking isn't allowed.

• Parking: There are two free lots, and the one you want is the larger north lot. It has restrooms where you can change, plus a wooden ramp straight down to the sand. The small south lot is too far from the bridge for photos. Both fill up fast on sunny weekends, so arrive early.

• Getting there: Drive in from Lincoln Boulevard, or take Muni 29 Sunset or the free Presidio GO shuttle (South Hills route).

• Good to know: The far north end of the beach, up toward the bridge, is clothing-optional. Proposal setups usually stay close to the wooden ramp, where you still get the full bridge view.

A little history

The beach is named after John Henry Baker, who settled the land in the 1850s and ran it as the Golden Gate Milk Ranch. Just above the sand sits Battery Chamberlin, built in 1904 to guard the Golden Gate. It's home to the last 6-inch "disappearing gun" of its type on the West Coast. Baker Beach was also the original home of Burning Man, which held its first burns here from 1986 to 1990 before moving to the Nevada desert.

Tips for planning your Baker Beach proposal

• Time it with the sun. In December the sun sets around 4:50 PM. Plan the moment for 30 to 45 minutes before sunset for warm, glowing light on both of you and the bridge.

• Check the fog. Karl the Fog can roll in fast. Have a backup date, or embrace the moody look. Some of my favorite shots have fog wrapping the bridge towers.

• Set up near the ramp. Most Baker Beach proposals happen just a short walk from the wooden ramp by the north lot, especially when couples rent a large heart event setup with marquee letters, roses and candles. It keeps the setup easy to carry in, close to the restrooms and right in front of the bridge. Bonfires aren't allowed, and everything you bring should leave with you.

• Dress for the wind. It's cold and breezy year-round. Bring a jacket to slip off for photos and a blanket for after.

• Have a cover story. "Let's go watch the sunset at the beach" works almost every time.

How proposal coverage works

I hide nearby, blending in as a tourist with a camera, and capture the moment from start to finish: the walk up, the knee, the reaction and the hug. Right after, we do a relaxed mini couples session while you're both glowing, so you walk away with natural engagement photos too. Before the day, we have a planning call to pick the exact spot, time and signal.

I've been photographing and filming couples around the Bay Area for over 20 years, starting with weddings in 2004. Proposal coverage is $350 for one hour. Book a free 30-minute wedding consultation or reserve your proposal on my San Francisco weddings page. Want to see more first? Browse my Bay Area engagement photos.