We ventured to New York City for our engagement photoshoot and it did not disappoint. My husband proposed in Central Park, so we felt a sentimental obligation to visit again before the wedding…also we just really love the city! Here’s the captured proposal of him dropping the ring and me replying “omg yes!”

With so many spots for photo ops, NYC can be a bit overwhelming. The city has five different boroughs, and while you can access them all by subway, it may cause some unwanted travel time. Be sure to keep this in mind when booking your stay location.

Central Park

I am smitten with Central Park for obvious reasons. Again, see above. Central Park is roughly 6 miles and located in the center of Manhattan. You can spend the entire day there and still not see it all. It’s also remarkably easy to get lost, which makes for part of the fun.

We recommend venturing to the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain. If you’ve ever watched Gossip Girl, this is the location where Blair Waldorf married Chuck Bass (not without their usual drama). The lower passage has extraordinary staircases and breathtaking arches and the fountain is known for its elegant angels.

Though we didn’t get formal engagement pictures done here, we were in a wedding at this location and we loved the historic scenery. Can you say stunning?

The Bow Bridge is also located in Central Park and overlooks the lake. It’s in close proximity to the Bethesda Terrace so it’s definitely worth the short walk. This cast iron beauty is exceptionally romantic for newlyweds.

Tips: Walk hand-in-hand and enjoy the scenery. There are so many benches, gardens and scenic areas in the park, sometimes these spontaneous spots generate the best photos.

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is iconic for its symmetrical architecture. Its double archways speak for themselves in terms of beauty. The problem is that everybody and their neighbor comes here to take pictures which makes it insanely busy. The secret? Wake up early and arrive at sunrise. It will still be busy, but you will avoid the heaps of people.

It may look like we had the bridge all to ourselves, but in reality we had 3 second windows with no one in the frame view. Our advice is to hire photographers who know how to capture these type of shots. We used Fernando and Roge, a NYC husband and wife photography team that captured us better than we could have ever dreamed. We can’t recommend them enough, check out their work here: Warm Up-Lab

Tips: Head to the Brooklyn side of the bridge to capture the Manhattan skyline in the backdrop. Also ladies be warned, there are gaps on the walkway, if you wear heels they will get stuck between the notches and its quite annoying. Its best to opt for flats or wedges for this location.

If you are worried about the traffic on the bridge, Pebble Beach will give you a great shot with the Brooklyn Bridge and skyline in the background. Dumbo Neighborhood is another great alternative with its famous partial view.

Forest Hills Gardens

Forest Hills is a neighborhood in Queens, located between Rego Park and Kew Gardens. Its Station Square is composed of old English-style buildings that provide a small town feel in the big city. Add in the gardens and adorable cobblestone streets and it’s enough to make any photoshoot complete.

This town was a natural choice for us because my husband has family ties here and grew up walking down these streets. We consider it an NYC hidden gem. It’s a place with classic NYC charm but without the large crowds of people.

Tips: Visit Marthas Country Bakery on Austin Street for a coffee and pastry pick-me-up.

Subway Station

This option isn’t for everyone, as these stations can be quite filthy. But if you are up for the challenge, subways have their own form of rustic artistry. It’s the same feel as photographing in an old abandoned building, finding the beauty hidden within. We’ve found that sometimes the most unlikely places turn into the most photogenic photos.

We love the foundational industrial pillars so we opted to stand by as the train swept past us for this romantic shot.

Tips: Since you are underground, it can get very warm. Bring the proper hair supplies to keep your look fresh.

Other Hot Spots

Here’s some other gorgeous locations worthy noting:

-Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller (Stunning city view)

-Times Square

-Grand Central Terminal

-Flat Iron Building

Thanks for reading!

-Melissa Jane B.