Engagement photos are such an exciting and special time in the wedding process! Not only do engagement photos provide you a beautiful gallery of images to use for your Save the Dates and wedding website, but they’re also a great way to prepare for taking photos on your wedding day. Working with your wedding photographer during your engagement session is a wonderful way to get to know them and how they shoot, so that on the day of your wedding you know exactly what to expect when it comes to photography!
Choosing a location for your engagement photos can seem a bit daunting. Besides, there are SO many options! First and foremost, you and your fiancé should take some time to think about places that are meaningful to the two of you. Is there somewhere special you both love to go together? Where did you go on your first date? Where did you get engaged?
If nowhere comes to mind right away, or you’re just looking to switch things up a bit, today I’m sharing some of my absolute favorite places to shoot engagements in New Jersey and New York City!
Now, ask yourself two questions…
1. What type of location are you looking for? Garden? City? Beach? Town?
2. Are you willing to pay a permit fee, or are you looking for somewhere that does not require a permit?
The answers to these two questions will help you narrow down this list so that you have a few places that make sense to choose from. Because a lot of beautiful public spaces do require a permit (that typically cost an additional fee), it is very important to do some research ahead of time to determine a) how much the permit fee is, b) how you go about attaining the permit, and c) how far in advance you need to get the permit.
Once you have answered these key questions, it’s time to choose your engagement session location!
Garden
Cross Estate Gardens
Bernardsville, New Jersey
Tucked away in Bernardsville, New Jersey is beautiful and whimsical Cross Estate Gardens, one of my absolute favorite places to shoot. The garden has so many different spaces to shoot which adds so much variety to photos, and is a stunning backdrop for soft and romantic engagement photos. See more galleries from Cross Estate Gardens.
Deep Cut Gardens
Middletown, New Jersey
Deep Cut Gardens is a gorgeous space for engagement photos, with acres of beautifully manicured grounds as well as an indoor greenhouse which makes for such fun and unique shots (greenhouse is unfortunately currently closed due to COVID). A permit is required to shoot here. See more from Deep Cut Gardens.
Grounds for Sculpture
Hamilton Township, New Jersey
Grounds for Sculpture is a beautiful and expansive 42-acre sculpture park and museum near Trenton, NJ. There are a variety of areas to shoot in, ranging from beautifully landscaped spaces to exhibits with large scale art installations. Tickets ($20 per person) are required to shoot here. See more from Grounds for Sculpture.
Sayen House & Garden
Hamilton Square, New Jersey
An old world feel, Sayen House and Gardens is host of such a unique setting for photos. Because there is heavy tree cover, be prepared to begin shooting a bit earlier than we may normally before sunset to make sure we don’t lose the light too early. See more from Sayen House & Gardens.
Skylands Manor
Ringwood, New Jersey
The New Jersey Botanical Garden and Skylands Manor are absolutely stunning for engagement photos. There are so many beautiful places to shoot here, and it’s the perfect romantic setting for engagement photos. A permit is required to shoot here. See more galleries from Skylands Manor.
Park
Allaire State Park
Wall Township, New Jersey
Allaire State Park is known for its historic 19th-century iron making town, Allaire Village. There are so many beautiful locations to shoot at Allaire Park, giving a wide variety of backgrounds for photos. There is also a public bathroom, which makes changing into a second outfit a breeze! See more from Allaire State Park.
Divine Park
Spring Lake, New Jersey
Divine Park may take the cake for my favorite public park to shoot at — especially in the spring when the trees begin to bloom! So much so that we took our own engagement photos here. I absolutely love the rustic bridges and light, airy feel at this beautiful park. Plus, it’s only a two minute drive to the beach! See more galleries from Divine Park.
Jockey Hollow
Morristown, New Jersey
Jockey Hollow’s historic setting is perfect for rustic engagement photos — and especially stunning during the fall. The small red barn, also known as the Wick House, was built in 1750 and owned by Henry Wick, the largest landowner in Morristown. In fact, his “trees attracted Washington’s army to the area as a winter encampment site because they needed logs to build cabins for shelter and wood to burn for heating and cooking.” See more from Jockey Hollow.
Liberty State Park
Jersey City, New Jersey
Liberty State Park offers not only sweeping views of the New York City skyline, but also an expansive and beautiful park setting, a true gem so close to the city. I love Liberty State Park for its variety — as well as its gorgeous willow trees. See more from Liberty State Park.
Scenic Hudson Riverwalk
Tarrytown, New York
For my Connecticut-based clients, the Scenic Hudson RiverWalk is a great meet-in-the-middle location since I’m based in New Jersey. These stunning views of the new Tappan Zee Bridge can’t be beat, and the quaint and adorable town of Tarrytown right nearby makes for the perfect day trip. See more from the Scenic Hudson RiverWalk.
Ramapo Valley County Reservation
New York, New York
The perfect spot for the hiking and adventurous couple! At Ramapo Reservation, you can either choose to stay closer to the entrance of the park — which still has beautiful, sweeping views of the hills in the background, or hike up to the reservoir for an even more stunning location. See more from Ramapo Valley County Reservation.
City
Belvedere Castle
New York, New York
Not-your-average-Central-Park-location, Belvedere Castle truly transports you to another time. This location isn’t too far from the popular Bethesda Terrace, but typically has far fewer tourists to dodge. Right nearby you can also get gorgeous shots with Turtle Pond in the background, giving you many options in a relatively small area. See more galleries from Belvedere Castle.
Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn, New York
One of the most iconic locations in the city — but also one of the trickiest to time! I will only do Brooklyn Bridge sessions at sunrise — but hear me out! Any other time of day, this bridge is teeming with tourists, and worse, bikes. The bike lane is absolutely crazy on the Brooklyn Bridge, and you will get hit if you aren’t careful! However, sunrise sessions here are absolutely magical, with unbeatable views and a timeless backdrop. See more galleries from the Brooklyn Bridge.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn Bridge Park is a setting with so much variety. Here you can find classic views of the New York City skyline and Brooklyn Bridge, an intimate garden within the historic brick walls of the Tobacco Warehouse, and a beach of pebbles — very appropriately called Pebble Beach. See more galleries from Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Central Park
New York, New York
You can’t get more quintessential New York City than Central Park. If you want to shoot here, I recommend opting for a sunrise session (and yes, that’s exactly what it sounds like — a session at sunrise) in order to avoid tourists and foot traffic. Bethesda Terrace/Fountain and Bow Bridge are two of the most popular places for engagement photos in the park. See more galleries from Central Park.
Hoboken Brownstones
Hoboken, New Jersey
Living in Hoboken for several years has certainly helped me to explore and find the best spots for photos! For a city/urban vibe, the Hoboken brownstones is the perfect backdrop without needing to go all the way into the city. See more from the Hoboken brownstones.
Hoboken Waterfront
Hoboken, New Jersey
When I think of classic Hoboken engagement photos, I immediately think of the Hoboken waterfront, with beautiful views of the New York City skyline. Pier A is also the perfect place for engagement photos, and if you time it right with the seasons the trees are absolutely to die for. See more galleries from the Hoboken waterfront.
Beach & Coastal
Lavallette Beach
Lavallette, New Jersey
The sweet little beach town of Lavallette is one of my favorites at the Jersey Shore. Any beach with seagrass is instantly a win in my book, and Lavallette makes for the perfect, dreamy engagement photos. See more galleries from Lavallette Beach.
Spring Lake Beach
Spring Lake, New Jersey
Only minutes from Divine Park is the beach at Spring Lake, with a beautiful, light boardwalk and soft, glowy seagrass that makes your engagement photos look like something out of a Nicholas Sparks novel. Spring Lake is my favorite beach at the Jersey Shore, and we took our own engagement photos here. Be forewarned — beach photos are windy! See more galleries from Spring Lake Beach.
Town
Madison Train Station
Madison, New Jersey
As far as New Jersey train stations go, the Madison Train Station is one of the most beautiful ones! There are so many great areas to shoot, and the building itself is quite impressive. Especially meaningful if a commute to the city is part of your love story! See more from Madison Train Station.
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton’s campus is one of the most stunning locations in New Jersey. You are limited to certain areas to take professional photos, but the architecture is truly worthwhile. Afterwards, plan a date night in the quaint college town at one of its many restaurants right next to the campus. See more from Princeton University.
