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Our 11 Favorite Spots in the U.S. for Epic Engagement Photos

December 15, 2021 | kailey

Image by Maya Lora Photo

Deciding to spend forever with your best friend, that’s the easy part. Picking a photo location to kick off your engagement season, that’s where it gets a little more difficult. You want a memorable, intimate, and stunning spot that’ll hold a special place in both of your hearts. And lucky for those in the United States, you don’t have to travel far for engagement photos that go above and beyond. From mountains to beaches, and everything in between—here are our 11 most romantic places for you to nail your engagement photos

11 Spots For Epic Engagement Photos

1. Sedona, Arizona 

The red rock formations, incredible weather, and unique hikes are just a few reasons that Sedona is so special. To kick off your engagement the right way, take full advantage of the natural red rock backdrops for your engagement photos. 

For those that want to avoid hiking, look into Bell Rock or the base of Cathedral Rock. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, take on the Devil’s Bridge or Cathedral Rock hikes. You’ll be met with some of the most stunning views when you reach the top—trust us! 

2. Big Sur, California 

A mountain, beach, or waterfall engagement session—why choose one when you could have all three? Big Sur is one of the most beautiful coastlines located off the famous Pacific Coast Highway. The drive to get there is stunning and you’re guaranteed to be met with incredible cliffside ocean views upon arrival. 

3. Joshua Tree, California 

The rigid, neutral rock landscape of Joshua Tree National Park is not what you typically picture when you think of California. That’s what makes this spot the hidden gem of the west coast. Whether you climb the towering rock formations or snap pictures with the bristled Joshua trees, there are sure to be an endless amount of secluded locations that’ll make your engagement photos stand apart. 

4. Cannon Beach, Oregon 

Named one of the most beautiful places in the world by National Geographic, Cannon Beach was a necessary addition to our list. This small town is located on the rigid Oregon coast and is known for their recognizable landmark, Haystack Rock—a breathtaking backdrop worthy of commemorating a love as special as yours. After completing your engagement session, pop some celebratory champagne and cozy up for a beach bonfire. 

5. Acadia National Park, Maine 

Spring, summer, fall, or winter—there really is no bad time to snap engagement photos in Acadia National Park. The best part about this location is the variety of trail options, allowing you to customize your session to the max. 

Want a lakefront photoshoot? Jordan Pond is your place. If you’re searching for mountain top views without the treacherous hike, try out Bubble Rock trail. This easy-to-moderate pathway leads you to the perfect mountain-top spot for a golden-hour session. 

6. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

From wildflower fields in spring to snow-capped mountains in winter, Rocky Mountain National Park is filled with stunning views all year long. For couples that want to avoid hiking, we recommend Lake Lily Loop or driving the Trail Ridge Road—also called the “highway in the sky”, because it’s the highest paved road in the U.S. 

If you’re wanting a more adventurous feel for your epic engagement photos, Dream Lake is your place. Pose in front of the lake with Hallett Peak towering in the background.

7. Pictured Rocks National Park, Michigan

Pictured Rocks National Park is not quite what you’d imagine when you picture the midwest which makes it Michigan’s top hidden gem. From the rigid coastline filled with trees to the crystal blue water, this national park gives us major Cliff of Moher vibes. 

Plus, we can’t think of a better way to kick off your engagement season than capturing photos with Lovers Leap in the background—sounds like good luck to us! 

8. Central Park, New York 

Central Park is the perfect balance of both city and nature vibes. Not to mention it’s a picture perfect location all year round. So whether you’re dreaming of fall foliage with the New York City skyline in the background or a winter wonderland, you’re sure to get it here. Our favorite spots include the Bow Bridge, The Lake, and Bethesda Terrace. 

9. Bonneville Salt Flats

Located in the northwestern Utah region the Bonneville Salt Flats are a perfect neutral background because it’s a white salt crust stretching as far as the eye can see. This sandy landscape is unlike anything you’ll see anywhere else in the world, making it a prime engagement photo location. 

10. Yosemite National Park, California 

Spring, summer, fall, and winter—the Yosemite National Park is fit for engagement photos all year round. This national park is packed with views that can easily be accessed by couples regardless of hiking experience. For an easily accessible location without sacrificing epic views, Cook’s Meadow is the spot for you. It’s the perfect spot for those incredible Half Dome views. If you’re looking to add a bit of adventure to your session, hike up to the iconic ledge at Taft Point. You’ll be glad you did.

Image by Maya Lora Photo.

11. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado 

When you picture Colorado, odds are you picture a rocky mountain landscape. If that’s true for you, then the Great Sand Dunes National Park will throw you for a curve. Located in southern  Colorado you’ll find sand dunes that stretch as far as the eye can go. The soft neutral landscape makes for an ideal engagement photo backdrop—you’re the main focus without sacrificing epic views. 

When you get your epic engagement photos back from your talented photographer, you’ll want to share them with everyone. After pasting them all over your social media platforms it’s time to get your save the dates in the works. To make your decision easy, we’ve rounded up fun and unique save the date options to announce your wedding in style.

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Outdoor Las Vegas Micro Wedding

December 15, 2021 | riley

Having a micro wedding with your absolute closest friends and family will mean you have more time to spend with each one of them. It’s also the perfect opportunity to get a little creative with the wedding portraits. That’s how Morgan and Matthew knew that an outdoor Las Vegas micro wedding was right for them. They didn’t want their day to be a blur—they wanted to savor every moment completely focused on each other and to celebrate it with just a select few guests

Las Vegas is an epic wedding spot and a fantasy getaway city. To set the tone for their big day, the couple chose the Neon Museum.  They knew it was a fun and quirky venue and it had the intimate vibe that they wanted for their wedding day. 

Spectacular views of Red Rock and The Strip, a unique and iconic venue, and a wild romance—this Las Vegas micro wedding may exactly be what you need to spark inspiration for your own big day! Keep scrolling to see all of the playfully romantic images captured by Brittany Loeffelholz.

The Couple:

Morgan and Matthew

The Wedding:

Neon Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada

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The Perfect Las Vegas Micro Wedding

We chose the Neon Museum because it had a Vegas feel with the old neon signs and it was still very intimate. We wanted a space that was unique and outdoor. We didn’t want to feel stuffy inside of a little white chapel and didn’t want all the commotion of the Vegas strip. We had the Gallery all to ourselves and it ended up being the perfect location.

The Most Memorable Part Of The Day

The whole day was magical! Standing up in front of all of our loved ones was by far my favorite part. It was the start of our future together and I’ll forever hold those moments dear to my heart. It felt like we were the only ones in the room just looking into each other’s eyes. Walking up to him just gave me the biggest rush of happiness.

Wedding Planning Advice From The Newlyweds

Our best advice is to be true to who you are. We did a mix of traditional and non-traditional things for our wedding. We took some advice from others but we stuck true to what we wanted. Don’t get too caught up with staying on schedule or worrying about what you have to do next. Make sure to enjoy the day and soak up all the little moments with you and your spouse. The most important thing to remember is at the end of the day all that matters is you get to marry your person!

Working With Brittany Loeffelholz Photography

Our photographer Brittany was an absolute dream to work with. She really took the time to listen to our vision. She helped pick out all of our locations, planned for everything, and helped us stay on time. I never had to worry about getting to our next location. I thought I would feel awkward and not know how to pose, but Brittany made us feel so comfortable. It’s like we’ve known her for years. She helped direct us so we looked like pros out there. She’s honestly the best hype girl I’ve ever met. Brittany made us feel our absolute best.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Brittany Lo
Venue – Neon Museum
Floral Design – Mauloa Floral Design
Officiant – Diana Moran
Makeup Artist & Hair Styling – Paper Bag Beauty
Wedding Dress – Arc Bridal Omaha
Groom’s Apparel – Emsuds Clothiers
Rings – Sartor Hamann Jewelers
Flower Preservation – Little Lo Floral

 

Congratulations to Morgan and Matthew on their outdoor Las Vegas micro wedding. From playful and fun to dramatic and romantic, Brittany Loeffelholz beautifully captured all the unforgettable moments!

Your wedding should be about celebrating your love story and not worrying about endless logistics. By keeping your guest list small and working with the right wedding pros, you’ll have more time to focus on wedding moments that truly matter to you and your partner. 

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Seriously Glam Tulum Wedding at Casa Malca

December 14, 2021 | riley

After getting inspired by a wedding during one of their travels to Mexico, Cynthia and Fidel fell in love with the idea of a destination wedding. Surrounded by nature and the Mexican Caribbean, an epic rooftop view, contemporary art, and a luxurious aesthetic—the historic Casa Malca was the perfect venue for the couple’s seriously glam Tulum wedding.

A gorgeous champagne wall, signature drinks, stunning arrangements of white and blush florals, and a chic reception lounge—the couple had a very specific vision for their big day. Their wedding planner Mario Olvero and florist Moni Junco turned that vision into a beautiful reality.

Does the thought of an elegant seaside soiree make your heart skip a beat? Then you need to see the luxe-inspired details that you can add to your own glam destination wedding, all beautifully captured by Junebug members Memorybox Photography.

The Couple:

Cynthia and Fidel

The Wedding:

Casa Malca, Tulum, Mexico

Defining And Communicating Their Wedding Vision

The most important thing for us during the planning process was making sure we captured our vision. With this being a destination wedding, our anxiety was through the roof. We made a clear and concise vision board to share with our planner. Our entire wedding was a surprise and we didn’t see anything until the day of. But we trusted our planner and the wedding team with our vision, and they went above and beyond for us!

A Seriously Glam Tulum Wedding At Casa Malca

We found the best location that embodied our wedding day vision. The venue spoke for itself, the florals were the perfect complement, and it was absolutely breathtaking when it all came together.

Spending Time With Loved Ones

The most memorable part of the wedding was being around our closest family and friends. During the pandemic we both suffered great losses, so to be able to spend this special moment with family was amazing.

Wedding Planning Advice From The Newlyweds

There’s no such thing as too many photos, whether they’re staged or candid, get the shot! Also, take control of your wedding, this is your day. I took the mic and emceed the entire wedding, it will be a memory I will never forget.

Personalized Wedding Details

We read our own vows and had signature drinks to personalize the wedding. We named the drinks Tthe Spicy Sanchez and The Passion Potion. We also provided our guests with a tote bag—inside the bag was a wine stopper and a hangover kit.

The Wedding Team:

Photography & Videography – MemoryBox Photography
Event Planning – Mario Olvera
Venue, Catering & Cake – Casa Malca
Floral Design & Rentals – Moni Junco
DJ – Plugin AV
Live Music – Fito Ragoza
Invitation Design – Sarka Nicol
Makeup Artist – Zoe Elisabeth Makeup
Hair Styling – Michelle Daniels
Wedding Dress – Lovella Bridal
Bridal Accessories – Schutz
Groom’s Apparel – Suit Fellas
Rings – Cartier & Best Brilliance

 

Congratulations to Cynthia and Fidel on their seriously glam Tulum wedding at Casa Malca. And big thanks to Junebug members MemoryBox Photography for capturing the gorgeous details and romantic vibe. To see more of the incredible weddings they’ve photographed, check out their profile in our directory of wedding photographers from around the globe!

Having a destination wedding is a dream come true but it isn’t entirely stress-free. A wedding mood board, just like the one this couple made, can help guide decisions and visually explain your thoughts clearly to your wedding team. Working with an experienced wedding planner can also help you navigate this crucial step so you can just sit back and enjoy your big day knowing that all the little details are taken care of.

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