A&F’s proposal began at sunrise on the Brooklyn Bridge, followed by some sweet moments captured at the Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge in Central Park.
When Fernando reached out this spring to inquire about his proposal plans to Alaine on her birthday weekend trip to NYC – I was so stoked. The power of social media wins again! A previous Instagram post of mine at sunrise on the Brooklyn Bridge caught his eye, and the rest was history.
We chatted timing and other locations – which ended up being the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain in Central Park as well as the Bow Bridge – and logistics for that big shot of the question itself.
Early Start for Sunrise
My day began bright and early with my alarm at 4:30am. With sunrise at about 5:40am, I needed to get myself ready and then walk about half an hour to the very center of the bridge. Plus, I just always need to arrive to sessions 15-20 minutes before my clients arrive – it’s a virgo thing.
I played tourist and snapped photos of the bridge and the sun beginning to rise while keeping a close eye on the growing crowd and keeping my eyes peeled for them to arrive. Finally, there they came. It wasn’t hard to miss the white dress (of course, as girls do, Alaine knew that a proposal was coming at some point that weekend, just not exactly when….)
The Proposal
I kept tabs on them while they chatted and watched the sun rise, then got in position as I saw them move to the center of the bridge for the big question (and THE shot.)
Tears, laughs, hugs – I’m obsessed. Y’all, I love a proposal and man do I love love.
Next surprise – here I am! Time to take some engagement photos. And, she really was surprised!
We snapped a few more shots on the bridge and then walked back toward Manhattan to catch an Uber to Central Park. We got to know each other along the way, chatting life and hobbies and television.
Engagement Photos in Central Park – The Mall & Bethesda Terrace
It was a hot and muggy summer day and as the morning went on, you could feel it. But that didn’t stop us exploring the Mall, and the Bethesda Fountain and Terrace, some of my favorite spots. Then finally, to the iconic Bow Bridge before we went our separate ways.
The Bow Bridge
You probably recognize the Bow Bridge from movies like Spiderman 3 (another proposal moment) and Uptown Girls, or from shows like How I Met Your Mother. It’s an iconic spot! And luckily for us, close to Bethesda.
A Personal Touch
As one last surprise, Fernando brought along a deck of cards for detail photos as the two of them are super into cardology. I love anything that can personalize your session even more.
Final Thoughts
I love a proposal, and I loooove our iconic New York City spots. It definitely takes a bit of planning and understanding lighting and peak tourist times – but you can take an iconic spot like the Brooklyn Bridge or Central Park and turn it into a thoughtful, private(ish) session to celebrate your love.
Thinking of proposing to your love or want to book an engagement session? Or maybe a couples session just ‘cuz? I would love to chat with you.
