On an icy winter day Chris proposed to his long term girlfriend on the waterfront in Hoboken. Chris and his gorgeous fiancé live in Hoboken just over the river on the west side of Manhattan. I LOVE HOBOKEN! It is basically the Brooklyn Heights of New Jersey with it’s brownstones, gorgeous tree lined blocks and adorable cosy corner restaurants. I always have a great time visiting Hoboken and Chris’s proposal was no exception! It was one of the coldest days of the winter dipping to under 20 degrees, but Chris was a trooper and he and his girlfriend were armed with layers. The went for a stroll to take in the amazing view and then he dropped to his knee. I love Hoboken as unexpected proposal location. It’s just a short path train ride away from Herald Sq in the center of Manhattan. Hoboken is much quieter than Dumbo and you get an amazing skyline view featuring the Empire State Building which you can’t see from Dumbo. I love this location for couples wanting to have their proposal captured with the NYC skyline. After the proposal there are tons of cute restaurants and little shops to check out. I highly recommend it! :)




Joseph and Daina are from Maryland and come to NYC for one full day each winter. It’s a tradition they’ve had for years, so Joseph thought it would be the perfect time to surprise Daina with a marriage proposal! They are young, but they been together for 11 years since middle school longer than many couples at their time of engagement. I was so moved listening to their story. They work together and are so supportive of each other’s dreams. Although Joseph and I had planned on an outdoor location, the weather was not our friend that day so we decided on Grand Central Station as a backup spot. Grand Central can be the definition of “hectic” but I loved watching time stand still while Joseph proposed in front of the famous clock in Grand Central Station. A stunning pause of romance in the middle of all the hustle bustle. I was so honored to photograph their proposal. Congrats to Daina & Joe!
Peter came up with the perfect way to surprise his girlfriend Tina, on a (not so ordinary) walk to a work event earning in the morning. Sometimes you gotta catch a gal off guard by surprising them on a regular day! Tina was shocked. Peter and Tina’s proposal took place on a chilly winter day right at sunrise. What a way to start the day, right?! The light was gorgeous with the sun rising just moments before Peter dropped to his knee. He created a beautiful card for Tina which made the moment extra special No need for coffee for these two, nothing wakes you up like the endorphin rush of love! :) I’m so happy for Tina and Pete! Congrats!
Tina and Pete’s story and my photos were featured by How He Asked. Check out their post here… http://howheasked.com/highline-proposal-in-new-york-city
David and Val are from Texas and visit NYC each year. David wanted the setting for his marriage proposal to feature the best of both worlds that NYC has to offer, combining the natural beauty of Central Park with the modern architecture and sleekness of the New York City scape. I recomended one of my favorite spots that looks out over the skating rink in Central Park on the Southside. The views are spectacular from this vantage point. The southsie of Central Park captures modern NYC while the north side has a more classic old world New York feel. It was much colder than these photos might coney but fortunately it wasn’t icy otherwise it would have been too slippery to pull off safely! Before he proposed David and Val had brunch at Sarahbeth’s nearby and then they strolled over to check out the views and snap some selfies. Before Val knew it David was on his knee popping the question! I love her reaction. So adorable. The taxi-cab photo at the end of the photo set is one of my favorites! Congrats to Dave & Val!
Shelby and Will are young and madly in love. When you’ve met the love of your life you just know (to paraphrase Will). Will is a Memphis musician and Shelby is a fashion blogger with mega style. Will actually takes many of the pictures for Shelby’s lovely blog The Memphis Jewel. Shelby is Willl’s biggest fan. It’s so sweet to see the way they love and support each other’s creative endeavors. You can really seee how excited they are for each other.
Will proposed to Shelby on the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center during Christmas season. I shoot lots of proposals there and I’ve featured a bunch here and here on the blog but I wanted to share how gorgeous Rockefeller Cneter looks even during the daytime. A lot to guys have asked me if Rockefeller Center is better at night or during the day. Both times have their own magic. One of the benefits of daytime is the light is so flattering! Will and Shelby are naturally gorgeous and the winter day light really makes them glow. Another benefit of the rink during the daytime is it is a bit less crowded than at ngiht.
Can we talk about Will and Shelby’s outfits for a minute. Just killer! They have such a quirky, elegant and edgy throwback style. <3 <3 <3
Where is the best view of the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center? Answer: The skating rink!
I’ve photographed more than 50 proposals at the Rockefeller Center Skating Rink. It is by far THE best place to get a gorgeous unobstructed view of the Christmas Tree when proposing. I love shooting at the rink. It’s so magical watching the ice rink clear and for the couple to be left alone in the center of the rink surrounded by the famous flags and the historic Rockefeller Christmas Tree. It’s always a fun challenge photographing on the ice without slipping.
Photographing Scott and Ali’s proposal at Rockefeller Center felt like I was watching the most romantic movie. I captured them discreetly as they skated around the rink to their favorite song. Then Scott got down on his knee and proposed to Ali. It was stunning!
If you’re thinking of proposing at the ice skating rink in Rockefeller Center I would love to photograph it for you and provide all my best tips and tricks for your proposal to go perfectly smooth. There can be many moving parts, but I want to make to make it a breeze for you. Feel free to email me and I will help you come up with an awesome plan for carrying out your surprise proposal on the skating rink and getting gorgeous pictures of the moment.
– Ash Fox
“I surprised my girlfriend with a trip to NYC for our engagement last December. Ali had never before been to New York and she fell in love with the vibrant feel of the City. After a few amazing days of romantic dinners, a Broadway Show, Christmas Spectacular, a walking tour of the city and endless shopping, the highlight was proposing to Ali on the ice at the Rockefellar Center beneath the recently lit Rockefellar Christmas Tree. I found Ash via her website a month or so prior to our trip and asked if she could help “capture the moment.” Ash was outstanding. Her pictures were stunning and her efforts to aid me in my planning of the weekend were beyond the call of duty. She is a true professional. She stayed out of view (so as not to ruin my surprise) and took really nice photos of Ali and I just skating around “having a good time” prior to the proposal, which captured the feel of the night. And then her photos as I knelt down to propose and thereafter were spectacular. I am so glad I contacted her. I would recommend her with the highest conviction. Thanks Ash. Phenomenal job. And as a quick update…Ali and I are now married…and hope to visit NYC again this December to recapture the moment. Cheers!.” -Scott M.
Guys and gals ask me all the time where they can propose with an amazing view of NYC, but without the crowds of tourists. There are so many great options I recommend depending on the couple, their personal style and interests, but one great idea for an intimate proposal is to do it atop a gorgeous, private New York City rooftop. The rooftop can be an event space, the rooftop of an office building, the balcony of a hotel suite, or even the private rooftop of a NYC resident. A rooftop is a fantastic place for a proposal because of the incredible scenic background.
I loved photographing this gorgeous proposal for Adrian and his stunning fiancé! Adrian booked the rooftop, decorated it with sentimental photographs that chronicled his relationship with his fiancé and had a violinist there playing their favorite song. He proposed with a breathtaking view of the Empire State Building in the background. This view is totally unique and special for them because it’s a private space, so the pictures they have are even more personalized.
A rooftop proposal is a great way to avoid crowds, and have a very private and unique experience. You can even set up a table in chairs and order delivery from your favorite restaurant to top off the night. :)
– Ash Fox
Feel free to email me about our new Full Service Rooftop Proposal Packages
Including…
- photography
- exclusive private and semi private location recommendations and booking
- live musicians
- decorations (rose petals, LED candle lights)
- video
- champagne
- roses
Peter’s proposal was a double surprise. First he surprised her with a ring…
… and then with all of Catherine’s BEST friends!!! A double surprise proposal can be tough to pull off because the more elements you add to a proposal the more you have to be aware of having everything perfectly timed. I love photographing proposals with a double surprise, because just when you think she’s as excited as she could possibly be, her reaction is magnified ten fold when she sees how her fiancé arranged for her friends to be there too. I just love Catherine’s reaction in all the photos. Also, this proposal took place in early fall, just when the leaves were starting to change color. We’re not quite there yet, but Central Park in the cal is absolutely beautiful. I love how the ivy on the Gapstow Bridge turns red. Every season has it’s own unique character and is equally romantic. – Ash Fox, Suprise Proposal Photographer
Ravi chose the perfect spot for his proposal, a place that held sentimental value for him and his gorgeous fiance-to-be. This was not just any hotel rooftop, it overlooked the neighborhood where he and his gal had lived and shared many memories, like running together through the east village. Ravi proposed during golden hour, those sacred minutes of golden light, when the sun is low in the sky and gives everything the most lovely glow. This is really the ideal time to choose when planning your proposal if you’d like to have the most spectacular colors and flattering light in your photos. During the summer in NYC if you’re proposing I suggest around 7pm EST as the perfect time if you’re looking for golden halos and sunsets to set the mood :)
I love the SIXTY LES Hotel, located on the lower east side in Manhattan (just in case you weren’t sure what “LES” stood for…here in NYC we love acronyms). About three years, ago my friend hosted a party every Friday night on the rooftop at 60 LES hotel and my friends and I would dance to a mix of Elvis, The Clash, and Blondie. The hotel is elegant, but with a downtown edge. For this cool, young couple, the SIXTY LES here in New York was a perfect fit. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a beautiful, friendly, and accommodating location for a rooftop proposal. – Ash Fox Proposal Photographer
Scott’s proposal was likely one of the most epic strolls of his lifetime, a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The trek isn’t nearly as short as one might think, and it can be quite crowded. Watch out for the bike riders! They will aggressively ring their bells, yell or at best grimace if you walk in the bike lane. Stay in your lane and it’s so worth it if you’ve never been. The architecture of the bridge + sunset + views of NYC and Brooklyn make it the perfect romantic activity. It was doubly worth the walk for Scott’s girlfriend! When Scott came to end of the bridge he dropped down to his knee shocking his future fiancé. She was ecstatic. I live for these moments of surprise. It was truly a golden moment with the sun ablaze gleaming over this glowing couple. :) – Ash Fox