Tag Archive for: Hire a NYC Proposal Photographer

St. Patricks Cathedral proposal

I love Jana and Bernard’s story. It reads like a romantic comedy and culminates in the most perfect proposal inside St. Patricks Cathedral, one of the most beautiful churches in the world. Planning a great proposal is all about paying attention to details and remembering little hints your partner gives you about what they would like as well as overt ones. Jana told Bernard in passing that she loved St. Patricks and he didn’t forget!

In Jana’s words

“We met five years ago, I was coming out of yoga, and he was checking into a hotel for work where the studio was. I’m not sure what it was, but that spark was there, he made me laugh, and he was quite dashing. I remember telling him “we would never work” as he lived in Houston and me in Dallas. His comment to that “it’s just a bag of peanuts away,” i.e., Southwest Airlines. He would also say “I was a hard nut to crack.” Working his magic he slowly crept into my heart. On one of the many phone conversations throughout our courtship, I mentioned how I loved New York and had visited most of the cathedrals; specifically, St. Patricks. The one thing about my Ash is he listens. We made plans to be in New York for the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center. He said, “let’s stop at St. Patricks and light a candle.” Upon entering the church, he stopped me, and on one knee he proposed. Later, I asked “why St. Patricks” and he said “I know what this church means to you and nobody gets engaged in a church, always married. Being the man that he is, he changed the rules.

The photographs speak for themselves, we’ve had so many compliments, we used the photos that year for our Christmas photo, our wedding announcement and have framed many of them. Christmas in New York is beautiful, getting engaged there was over the top. Ash Fox’s timing is impeccable, her editing stunning, and such a joy to work with, can we come back?”

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I get calls and emails all the time that begin with “Where do I even start”. A lot of times it can be overwhelming coming up with an idea for your proposal. You may be overloaded with ideas and not know which one to choose or you may be have no clue where to begin. One great place to start is thinking about activities and interests you share with your partner. For example, Michael and his girlfriend, Emily met competing in Model United Nations together in college. Model UN was both their meeting place and an activity they both were passionate about so Michael took Emily for a tour of the United Nations. Just as they finished the tour, he grabbed Emily’s hand, completely catching her off guard and dropped to his knee in front of the flags and the iconic sparkling silver United Nations building. Emily was shocked and thrilled by Michael’s sentimentality because the UN met a lot to them. I sneakily photographed the entire moment from the street as if I was a tourist passing by. Afterwards I brought them over to Tudor City where we took some post engagement pictures with views of the Chrysler building and others featuring Emily’s pear cut diamond ring set in rose gold is also a dream! Well done Michael!

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Harris’s marriage proposal took place as the site of his very first date with his girlfriend, Tara, Mini Golfing at Chelsea Piers. Tara, thought it was a regular date night and a fun idea to go mini golfing, but she had no idea that Harris planned to propose there. I pretended to be working at the Mini Golf center blending into the atmosphere as much as possible, but I was really there to secretly photograph Harris’s proposal. After a few holes,  Harris dropped to his knee when Tara least expected it, right there on the mini golf green, with a gorgeous view of the Freedom Tower behind him. A mini golf marriage proposal is a great way to have fun and feel relaxed even though you’ll be proposing. Harris was a smooth operator and showed no sign of nervousness. I loved the way Harris combined an activity they loved as a couple with an homage to their first date together. Often proposals go in one of two directions, a totally new experience where you create a new memory in a new place, or the proposal revisits a sentimental location and the proposal marks an additional milestone in your relationship. – Ash Fox

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Autumn Gramercy Park Surprise Engagement

Gramercy Park is by far one of the most romantic and exclusive parks in all of NYC. You can only get in with a special key that’s reserved for those who live on the periphery of the park and for the guests of the Gramercy Park hotel, who are able to rent the key. Daniel planned to propose to his beautiful longtime girlfriend, Shelby in Gramercy Park. He surprised her when after a long stroll throughout the city, he was able to slip her into the park a place neither of them had ever been in. I spied on the couple serenity photographing as they strolled through the park, capturing all the moments leading up to Daniel’s knee drop. Shelby was so surprised! After Daniel proposed he waved to me and we spent some time getting some artistic engagement portraits throughout the park. Finally, Daniel suggested they stop by the Gramercy park Hotel nearby, where he surprised her with an engagement party including both their families! Daniel and Shelby’s joy and love for each other is so beautiful to see.  It was really magical to capture their intimate moment surrounded by the fall foliage on that cool November Day.

Gramercy Park is a gorgeous setting for getting engaged no matter the season. If you’re curious about what it looks like in the Spring, check out my post on Chris’s engagement here https://www.ashfoxphotography.com/gramercy-park-proposal/

  • Ash Fox

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Nick proposed to his longtime girlfriend in one of my favorite hidden pocket parks in the city, the 91st street garden (aka the garden park from “You’ve Got Mail” ) The 91st garden is a great choice if you are looking for a park to propose in that’s not Central Park and away from the crowds. It’s a gorgeous alternate option for an engagement if you don’t have a key to the exclusive Gramercy Park or if you and your girlfriend LOVE the movie “You’ve Got Mail”. It’s such a beautiful place to create a movie moment for your loved one. Nick proposed to his stunning girlfriend on a warm fall day just as the colors of the leaves were beginning to change.  I loved photographing his fiancé’s excitement as she leaped off her feet into Nick’s arms – Ash Fox

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Scott and Danielle’s Central Park Zoo engagement was an epic proposal I’ll never forget. Scott and Danielle are members of the Zoo, so planned a nice day trip to explore the zoo with a few of their closest friends. In front of the seal exhibit, Scott dropped to his knee proposing to Danielle. She was blown away. A huge gaggle of friends and family rushed in cheering with signs and flowers. Scott and Danielle’s Proposal was a party proposal to the max.  They are the epitome #relationshipgoals for all who know them. It was an honor to photograph the big surprise – Ash Fox

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Kevin proposed over a casual Sunday picnic on Governors Island, an interesting little pocket of land just a short ferry ride from lower Manhattan. It was a warm August Sunday and the perfect day for a quiet picnic in the park. I spied on Kevin and his future fiancé in the moments before Kevin proposed, photographing them discreetly. When he dropped to his knee she was so shocked and excited and amazed he pulled off a picnic in the park and having a photographer there to capture it. Once I revealed myself, we spent some time strolling around the lush and green park getting some nice engagement photos. It was such a pleasure photographing this relaxed, late summer afternoon proposal for Kevin and his stunning fiancé! – Ash Fox

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Steven and his girlfriend Estefany had just moved to NYC. and to top off the big move he chose to propose to her overlooking the city where they are beginning a new life together. I’ve seen hundreds of incredible  proposals, but Estefany’s reaction really moved me. “You could have given me a piece of string and I would have been happy.” she’s that kind of girl. It was an honor to be there for this sweet and beautiful couple.  – Ash

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Cherry Blossom Season is approaching. We had such an unseasonably mild winter this year in NYC so the cherry blossoms are starting to bloom earlier than usual. I’m guessing they’ll be in full bloom by the first week of April. So if you’re thinking of proposing in a park and want to upping the ante on floral beauty, consider proposing during the cherry blossom peak!

Where are the best places to see the cherry blossoms in the NYC area? My 3 favorites are…

  • Central Park
  • The Brooklyn Botanical Garden http://www.bbg.org
  • Branch Brook Park Newark, NJ

Jeroen timed his proposal perfectly in sync with the cherry blossom bloom. Timing is as essential with cherry blossoms as with marriage proposals. Central Park is beautiful all year round, but peak Cherry Blossom bloom is majestic.

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Austin proposed to his now fiancé, Amber, on a warm autumn afternoon.  If Autumn is your favorite time of year, Central Park really showcases the beauty of the season to it’s fullest. I suggested the Bow Bridge as one of my favorite classic spots in the park. Amber (no that isn’t Jessica Alba!) was so surprised and elated when Austin dropped to his knee in front of the amazing view of the bridge. They were visiting the city from Florida, so Austin wanted a spot that would capture the unique character of Central Park. I was thrilled to be there to witness and photograph this couple’s magic moment!

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Jonathan and Jessyln are a fairytale couple to the max! They live in Orlando home of Disneyworld and Jesslyn is Cinderella at Disneyworld. Jonathan may as well be Prince Charming considering how he pulled off this gorgeous summer rooftop proposal in the center of Manhattan.  I had such a great time scheming with Jonathan to make sure everything went according to plan and it did!  Jesslyn and Jonathan are blessed to be effortless friends of the camera and their chemistry really comes through in all the photos. We had so much fun coming up with different poses and photo ideas during the engagement part of the photo session. I’m so excited for these two! Congrats!
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…notice the Cinderella sign behind them ;)
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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!

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