surprise proposal nyc Archives - Ash Fox Photography

Conservatory Gardens Surprise Proposal with an extra surprise!

NYC Central Park Conservatory Gardens Surprise Proposal with an extra surprise!

Florian selected the Conservatory Gardens in Central Park for his marriage proposal because it reminded him of the parks in Paris. The Conservatory Gardens is a little known spot in the park that is impeccably up-kept with perfectly manicured lawns, shrubs and flowers. During the spring, I love to visit the garden and photograph all the new blooms. It’s a wonderful, oasis away from the crowds and more touristy sites of Central Park.

Florian and I plotted out the perfect spot for him to stand while he waited for his girlfriend to meet him in the park. Little did she know, Florian had two big surprises for her. When she arrived he guided her over to the famous fountain in the center of the garden and dropped to his knee, holding up a classic robin’s egg blue, engagement ring box from Tiffany’s. His fiancé-to-be was so shocked and excited, but there was more in store! Florian told her to wait with her eyes closed while he jutted off to grab his next surprise. When he returned, his fiancé felt something furry tickling her nose. She opened her eyes to see a brand new apricot, poodle puppy that she’d always dreamed of owning. Florian did a great job making his marriage proposal unique, personal, and memorable. It was an honor to photograph this couple’s big day! – Ash Fox

by Ash Fox

91st “You’ve Got Mail” Garden Park Surprise Proposal

PROPOSAL STORIES & IDEAS

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

by Ash Fox

Central Park Zoo Secret Proposal

PROPOSAL STORIES & IDEAS

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

by Ash Fox

Governor’s Island Picnic Surprise Marriage Proposal

PROPOSAL STORIES & IDEAS

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

by Ash Fox

Times Square Billboard Marriage Proposal

PROPOSAL STORIES & IDEAS

Ryan contacted me nearly a year in advance to make sure he could lock in the date of Christmas Eve in order to propose to the love of his life during their trip to NYC. Ryan and Elisa are from Perth, Australia. Ryan told me he saw Elisa walking on a beach back home and said to his friend “That’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I’m going to marry her”.

Ryan wanted to really WOW Elisa, so chose to propose to Elisa on a Times Square Billboard. The Times Square Billboard Proposal is one of the most amazing ways to proclaim your love and create a moment that feels straight out of a movie. There are 50,000 people who walk through Times Square each day, so proposing on a billboard in the center of Times Square really feels like your marriage proposal is for the whole world to see. Ryan took Elisa to the center of Times Square on one of the warmest Christmas Eve evening I can ever remember. I waited for them to approach and captured those moments before Elisa looked up and saw her name in lights on a billboard in the middle of times Square featuring a picture of her and the words “Will You Marry me Elisa”. She turned to Ryan and there he was on his knee proposing to her. She was WOW-ed. The Perth Times loved this proposal so much they covered it in a Newspaper article you can see here…

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/perth-romeo-ryan-veitch-puts-partners-name-up-in-lights-at-new-yorks-times-square-for-epic-proposal/news-story/877c5a996f371ba54e5cd853bf90e55e

If you would like to propose in the middle of Times Square on a Billboard like Ryan, feel free to get in touch so I can help you make it happen! :) I offer Billboard Marriage Proposal packages to rent a Billboard in the middle of Times Square with a message of your choice and capture your engagement with photography. – Ash Fox

by Ash Fox

The Most Romantic Library Surprise Proposal

PROPOSAL STORIES & IDEAS

Paras’s proposal is one of my all time favorite proposals, because Paras carefully considered what his girlfriend would like and tailored it to her interests. Paras told me his girlfriend loves books and said he’d like to propose in a library but he wasn’t sure about doing it in an actual Library because there are restrictions and you need certain permission. I found Paras the perfect location to achieve the library feel for his proposal without having to deal with permits or cranky librarians. We settled on a beautiful, sunny, Library Bar room where he could have a leisurely a late afternoon drink with his girlfriend and discreetly hide one of her favorite books in plain sight. Since Paras’s future fiancé’s favorite book of all time is Jane Eyre, Paras knew hshe saw Jane Eyre on the shelf she would without a doubt pull it down off the shelf. Paras was certain should would fall into his trap and she did! I watched from a nearby table with a large newspaper obscuring my face and camera (like the spy proposal photographer I am) and saw Paras’s future fiancé pull the book down from the shelf. She opened the book and out spilled paper hearts from a larger heart cut into the book with a photo of them and a written dedication from Paras. She looked up at Paras, in awe of the book and there he was down on his knee proposing to her. It was beautiful. You don’t need a circus to make a great proposal (unless your girlfriend LOVES the circus) just a lot of heart.

by Ash Fox

Top of the Rock Marriage Proposal

PROPOSAL STORIES & IDEAS

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

by Ash Fox

Central Park Cherry Blossom Spring Surprise Proposal

PROPOSAL STORIES & IDEAS

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.

by Ash Fox

Hoboken NYC Skyline Waterfront Marriage Proposal

PROPOSAL STORIES & IDEAS

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! :)

by Ash Fox

Summer NYC Rooftop Proposal & Broadway Engagement Shoot

PROPOSAL STORIES & IDEAS

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!

…notice the Cinderella sign behind them ;)

by Ash Fox

Rockefeller Christmas Tree Proposal at the Skating Rink

PROPOSAL STORIES & IDEAS

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.

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by Ash Fox

Tudor City Proposal

PROPOSAL TIPS & ADVICE

Raymond was trying to find the perfect spot for his proposal in NYC. His gorgeous girlfriend is a student here in NYC and he lives in California. He didn’t want to choose one of her obvious local haunts, but rather find a special place she may not have yet discovered in her short time here in NYC. This way the spot was all their own. He had seen my video online, where I’m standing in Tudor City talking about how I help plan and photographer proposals and thought “I like where Ash is standing, how about doing it there!” So Ray and I hashed out a plan and I shot his proposal right there in my favorite secret hideout in all of NYC. I write this knowing that I might eat my words, because next thing you know everyone may be hanging out in Tudor City! That’s NYC for you. Once the word is out about a cool spot, that little corner of the universe is up for grabs! So I’ll savor this spot for now as my secret hideout, other than sharing it with awesome couples like Ray and Alexa. They are young, gourgous, and full of laughs. This winter day was BITTER COLD, but they were troopers! Love does have a warming effect!