Chances are you stumbled upon this post looking for NJ engagement photo locations so CONGRATULATIONS!! You must be SO excited to be in this season of your life! I remember when Jay and I were engaged, I would find myself just smiling for no apparent reason – oh, to be newly engaged! It’s such a happy time, so celebrate! An engagement session is the perfect way to document this amazing time in your lives. Of course, there’s a little planning involved, so today I’m sharing our favorite NJ Engagement Photo Locations to help you figure out where you might want to have your session. I hope this post is helpful to you and your fiancé!
NJ Engagement Photo Locations
Laurita Winery
Laurita Winery is one of my favorite spots for engagement sessions! It has a gorgeous vineyard with the most beautiful light in the late afternoon. Plus, um, wine? Yes, please! View a session at Laurita Winery here: Laurita Winery Engagement Photos
Asbury Park Boardwalk
If you love the beach but would like to include architecture, too, then check out Asbury Park. It has so much to offer! I especially love the area over by Convention Hall. The light there in the late afternoon is so pretty! Check out this session: Asbury Park Engagement Session.
Willowwood Arboretum
Willowwood Arboretum in Chester Township, NJ, is a gorgeous location for an engagement session. It is full of beautiful florals, romantic gardens, and plenty of variety in backdrops. Check out this favorite spot for engagement sessions here: Willowwood Arboretum Engagement Photos. [Permit required.]
Sayen House & Gardens
Sayen House and Gardens is located in Hamilton, NJ and it’s one of my favorite Central NJ locations for engagement photos. It is perfect for a couple looking for florals, romantic trails, and a few architectural elements, too. Click here for our most recent session at this location: Sayen House and Gardens Engagement Photos.
Cape May Point State Park
If you’re looking for a mix of trails, tall grasses, and long stretches of beach, Cape May Point State Park is well worth considering! The landscapes are so varied, there are countless backdrops to choose from. Check out this session here: Cape May Point State Park Engagement Photos.
Sandy Hook
If you’re looking for a beach engagement in the afternoon or evening, Sandy Hook is a perfect option because the sun sets over the bay and we’ll be able to achieve beautifully backlit images. Click here to view Lauren and Evan’s Sandy Hook engagement photos.
Skylands Manor
Located in NJ State Botanical Garden and part of Ringwood State Park, Skylands Manor is a pretty location during any season. Plus it includes a gorgeous estate with a Tudor Revival Mansion – it doesn’t get any better than that! There are also beautiful gardens that are perfect for a romantic stroll with your fiancé! See our most recent engagement session at Skylands Manor here: Castle at Skylands Manor Engagement Photos [Permit required.]
Cross Estate Gardens
The Cross Estate Gardens are located in Bernardsville and we absolutely loved shooting there! The early 20th century landscape makes for the prettiest setting for an engagement session! My favorite area was the pergola but I also loved the tall grasses in the open field surrounding the grounds. View this session for more pictures from this location: Cross Estate Gardens Engagement. [Permit required.]
Riverside Gardens Park
An engagement session in Red Bank’s Riverside Gardens Park means beautiful views of the Navesink River! View more here: Riverside Gardens Park Engagement Photos
Spring Lake
If you are having trouble deciding between a session at the park or at the beach, look no further. Spring Lake is a wonderful little beach town that has it all. It has a great park and a lake with two lovely bridges only a block away from the beach. Start your session out at the park and end it with a few shots on the boardwalk and beach! See an engagement shoot in Spring Lake here: Spring Lake NJ Engagement Photos
Manasquan
If you’d like to have engagement photos on the beach and don’t want to get up at sunrise for backlit images, Fisherman’s Cove in Manasquan is ideal. It’s right by the Manasquan Inlet and the beach by this hidden gem is one of the only spots in Monmouth County where you can have the sun setting as a backdrop during an evening beach session. Click here for more: Manasquan NJ Engagement Photos
Asbury Park Boardwalk
I always enjoy a session at the Asbury Park Boardwalk; there are just so many wonderful backdrops for a session. To name a few: the old casino and its colorful murals, Convention Hall, a long jetty, and the beach! If you want a beach session where old meets new, this is most definitely the place. You can view our most recent Asbury Park engagement session here: Asbury Park Boardwalk Engagement Session.
Branch Brook Park
Branch Brook Park is especially beautiful in April, during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Check out the festival website to view the Webcam and keep an eye on the Cherry Blossoms. Once they start budding, they peak, and then they’re gone! View our most recent cherry blossom engagement session here: Branch Brook Park Engagement.
Hoboken
If you’re looking for great views of New York City but you also want to get some urban textures in your backdrops Hoboken may be the perfect spot for your session. Pier A Park provides gorgeous views of Manhattan and it’s also right next to the Lackawanna Terminal and some cool abandoned buildings with lots of textures and urban decay. Check out our most recent Hoboken engagement sessions here: Spring Engagement Session in Hoboken | Summer Engagement Session in Hoboken
Stevens Institute of Technology
Looking for more ideas for a Hoboken engagement session? The campus of Stevens Institute has a ton of options to offer. From a beautiful castle gate to gorgeous campus buildings and stunning views of NYC, this is a new favorite spot of mine! Check out these two sessions for images from this area of Hoboken here and here.
Liberty State Park
Liberty State Park in Jersey City is perfect for couples who want to combine a natural backdrop with an urban cityscape. It is a big green space with the Manhattan Skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island in the background. Check out this engagement session to get an idea of this location: Liberty State Park Engagement.
Allaire State Park
If you are looking for a rustic location with lots of greenery and/or fall foliage then Allaire State Park is a great option. There are several historic buildings and barns that lend a lot of variety to this location, too. To see this location click here: Allaire State Park Engagement Photos.
Princeton University
The grounds of Princeton University are perfect for a session at any time of the year. The textures of the buildings make for lovely backdrops and there are loads of open spaces to walk around in . Not to mention the beautiful architecture that gives the campus an old world feel. Check out these engagement sessions to see if this location fits your style: Spring Engagement in Princeton | Fall Engagement in Princeton.
Cape May
Cape May has so much to offer! Between the iconic Congress Hall, charming town, and long stretches of beaches, it offers the perfect mix of backdrops, especially for a summer session. Click here to see Stefanie and Michael’s photos for more ideas: Cape May NJ Engagement Photos.
Island Heights
Island Heights is a hidden gem in Ocean County. It is a quaint town on the Toms River that has plenty of water access throughout. Boats, lovely light, and hidden beaches are what this one is all about. View these Island Heights Engagement Photos to get a better idea of this location.
Willow Creek Winery
If you’re looking for a location near Cape May, Willow Creek Winery is a perfect choice. The staff there are super friendly and welcoming, and the winery is well kept and very scenic. Please contact us or the winery for information on venue requirements to shoot at this location. For images from this location click here: Willow Creek Winery Engagement.
Cape May Winery
Another great location in Cape May is Cape May Winery. It’s beautiful and it’s also very close to Sunset Beach. It’s easy to drive between these two locations and incorporate two very different landscapes. Click here for more: Cape May Engagement Session.
Christmas Tree Farms
Interested in a session on a Christmas Tree Farm? The holidays are a magical time for an engagement session, especially if you were engaged during the holidays last year! Click here for an example of what your session might look like: Christmas Tree Farm Engagement.
Engagement Session Planning Guide
Did you find this post useful? Fill out the form below to get our free Engagement Session Planning Guide along with lots of tips and tricks for planning your wedding!
NY and PA Engagement Photo Locations
If you think you may want to head to nearby NY or PA, keep scrolling for some more ideas for engagement session locations!
Central Park Engagement Session
Washington Square Park Engagement
Bear Mountain State Park Engagement Photos
Philadelphia Art Museum Engagement
Philadelphia Water Works and Boathouse Row Engagement
We hope this post has been useful to you in searching for NJ Engagement Photo Locations!
Idalia Photography is a team of NJ wedding photographers serving NJ, NY, PA, and beyond. We specialize in romantic, timeless, and classic weddings. Are you planning a wedding? Click here to view our wedding portfolio or contact us for availability and pricing. Happy wedding planning!
Updated on 7/7/19
January 9th, 2017 at 3:23 pm
Any indoor location that you can suggest?
January 10th, 2017 at 12:43 pm
That’s a tough one! Monmouth University is a great option but you need to pay for a permit.
February 16th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
I love how diverse Jersey is for spots! They’re all so beautiful and allow something for each bride!
December 14th, 2018 at 2:45 pm
Do you need permits to take wedding photos on campus at Princeton University?
December 14th, 2018 at 5:38 pm
Nope!