As one of the founding cities in shaping our country’s history, Boston has a rich story to tell at every turn. It’s a city of intriguing contradictions—quaint yet cosmopolitan, architectural yet outdoorsy. Here, we’ve put a handful of our best Boston engagement locations on the map, but we could go on all day on what makes Boston engagement photography—and Boston wedding photography—so wicked special. Take in dreamy shots along the sapphire waterfront of the Harborwalk or frame your engagement photos with the Boston skyline. In the winter months, we love seeing couples cozy up at the snowfallen Topsfield Holiday Tree Farm or explore the seasonal color flourishing at Harold Parker State Forest. Discover our most scenic, must-visit sites in Boston.

 

09. BOSTON COMMON
 

As the oldest park in the United States, Boston Common anchors the 1,110-acre chain of nine parks linked by parkways and waterways, known as Boston’s Emerald Necklace. Boston Common is not only one of our best Boston engagement locations, it’s steeped in rich history with a birth year of 1637. This system of parks, Boston Common included, was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (ahem, Central Park) and dates from the colonial period. Have your Boston engagement photographer capture every charming moment as you stroll through the park, stopping to pose by the tulips in front of the George Washington statue. Plan your session for the springtime to capture the flowering trees, or in the fall for the beautiful changing leaves.

 

08. STREGA WATERFRONT
 

Modern architecture meets natural allure at this captivating harborside spot. Located right on the harbor near the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston is Strega Waterfront, an old-world classic Italian restaurant that resides in a sleek and glamorous atmosphere. If sophisticated is your style, what better place for your Boston engagement photography session? The minimalist glass and steel structure sits right on the water, inviting the two of you to stroll along the dock and take in stunning harborside views that offer a panoramic peek at the Boston cityscape. An intriguing balance of urban life and natural beauty, this location paints a canvas of infinite blue sea and sky against the architectural view. No wonder it’s one of our best Boston engagement locations. When your session is wrapped, pop in and celebrate with some fresh catch.

 

07. TOPSFIELD HOLIDAY TREE FARM
 

With a view like this, every day feels like Christmas. If you’ve always dreamed of evergreens as far as the eye can see, venture to the enchanting grounds of Topsfield Holiday Tree Farm. Especially when it’s dusted with snow, there’s something magical about this place that makes it one of our best Boston engagement locations. The beauty of shooting your Boston engagement photography session during chilly months is that it calls for all things charming and romantic—cozy sweaters, hot drinks and a warm blanket for snuggling up. Here, you have the freedom to be as playful as you wish, from decorating a tree to launching a snowball fight. This spot would make a gorgeous place for a white—or green—wedding, too.

 

06. BOSTON PUBLIC GARDEN
 

It’s anything but a secret garden. But it’s popular for good reason. Established in 1837, the Public Garden set roots as the first public botanical garden in America. Evoking a fanciful, Victorian touch, the Public Garden flourishes with vibrant floral patterns, which utilize once novel techniques of collecting, hybridizing, and propagating plants. With access to showy annuals and greenhouse-grown plants, keepers of the Garden bedded the space with colorful displays and planted exotic imported trees. All the better to snap engaging Boston engagement photography. Walk along the bridge, catching the reflection of the landscaping and the passing swan boats. Or, pose among the many exotic flowers and plants with glimpses of the city behind you. Wherever you wander here, you’ll see why it’s one of our best Boston engagement locations.

 

05. HAROLD PARKER STATE FOREST
 

The woods are lovely, dark and deep at Harold Parker State Forest. Just a short distance from Boston in Reading, Massachusetts, this 3,000-acre nature preserve is a natural for Boston engagement photography. With 11 different ponds, miles of hiking paths and rolling hills of forest, you two are sure to get lost in the seasonal beauty of this serene place. What makes it one of our best Boston engagement locations? Picture yourself walking along leaf-covered trails in the deep magic of the woods, leaning against a rustic wooden fence with a tranquil pond in the background, or riding your bike beneath a canopy of trees. Adding to its mystique, the park also features architectural elements, including the remnants of an 18th-century sawmill and homestead. As you explore, you’ll discover little nooks and outlooks that feel like your own secret garden. All the more reason to come back on your wedding day to see why Harold Parker State Forest is one of our faves for photography.

 

04. FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA
 

Right in the heart of Boston is the Fairmont Copley Plaza, a gorgeous destination for Boston engagement photography. Since its doors opened in 1912, the Fairmont has beckoned guests as a luxury destination hotel. We’ve named it as one of the best Boston engagement locations for its grand style and elegance, from the remarkable stone facade to statement-making red awnings and golden lanterns. For even more variety, you can explore the square itself for many lovely city scenes. Sit a spell on a bench perched under a tree-lined parkway, walk alongside wrought-iron fences, or capture other architecturally-significant buildings that face the square.

 

03. TOWER HILL BOTANIC GARDEN PLAZA
 

Set amid the gorgeous woods of New England is the Tower Hill Botanic Garden, located just a short drive from Boston in Boylston, Massachusetts. This 132-acre property boasts breathtaking landscaping, beautiful architectural elements, peaceful water fixtures and a serene pond. It’s blooming with a variety of landscapes for your Boston engagement photography session. Walk through the apple orchard in spring or explore the cottage garden, a delight of color and texture combinations bursting with a shrubs, trees and ornamental grasses on an intimate scale. For something a little more rustic, have your Boston engagement photographer snap away at the inner park, a woodland garden decorated with elements inspired by the Greco-Roman landscape parks of the 18th and 19th centuries. There are few places more picturesque than Pliney’s Allee, a gorgeous path lined with oak trees. On the lawn garden, you can experience immaculate landscaping and expansive green lawns that reach across to treelines that burst into color in the fall. The Tower Hill Botanic Garden is a paradise of natural wonder that’s even fit for photos. This is definitely the place to let love bloom.

02. THE HARBORWALK
 

Stretching a distance of almost 50 miles, the Boston Harborwalk offers an iconic view of Boston—the kind you want to show off to friends and family. Here’s one way to do it. Through scenic Boston engagement photography. This public walkway follows along the edge of the piers, beaches and wharfs that coast through Boston Harbor. Use the infinite blue bay as your backdrop and watch the boats sail in as your Boston engagement photographer snaps away. Gaze out across the harbor islands or over the glittering city nightscape from Fan Pier Park. As you take in the breathtaking vistas from the heart of the city, you’ll see why the Harborwalk is one of our best Boston engagement locations.

01. SMOLAK FARMS
 

What a breath of fresh air. Smolak Farms composes a serene, natural setting for your Boston engagement photography. With its rustic charm and endless array of open spaces, your photos will feel as authentic as the two of you. Located in North Andover, the pastoral scene of this family-owned farm makes it a must as one of our best Boston engagement locations. Rolling green pastures give way to towering corn fields, vibrant sunflowers, an heirloom apple orchard and cathedral pine grove. A classic white farmhouse, antique barn and gazebo compose a welcoming backdrop to your picturesque images. Imagine what a fresh scene this would be for your big day. It also happens to be one of our top spots for Boston photography. Heads up—being a real working farm, you just might encounter a special cameo from a chicken, goat or other friendly creature. Just take it all in—and be natural.