Top Spots for Engagement and Wedding Photos in New Jersey

We asked professionals within the NJ wedding community for their favorite or most-requested photography spots for engagements and weddings. Subsequently, we received a wide array of locations from areas of the Jersey Shore to popular parks and historic sites to places made famous from movies and much more! Thanks to these experts in the NJ wedding industry along with some photos from professional wedding photographers, We’re excited to share with you some of these “Top Spots” for engagement and wedding photographs in New Jersey (there’s a brief description of each location):

Woodrow Wilson Hall at Monmouth University, West Long Branch – A National Historic Landmark Building that appeared in the 1980 movie version of “Annie” serving as “Daddy Warbucks” home. Offers amazing photo opportunities throughout the property, both inside and out, including their formal gardens and the famous “Annie staircase.” The bride or groom needs to be an alumni in order to shoot there.

Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown – This is a gorgeous park of well manicured gardens that in some parts look like an English Manor Garden. Local couples love this park for its gorgeous blooms in warmer months, and amazing fall foliage in crisper months.

Hoboken Train Station, Hoboken – Is stately, historic, beautiful, majestic and a little bit different from the norm. It is a unique building, very quaint and old looking. It even has a big wooden bench where the bride and groom can sit. And did you know that a couple of scenes from the movie “Julie & Julia” were filmed there?

Verona Park, Verona – It seems like there are many romantic nooks within the park that appeal to almost every taste, from traditional, romantic, woodsy / outdoor, water, etc.

The Boardwalk at Asbury Park – After decades of hype, Asbury Park has in fact seen a revival and the beachfront is doing very well. You have the classic landmark Convention Hall / Paramount Theater in addition to Asbury Lands and Wonder Bar. You have new attractions including the water park, mini golf course, and retail shops and restaurants. And of course the oceanfront is always great for photos. And Asbury’s combination of old, new and oceanfront – in a town that’s still a little funky on the edges - is very appealing to young, edgy couples who want something just a step out of the ordinary.

Sayen Gardens, Hamilton – Offers lush foliage, beautiful manicured gardens and variety of interesting settings which include a woodland gazebo, temple garden and sprawling park like grassy areas.

Lambertville – This historic town located on the Delaware River offers railroad tracks, the river, the bridge to New Hope, antique shops and more for great backdrops

Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange – The view from this location, being on a cliff overlooking the New York city skyline and the Hudson River is breathtaking! Inside the Highlawn Pavilion restaurant is especially beautiful and romantic at night, with a panoramic view of the skyline making everything aglow!

Long Beach Island region – Barnegat Lighthouse (a.k.a. “Old Barney”) makes a great background for a Long Beach Island wedding and many photographers love the beaches and coast of LBI which offer great lighting for photos. LBI is now a destination wedding resort for brides and grooms who have vacationed here in the summer months and they’ve got so many options for incredible photos

Rutgers Gardens, New Brunswick – A top spot in Central New Jersey, it is very picturesque and the cabin on the property offers great opportunities for various photos

Downtown Princeton – Includes this historic shopping district and grounds of Princeton University

Downtown Jersey City – Some streets are very quaint and a nice walk is great for photo opportunities, along with incredible views of the New York City skyline

Cape May – Known as one of the most popular locations in the country for destination weddings, Cape May offers he Victorian beauty of a by-gone era, along with several beaches for sunset pictures, including the Cape May Sunset Pavilion

While the above locations are in no particular order, there are so many more that were suggested by our experts in the wedding community, so I’ll include a bullet list of them below for some other ideas, even for a marriage proposal too!

• Smithville – This is a fun old town, located near Atlantic City, is filled with a lot of small shops and makes a beautiful backdrop for photos and video
• Weehawken promenade with the backdrop of NYC skyline
• Mindowaskin Park, Westfield – There is a beautiful lake with a fountain and graceful trees, a gazebo and a beautiful bridge with an arch that is perfect for bridal parties
• Lambert’s Castle at the Garret Mountain Reservation, Paterson
• Reeve’s Reed Arboretum, Summit
• Liberty State Park, Jersey City – Offers amazing views of NYC as a backdrop
• New Jersey Botanical Gardens / Skylands Manor, Ringwood
• Knight Park, Collingswood
• Grounds of Cathedral of the Woods, Medford Lakes
• Batso Village, Hammonton – Has some great historic buildings that allow for wonderful artistic images to be captured
• Mill Race Village and Main Street, Mount Holly
• Waterfall at Kingsland Park, Nutley
• Branchbrook Park, Newark – Branchbrook is home of the Cherry Blossom festival in May
• Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morris Township – On Hanover Avenue and part of the Morris County Parks System
• Fairleigh Dickinson Campus, Madison – You can rent it out for a couple of hours and not have to worry about it getting crowded and waiting for other couples
• Pier Village, Long Branch
• Allaire State Park, Farmingdale – Features the Historic Village of Allaire, one of the most popular wedding spots at the Jersey Shore
• Manasquan Reservoir, Howell
• Strawbridge Lake, Moorestown
• Various vineyards throughout Southern New Jersey
• Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton

When considering where you want to take engagement or wedding photos in New Jersey, consider thinking of them in a theme, whether they’re captured in a city, at the shore, in a favorite park or woods, or during a particular season or weather (or even where your fiance proposed or where you spent a lot of time dating). The best location is the one where you are, because if you love it, you own it and then a professional photographer will capture that love.

-Written and compiled by Erik Kent, Co-Publisher, NJWedding.com.  Engagement photo above taken at Lambert Castle, Paterson NJ provided by Abella Studios.