Choosing a location for your engagement session can be tricky but I am here to help! In general there are a few different ways to get your brain going.
- You can set the mood for your wedding with a similar landscape or vibe.
- You can do the opposite of your wedding venue. Having a wedding at the lush gardens in Royal Palms? Opt for a desert vibe!
- A place that is meaningful to you as a couple! Did you meet on a college campus or have a first date in downtown Scottsdale? Maybe that is the perfect spot!
- Let your photographer choose! More often than not your photographer will have some suggestions about location and/or somewhere new they have been thinking about!
Here are a few of my favorite spots for engagement sessions in and around the Phoenix and Scottsdale area. We are so lucky to have not only beautiful dessert but a variety of backdrops just waiting for you and your fiance!
|| PAPAGO PARK
This is a crowd favorite! It is a very iconic Arizona location. Papago park is has a variety of landscapes packed into one location: palm trees, purple mountains, desert, and even some water! What more could you ask for? Best time to go to avoid crowds: Weekdays
|| SEDONA
As Phoenicians, we are just a hop skip and a jump away from stunning red rocks up in Sedona! This is a great option to add some adventure! Make sure to add some extra time in for travel! Best time to avoid crowds: weekdays
|| DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN
Desert Botanical Garden has all of the beauty the desert has to offer. There is a fee to get in but it is always worth it! Best time to go to avoid crowds: Weekdays
|| SUNSET POINT
Believe it or not, this is a rest stop! But it is called sunset point for a reason! Best time to go to avoid crowds: Weekdays
|| RESORT
Scottsdale has some of the most dreamy resorts Arizona has to offer. If you were having difficulty deciding where your wedding venue was, perhaps you go for your engagement session at one of the other resorts you were considering! Best time to go to avoid crowds: Weekdays
|| DESERT
Perhaps this is saving the best for last? I know I know, come on, Melissa! But honestly, most trails that you find are perfect for an engagement session. Just give me an in love couple, some sun and a Saguaro cactus and I’m a happy camper! There are always new places to explore and I have some favorite locations just for my MI couples! Best time to avoid crowds: depends on the trail, but most likely weekdays
Where is this last picture located?
[…] times the wedding day is fast-paced without a ton of “get to know you” time. Engagement sessions, on the other hand, are relaxed and give us a chance to really learn about one another. Although […]