Your Guide to Engagement Photos at The Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC
Each year in Washington DC The National Cherry Blossom Festival at The Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial! The annual festival celebrates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo to the city of Washington DC and honoring the friendship between The United States and Japan. Today the festival last about four weekends and attracts about 1.5 million tourist. The blossoms can be seen around The Tidal Basin, Jefferson Memorial, MLK Memorial, and many other areas. Many couples choose the Cherry Blossoms as the perfect time to plan their surprise proposal or engagement photos!
Here are some tips for planning your photos at the cherry blossoms:
1) Plan Ahead: photographers book up for cherry blossom photos FAST! Book your photographer at least 1-2 months out to secure a spot. If you wait until the last moment the photographer you want may be fully booked. Photographers only book a limited number of sessions.
2) Peak Bloom: Aim for scheduling photos around the peak bloom! On average, DC's cherry blossoms reach peak bloom around late-March into early April, but the exact timing varies year to year depending on the local temperatures in the leadup to the bloom. Here is a website to track peak bloom predictions!
3) The Most ideal Time! Plan to go at sunrise and on a weekday for the least amount of tourist. Anytime after sunrise can be extremely busy: especially during peak bloom and a weekend! Go at sunrise!
For professional photography on the Memorials property in DC there is a photography permit that you are suppose to get from NPS! The permit is a $90 application fee + $50 permit fee: $140 total.
Some shots along the pathways around the Tidal Basin! The Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial are ideal locations for Cherry Blossoms!
The Lincoln Memorial is a great spot to propose with a view of The Washington Monument! After the proposal you can walk nearby for Cherry Blossom photos!
Client Reviews
“Jon shot a surprise engagement for us at cherry blossoms up in DC. His efforts were outstanding. Throughout the process (3 months) we kept in contact with him always responding quickly. Jon arrived extremely early the day of the engagement which was good because we got there early as well. Jon knew exactly where he wanted to take pictures but also asked us several times if we had any requests. He sent us a few pictures the same day and we got the full album in less than a week. I highly recommend him.”
Learn more about planning engagement photos at he Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC by using the contact form or emailing jonflemingphotography@gmail.com
How to self officiate your wedding in Washington DC
A self-uniting marriage is where the couple are married without the presence of a third party officiant. Only a few states offer this option. Washington DC is one of the few places where you can self officiate your wedding ceremony! Starting in 2014, The District of Columbia allowed couples to self-officiate by selecting that option on their marriage license and returning it completed within 10 days to the courthouse. Both partners must be present at the courthouse when obtaining a license for a self officiated ceremony. The law mandates they cannot marry themselves on courthouse premises — This is a great opportunity to self officiant your wedding at your favorite location in DC and hire a photographer to photograph the ceremony and then photograph you afterwards!
The Marriage Bureau is open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays and located in the Moultrie Courthouse, JM 690
DC Marriage Bureau – Moultrie Courthouse
500 Indiana Avenue, N.W.
Room 4485
Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 879-4840
You can view a marriage application HERE directly from DC Courts website. The fee to apply for a marriage license in DC is $45 ($35 for the Marriage Application Fee plus $10.00 for the “Certificate of Marriage” (printing the license)
Here are some images from a self officiated wedding I photographed in 2015:
Learn more about booking your wedding or elopement photography with Jon Fleming Photography by using the contact form or emailing jonflemingphotography@gmail.com
Wedding Photography with Jon Fleming Photography includes Jon Fleming as your lead photographer and an easy to use online gallery of high resolution edited images retelling the story of your wedding day! Photo Booth Rentals include your choice of backdrop, custom designed 4x6 print template, friendly attendant, instant printing, instant social media sharing and online gallery of digital images.
Surprise Proposal Photography at The Cherry Blossom Festival
Every spring Washington DC celebrates The National Cherry Blossom Festival at The Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial! The annual festival celebrates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo to the city of Washington DC and honoring the friendship between The United States and Japan. Today the festival last about four weekends and attracts about 1.5 million tourist. The blossoms can be seen around The Tidal Basin, Jefferson Memorial, MLK Memorial, and many other areas. Many couples choose the Cherry Blossoms as the perfect time to plan their surprise marriage proposal or engagement session but there are some things to keep in mind!
Dealing with tourist and large crowds: The Cherry Blossom Festival attracts many tourist! So avoiding the busiest times will be beneficial to make sure there is space to get photos without people in them. Sunrise sessions are highly recommended as there are not many tourist out just after sunrise. The later in the day the busier it gets. Going on weekdays instead of weekends is also helpful! During your session we can stop by some of the lower traffic locations to get shots without tourist in them.
Peak Bloom: many clients like to have their photos during peak bloom! Peak bloom happens when 70% or more of the cherry trees blossoms are out. The peak bloom may only last for a few days but the week before or after the bloom will still have many trees in bloom. Peak bloom can be hard to predict especially if you are coming from out of town on a planned trip. If you are flexible on dates, I am happy to be flexible in planning spur of the moment to go during peak bloom for photography sessions! You can read more about peak bloom and up to date predictions on cherryblossomwatch.com. Peak bloom depends on the years rainfall and temperature.
Transportation: As The Cherry Blossom festival attracts thousands of tourist it is recommended to use transportation such as Uber or Metro instead of driving as parking is limited! Metered Parking may be available if you are planning a sunrise session.
Other Locations: Aside from The Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial there are other locations around Washington DC that also have Cherry Blossoms. The National Arboretum and grounds at The Capital also have Cherry Blossoms and other great views. Ask about other locations when planning.
Some shots along the pathways around the Tidal Basin! The Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial are ideal locations for Cherry Blossoms!
The Lincoln Memorial is a great spot to propose with a view of The Washington Monument! After the proposal you can walk nearby for Cherry Blossom photos!
Client Reviews
“Jon shot a surprise engagement for us at cherry blossoms up in DC. His efforts were outstanding. Throughout the process (3 months) we kept in contact with him always responding quickly. Jon arrived extremely early the day of the engagement which was good because we got there early as well. Jon knew exactly where he wanted to take pictures but also asked us several times if we had any requests. He sent us a few pictures the same day and we got the full album in less than a week. I highly recommend him.”
Surprise Proposal Photography includes detailed planning/advice, photography session to capture the proposal moment, portraits afterwards, and your online gallery of your beautifully processed high resolution images. The online gallery is easy to share with friends and family!
Learn more about planning a surprise proposal or engagement session at The Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC by using the contact form or emailing jonflemingphotography@gmail.com
Best indoor locations for Surprise Proposal Photography in Washington DC
You have heard it before; You should always have a back up plan or Plan B! This certainly holds true when planning a photography session for surprise wedding proposals and engagement sessions at an outdoor location. It is a very good idea to have an indoor location as Plan B, especially if you are not able to reschedule the date of your photography session.
On the day of proposing, it could rain or during the winter months you could be faced with ice and/or snow! Washington DC has some great indoor locations and most have no admission fees.
Here are some tips on getting ready for an indoor location:
- If time is flexible, go as soon as the location opens to avoid crowds.
- Plan a weekday proposal/engagement session as weekdays tend to be less busy than weekends
Here is a list of my favorite indoor locations in Washington DC for surprise proposals and engagement sessions:
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art is a wonderful place for photography to capture your special moment. There are two buildings in addition to the National Gellery of Art. In one building you will find modern art and in the other building there are mostly classical paintings. Although both would be ideal, the building with modern art has more natural light. The LED Tunnel makes for a cool photograph!
Open Monday-Saturday from 10:00am-5:00pm and Sunday from 11:00am-6:00pm.
National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery's Kogod Courtyard is located in the center of the building. This location is wonderful as it has a lot of space, natural light and indoor plants. Other parts of the gallery are great for portraits as well. During the holiday season the courtyard is quite festive!
Open Daily from 11:30am-7:00pm.
Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens are located right near the Capital Building. The walkway in the tropics exhibit is an ideal spot for your special moment as it tends to be more private and a there is a lot of natural light coming in through the windows. To add to your photos, you can end the photography session with a photo outside with the Capital Building in the background.
The Botanical Gardens are open daily from 10:00am-5:00pm including weekends and holidays.
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is another great place for photos with its beautiful marble floors and spectacular pillars.
Once inside, you must go through security and then walk up to the main area. The top level is suggested as the best place portraits!
Open Monday-Saturday from 8:30am-4:30pm.
Other location Ideas
Restaurant Proposal - proposing at the resturant where you went on your first date or a frequent date spot is also a popular choice. Restaurant proposals may require more advance planning and can be a bit restricted for portraits afterwards if its raining outside. Using the overhang outside the restaurant is an option or a bar area or other parts of the restaurant such as private rooms if the restaurant allows and has this option.
National Building Museum - The National Building museum has an entrance fee but always has cool exhibits that can make for unique photos.
Union Station - The front of Union Station has a great outdoor area that is covered by the overhang. Inside is also a great spot for indoor photos however Union Station can be busy during peak travel times.
Hotel - A hotel room, hallways or the lobby area can be used as a great indoor location as well with the hotels permission. This works well for couples out of town staying in a nice hotel. Some hotels also have proposal packages where they will place flowers or a bottle of champagne in the room for you when you check in. Below are some shots from The Ritz Carlton Hotel in Georgetown where I captured a surprise proposal during the holidays!
Surprise Proposal Photography includes detailed planning & advice, photography session to capture the proposal moment, portraits afterwards, and your online gallery of your beautifully processed high resolution images. The online gallery is easy to share with friends and family! Jon Fleming Photography specializes in capturing couples love stories from the surprise proposal to the wedding day!
Learn more about planning a surprise proposal photography or engagement sessions in Washington DC by using the contact form or emailing jonflemingphotography@gmail.com
Planning a Surprise Proposal or Engagement Session at The Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC
Every spring Washington DC celebrates The National Cherry Blossom Festival. The annual festival celebrates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the mayor of Tokyo to the city of Washington DC and honoring the friendship between The United States and Japan. Today the festival last about four weekends and attracts about 1.5 million tourist. The blossoms can be seen around The Tidal Basin, Jefferson Memorial, MLK Memorial, and many other areas. Many couples choose the Cherry Blossoms as the perfect time to plan their proposal or engagement session but there are some things to keep in mind!
Dealing with Tourist: The Cherry Blossom Festival attracts many tourist! So avoiding the busiest times will be beneficial to make sure there is space to get photos without people in them. Sunrise sessions are highly recommended as there are not many tourist out just after sunrise. The later in the day the busier it gets. Going on weekdays instead of weekends is also helpful!
Peak Bloom: many clients like to have their photos during peak bloom! Peak bloom happens when 70% or more of the cherry trees blossoms are out. The peak bloom may only last for a few days but the week before or after the bloom will still have many trees in bloom. Peak bloom can be hard to predict especially if you are coming from out of town on a planned trip. If you are flexible on dates, I am happy to be flexible in planning spur of the moment to go during peak bloom for photography sessions! You can read more about peak bloom and up to date predictions on cherryblossomwatch.com.
Transportation: As The Cherry Blossom festival attracts thousands of tourist it is recommended to use transportation such as Uber or Metro instead of driving as parking is limited! Parking may be available if you are planning a sunrise session.
Other Locations: Aside from The Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial there are other locations around Washington DC that also have Cherry Blossoms if Memorials and large crowds are not your thing! Feel free to reach out as i'd be happy to discuss other options that may work for you!
Some shots along the pathways around the tidal Tasin!
The Lincoln Memorial is a great spot to propose with a view of The Washington Monument! After the proposal you can walk nearby for Cherry Blossom photos!
Surprise Proposal Photography includes detailed planning/advice, photography session to capture the proposal moment, portraits afterwards, and your online gallery of your beautifully processed high resolution images. The online gallery is easy to share with friends and family!
Learn more about planning a surprise proposal or engagement session at The Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC by using the contact form or emailing jonflemingphotography@gmail.com
Planning a Surprise Proposal at The Lincoln Memorial
Planning a surprise proposal at The Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most iconic spots in Washington DC attracting thousands of tourist per year. The memorial has an amazing view of The Washington Monument and is walkable to many other DC memorials. The Lincoln Memorial is one of the popular locations in Washington DC for surprise proposals and engagement sessions!
My favorite spot for a proposal is inside the memorial between the columns with a view of The Washington Monument as seen in the two images below! To get this shot I coordinate to direct my clients on which side of the memorial to propose on. Sometimes there may be tourist around this area and in that case I would suggest walking around a moment until those tourist leave or walk away. Sometimes you just need some luck. Weekends can be busier and summer is busier for tourist. By going to the memorial during less busy times you can succed in getting this amazing shot without any tourist in the shot.
If you want to have The Lincoln Memorial in your photo you can also propose in front of the memorial at the bottom of the steps! This is another great option, however you will have tourist in the shot behind you and maybe some onlookers!
A third option is to propose near The Reflecting Pool in front of The Lincoln Memorial with a view of The Washington Monument! This is a great option since tourist won't be in your image with the water.
After the proposal there are lots of great locations within walking distance for additional portraits! Here are some of my favorite images:
Learn more about planning a surprise proposal in Washington DC by using the contact form or emailing jonflemingphotography@gmail.com
Frequently Asked Questions for Surprise Proposal Photography in Washington DC
I love capturing surprise proposals in Washington DC! Not only do I offer photography but a lot of planning is involved as each proposal is different and exciting. If you are planning a proposal I would love to chat with you! Here are some questions I get asked about surprise proposal photography.
Where should I propose? Think of place that has special meaning to you. Perhaps the location of your first date? Your first kiss? The first time you told each other I love you? Or somewhere that you go often that has meaning? If you are from out of town and traveling to DC perhaps you are looking to propose at one of The Memorials? Here are 5 unique locations for surprise proposals In Washington DC. Need some advice or other suggestions? Feel free to send me an email!
What time of day should I propose? The most ideal time for photography is the few hours before sunset or a few hours after sunrise for the best light however I have captured at all times of day including at night. If you plan to go to dinner after your proposal this time also works great since you can have an excuse to dress up without having to let the surprise out early.
How will you photograph my proposal? When photographing surprise proposals I stand back at a short distance to give you privacy for this special moment. I blend in with the crowd and my camera is normally not visible to not draw attention. Depending on each proposal location cirumstances may be differnt. In more public spaces I move around to capture as people are moving to ensure the least amount of people are in the shot. I am always keeping in mind the best angle to capture the reactions and a great background. After you propose I observe to capture more moments: hugging, kissing, smiling etc. It is always in your hands as to when you are ready to move on to do more posed photos.
What if it rains on the date I plan to propose? If it rains you can either choose to reschedule your proposal if you'd like or choose an indoor location instead. There are some great locations in Washington DC for indoor portraits. Restaurants also work great for a surprise proposal after a nice dinner. Ask about back up options!
What is a "First Look"? 3 Pros to Having a First Look on Your Wedding Day
The "first look" is the moment you see your soon to be spouse for the first time on your wedding day in your wedding attire. The first look can be a staged moment before the ceremony opposed to the traditional way of seeing other for the first time when you walk down the aisle.
Here are some Pros to having a first look before your ceremony:
- By having the first look before the ceremony we can capture all your wedding party and family photos so there are no more or less group photos to do after the ceremony. Everyone will be freshly done with hair and makeup and looking their best.
- Some couples find that it's easier to relax during their ceremony if they have seen each other prior, however some couples like to keep this special moment reserved for the ceremony.
- More time for portraits. Without the first look before the ceremony all portraits would have to be after the ceremony where time may be limited by cocktail hour. By doing portraits before the ceremony you will be able to enjoy your cocktail hour with your guest
Deciding wether to have a first look or not is a huge factor in determining your photography timeline. If you have any other questions or thoughts regarding a first look and your wedding day timeline please feel free to reach out!
5 Unique Surprise Proposal Locations in Washington DC
5 Unique Surprise Proposal Locations in Washington DC
Looking for a unique location in Washington DC for your surprise proposal? I have captured many surprise proposals all over DC and here are 5 of my favorites! If you need help planning your surprise proposal or are looking to book a surprise proposal photographer i'd be happy to chat with you further! Just send an email by going to the contact form on my website here!
The Newseum Rooftop Terrace - The 6th floor rooftop terrace at The Newseum in Washington DC has an amazing view of The Capitol making for a great backdrop for any photo! The museum does have an admission fee but the museum and this view it totally worth it!
The National Zoo - The National Zoo is a fun place to propose! I loved capturing this surprise proposal in front of the African elephants exhibit!
The National Gallery of Art - Outside of The National Gallery of Art in DC there are some cool sculptures including the glass pyramids! During the winter the ice skating rink is also a great place to propose!
Mount Vernon - Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia was George Washington's home built in 1735. The back of the mansion has a grassy area with a great view of The Potomac River and the mansion.
Georgetown Waterfront - The Georgetown Waterfront overlooks The Kennedy Center and is a great spot for an afternoon walk along the water.
Happy National Dog Day | Bringing Your Dog to your Wedding or Engagement Session
August 26th is annual National Dog Day! National dog day brings public awareness to dogs in need of rescue from homelessness and abuse as well as being a day to appreciate the dogs in our lives. National Dog Day was created by the National Dog Day Foundation in 2004.
In honor of this day I wanted to share some images of one my favorite "groomsdog" as well as some tips on bringing your pet to your wedding or engagement session!
if possible and your dog will allow....dress him up! It always makes it extra cute! Check out this cool Pinterest board of doggy wedding attire: here. Remember safety first. Make sure everything fits properly and there is no discomfort.
On your wedding day or for your engagement session be sure to bring someone who can be in charge of your dog. Keep in mind you may not need or want him/her in all the pictures or perhaps you are just bringing your pet to your ceremony and then someone will need to return him home for the reception.
Check with your venue to ensure that pets are allowed, also be sure to notify your photographer. I love working with dogs!
e sure to check out this Buzzed Article: 29 Perfectly Adorable Ways To Include Your Pet In Your Wedding