Photo courtesy of Dolce Hayes Mansion.
Engagement photo shoots are more or less a must-have these days, whether the photos are sent out with save-the-dates or just posted to social media for friends and family to see. We’ve cultivated a list of gardens, open spaces and urban places perfect for a memorable engagement photo shoot.
Also See: Silicon Valley’s Best Wedding Venues and South Bay Photographer Directory
Emma Prusch’s vision was to create and maintain San Jose's rural roots—and today her dream lives on. For the bride who prefers cotton over satin, Emma Prusch Farm Park is a whimsical, rustic setting for an engagement photo shoot. The park has multiple barns, vegetable gardens, fruit trees and a variety of farm animals.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, or St. Joseph Cathedral, is an iconic structure in downtown San Jose near the San Jose Museum of Art and Plaza de Cesar Chavez. The building was renovated in 1987, which involved the installation of 16 new chandeliers, a thorough rehabilitation of its beautiful stained glass windows and the restoration of its striking rooftop. The towering doors and stately columns offer an opulent and timeless backdrop for an engagement photo shoot.
San Jose’s five-and-a-half acre municipal garden is one of the city’s treasures. It features over 150 varieties of roses and attracts thousands of visitors every year. Roses bloom multiple times throughout the year, though the first bloom in mid-spring is most dazzling. The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden is a colorful and romantic location for any couple’s engagement photo shoot.
Dolce Hayes Mansion (often referred to simply as Hayes Mansion) is a dream venue for a swanky black-tie wedding or elegant engagement photo shoot. Lofty palm trees dot the gorgeous Spanish-style estate, which is surrounded by lush lawns and gardens. One of San Jose’s most impressive historic buildings, Hayes Mansion has been meticulously renovated and turned into an opulent hotel and popular event venue.
The Santa Clara Valley was once known as the Valley of the Heart’s Delight—and for good reason. The rich natural setting proved fertile grounds for settlers who forged a life in the region. In Almaden Quicksilver County Park, the natural beauty of the hills serves as a glorious backdrop for an engagement photo shoot. For couples that love to adventure to old or abandoned places, the park even contains remnants of its Gold Rush-era mining history, including mining equipment and a small ghost town.
The tranquil setting of the Japanese Friendship Garden is a popular location in San Jose for weddings and photo shoots. The garden features beautifully manicured bonsai trees, Japanese architecture and a picturesque waterfall that empties into one of the garden’s three ponds. Springtime may be the best time of year for an engagement photo shoot, when the delicate blossoms of the cherry trees are in full bloom.
