Top Engagement Photo Locations in Minneapolis

As the late music legend, Prince said ‘I like Hollywood, but I like Minneapolis a little bit better.’ And why not? Locals would know that Minneapolis resides in the heart of every person living here! Not just that, Minneapolis is also home to boundless photo ops which make the city absolutely swoon-worthy, especially for affordable engagement photography!
 

Not just that, various parks, museums, mansions, country clubs, gardens, rustic farms, and lavish hotels, make Minneapolis a hotbed for weddings as well. Minneapolis has so many locations that make it a great city for personalized weddings and gorgeous wedding photography! And along with that, for some iconic engagement photography on budget as well! 

From making you swoon with live music performances at the First Avenue and Seventh Street Entry to appreciating contemporary art at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis is a spirited arts city! The vibrance makes for a great backdrop if you wish to capture the pulse of the city in your affordable engagement photography.

In case you and your partner are interested in a nature-inspired and affordable engagement session, Minneapolis won’t let you down! Fun fact, did you know that Minneapolis is also known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes? If you are feeling content having explored the most favorites, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet, let’s tell you - there’s a whole other world out there! It’s a haven for watersports and snow activities alike. In this gorgeous city, nature gives you plenty of opportunities to add uniqueness to your engagement photos.

And now shifting the focus back to you, finally, that moment has come! The day that you have been waiting for all your life is finally on the horizon. Ever since your soulmate walked into your life and you realized that ‘he is the one!’, it has left you daydreaming. And now that you have a token of your love on your finger, it’s time to decide on how to announce it to the world! Don’t stress over it, we’ve got your back! 

So instead of hoping to Chino Latino for just a date, how about exploring more on how to incorporate it into your engagement photography? Or for that matter, your after date ice-cream halt at Sabastian Joe’s? We are sure you have a lot of memories connected to various spots in this city. And including them in your engagement photos is how you can make your Minneapolis engagement photography on budget and totally unique. 

To begin with, think about how you guys first met. In a local park or at a theater? At a friend’s party or work? It’ll be a great idea to have that place be of some significance in your engagement photography. However, if that’s not possible, then how about including those things which make you reminisce about your first meeting? Like those clothes you were wearing that day, or maybe a cup of coffee to signify your first date? Or even that book or newspaper that you were reading when you first saw your partner? The possibilities are endless!

Let’s hop to the next crucial thing- picking the right engagement location. To make it a tad bit easier for you, we have shortlisted five of our favorite engagement locations in Minneapolis. So, read on to explore more about our most preferred engagement locations to find your ‘this is it!’

Loring Park

There are so many photo ops at this 289-acre park that will take your breath away! The lush greens of the park provide an unmatched vibrance to your backdrops and scream serenity like none other! Stand together under a tree, locked in an embrace, and let the shade and peeping sun weave their magic and witness our affordable engagement photographers turn into magicians! If you are confused about what to wear amidst such vibrant surroundings? Our answer is white, as it adds whimsy and classiness to your engagement photos! Take a cue from Paul and Keny’s gorgeous and affordable engagement photoshoot, dressed in white. Well, you could accessorize the whites with vibrant colors! And if you wish to go for contrasting colors, you could opt for yellow or deep dark colors. The walkway is another spot that we absolutely love! Walk hand in hand, simply being in the comfort of each other, as our affordable engagement photographers capture candid moments of you both. The surrounding vibrance of flowers’ blooms all around you both, provide perfectly natural frames to your romance. After a brief walk, as you come across the bridge, the beauty of this place goes up a notch! With the high rises in the background, the bridge makes for a spectacular prop surrounded by greenery all around. Walk a little more and you reach the tall grass, where you can simply hide from this world for a moment! It's a perfect place for some intimate candids as the lush tall grass around envelopes your love. Trust our affordable engagement photographers to flawlessly capture all the contrasts and color compositions of this dreamy spot. How about taking some rest in between the exploration? Head to the nearest bench and sit in solace. Now, this is the spot where props like a blanket or a throw get a new meaning! Check out our blog to get more inspiration on props for your engagement photography. You could make it a fun engagement photo session at Loring Park by bringing along your doggo! Or a blanket, a bottle of champagne, or even your favorite food!

Website: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/parks__destinations/parks__lakes/loring_park/

Address: Loring Park, 1382 Willow St., Minneapolis, MN 55403

Fees or Permits: $45 (subject to change)

Elm Creek Park Reserve 

Elm Creek Park Reserve is a 4,900-acre wonderland of forests! The reserve is home to some of the most scenic walkways enveloped by a canopy of trees all through. The walkway is an ideal spot for your affordable engagement photography as the lush greens around provide the perfect backdrop, boasting an unparalleled vibrancy! You could take a detour and walk through the forest as well. If you are wondering about what to wear, click here for some ideas. The rustic ground would make you both shine with promising vividness. If you are planning to wear stilettos, make sure you carry comfortable shoes along as there’ll be some walking involved, especially in the grasslands. While you’re here, you might as well explore all the nooks and crannies! Check out our blog to know how to make the most of an outdoor engagement photo session for more inspo! You could lay down on the flowery grassland, atop a throw, and just simply look at the views of the sky! And you know why that’s romantic? Because you both are just lying there, in the comfort of each other and the whole world just stops there for a moment. Before you get back to the drill like every day. Indulge in a picnicky feel by bringing food items and a picnic basket along. The bridge here makes for an amazing prop and even better during winters when the wooden bridge shines out of all the snow around. You could also head to the Noerenberg Memorial Gardens and Gale Wood Farm located right within the reserve for more variety of photo ops. 

Website: https://www.threeriversparks.org/location/elm-creek-park-reserve

Address: 12400 James Deane Pkwy, Maple Grove, MN 55369

Fees or Permits: Details for engagement photography sessions can be obtained by reaching them out at [email protected]

Stone Arch Bridge

Stone Arch Bridge is worth an exploration! This beautiful Minneapolis engagement location is loaded with photo ops such as the vibrant railings, rustic walls, and gorgeous buildings. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places so you can understand its historic value to this magnificent city! The Stone Arch Bridge is ideal for couples who wish to include the city’s glorious history in their affordable engagement photography. And consider it something like a classic Minneapolis thing to do. The rusticity of this place is unparalleled and it takes you back into those yesteryears. The timeless vibes of the Stone Arch Bridge can be seen engraved across the railings, written on the walls, and boundless romances that it has witnessed! The nearby vintage buildings also make for great backdrops for romantic portraits of couples. The sunset is a great time to shoot your engagement photos here as the views leave you spellbound. We absolutely love the sight of the sky in various reddish hues coupled by the distant city down below, as the sun goes down. The golden hour engagement photography is a favorite here, where so many elements come together to light up your engagement photos. You could even go down to the water and indulge in some romantic portraits as the water sparkles behind you. To improvise a bit, you could carry props like a save-the-date sign. Moreover, considering it’s a COVID19 era, in case you are still in the planning stages and your engagement photoshoot has been pushed to the fall we have some ideas for you! So, if you are stressing over your engagement photoshoot during the COVID19, we suggest you push it a bit and check out these amazing ideas for a fall engagement photo session.

Website: https://www.stonearchbridge.com/

Address: Stone Arch Bridge, 100 Portland Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55401

Fees or Permits: None

The Guthrie Theater at the Majestic Oaks Golf Club

The Guthrie Theater, which is a part of the Majestic Oaks Golf Club, located in the city of Ham Lake in the suburbs of Minneapolis, is a unique place for some indoor engagement photography in Minneapolis. It is home to some of the most spectacularly colored backgrounds, which our Minneapolis engagement photographers love capturing! If you wish to have a dramatic Minneapolis engagement photo session, this is the place you want to head to! This engagement location has many spaces that are open to the public for a photo session. The vibrance, texture, and spaces together form one of the most dramatic backdrops for your engagement photography on budget. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows ensure you get ample natural light for your engagement photos as well as breathtaking views in the background. The interiors of the theater are aesthetically done and together with the exceptional lighting, add a lot of oomph and drama to the photos. We simply adore the red-carpeted flooring and red-hued walls that make for an unmatched backdrop. The images speak volumes about the elegance of the place and photos alike!

Website: https://www.guthrietheater.org/

Address: Guthrie Theater, 818 S 2nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55415

Fees or Permits: None

Minnehaha Falls

Another engagement location situated in the lap of nature that’s our absolute favorite! The Minnehaha Falls are surreal and provide limitless backdrops that can make your engagement photography iconic! Our affordable Minneapolis engagement photographers love capturing the dreaminess of gushing water as it falls from a height of 60 feet. The falls overlook the Mississippi River, bringing with it boundless opportunities for remarkably romantic engagement photography. The place boasts various stone bridges that are perfect to snag candid photos as you and your sweetheart sit next to each other. The lush greenery around just adds to the beauty! As you process, you’ll come across a covered pathway made of wooden trellis and vines that make for a brilliant natural frame to your romantic portraits. You could go down to the rock and see for yourself what a promising sight the falls make! As you and your partner sit by the rock, our engagement photographers would love to capture your romance against the ethereal backdrop of the falls! The feeling is mesmerizing and guaranteed to make the most breathtaking shots of your dreamy Minneapolis engagement photography. The Winters here are an absolute delight as with winter, comes a promise of one of the most spectacular sights - the icefalls! If you decide to have your Minneapolis engagement photography in the winter, the frozen Minnehaha Falls are going to take your photography many notches higher! 

Website: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/rentals__permits/wedding_sites/weddings_at_minnehaha_pergola_garden/

Address: Minnehaha Falls, 4801 S Minnehaha Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417

Fees or Permits: $45 (subject to change)

Please note that permits and fees are subject to change. Please confirm the policies with the location before planning your session.