Photos on the thumbnail courtesy of Ivan Garcia Studio.

When it comes to wedding planning, would you agree that there are a number of to-do’s that will need to be completed in the months leading up to your big day? Whether it be the photographer, caterer, florist or anyone else, there are several vendors that you’ll likely hire. You will finalize your guest count, as well as send out save-the-dates and invitations, and create a seating chart. Early on in the planning stages, you’ll tour and ultimately book a wedding venue to serve as the backdrop for your big day. And truth be told, this is just scratching the surface of potential items you’ll have to complete (which is another reason in favor of utilizing a checklist or timeline to keep track of everything and avoid unneeded stress!).

Somewhere in the midst of all those wedding planning tasks will be your engagement photos. While not every couple chooses to invest in professional engagement photos, there are definitely a few reasons why they are worth it. For one, it’s a great trial run as you get comfortable posing for the camera and working with your photographer (who may be working your wedding as well). In addition, these photos can also be of use for save-the-dates, invitations and even as decor on your wedding day. Keep in mind that if you plan on incorporating them into your save-the-dates (which many couples do), you’ll want to get those scheduled accordingly so they’ll be ready to go.

As a wedding venue in Conroe (just north of Houston), we understand why couples choose to have engagement photos taken. As shown above, we were quickly able to highlight a few of the reasons without thinking twice! With that being said, in this week’s blog post, we want to provide some advice to those engaged couples in the Houston and Conroe area, as we feature a few popular engagement photo locations around town. Are you searching for engagement photo locations, Houston couples? If so, we have you covered this week!

Engagement Photo Locations Around Houston #1: Hermann Park

When you think of spots around Houston that are filled with picturesque backdrops, Hermann Park has to be near the top of that list, which makes it the perfect place to start for this blog post. Given that Hermann Park encompasses 445 acres, you can likely imagine that there are a number of spots that could make sense for your engagement photos. Thanks to the stunning natural scenery provided, your photographer will have no trouble working their magic!

The McGovern Centennial Gardens is always a fan favorite. If you haven’t visited this part of the park, you’ll certainly want to consider the large waterfall that will immediately catch your attention, along with the abundance of flowers, trees and stunning landscapes that’ll undoubtedly make your photos pop! While we’re confident you could easily find some amazing backdrops around McGovern Centennial Gardens, that is actually just one of many prime engagement photo spots in Hermann Park. Some others to consider are the Japanese Garden, Mecom Rockwell Colonnade (which has some awesome limestone columns), and the Sam Houston Monument. To sum it all up, if you’re looking for a place with seemingly countless backdrops, Hermann Park is a place worth considering!

Engagement Photo Locations Around Houston #2: Gerald D Hines Waterwall Park

As you’ll notice around Houston’s Hermann Park, there are a number of water structures that can work flawlessly for engagement photos. For those looking for that type of aesthetic, we have yet another stunning engagement photo location you’ll want to check out and that is the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park, which is located in the Uptown District. Those local to Houston are probably familiar with this landmark! The well-known attraction is sure to produce some breathtaking engagement photos with the help of its 64-foot tall fountain. The ambiance it creates and pure beauty make it a perfect spot for any photo opportunities, especially engagement photos.

Engagement Photo Locations Around Houston #3: Rice University

You’re probably starting to see that couples searching for engagement photo spots around Houston have no shortage of options to consider. Next on our list is a location offering several backdrops that photographers can utilize in an engagement session. Rice University is a private college in Houston that also happens to be filled with picture-perfect photo opportunities. Even if you or your spouse-to-be didn’t personally attend this school, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add it to your list of possible photo spots. Perhaps the most unique quality of Rice University is the unique Mediterranean architecture you’ll notice throughout. One element, in particular, from this architectural style that couples can potentially use is the archway structures scattered around the university. Here are a few spots around the campus to consider: Lovett Hall Cloisters, Founder’s Court, Sallyport and the Herzstein Hall Cloisters.

Engagement Photo Locations Around Houston #4: Downtown Houston

While we opened this blog post with a Houston spot known for its flowers, trees, landscaping and so on, we’ll close it with a location that offers a different element. Especially in larger cities around the United States, you’ll notice that downtown settings are quite popular for engagement photos and that holds true with Houston as well. Filled with picturesque architecture, high-rise buildings, skylines and all of the things we associate with downtown living, there’s a reason why couples consider downtown Houston for their engagement photos. For those couples who are hoping to achieve an urban aesthetic to their photos, this will be the spot for you. Prior to scheduling your downtown Houston photoshoot, you’ll want to think about the vibe you’re going for. Maybe that means you use a parking garage to collect buildings in the background? Maybe you opt for a photoshoot after the sun has set and the building lights shine? Maybe you just do something from ground level with the busy nature of city life behind you? Simply put, there are plenty of reasons why downtown Houston makes perfect sense for engagement photos!

With each of the places we mentioned above (and others you’re considering), it’s important to remember to inquire whether or not a permit is needed. Your photographer should be able to be immensely helpful with this!

Book Your Wedding at Madera Estates and Receive Venue Access for an Engagement Session!

As evidenced by this week’s blog post, there are certainly some truly amazing engagement photo locations in the Houston area. And truth be told, the complete list of spots around town includes much more than the few we mentioned above. In total, you could easily fill several blog posts with more locations. Nonetheless, for those that are working on ironing out the details for their engagement photoshoot, we hope this helped provide you with some inspo! By the way, if you already have a photographer selected, don’t hesitate to ask for their opinions as well. They’ll likely have plenty of experience completing engagement sessions all around Houston.

Before we wrap up this week’s blog post, we would like to feature a special we have for couples who book with Madera Estates. When you select Madera Estates to be your wedding venue, you’ll also have access to the venue for an engagement photoshoot. This can be the perfect opportunity to get ideas for wedding day photos, allow your photographer to do the same and as we highlighted above, get comfortable having your picture taken. To learn more about hosting your wedding at Madera Estates, feel free to request a copy of our Pricing Guide by filling out the form HERE.

About the Author
Ian Ramirez serves as the Venue Director at Madera Estates, an award-winning Spanish-style wedding venue located in Conroe, TX. Madera Estates hosts over 85 weddings and events each year, having recently been named as one of the top venues in Houston. In his time with Madera Estates, he always enjoys seeing the magical engagement photos our couples have taken, as well as learning about locations around Houston where they took place. This made him the perfect fit for this blog post!

A lover of music, yoga and Netflix, Ian is an internationally trained opera singer and has sung around the globe, from Portland, Oregon to Stuggart, Germany. Working in the wedding industry has been a dream come true for Ian, as he not only gets to help bring magical wedding celebrations to life and utilize his creativity, but also help lead the family business!

Ian is also the Co-Founder of Venue Help Desk, the ultimate sales and business coaching resource for wedding and event venues.