Dayton’s Wegerzyn Gardens Engagement Photos
November 21, 2016
The well-manicured Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, Five Rivers MetroPark is always a difficult place to shoot engagement photographs in Dayton, Ohio. Although it seems as though there are many options, it can often be crowded and can be difficult to find space. It is beautiful, but it is often dark due to the abundance of tall trees. Wegerzyn Garden engagement photos can be beautiful if you time it right. Engagement photos taken here can be beautiful any time of the year.
I have at least one or two sessions per year here, but I usually recommend people choose a different venue when asked. It depends on the time of year as well. The fall is much better for me at this park north of downtown Dayton. This park near the Stillwater River is filled with formal Victorian gardens reminiscent of a miniature version of Versailles or The Biltmore Estate.
Why Choose To Have Your Engagement Photos Taken Here
Choose this small Five Rivers MetroPark if you want darker, richer backdrops for your Dayton engagement photos. I recommend not choosing this Dayton area park because there are a limited number of backdrops for photos. The park building takes up a good portion of the park along with the kid’s splash pad (Children’s Discovery Garden), and the formal gardens. My favorite area, although dark, is the boardwalk that looks like a swamp forest. This nature trail zigzags through the wooded swamp area that is the only one I’ve seen in the Miami Valley.
Located less than 10 minutes north of downtown Dayton, Ohio, it is easily accessible to most of the community. This botanical paradise is the perfect blend of natural beauty and meticulously maintained landscapes. The grounds offer an escape from city life, inviting visitors to stroll along paths and discover an array of flora. From flowerbeds to ponds, each corner of makes it an ideal backdrop for special occasions like weddings and engagement shoots. The gardens also serve as an educational hub, hosting workshops and events to inspire both seasoned gardeners and enthusiastic beginners. Wegerzyn is a good choice for photos.
Spring Engagement Shoot On Prom Night
What a night. Wow. I have photographed hundreds of Dayton engagement sessions, but this spring engagement shoot was a challenge. I was jamming to music as I pulled into the park as I have done dozens of times. It quickly became apparent that the night was different. There were a dozen cars waiting to exit the park. As I approached the parking lot, there were multiple police, and probably 200 cars. At most, I’ve seen 15 cars here at one time.
Photographing A Wegerzyn Gardens Spring Engagement Shoot With 500 People
This Five Rivers MetroPark is a compact park just north of downtown Dayton. On busy days, you might encounter 30-40 people. On the evening of prom, it is absolutely packed. Once parked, I texted the engaged couple to see if they were ok with keeping the session. They said, “Sure.” So, we met at the entrance to the park. I let them know that we’d have to be patient and work around the hundreds of brightly dressed high school students and their parents. I then promised the couple they would see almost no one in these engagement photos.
The Results
The results speak for themselves. There is almost no one in any photo except for the couple. This was one of my finest engagement sessions and a challenge I gladly accepted.
Wegerzyn Marriage Proposal Dayton Ohio
I had the pleasure of photographing a Wegerzyn marriage proposal in Dayton Ohio. We had a 30-minute window between rain showers to make this happen. It went perfectly, and she said “yes!”
How We Planned A Wegerzyn Marriage Proposal
Three weeks before the proposal, the groom-to-be contacted me through my website indicating he would propose to his girlfriend. We worked out the details, and he signed the contract. Over the next few weeks, we discussed broad and specific engagement locations. He ultimately settled on Wegerzyn.
How We Pulled It Off
A few days prior to the surprise, the groom and I had a quick call. He decided to propose in the middle of the tree alley at Wegerzyn. To make the surprise work, I asked him to use the main entrance to the park. This way, I would be less conspicuous and at the correct angle for photography. We walked through how it would work and the timing for everything.
A few hours prior to the proposal, he shared his iPhone location with me. Once I arrived at the park, I watched his iPhone as they approached. When he was 5 minutes out, I made my way into the park. At go time, I watched as they rounded the corner into the tree alley. I was pretending to take photos of the flowers in the park. I then turned as he began talking to his girlfriend. As he knelt on one knee, I got in position to be able to see both of their faces. I photographed the 2-minute proposal, which was awesome. We finished the last 28 minutes the rain began to come down. What a great time!
Check out all of recent and past engagement session blog posts and galleries here!
