After deciding on a wedding date, choosing a location for an engagement session is one of the first big hurdles a couple faces after getting engaged. Engagement photographs are used for so many important things during a couple’s long list of wedding festivities. They show up, first and foremost, on the couple’s save the date, then they are displayed at various bridal showers, and then they’re used for decorations at the wedding. And if you’re anything like me, you still have some around the house! So I’ve decided to give some direction for you brides-to-be in the Orange County area.
Here are 4 of my favorite engagement photo locations in Orange County:
The Summit House Restaurant and Panorama Trail – This Fullerton location has a good variety of backdrops. The restaurant’s English Inn style provides such beautiful, airy photographs. The tall trees and grassy knolls on the trail furnish perfect backdrop foliage. The always-blooming bougainvillea bushes stay beautiful all year round and add the perfect pop of color. The trail’s city views are stunning as well. Plus, the cost is at an all-time low; none!
2. Carbon Canyon Regional Park – I love shooting at this location during the spring because a field of mustard-yellow flowers pop up. This spot is perfect for couples who love the rustic feel! The park includes a trail that leads to a small grove of redwoods, so there are multiple photo-op locations all condensed into this area. Again, the cost is super-low, costing only $5 for parking.
3. Mission San Juan Capistrano – You can’t go wrong with this historic location! It boasts incredible textured walls with bells and a magnificent fountain in the courtyard. The beautiful wildflowers and blooming trellises provide such a lovely pop of color against the old-world mission. The cost for this location is $75 for the photo permit.
4. Laguna Beach – Known for its beautiful beaches, these are the locations that I love: Victoria Beach, Table Rock, and Shaw’s Cove. They all have rock formations that give more personality and texture to the photographs. Victoria Beach even has a Rapunzel-like tower! Plus, there’s nothing quite like a sunset at the beach. A photo permit is needed for this location as well, costing $100.
