Nath & Ron Engagement Photos at the Lyndale Park Rose Garden in Minneapolis

For their engagement session in the Twin Cities, they hesitated between the Raspberry and Harriet Island (perfect to host a wedding ceremony at sunset with a view of the city skyline), or a smaller park with flowers. They chose the second option.

Therefore, it was on a sunny afternoon in May that I covered the engagement session of these two lovebirds at the Lyndale Gardens.

After introducing this charming couple and their session, I will present you the advantages and limits of this park.

Ron and Nath: An Endearing Couple

I met them a few weeks before, uptown, at the 514-event center (the wedding venue where their wedding will take place). I don’t know if it was my pictures, or maybe my French accent (I won’t bet on that), but I obviously managed to convince them. They explained their project to me, and I was happy to see them again at the entrance of the park.

Ron is the kind of groom who makes an effort to please his fiancé. He doesn’t speak unless he has something relevant to say. Nath is a very natural woman (compared to girls wearing half a pound of makeup). She is gifted with charm and a large smile that makes you feel happy even on a bad day. If I needed to pick adjectives to describe both of them and their relationship, I would say honest, simple, genuine.

Candid Photos for a Relaxed Photo Session at the Rose Garden

Before their engagement session, and while they were looking to hire their Minneapolis wedding photographer for their ceremony in the Twin Cities, the bride and groom told me that they usually don’t feel at ease in front of a camera.

I believe that like most couples, it was their first photo session and they just needed to have fun. They relied on their photographer to make them smile and catch natural pictures instead of cheesy ones. So, that’s what I tried to do! I asked my bride and groom-to-be to make some simple actions, such as hugging, snuggling, and mostly walking and kissing. Indeed, I believe that when you are concentrating on doing something (i.e., one of the actions above), your brain is not focused on the camera anymore and you relax.

Searching for a Quiet Area in the Lyndale Park

Even if the Rose Garden and the Japanese garden were quite full of visitors on this blooming afternoon, we tried to go on the lawn of these gardens, and find some more intimate places to have relaxed photo shots. We walked all through the acres of the park!

During our trip, I was amazed by the luxury houses that surround the park. Natalie, who works with children in the same area, told me that she makes the kids believe she lives in one of those pavilions. To make it real we used some of those mansions as a backdrop.

The Seasonal Flowers Give Colorful Portraits

The park is really a good location for photos during the spring. When all flowers bloom, it offers a myriad of colors in the background. For instance, I used the tulips to stage the diamond ring pictures. Maybe also the smell of all the floral fragrances will make you feel giddy 😀

Sunset Light

I really enjoyed playing with the sunset light. Not only does it make the landscape look better, but also makes the couple be in contrast with the background, especially with Natalie’s stunning red hair. Finally, we left the botanical area and went close to the lake in order to catch the last sun rays. When we left, I had only one wish: to be in September to catch their wedding day!

Good to Know About the Rose Garden

Whether you are planning a pre-wedding photo shoot or a wedding, this is what you need to know.

Best Month to Go

• The spring and the blooming season would give you the most beautiful flowers despite the gardens being covered with perennial flowers and trees.
• Of course, you can visit the park in summer. Given the adjacent lake offers a lot of activity, those gardens are actually a family destination for the residents in September, August, July, and June.
• Fall would also work, but the gardens themselves won’t add anything special compared to another park.
• Despite the gardens being open all year long, winter, from November to March, won’t add anything special to your pictures.

The Peace Garden

The adjacent peace garden is a Japanese-style garden. It’s small but can be used for a few pictures. It features a nice Japanese bridge over a pond, some evergreen and some rocks.

For Engagement Sessions

The recreation park is big and famous, so on a sunny day, you may need to stroll a bit on the trails if you don’t want too many tourists in your pictures. The admission is free and no photography permit is required.

For a surprise proposal, avoid the main aisle, and ask photographers’ advice.

This park can be a perfect location for a marriage proposal, but you should pay attention to carefully select the precise spot you choose in order not to have any tourist in your pictures’ background, and at the same time, to take advantage of the flowers. Having your professional vendors scouting the park during the week prior to the event is recommended.

To Celebrate Wedding Ceremonies

If you are planning an intimate wedding ceremony in MN, the Rose Garden offers you the opportunity to celebrate the wedding around the fountains. I believe that being surrounded by roses, lilies and other plants is a pretty good landscape to celebrate an outdoor ceremony. Check with the park board for more information and restrictions that apply to wedding vendors.

What Kind of Outfits to Choose

Avoid formal outfits. Prefer long dresses that can catch the wind. Take into consideration that the main color of this recreation area is green. Therefore avoid wearing green clothes. Red, orange, yellow would contrast with nature. Bright (preferred) and dark colors would work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not the best place if you want pictures with your dog.

They couldn’t have their dog for their ceremony in Minneapolis, MN, but wanted engagement pictures with him. Minnehaha dog park would have been the perfect place. In contrast to the Rose Garden, such dedicated dog parks allow unleashing dogs. What’s more the Minnehaha dog park offers, through a beach, an opportunity for the dogs (and maybe you) to have fun in the Mississippi River. We talked about heading to this park after the Rose Garden, but unfortunately, it was already sunset time when we ended our session.

Tremendous Excitement During the Blooming Season

Most couples who hire me to cover their ceremony in Minneapolis, MN, are shy. As an LGBT friendly photographer in Minnesota, it’s a well-known problem. Therefore, for their engagement session, I counsel my clients to pick a quiet day. Consequently weekdays are usually preferred. They would let you enjoy the entire park for yourselves alone.

When is the blooming season exactly?

Depending on the year, the blooming season in the Minnesota state can start in April and end in June. It lasts around 2 or 3 weeks.

After 6 months of dull nature, and cold temperatures, residents are excited to witness and celebrate nature’s transformation. Or they can just lay down on the grass sharing a brunch or playing soccer. In other words, the park might see a peak of visits during the weekends that you wish to avoid.

Add a Complementary Urban Location

Most photography vendors advise taking advantage of St. Paul and Minneapolis architecture (such as the Stone Arch Bridge). After Lake Harriet, avoid parks such as Minnehaha Falls, and head to the city. Indeed, the more diverse kinds of backdrops you have the better it is.

What’s more, urban landscape of the Twin Cities featuring brick, rock, stone, glass and energy allows you to wear formal clothes. In addition to the energy associated with the city, different clothes would offer you a complementary look for your engagement photos.