Best Places To Take Romantic Engagement Photos in Miami 2020

Miami is the perfect place to take your engagement photos. With lots of romantic spots and pretty amazing weather, it’s hard to go wrong! Here are The Bride Candy’s top picks for a romantic and tropical themed engagement photoshoot in Miami. 

Crandon Park Carousel

Once part of a since-abandoned zoo, the restored Crandon Park Carousel is a romantic and sweet spot for a quick engagement shoot. It’s also steps away from a beautiful beach, so you can do double duty with a more traditional beach shoot either before or after. 

Cape Florida Lighthouse

Did you know there’s a beautiful lighthouse on a natural Miami beach just a few minutes from downtown?  Hidden in Bill Baggs State Park on Key Biscayne, the Cape Florida Lighthouse is a beachy and romantic spot for your engagement photo session. Be sure to wear something light and flowy to take advantage of the sea breeze.

South Pointe Park

Situated at the southernmost tip of Miami Beach, South Pointe Park is the perfect place to watch the cruise ships go by and take in a stunning Miami Sunset. With views of both the ocean and the skyline of Miami, it also features direct beach and pier access. This is a public park, so you’ll be able to take photographs without limitations or fees. Try going at sunrise for the best shots.

Deering Estate

This charming 1920s estate near Cutler Bay is a top Miami wedding venue. But the Deering Estate’s most striking feature is its palm-lined keystone harbor on Biscayne Bay. If you’re looking for romantic tropical vibes without a beach, this is your spot. Photography permits can be purchased at the gate for $100.

Vizcaya

This is the larger and more opulent sister property of the Deering Estate, which were owned by brothers. An opulent Gilded Age estate, Vizcaya boasts an incredible bay view and Miami’s best formal gardens that are perfect for photography. Permits are required and will cost you $250-350 depending on the day of the week.

Ancient Spanish Monastery

Stepping into the Ancient Spanish Monastery in North Miami Beach is like stepping back in time. The gardens are lush and verdant, and there are many corners and nooks that make for a beautiful photo backdrop. But the most stunning feature is the 12th century stone cloisters - it’s the closest thing that South Florida has to a castle. If you’re going for a princess theme, this is the perfect place. Note that you’ll need permission and to pay a $200 photo fee to shoot at the Ancient Spanish Monastery.

Miami Beach Botanical Garden

This gem is steps away from South Beach but feels like a world away. From Japanese-inspired gardens to orchid-filled corners, this is a prime spot to find your perfect nature backdrop that’s easy to access. Photography is allowed but will set you back $50 an hour.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

If you need even more gardenscapes for your photography session, check out Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the largest garden in Miami. Featuring a butterfly exhibit, a hummingbird aviary, and a stunning greenhouse with Chihuly glass art, this is the crown jewel of Miami’s tropical vibes. Photography requires a permit and a fee.

More to consider

• Miami Skyline under MacArthur Causeway

• Wynwood Walls

• Little Havana

Venue Spotlight: Curtiss Mansion

Photography by Csanchez photography

There’s no shortage of amazing venues in Miami. But one of the The Bride Candy’s favorite venues to work in is one that doesn’t look all that Miami from the outside, but has a whole lot of Miami history on the inside. Today, we’re talking about the Curtiss Mansion in Miami Springs. It’s a venue that I love so much it’s where I chose to get engaged!

It’s Got Style

Curtiss Mansion was the home of Glenn Curtiss, aviation pioneer and developer of Miami communities like Opa Locka, Hialeah, and Miami Springs. It’s built in the Pueblo Rival style, so when you drive up to it you can immediately tell that this is a truly unique venue that looks like it would be just at home in Santa Fe as it is in Miami Springs. Some of the standout features of the venue are the porte cochere (the covered entrance at the front), the front lawn, the interior courtyard, the back arbor, the bridge to nowhere, and the lake. All make a great backdrop for photos, and you can bet that there’s a lot of styled shoots and engagement photos that happen at the mansion. 

It’s Comfortable

What makes the Curtiss Mansion an amazing venue is its versatility. It’s got a lot of space! With the addition of a newly paved exterior courtyard, it can now accommodate weddings of over three hundred. But no matter if you have a huge wedding or an intimate one, Curtiss is a comfortable spot to host your celebration. One thing the venue really excels at is everything pre-wedding. Many brides choose to get ready at the mansion since they have a dedicated bridal suite. That makes getting to the first look and pre-wedding photos a snap. It’s a great idea to get those out of the way early so you can enjoy your cocktail hour. 

Many couples choose to do the ceremony in the expansive front lawn. Shaded by trees, it’s the perfect spot to exchange vows. Consider adding bistro lighting for extra ambiance. Wondering where to put the dancefloor? The interior courtyard is the perfect place to dance the night away and it looks great with uplighting and DJ lights. There’s also a fair amount of interior space in case of rain, making the Curtiss Mansion a smart venue choice. 

It Comes With Great People

My favorite part about this venue is working with the Curtiss Mansion family. It’s run by Sherry and Javi, two of the most dedicated people in the industry. “We do what we do because we believe in true love ,” said Sherry. “It’s important to us that every couple has an amazing experience here.” Many venues simply provide the space and a set of rules and walk away. But the Curtiss Mansion give you that personal touch. They are happy to give advice on what works well and they have a list of outstanding vendors who can help you bring your wedding dreams to life. Sherry is also a BIG supporter of same-love weddings and actively looks to promote the venue to couples from all walks of life. 

If you’re looking for an affordable Miami venue with exceptional customer service, The Bride candy is happy to recommend the Curtiss Mansion as an option for you. Tell them I sent you!