You’re freshly engaged – congratulations! You’re probably wanting to document this super exciting time in you and your boo’s life. One of the best ways to do that is by getting some engagement photos taken! I’ve compiled a list of the best Toledo engagement photo locations so that you can get an idea of everything the area has to offer before making a decision. All of these locations are places that I have personally taken my couples to – so you know they’re the good ones. Before we dive in let’s look at our list…
A Quick List of the Best Toledo Engagement Photo Locations
- Oak Openings Metropark
- Middlegrounds Metropark
- Downtown Toledo
- Sidecut Metropark
- Wildwood Preserve
- Toledo Botanical Gardens
- University of Toledo’s Campus
- Maumee Bay State Park
- Toledo Museum of Art
- Gardenview U-Pick Fields
- W. W. Knight Nature Preserve
- Marblehead Lighthouse
- Coffee Shops & Bars
- Nazareth Hall
- Shade Rock Farms
- Matthes Christmas Tree Farm
- Suite 100 Studio
- Roam Creative Studio
- Home Sweet Home
Oak Openings Metropark
This is by far one of the best and most popular engagement photo locations in the Toledo area. Oak Openings has so much to offer in terms of variety, and that’s why so many of my couples request it. Pro-tip: make sure you wear a TON of bug spray. As this is a nature preserve first and foremost, mosquitoes and ticks are SUPER common.
Upon entering the metropark, the first two spots you’ll come across are the birding fields on Girdham Road and the oak grove that’s lovingly referred to as “The Spot”. To be fair, the oak trees are crazy tall, which gives everything a much more grand effect. Recently, however, they’ve added “no parking” signs to the entire road. Rest assured, however, I know of a few other spots in the park that give you the same towering oak vibe and a nearby parking lot if you still want to run around in the fields.
Another spot that I love bringing my couples would be Evergreen Lake on the other side of Oak Openings. During October, the colors reflecting on the water make for an absolutely stunning backdrop for incredible fall engagement photos. As an added bonus, Evergreen Lake is also a great wedding ceremony location – you can reserve the entire area for up to 100 people!
If you’re wanting water and field vibes, however, you’ll want to check out Mallard Lake. For this location you’ll want to park in the Beuhner Center lot for convenience. Right off the bat, you’ll see the small lake, along with the bridge that’ll take you to the sprawling field beyond it. All three locations are fantastic for photos year round. In the late summer and through the fall, you’ll be able to find long grasses in the field. It’s a great spot for a picnic! And in the winter, the pines towards the back make for a stunning backdrop.
Middlegrounds Metropark
Located super close to downtown, Middlegrounds Metropark is a little respite of greenery among all the concrete. You get a pretty nice view of the iconic blue Anthony Wayne Bridge, which is one of the reasons it’s one of the best engagement photo locations in Toledo. There are spots — often populated with fishermen — where you can get right up on the Maumee River. The park also has a sprawling hill and fields that makes for gorgeous photos. Unlike many other metroparks, this one has an easily accessible restroom that makes outfit changes a breeze. Middlegrounds Metropark is definitely a solid, staple location to shoot at!
Downtown Toledo
Toledo isn’t known for it’s downtown nightlife, which makes sunset engagement sessions around the city a fun experience. For the most part, you get the beautiful streets mostly to yourself. But, I highly recommend checking to see if the Mudhens or Walleye are playing before you set your session date. Game nights bring lots of people to my favorite parts of downtown and is a major bummer for parking options.
Promenade Park is a very popular spot for city events in Toledo, but makes for great photos in an everyday setting. You get great views of the Toledo city skyline, so right around sunset is one of my favorite places to be there.
Other options include a few different parking garages, some murals from fantastic Toledo artists, and the architecture along Madison Avenue and Summit Street. There are hidden gems as well if you walk down Broadway toward Oliver House, or if you walk down Adams Street for long enough.
I would feel wrong not to give an honorable mention to one of my favorite record shops in Downtown – Culture Clash Records! It’s such a unique spot for something like engagement photos, and I’m always all for making your session personalized to you. So if that sounds like something you’d be down for, I would love to take you!
Sidecut Metropark
Located right near Sidecut Metropark, the towpath is great for those of you who want a rocky feel except right smack in the middle of farmland. It’s only accessible when the river is low (because it’s quite literally on the Maumee River) but it’s beautiful nonetheless. Right across the road, there’s also some incredible fields that turn to long brown grasses in late fall. This location is a great place to visit all year round! By far one of the best engagement photo locations in Toledo.
Wildwood Preserve Metropark
Another highly requested park that the Toledo Metroparks have to offer! Wildwood has two key spots that I love – the birding trails and the manor house. Both are two very distinct vibes, but it’s perfect if you want some variety in your engagement photos. To switch things up even more, you can even bring an extra outfit to change into when we switch spots. My favorite time to shoot here is in the fall, but I would be up to take you no matter what time of year.
Fun Fact: This is also one of my favorite locations for couples to bring their pets! So if you want to include your dog in your engagement session, Wildwood is a great place to do it.
Toledo Botanical Gardens
A very popular engagement photo spot with tons to offer, the Toledo Botanical Gardens are a slightly more curated vibe than many of the Toledo metroparks. It has plenty of different features for a wide variety of photos – we have stone & water features, ivy walls, and lots more to work with. Being that it’s a beautiful museum of plants, this is a heavily trafficked area. If you’re visiting on a weekend, it’s likely to be heavily populated. That’s one of the key things to keep in mind for this location! You also aren’t able to bring your pets here due to the nature of the garden.
University of Toledo Campus
With gothic architecture and all sorts of wildlife (did I mention cherry blossoms in spring?!), UT’s campus is a great spot for alumni & college sweethearts to get their engagement photos taken. Even if you and your boo don’t fit into those categories, this is still one of the best engagement photos locations in Toledo! Nothing changes the fact that the scenery at this location is beautiful for any couple wanting to celebrate their love.
Maumee Bay State Park
Maumee Bay State Park is an engagement photo location that’s pretty dear to my heart! It’s actually where my husband proposed to me! Located on the shore of Lake Erie, Maumee Bay is a great spot with a lot of variety. I would most definitely advise against visiting during the month of May and early June because of the mayflies, but any other time is great. It’s a perfect, central location with lots of options for engaged couples!
Toledo Museum of Art
Toledo has, in my humble opinion, one of the best art museums in the country. While it’s taken me a while to get to it on this list, don’t think for one second that I think it isn’t one of the best Toledo engagement photo locations. Between a gorgeous exterior and stunningly romantic galleries, the TMA is a 10/10 in my book.
On the steps out front, you get the gorgeous marble columns that many museums are known for. But then if you walk a little further, through the stunning sculpture garden, you’ll find the Center for Visual Arts with a grey slate facade that offers a different look. To switch things up even more, if you cross the street, you’ll find the Glass Pavilion. Fun fact: Both the Main Museum and the Glass Pavilion are available to be utilized for weddings for art-loving couples.
On the inside of the museum, there’s a variety of galleries to choose from. I suggest the Great Gallery, the Cloister Gallery, and the Levis Gallery. Inside the Glass Pavilion, I suggest the Glas Salon and the Reflection Room. The Center for Visual Arts isn’t available to the public as it’s an educational building for the University of Toledo. For more information on the layout of the museum, you can visit their official map. Their photography policy is pretty laidback when it comes to engagement sessions. You must be respectful of the public space by not blocking stairs or entryways and your photographer can’t use flash or other artificial light. To see more photos from a session at the museum, check out Bethany and Adam on the blog.
Gardenview U-Pick Fields
Located not far from Toledo, Gardenview Flowers U-Pick Fields are a gorgeous option for my flower-lovers! For a small fee of $25, you can surround yourself with blooms for your engagement session. They’re open from late June through September. Gardenview is also one of my favorite Toledo wedding florists, so you can also get a feel for where the flowers come from while you visit.
W. W. Knight Nature Preserve
One of the lesser known nature preserves in the Toledo area, W. W. Knight Nature Preserve is located just outside of Perrysburg. The park is incredibly walkable with only a few trails to choose from. In the fall, the colors are incredible — making for amazing fall engagement photos.
Marblehead Lighthouse
This next engagement session location is a little bit further away from Toledo, but hear me out. For a short hours drive, you can have a stunning lighthouse in your engagement photos! Not to mention the rocky coast makes for a uniquely coastal vibe, without giving sandy beach energy. Marblehead Lighthouse is such an underrated spot for engagement photos. And for my roller coaster fans, you can see Cedar Point on the horizon!
Coffee Shops & Bars
Toledo has some of the cutest spots for my coffee lovers — and my friends who enjoy a good cocktail as well. From the cutest coffee shops to the gorgeous bars around town (and even a speakeasy), there’s a lot of options. A few of my favorite coffee shops and bars to shoot at are:
- Rustbelt
- Maddie & Bella’s
- Brewhouse Downtown (the speak-easy is in the basement!)
- Grindhrs
- M’Osteria
- Fleetwood
Nazareth Hall
You may recognize the name from venue research because Nazareth Hall is one of the most popular wedding venues in the Toledo area. A historic location, Nazareth was once an all-boys Catholic school and was converted into a wedding venue in the early 90’s. The team over at Nazareth is super kind and also allows for engagement sessions to take place on the grounds when they aren’t busy with an event. If you choose Naz as your venue, engagement photos here might be a great option for your save-the-dates!
Shade Rock Farms
Just over the border into Michigan, you’ll find Shade Rock Farms, another wedding venue that you can have your engagement session. In the summer, they often have a small sunflower field which is a great offering. In the fall, their sprawling field out back has a gorgeous showing of leaves.
Matthes Christmas Tree Farm
Matthes Tree Farm is a fantastic option for those that want a winter-y engagement photos. It’s located in Ida, Michigan which is just a short drive in Toledo. While most local Christmas Tree Farms charge a fee and require a reservation for photos, the team over at Matthes simply requires an emailed heads-up to let them know you’ll be on-site. However, keep in mind, this also means there’s no guarantee that you won’t have lots of competition for the best spots. You’ll also have the general public to contend with as they search for their Christmas trees. But, if you go after the new year, you’ll be more likely to get snow and have less people to deal with. Matthes is definitely a great spot for engagement photos!
Suite 100 Studio
Suite 100 is one of my favorite studios in the area. Located in the heart of Downtown, in the Gardner Building, the studio has a gorgeous interior and exterior. I think it’s 15 foot arched windows are my favorite part of the space, letting in lots of natural light while still offering privacy. In terms of props, the space has a rolling studio backdrop that’s colors change seasonally, professional roll photography backdrops, chairs, a fireplace, and more. It’s currently available for rent at a rate of $60 an hour. Make sure you plan for parking with the downtown location; metered street parking is available usually, but there’s also a parking garage across the street for a nominal fee.
Roam Creative Studio
Roam is a rentable creative studio located in the heart of historic uptown Maumee. It was designed with creatives in mind and is about 1,200 square feet of natural lit space. With lots of props including professional photography backdrops and intentionally curated sets, Roam has a lot to offer. It’s rentable for a rate of $70 an hour. The space is perfect for couples who love the contemporary studio look and ones that don’t want to rely on Ohio’s finicky weather for awesome photos.
Home Sweet Home
I think Dorothy got it right when she said there’s no place like home. Or maybe that’s just my inner home-body talking! I think there’s something special about having your engagement session in the place where you spend so much of your time. If you’re looking for a spot that truly encapsulates this season of life, what better place? Plus, as an added bonus, you can involve your pets without having to ask a friend to tag along!
Those are the best engagement photo locations in Toledo
That’s my official list of the best engagement photo locations in Toledo! Like I said earlier, all of these spots I’ve personally shot at, so there’s no doubt in my mind that you’ll love one of them. Now that you have a good overview of your location options, all you need is your photographer! If you’re interested in booking your engagement session with me, you can fill out my contact form and I’ll be in touch soon. Can’t wait to meet ya!
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