Central Park Proposal: Tips, Spots & Best Places to Proposal in Central Park (2023 Edition)

Why proposing in Central Park?

Central Park is probably the most famous and romantic park in the world. It’s located in the center of New York City and I’m sure you saw it in many movies such as:Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Ghostbusters, Elf, Home Alone 2, John Wick, and The Avengers.

Central Park is beautiful no matter what the season and in any type of weather.

It’s unequaled in the summer when everything is fresh and green. In the fall when its eye-catching display of yellow/red and in at winter when it covered in snow and ice crystals. Even spring rain is very picturesque here.

How to propose in Central park. General tips.

Central park is open from 6am to 1am daily. You can propose at any time during the park’s open hours. However, you need to remember that central park doesn’t have many lights. If you want to propose after sunset, it’s better to have some lighting decorations like candles or other sources of light.

Too, you can’t drink any alcoholic beverages in Central Park. But, if you want to have some champagne on your photos, it can be replaced with non-alcohol cider.

I’m Vlad Leto, proposal photographer and planner, located in New York City. I help with proposal ideas, locations and implementation. Contact me to start planning your proposal.

Call, text, WhatsApp – +1(929)600-1664.
email – info@vladletophotography.com

Best Places to Propose in Central Park

10 –  Belvedere Castle (Finally open after over 2 years of restoration)

The Belvidere Castle is located near 79th street and Central Park West entrance and has a few proposal spots. The first one is on the terrace with a lovely view of the tower. The second one, and my personal favorite, is the area by the Turtle Pond where the complete castle will show up in the background.

9 – Pinebank Arch

The Pinebank Arch is located near the Columbus Circle entrance to Central Park. You can either propose on the Arch or with the Arch in the background.

8 – Gondola Proposal

The Gondola rides in the Central Park Lake. Two of my favorite Gandola proposal spots are by Bethesda Terrace and by Bow bridge. We recently planned and captured this romantic gondola proposal. The couple who were on the gondola ride from the Boat House stopped by the Bethesda Terrace to take some pictures. Our musician was already set up and playing their favorite song. You can see full proposal video by this link – Youtube proposal 007

7 – Cop Cod

Cop Cod is a nice gazebo located just by 59th street and 7th ave entrance. This place is perfect if you have a large group of people involved in your proposal.

6 – Cats Rock

Cats Rock is located by 65th street and 5th ave entrance to Central Park. This rock has a gorgeous view of Central Park along with the NYC high-rise scenery.

5 – Bethesda Fontaine and Terrace

Bethesda Fontaine and Terrace are located near 72nd street and the 5th entrance. It’s likely the most recognizable place in Central Park but it’s also the most crowded place in the park.  If you want to propose with such a great scenery in the background, and don’t want to have hundreds of other people right next to you, I will recommend you go there in the early morning. It’s also an interesting place to propose when its raining outside because you can be covered under the terrace.

4 – Wagner Cove

Wagner Cove is located near the 72nd street and the Central Park west entrance. This is a quiet spot for intimate and night time proposals. For an extra light source, you may want to bring some candle decorations.

3 – Shakespeare Garden

The Shakespeare Garden is located near 81st and Central Park west entrance and it has few special proposal spots. The first spot to propose is a bench near Swedish Cottage. It’s located off the beaten tourist path so there is privacy. if you want to make your proposal even more romantic, we can decorate it with some flowers, pictures and bring a musician to play your favorite song. The second spot is by Whisper Bench. It’s a quiet spot with pleasant green scenery. Link proposal video from The Shakespeare Garden

2 – Gapstow Bridge

The Gapstow Bridge is located near 61st street and the 5th ave entrance, which is just next to the famous Plaza Hotel and 5th ave Apple store. This is a very beautiful place and with the classic Central Park scenery, however, you need to know few tricks for successful proposal here.

• The first tip is DON’T propose on the Bridge because it’s tiny and usually has a crowd people on it!
• The best place to propose is north from the bridge with the bridge in the background.
• The second tip is that you can get there by a horse carriage ride because it’s located just next to the path.

1 – Bow Bridge

Bow Bridge is the most famous place to propose ever!! It’s located near 72nd street and the Central Park west entrance. I personally have shot more than 500 proposals here. I think this bridge needs to be renamed The Bridge of Love! Here, you can propose on the bridge, a cross of it with the Bow bridge in the background, and even on gondola under the bridge. It’s been under partly construction for past few years, but last year it’s been finally completely open. If you do want to propose on the bridge, I would recommend to go there in the early morning before it gets to crowded.

But my personal favorite spot is across the bridge and it’s called Wood Chip Vantage Point.We can also decorate it for you, bring a musician and make lovely heart out of flowers. On this video, you can see one of proposals we did there. So, if you decide to propose on Bowbridge, it will work out if you follow my tips. You just need to pick a spot and time which fits your personality and how you want to propose.  Link proposal video from The Bow Bridge

If you are planning to propose in NYC, please let me know and I will help you with ideas, locations and, of course, photography.

What was your favorite spot? Where do you want to propose, or if you already proposed to your loved one, let me know in comments the below?

I’m Vlad Leto, Central Park photographer and planner, located in New York City. I help with proposal ideas, locations and implementation. Contact me to start planning your proposal.

Call, text, WhatsApp – +1(929)600-1664.
email – info@vladletophotography.com