Blog

The Top 10 Best Places to Propose in New York City

Looking to propose in New York?  Check out the top ten best places to propose in NYC, from the nation’s leading proposal planning and surprise engagement photography company.  Pop the question at one of our picks for a guaranteed picture-perfect “Yes!” moment!

Paparazzi Proposals has photographed hundreds of proposals in the Big Apple.  You name it, we’ve helped plan and capture it.  After years in the game, we have a couple trusted NYC engagement spots for proposal pictures you’ll never want to stop looking at!

For the absolute ultimate guide to planning and capturing your marriage proposal in NYC, head to our New York City proposals page, full of tips, tricks, inspiration, featured NYC engagements, and proposal photography packages designed with Manhattan in mind.

In the meantime here are our top 10 picks for the best places in NYC to take a knee, from iconic to unexpected!

1. Central Park

Capture your fiancé’s heart in the heart of Manhattan!  Central Park has countless breathtaking places to propose, year-round.  From a private proposal in The Ramble to a flashmob proposal at Bethesda Fountain, there’s something for every couple!  Keep your honey guessing by suggesting a walk or a romantic horse and carriage ride to the place where you plan to pop the question!  Afterwards, toast  your engagement at one of the many nearby bars or restaurants!  

Raj went with our Paparazzi Proposal Photography Package his Bow Bridge, Central Park marriage proposal to Priya!

2. SoHo

SoHo is the perfect place to propose if you’re after a truly movie star moment!  With a location worthy of the silver screen, it’s only fitting that you hire your own personal proposal paparazzi to trail you as you browse the stores, like Nick did for his fiancée.  Two of our sneaky paparazzi-style proposal photographers captured their entire afternoon, discreetly snapping away as they shopped and stopped for a coffee before he popped the question in front of Tiffany’s!  Get started planning your own star-quality engagement by booking your own Rent-A-Paparazzi package!

3. Times Square

This iconic proposal is for the person who wants to go big!  Make the bustling heart of Manhattan entirely yours for your engagement by having your proposal message appear on the Times Square Big Screen.  Literally take your partner’s breath away when they see their name in lights in Times Square, and turn to see you on bended knee.  You come away looking like a champ, and your new fiancée feels like a Broadway star! Into grand romantic gestures?  Check out more info on how to plan a Times Square Big Screen engagement, here.

4. Top of the Rock

Less crowded and easier to coordinate than the commonly sought after Empire State Building Observation Deck, the Top of the Rock offers 360 degree views of the city and a very NYC feel.  It’s great for anyone looking to propose with a view and for couples visiting from out of town who want to capture the whole city in their surprise engagement photos!

5. Rockefeller Plaza

This centrally located proposal location is great for TV lovers from New York and beyond!  It has made several appearances on television, is home to NBC, and the Today Show is filmed every morning just across the street!  In the colder months, the Rock Center ice rink is the perfect place for a wintry wonderland engagement, which is exactly what Craig had in mind for his engagement to Melanie on the week before Christmas!

6. The High Line

This former elevated railway, transformed into a pedestrian path in the early 2000s, offers unique views of the street below that make it perfect for surprise engagement photography.  It’s also located near boutique shops and eateries of Chelsea Market, making it a number one place to propose for couples looking to head to a post-proposal dinner or celebratory engagement party after their engagement!  Make sure your High Line engagement is stress-free and goes off without a hitch by working with an experienced proposal planner.

7. Brooklyn Bridge

The 100-year-old bridge linking Brooklyn to Manhattan is a romantic destination known for incredible skyline views and unique design! Invite your special someone for an afternoon stroll and pop the question as the sun sets over lower Manhattan.  Our suggestion is to start in the city and walk towards Brooklyn, proposing midway through and having your post-proposal session in the picturesque streets of DUMBO.  For a less crowded alternative with similarly incredible views, consider a Brooklyn Bridge Park marriage proposal.

8. Chelsea Piers

The Chelsea Piers are a unique place to propose on the waterfront, especially in the warmer months! The piers are one of our favorite off-the-beaten path places to propose because they are more private than more central proposal spots.  Grassy hills nearby make for gorgeous picnic proposals in the spring and summer, and art installations like the water wheel at Pier 66 offer picturesque proposal options!  After chatting with one of our proposal planners, Brad added to his Pier 66 marriage proposal by booking a musician to serenade them, and a bouquet of 24 vibrant red roses, just a few of the awesome add-on options available with all of our proposal photography packages!

9. Long Island City

Ok, it may not be in Manhattan, but it’s got some of the best skyline views around!  LIC is a more private proposal location that’s perfect for surprise proposal photography!  One of our favorite places to propose in LIC is Gantry State Park, where you can take a knee on the picturesque pier before heading to the retro-cool Pepsi-Cola sign for fun engagement photos with a pop of color! For more LIC proposal inspiration, be sure to check out Max and Nadine’s adorable marriage proposal and engagement session!

10. The Street Where You Met

45th and Broadway. 86th and Lex. Begin the next chapter with a creative marriage proposal in the exact spot where your eyes first met over the top of a yellow taxicab, or where you went on your first date!  To make sure your memories last a lifetime, have a proposal photographer to discreetly capture the moment you drop to one knee.  Adam opted for one full hour of proposal photography to capture the moments before, during and after his romantic evening street corner proposal on East 58th and 2nd Ave., the intersection where they first kissed!

Now that we’ve helped narrow it down, we’re sure you’ve got a few questions about the logistics of popping the question!  Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.  We’ve helped close to a hundred guys and girls looking to get engaged in NYC to plan and capture their dream proposal!  Contact us today for a free consultation to brainstorm ideas with one of our proposal experts.