“The City Beautiful” is the perfect location for capturing unforgettable and romantic engagement photos, as it offers beautiful and stunning sites, some of which are in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
#1 The Biltmore Hotel
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Rightfully called the Grand Dame of Coral Gables,The Biltmore Hotel is a National Historic Landmark with Mediterranean Revival architecture exuding romance and elegance, the perfect touches needed for your engagement photos. As you arrive, there is a large fountain and tall palm trees welcoming you to this impressive hotel. The center terrace, behind the lobby, features an open courtyard with fountain and potted palm trees (site of a restaurant); the upper floor offers balconies with green-painted walls, mosaic tile benches, large Moorish hanging lamps and beautiful balustrade stairs on each side take you to the scenic golf course. To the side of the hotel, there is a large Spanish-styled courtyard with fountain featuring high arches with intricate details and balustrade stairs. There is also a lovely path that leads you to the golf shop. You can either stop by the large, enticing pool, or just walk to the end where you will find a manicured garden with a small fountain and benches. From here you have a lovely view of the Biltmore tower, which is a replica of the Giralda Tower of the Seville Cathedral in Spain. The Biltmore is graced with different spots to use for that perfect photo, and yes, you deserve a nice lunch right there after your photo session is over.
#2 De Soto Plaza Fountain
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
The De Soto Plaza Fountain serves as a traffic circle plaza with an impressive fountain set on a scenic road near the Biltmore Hotel. Adorned with colorful flowers and small shrubs, the De Soto Fountain really is a simple yet elegant backdrop to your photos.
#3 Alhambra Water Tower
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
The Alhambra Water Tower features eye-catching details and colors that add an almost whimsical tone to your engagement photos. Also a historic place, this tower looks like a lighthouse and there is a nice Poinciana tree next to it that offers shade and adds more color to your photos, it all depends on the angle you take the pictures from.
#4 Coral Gables Prado Entrance
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
The Coral Gables Prado Entrance is another historic site that is a favorite for photographers and couples looking for a romantic setting for their engagement photos. There are two walkways with wood trellises covered with gorgeous cherry-colored Bougainvilleas and fountains at both ends, complete with balustrades and arches, reminiscent of a Mediterranean piazza.
#5 Coral Gables Wayside Park
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
Photo credit: Mery Tassi
The Coral Gables Wayside Park was designed in a Mediterranean Revival style and also added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It is a small park that has a canal in the middle and on each side you will find the castle-like towers, transporting you to a bygone era. Can it get even more romantic than this? Yes, bring your own picnic basket with fine wine and cheese (and a red rose!) and sit under any of the large shade trees.
The City of Coral Gables is rich in history and exquisite architecture, providing you with elegant and beautiful sites that are perfect for your engagement photos. Even if you are not engaged, you may want to visit these charming places and maybe you will be inspired to propose to your sweetheart…you are welcome!
All photos via Mery Tassi unless otherwise noted.
18 Comments
Nhi
April 25, 2016 at 9:49 amThese are some really gorgeous places! The Coral Gables Prado Entrance is definitely my favorite… I could see some really stunning photos being taken there. :)
Paola Mendez
April 25, 2016 at 10:36 amI know! I can’t wait to take some outfit photos at these locations too :)
Lucy Valdez
April 25, 2016 at 10:04 amBeautiful! I love the historic factor to each of these locations:)
Paola Mendez
April 25, 2016 at 10:37 amYes, Coral Gables has some really beautiful historic buildings and landmarks :)
Sonya
April 25, 2016 at 5:32 pmI can’t believe I haven’t seen all of the these places in person before I move!! So pretty. Sharing on my Twitter as well :)
Mery Tassi
April 25, 2016 at 7:10 pmThat is why they call it “the City Beautiful”, thank you for your comment.
Paola Mendez
April 26, 2016 at 12:11 pmThanks for sharing! And good luck in NYC :)
Leydy Baltodano
April 25, 2016 at 6:29 pmBeautiful pictures! I need to visit some of these locations
Mery Tassi
April 25, 2016 at 7:09 pmThank you! The weather is perfect for strolling around Coral Gables
hotpinkshrink
April 25, 2016 at 8:51 pmHow did I not know about Wayside park? Do you know if it’s free to take pictures there or do they make you pay like the Prado Entrance?
Mery Tassi
April 26, 2016 at 5:27 pmI know! Wayside Park is a small hidden gem. I just checked The City of Coral Gables’ website and you have to pay a photo/film fee for Prado Entrance and Venetian Pool only. http://www.coralgables.com/index.aspx?page=707
Piniella
August 5, 2022 at 12:33 amWe did not know you had to get permission or pay a fee to whom just to take photos at Prado Entrance.
We parked our car at 1 out the only 6 parking spaces available at Coral Gables Prado entrance near 8th street North entrance and we came back with a parking ticket on our car! Still today don’t know why we got a parking ticket?
How a gorgeous rememberable photo day turned pricey with a parking ticket. And that is my first parking ticket ever, after 40 years driving as a residents in the city of Coral Gables and South Miami.
Michelle Orchid Rodriguez
April 26, 2016 at 12:28 amThese photos are absolutely stunning. Great job.
Mery Tassi
April 26, 2016 at 9:24 amThank you very much!
SCARLETT TORRES
December 13, 2016 at 12:43 pmis the biltmore free?
Jan
March 1, 2017 at 7:11 pmOf course not. But if you gonna do it and you won’t look like commercial production (ideal you and model) you probably will be ok for outside.
Jan
March 1, 2017 at 7:09 pmAwesome post! Thank You! I have to try Wayside Park ASAP!!!
Through The Trials
May 3, 2019 at 4:46 pmdoes anyone know how much it costs to shoot inside at the biltmore?