Some couples are just lucky. Like, genuinely, ridiculously lucky. Emily and Josh might be at the top of that list, and their engagement session is proof.
They had been dreaming about getting engagement photos at the exact spot where Josh proposed, and somehow, we pulled it off.
Josh proposed to Emily at the National Arboretum back in November, right in the middle of the Azalea Garden, with both of their families waiting nearby for a picnic afterward. It’s the kind of proposal story that makes you a little weepy just hearing about it secondhand. So when they told me they wanted their engagement photos there too, I was all in. The only catch? The Arboretum was about to pause permit applications for the foreseeable future, which meant we had a narrow window to make it happen at all.
The forecast said rain. We said let’s risk it anyway.
We pretty much had one shot at this before the policy changed, and the forecast was not cooperating. We talked it through and decided the risk was worth it, because how often do you get a do-over on a spot like this? We crossed our fingers and showed up not knowing what we’d get. (And if you know me, you know that this is something I don’t often do… but when the location means SO much and was soon to change their photo permit policy… you risk it)
What we got was one of the most beautiful days. Sure, it ran a little warm for a morning that was supposed to be gray and overcast, but the azaleas were in full, ridiculous bloom, and thanks to that same forecast scaring everyone else off, we basically had the entire Arboretum to ourselves.
We toured the gardens, found THE bench, and ended at the columns.
There is something so special about walking through a place with two people who already have a memory anchored there. We wandered the Azalea Garden, found our way to the exact bench where Josh got down on one knee, and Emily and Josh got to stand in that spot again, this time just to soak it in rather than hold their breath. From there we made our way to the National Capitol Columns, and if you know, you know — that backdrop does not miss.
A little more about these two, because their story is a good one.
Emily and Josh met on Hinge back in July of 2023, when she was living in DC and he was south of Baltimore, doing the semi-long-distance thing while figuring out how to close the gap. Early on, they leaned into being outdoorsy and active together, which tracks completely with two people who’d eventually get engaged in an outdoor garden. About a year before they got engaged, Josh made the move down to Virginia and started working remotely, and they celebrated by going on an African safari together right after the move. A couple months later, around Thanksgiving, came the proposal at the Arboretum, azaleas and all, with both families there to celebrate right after.
Since their National Arboretum engagement session, I had the honor of being there as Emily and Josh became husband and wife.
If you want to see how their story continued, you can read about their wedding day at River Farm here.
Now… just a quick note on the National Arboretum photography policy:
I love these photos, and I love the National Arboretum. These images were taken with a permit before the Arboretum’s new photography policy went into effect, and sessions there are currently prohibited. If you’re hoping to plan something similar, I’d recommend checking the Arboretum’s photography page directly for their most current policies and updates before you get your heart set on it.
If you loved this National Arboretum engagement session and you’re dreaming up your own DC engagement photos, I’d love to be part of it. I have plenty of locations up my sleeve that do currently permit engagement sessions. Tap here to learn more about working together!
If you enjoyed this blog post, you may also like:
River Farm Wedding Day | Emily and Josh
Patterson Park and Fells Point Engagement Session | Melissa and Tyler
Engagement Session at The National Gallery of Art | Kara and Kendall
