A Whimsical Gold Coast Engagement Session at Planting Fields Arboretum — Christine + Aaron

Some couples you just know from the first five minutes of a consultation. Christine and Aaron were exactly that kind of couple — fun, relaxed, completely themselves, and the kind of energy that makes a photographer genuinely excited to show up. When they told me they were looking for something whimsical with architecture as a co-star, I knew exactly where we were going.

Why Planting Fields Arboretum

Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay is one of Long Island's best kept secrets for engagement sessions. Sitting on the Gold Coast of Nassau County, the estate offers something most Long Island locations simply can't — the feeling of being transported somewhere entirely different while staying completely local.

The grounds are expansive. The architecture is iconic. And in the summer months the combination of wild flowers, lush green canopies, and the estate's signature arched colonnades creates a backdrop that reads as both elegant and effortlessly romantic.

Christine put it perfectly during our planning — she wanted the architecture to feel like a co-star, not just a backdrop. Planting Fields delivers that in every direction you point a camera.

The Session

We started with the grounds, working our way through the estate's summer bloom. Even in the height of the season wild flowers were scattered throughout and the greens of the trees were at their most saturated. The estate's pool glimmered in the background of more than a few frames — a detail that felt both cinematic and completely of its moment.

Christine came in knowing exactly what she wanted — whimsical, movement, personality. Aaron came in the way most grooms do — not entirely sure what to expect. But that's one of my favorite things to watch happen at an engagement session. Ten minutes in Aaron was finding his poses naturally, laughing genuinely, and honestly having almost as much fun as Christine.

Almost.

What Made This Session Work

Every engagement session teaches me something and Christine and Aaron's reminded me of a few things worth sharing for any couple planning their own.

• Location matters more than you think. Christine's instinct to go architectural and whimsical rather than defaulting to a beach or a generic park gave the session a visual identity from the first frame. The location became part of the story.
• The groom will surprise you. Aaron arrived uncertain and left having the time of his life. This happens more than you'd think. The engagement session exists partly to get both people comfortable — and it works every single time.
• Bring music. The dance in front of the arches happened because we had their wedding song playing through a speaker in the middle of an arboretum on a summer afternoon. That's the kind of detail that turns a good session into an unforgettable one.

Planning Your Gold Coast Engagement Session

If you're a Long Island couple looking for an engagement session location that feels elevated, architectural, and genuinely different from the standard beach or park session — Planting Fields Arboretum belongs on your list.

A few practical notes if you're considering it: the arboretum requires a permit for professional photography sessions so build that into your planning timeline. The grounds are best in late spring and early summer when the bloom is at its most dramatic, though the estate photographs beautifully year round. Golden hour on the grounds in fall is something I'm already looking forward to returning for.

Spring 2027 — We're Just Getting Started

Christine and Aaron are getting married in Spring 2027 and after an afternoon like this one I genuinely cannot wait. The energy they bring, the way they move together, the way they trusted the process and let the session unfold — that's exactly what makes a wedding day come alive in photographs.

If you're planning a Long Island wedding or engagement session and you want images that feel like they belong somewhere other than your camera roll — I'd love to hear about your day.