Best Ohio Proposal Spots
Okay, maybe it’s just that I’m not from the Midwest, but when I imagine “scenic proposal spots”, Ohio is not typically the first locale that comes to mind. I know, I know, those of you who have bled scarlet and gray since before you were born are calling me crazy, but until I graduated from college and moved to Columbus, most of what I knew of Ohio was the very small rural town where I went to college.
However, in the years that I have lived here and had the chance to explore other areas of the state, I have learned what a truly beautiful place Ohio is (and what a variety of different types of landscapes there are - not just cornfields like I might have thought in college!).
Maybe you are planning a proposal and deciding on the perfect backdrop for popping the question, or maybe you’re just looking for a good location for an engagement shoot or family photos - Ohio (this post will focus mainly on the Columbus area specifically) has lots of amazing options for photo locations that you will treasure for a lifetime. Below I’ve highlighted some of my favorites in no particular order. Make sure you read all the way to the end if you want to see a special honorable mention!
Franklin Park Conservatory
Franklin Park feels like one of the most obvious options, considering how incredibly beautiful the grounds are and how many great photo spots there are in this one location alone (which may also be part of the reason so many weddings take place at the Conservatory as well). The other benefit of Franklin Park is that due to the fact that there are so many different garden areas and greenhouses with varied styles and types of flora, you can take photos all around the grounds and have a great variety of backdrops without leaving the park! All in all, Franklin Park is a great option if you’re looking for a beautiful park setting to say yes to forever!
Ohio Government Buildings
Downtown Columbus has many beautiful and historic buildings, and while the Ohio Statehouse may be the most well-known, it is certainly not the only option. One such example is the Ohio Judicial Center, which houses the Ohio Supreme Court. If you have a photographer on your side to stage and time this shot perfectly, the beautiful and stately structure speaks for itself and makes for an elegant and impactful proposal photo.
Engagement photos in front of a historic structure like this would be the perfect precursor to a classy formal or black-tie wedding in a historic setting.
Whetstone Park of Roses
The Park of Roses is another favorite Columbus park location, loved by locals and photographers alike! The fountains, pathways through the garden, archways, and gazebos provide plenty of romantic photo opportunities - and what could be more romantic than getting engaged surrounded by a beautiful garden of lush roses?
If you manage to plan out your proposal while the sun is setting, the golden hour light that filters through the trees in the garden feels ethereal and magical. There’s a reason so many proposals take place in the Park of Roses!
Cleveland Museum
Ohio has some very beautiful museums, and the Cleveland museum is a personal favorite because there is a gorgeous courtyard area outside the museum that’s PERFECT for photos, and admission to the museum is free if you are looking for something to do together to celebrate your engagement (or if you need a decoy plan as a cover-up for the proposal!)
This is truly a beautiful location year-round - the trees are lush and green in the summer and bright and vibrant in the fall; in winter, it’s a lovely snowy scene. The Cleveland Museum is a great option to consider if you want something further north than the Columbus area for your proposal spot!
Scioto Mile
The Scioto Mile in downtown Columbus is another location where the photo possibilities are endless, and as a bonus you can enjoy a scenic stroll along the Scioto riverfront as a newly engaged couple!
An evening spent enjoying the views and many different parks along the Scioto mile would be a lovely way to end any day, and what day could be more perfect to walk together through the best of what downtown Columbus has to offer than the day you say “yes” to forever with your favorite person?!
(Bonus!) Hocking Hills
It would be incredibly remiss to discuss favorite scenic locations in Ohio without mentioning the gorgeous Hocking Hills State Park (especially since my own engagement to my husband took place there… obviously, I didn’t know I was going to be proposed to that day!). A favorite hiking and camping destination less than an hour away from Columbus, Hocking Hills is lushly forested with amazing natural rock formations and wildlife. This would certainly be the site of a proposal you would never forget!
