A part of planning every Boston wedding is deciding where you should take your wedding photos. There are endless locations for your wedding photos, but as a photographer my professional opinion is that you pick the most convenient one for your Boston wedding venue. Selecting a convenient location will eliminate the possibility of the stress of driving around, getting stuck in traffic, and giving you more time with your guest. Also, it comes down to a couple of things, such as how much time we have for your pictures and what you want in them. I have put together the most popular places for wedding photos in Boston. Each Boston wedding photo location includes how to get there, where to park, a few tips, and what Boston wedding venues are nearby.
Boston Public Library
Commonwealth Ave
Beacon Hill
Acorn Street
John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse
Copley Square
Willow Tree - Public Gardens
The Lagoon - Boston Public Garden
Fenway Park
Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
Charles River Esplanade
Charlestown Monument
Seaport District
Boston Waterfront
The South End
Piers Park East Boston
Post Office Square
Old City Hall
Fan Pier on Harbor Walk
Boston Harbor Hotel
Boston Public Library
Location: 700 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116
Where to Park: SP + Parking 149 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116
Near By Boston Wedding Venues: Fairmont Copley, Boston Public Library, Westin Copley, and Lenox Hotel, SRV Restaurant
Tips: This location is located on the corner of Dartmouth and Boylston. It is an excellent spot for photos that are taken in the late afternoon because it will allow for shade for your photos. This location is good for getting the majority of your photos done. Often I will take first look, family photos, wedding party, and a few portraits of the couple here.
Commonwealth Avenue
Location: Corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Arlington Street
Where to Park: Newbury Street Garge, 4 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116
Near By Boston Wedding Venues: Boston Public Library, Lenox Hotel, Westin Copley, Fairmont Copley, Four Seasons Hotel, Ritz Carlton
Tips: This is one of the best locations for wedding photos in Boston because the light is good any time of the day, and across the street are the public gardens. It’s also a great location for a first look. So you can cover a lot of ground without having to spend a lot of time driving around. During the holiday season, there are Christmas lights in the trees that make for awesome night photos.
Beacon Hill
Location: Corner of Beacon and Charles
Where to Park: Tarp, 77 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
Near By Boston Wedding Venues: Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Liberty Hotel
Tips: Beacon Hill is what everyone thinks of when they think of New England. There are cobblestone sidewalks, narrow streets that are lined with American flags, and gaslights. I suggest walking up one side street off Charles Street to ensure no tourists in your wedding photos background. This is not a location that I would recommend for family photos or a wedding party due to the limited space and the large crowds here in the summertime.
Acorn Street
Location: In between Mount Vernon Street and Chestnut
Where To Park: 61 Chestnut St Parking,61 Chestnut St, Boston, MA 02108
Near By Boston Wedding Venues: Liberty Hotel, Four Season, Ritz Carlton
Tips: Acorn street is excellent for a couple of photos, and that's about it. It's not a wedding photo location where you would want to take all of your pictures. It is because there's such limited space, and unless the light is perfect, it can be challenging for your photographer to work with. Unless you are already in Beacon Hill taking photos, it might be worth avoiding because it's a bit out of the way and always packed with traffic.
John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse
Location: 1 Courthouse Way, Boston, MA 02210
Where to Park: Public Parking, 21 Liberty Drive, Boston, MA 02210
Near By Boston Wedding Venues: Artist for Humanity, Exchange Conference Center, Westin Boston Waterfront, Renaissance Searport, Seaport Hotel Boston
Tips: This is an excellent location if you are having your wedding or reception in the seaport district. You can get all of your wedding photos taken on the back lawn of the John Joseph Moakley Unit States Courthouse. Because the property is such a large space, it can accommodate larger groups of people. This Boston wedding photo location can be used any time of the day, no matter the lighting conditions.
Willow Trees at The Boston Public Gardens
Location: Surrounding the Lagoon area
Where to Park: Boston Common Garage, 0 Charles St, Boston, MA 02116
Near By Boston Wedding Venues: Hampshire House, Boston College Club, 9OFS, Boston Harbor Hotel, Hotel Commonwealth, The Fairmont Copley Plaza
Tips: This is one of my most popular Boston wedding photo location requests while at the Public Gardens. These trees are perfect for the mid-afternoon for portraits of the couple. They provide a nice even light for pictures, exciting compositions and add an interesting layer to shoot through. It best to use this location during the late spring, summer, and fall months. During the winter months, they look bare and ugly.
The Lagoon - Boston Public Garden
Location: 4 Charles St. Boston MA 02108
Where To Park: Boston Common Garage, 0 Charles St, Boston, MA 02116
Near By Boston Wedding Venues: Boston Park Plaza, The Row Hotel, Omni Parker House, Boston Marriot Cambridge, Alden Castle
Tips: The Lagoon is located in the heart of the Boston Public Garden. It is always a Boston wedding photo location that everyone stops by, if in the Gardens. It is lined with large beautiful trees adding another layer of nature. If you want a nice wedding photo of the park and mix of the Boston cityscape to enter through the corner of Charles and Boylston and walk to the Wendell Phillips Statue's right. There is a nice wide open space that shows the lagoon and city. I recommend stopping by late afternoon as the sun will be low and provide superior light for your wedding photos.
Copley Square
Location: Corner of Dartmouth and Boylston
Where to Park: SP + Parking 149 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116
Near By Boston Wedding Venues: Boston Public Library, Fairmont Copley Plaza, Lenox Hotel, Liberty Hotel, State Room: A Longwood Venue, The Bostonian
Tips: Copley Square is conveniently located in the middle of Boston, making it one of the easiest Boston wedding photo locations to get to. Before it was named Copley square, it was called Art Square because of all the open art, food, and entertainment. This wedding photo spot is ideal for cloudy days or later in the afternoon. This is an excellent location option because you can walk across the street to the Boston Public Library and two Boston wedding photo locations without wasting time driving around the city.
Fenway Park
Location: 4 Jersey Street Boston MA 02215
Where to Park: SP + Parking, 49 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA 02215
Near By Boston Wedding Venues: Four Seasons Dalton, Hotel Commonwealth, Alden Castle, Westin Copley Place
Tips: If your wedding is in the Fenway area and you're a Sox fan, stop by 4 Yawkey Way. It's a classic Boston historic landmark. This location can be used any time of the day because one side of the building is going to be the shade. I don't recommend it for large group photos due to the limited space on game days.
Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
Location: The corner of Atlantic Ave and Richmond Street
Where to Park: Dock Square Parking Garage, 20 Clinton Boston, MA 02109
Near By Boston Wedding Venues: Boston Harbor Hotel, New England
Aquarium, Boston Marriot Long Wharf, The Bostonian Boston, State Room: A Longwood Venue
Tips: This convenient Boston wedding photo location is terrific for couples celebrating in the financial district. The lighting can be a little harsh in the middle of a sunny summer day, but the trees provide many shaded spots that are suitable for family & wedding party photos. Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park is a location that you can get all of your wedding photos in one convenient place.
Charles River Esplanade
Location: Frances Appleton Bridge
Where To Park: Charles Street Garage, 144 Charles St, Boston, MA 0211
Near By Boston Wedding Venues: Liberty Hotel, The Bostonian, Hotel Commonwealth, Hampshire House
Tips: Just about every Saturday in the Summer months in Boston, you can find newlyweds getting the wedding photos taken along the Charles River Esplanade. The location has a little something for everyone, water, trees, cityscapes of Boston, making it one of the most popular Boston wedding photo locations the city has to offer. If you want to get the most out of this location, it's best to visit it late afternoon when the sun is lower. That way, you can have beautiful warm light for your photos next to the river. The tree along the Charles River Esplanade gives the option for afternoon photos because of the shade provided.
Bunker Hill Monument
Location: Monument Sq, Charlestown, MA 02129
Where To Park: On-Street Parking
Near By Boston Wedding Venues: Aclove Restaurant
Tips: Bunker Hill Monument is an excellent location for Boston area wedding photos. It can be a little bright on Saturday afternoons during the summer month. However, several trees line the park's outer edges that provide even natural light for wedding photos. At the top of the monument, you'll find amazing views of the Boston skyline. The surrounding street has gas lanterns and cobble stone stones.
