Five Stunning Fall Engagement Shoot Locales
These local foliage-filled settings around Massachusetts are guaranteed to add a dose of autumnal magic.
Old North Bridge. Photo via flickr.com/masstravel
Minute Man National Historical Park
Capture your romance with an undeniably New England setting that’s serene, scenic and steeped in history. The park features several can’t-miss photo-ops, including the charming wooden Old North Bridge—which overlooks the Concord River—and Battle Road Trail, a five-mile tree-lined pathway that offers a variety of picturesque backdrops, from low stone walls to winding wooden walkways. The trail also includes Hartwell Tavern, a clapboard-clad 18th-century home and pub that brings colonial-era New England architecture to life.
174 Liberty St., Concord, 978-369-6993, nps.gov.
Apple picking, hayrides, and a one-and-a-half-mile hedge maze mean no posed smiles here—because you’ll actually be having a blast. Beat the fall rush by heading here on a weekday to roam around rows of apple trees, scattered with wooden ladders and crates that add a rustic vibe. Then, celebrate your engagement with some cider donuts on your way out.
138 Sudbury Rd., Stow, 978-562-5666, honeypothill.com.
Yes, it’s one of the most photographed streets in the country, but this Beacon Hill gem is truly at its most magnificent during the fall, when leaves dot the narrow, cobblestone lane and pumpkins decorate the stoops of its brick townhomes. The street itself, tucked between Willow Street and West Cedar Street, is only one block long, but offers plenty of opportunity for intimate strolling, sitting, and standing shots with a bygone feel.
Acorn St., Boston
Appleton Farms. Photo by R Cheek
America’s oldest working farm is perfectly pastoral. The thousand-acre setting offers a landscape of grassy pastures, woodlands, and five and a half miles of wide carriage paths known as the Appleton Farms Grass Rides. Don’t miss Great Pasture Trail, where grazing cows make a surprise appearance. Word to the wise: Booking a shoot here requires a $165 membership fee, and your photographer will need to complete a non-commercial photography agreement form.
219 County Rd., Ipswich, 978-356-5728, thetrustees.org.
Commonwealth Avenue Mall
Head to this tree-lined promenade that stretches from the Public Garden to Back Bay Fens during peak foliage, and you’ll be surrounded by spectacularly vibrant hues. The 19th century mall draws inspiration from Parisian boulevards, and divides the east and westbound lanes of Commonwealth Avenue with rows of elm, maple, and linden trees, as well as statues. Don your favorite fall riding boots and a chunky knit, and skip along the leaf-lined path with beautiful Back Bay as your backdrop.
Commonwealth Ave., Boston, boston.gov.
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