Los Angeles Arboretum Engagement Photos | Sarah + Matt

Couples

Jun 14

a romantic fairytale engagement photo in an herb garden

One of the first terms that caught my attention when I was chatting with Sarah and Matt about their wedding plans was that they wanted their decor to be Lothlorien-esque. If you’re a huge Lord of the Rings fan like myself, you’ll know that means timeless elegance, otherworldly beauty, and—above all else—a feeling of harmonious coexistence with nature. And for their engagement session, our goal was to find the most verdant, lush environment as we could find.

Admittedly, a truly green space is not the easiest to come across in Los Angeles in August, when most of the hillsides and natural spaces are a golden yellow. But I knew the Los Angeles Arboretum in Arcadia, with its tropical forest by the lake and herb garden filled with fruit trees, would be our best bet. And it was perfect.

We ended our session at my favorite spot in the nearby Angeles National Forest at sunset.

☼

Engagement Sessions at the Los Angeles Arboretum

The Arboretum’s meticulously maintained gardens and abundant foliage create a romantic and natural ambiance, perfect for capturing an engagement session with a variety of backgrounds. I’ve always found that the garden isn’t crowded, especially on weekday evenings, which is especially nice if you’re someone who’s a little nervous about posing for engagement photos in public.

There are many sections of the Los Angeles Arboretum, each with its own distinctive features and charm to pick from and explore during your engagement session. Here are some of my favorite areas.

Rose Garden

The English-inspired rose garden is perfectly manicured and romantic, with an array of roses of different colors and varieties. The rose garden is also backed by a tangerine grove, which is fun to explore and another verdant background.

Tropical Forest

The jungle-like atmosphere within the tropical forest, which is next to a lake, is filled with exotic plants and towering trees and can be relied upon to stay green all year round.

Herb Garden

This fragrant oasis, with its little pathways and sometimes-overgrown trees and bushes, reminds me of the secret garden. It offers a delightful mix of scents, colors, and textures, and I love exploring it with couples toward the end of a session, when the sun is low in the sky.