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Gabriella Marie

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My mission as a wedding photographer is to help happy couples celebrate life's biggest joys with high quality photos and a dang good time. I believe the experience is just as important as the photos and that you deserve beautiful, lasting memories.

Hey!! I'm Gabriella.

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morris arboretum engagement session

Top Garden Engagement Photo Spots

I don’t know about you but I have been LOVING garden-style photoshoots recently. There’s just something so romantic about being surrounded by flowers, beautiful architecture and shafts of sunlight peeking through the trees!! The variability that’s possible within the garden vibe is also fantastic for a photo session. And as a Philly-based wedding and engagement photographer, I know some pretty cool garden engagement photo spots around the city! So I’m going to share with you my top 6 locations for garden-style engagement vibes.

1. Longwood Gardens

longwood gardens engagement photos
engagement photos at longwood gardens during christmastime
longwood gardens engagement session

I mean, hellooooooo gorgeous engagement photos!!! Longwood Gardens is one of my favorite spots for engagement sessions for a plethora of reasons. It is a massive expanse of land that is filled to the brim with natural beauty!! The workers of Longwood Gardens continuously update the landscaping with seasonal plants and flowers from around the world. The landscaping is arranged beautifully and is a joy to experience! There are also multiple fountain gardens, a meadow, a beer garden, an indoor conservatory and so much more!! Check out one of the garden engagement sessions I photographed at Longwood Gardens right here.

Fast Facts:

  • 45-60 minutes from Philadelphia in Kennett Square, PA
  • $25/person entry fee (BUT I’m a member so you don’t need to pay for my entry 💛)
  • Seasonal hour changes (always check before going!!), closed Tuesdays
  • Wear or bring comfortable shoes – you’ll be walking a lot!!
  • Very crowded in the summer months

2. Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve

engagement photos at bowman's hill wildflower preserve
engagement photos at bowman's hill wildflower preserve

This is such a beautiful spot up in New Hope!!!! While it’s a bit of a drive from Philly, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve offers the type of space and natural beauty that is not easily found in the city. There’s a trail through the forest with beautiful clearings, plenty of wildflowers and a pretty pond with lily pads and a cute stone building!! It was also pretty quiet empty when I’ve photographed sessions there which is a plus. Check out an example gallery here!!

Fast Facts:

  • ~60 minutes from Philadelphia in New Hope, PA
  • $10/person entry fee
  • Not ideal hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), closed Tuesdays

3. Philadelphia Art Museum

golden hour engagement session at the philadelphia art museum
golden hour engagement session at the philadelphia art museum
golden hour engagement session at the philadelphia art museum

Confused about this one? The area behind the Philadelphia Art Museum near Lloyd Hall is actually filled with beautifully landscaped flowers and even has a gazebo!! Just look at the photos taken here in late spring in this blog post!

Fast Facts:

  • In the city
  • Free
  • Lots of variation in photos
  • Flowers galore!

4. Abington Art Center

garden, woodsy engagement session at abington art center in philadelphia
garden, woodsy engagement session at abington art center in philadelphia
garden, woodsy engagement session at abington art center in philadelphia

Abington Art Center in North Philadelphia offers a more woodsy garden feel than floral. There are no flowers, but the beautiful architecture of the art center combined with the abandoned stone and wrought-iron structures give off a mysterious garden vibe. I photographed an engagement session at Abington Art Center for the first time this spring and I can’t wait to go back!!

Fast Facts:

  • Short drive from Philadelphia
  • Free entry
  • Make sure there is no event planned for the day of your session (weekdays are usually safe)
  • The wood trails are dirt so beware summer storms the day before

5. 18th Century Garden

engagement session at the 18th century garden in philadelphia
engagement session at the 18th century garden in philadelphia
engagement session at the 18th century garden in philadelphia

I mean Y’ALL!!!!! The 18th Century Garden near Carpenter’s Hall in Old City is like taking a peek into The Secret Garden novel (yes I was obsessed as a young girl). I wouldn’t plan an entire session here, as it is a small garden, BUT it’s right next to Carpenter’s Hall which is my FAVORITE photo session spot in the city. Check out this engagement session I photographed at the garden!!

Fast Facts:

  • Located in Old City Philadelphia
  • Free entry
  • Too small for a full session (pair it with Carpenter’s Hall!)

6. Morris Arboretum

This is like a local version of Longwood Gardens … but without all the crowds!! Morris Arboretum is located near Chestnut Hill College in North Philadelphia (and the Northwestern Stables at the end of the Wissahickon, for all you runners like myself!). I photographed a beautiful surprise proposal here the summer of 2022 – check it out right here!!!

Fast Facts:

  • ~20 minutes from the city
  • $250 photo pass (includes admission for up to 10 people)
  • No crowds
  • Make sure there is no event happening that day
  • Not-so-ideal hours

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- Melissa d.

“Gabriella was absolutely amazing!!! Words cannot even describe how perfect she was, but I’ll try my best. Right from the beginning, I knew she was the one. She was so caring, calming, organized, and just a genuinely happy person. She made me feel even more excited for my wedding. She was so helpful throughout the entire process right down to the big day. AND THE PICTURES - OH MY GOD. They are absolutely breathtaking and she definitely tells the story of your day in the most perfect way. She captures every precious moment while having a smile on her face the whole time she’s with you. I can’t say enough amazing things about her. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking to have the BEST photographer for any occasion. We had such an amazing experience with Gabriella and we can’t thank her enough!”

"Captures every moment"

- Dawn g.

“Gabriella is a very great planner, very organized and an absolute delight to work with. Her planning and organization helped me prepare for the big day without any fear that I left any important photo out. Her planning skills ensured I didn't miss any details. She is such a delight to work with she was even happy to help me with my little surprise I had for my husband, it went off without a hitch. She captured all the photos we could imagine....all the fun, sweet, sincere moments throughout the day. She even provided the photos to us in a timely manner. I HIGHLY recommend her; she's highly energetic, personable, easy to work with, a planner, organized, and she captured lots of beautiful pictures. She exceeded all of my expectations. She was such a great photographer.”

"Exceeded all my expectations"

- Melissa N.

Making my dream wedding come true!
Gabriella was hired by my (now) husband, as a surprise photographer for our proposal. She was phenomenal and we hired her for our wedding as well! Her energy and vision for our wedding photos captured every moment and emotion. She was amazing in every way. Her attention to detail and knowing what was important to me on my big day was awesome - she went the extra mile. I would 10/10 recommend her to any one wanting to capture beautiful moments in life - for their engagement, wedding, and more.

"She went the extra mile."

- Megan W.

Hiring Gabriella was one of the best decisions that we made during our wedding planning. From our very first conversation, Gabriella was warm & bubbly. She radiates positive energy that I knew that we needed for our big day. Gabriella has a vigorous work ethic and eye for detail. Her ability to transform any setting is pure magic. We enjoyed working with her throughout the planning process and are absolutely thrilled with our engagement and wedding photos (which she had edited and back to us in less than one month!).

"One of the best decisions"

- Lisette & Tyrus b.

What can we say about Gabriella Marie Photography. There are so many words to describe the amazing job Gabriella did on our special wedding day. Gabriella will not only shoot your wedding, she can help you design what your wedding will be. She is there every step of the way. She has amazing attention to detail. Before the big day, Gabriella has a plan that will ensure that your day will be spectacular. She is always available via text, call, direct message, FaceTime or Zoom. Gabriella is the absolute best photographer ever. The best quality that she has is that she is more than a photographer, she is a true friend. She cares about her clients and makes us feel like a trust-worthy friend is there to help. For example, she sent my wife and I a pre-wedding care package. This gift proved to be so valuable for us while dealing with wedding stress. This gift was the most thoughtful thing my wife and I ever received. A simple thank you is just only the tip of the iceberg with regarding Gabriella Marie Photography. Everyone please check out our new friend Gabriella. Trust us, she is worth every penny and more.

"Worth every penny and more"

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