Top engagement session locations
You know when you’re on vacation, you have no distractions, no real responsibilities and you’re walking around your new surroundings and thinking, “Wow, there are so many beautiful sights to see here”. As locals, our lives can get busy with the millions of distractions of everyday life that we don’t get the chance to actually look around and enjoy our city the way a tourist would… Toronto and the surrounding area are blessed with so many great views, parks, features, and attractions, yet we barely utilize them the way they deserve. This list below is just a handful of places that we love utilizing for our engagement sessions. From cobblestone strolls to cliff view lookouts, the photo-magic potential is endless.
Alexander Muir Gardens
Located near Yonge and Lawrence, this beautiful park has many different backdrops to play with, whether that being their stunningly manicured gardens, their winding tree-lined trails, or the show-stopping stone wall and staircase that rivals an old English castle you’d see in a travel magazine.
Features: gardens, old stone staircase & walls
Permit: No
Best Season: Summer/Fall
Location: Midtown
Cedarvale Park
If you like the nature vibe, this place is for you. This not-so-little park has tons of trails that make you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere (even though it’s right in the heart of Forest Hill). As an added bonus, it has its very own bridge that feels like you are walking on a boardwalk.
Features: nature trails, bridge
Permit: No
Best Season: Summer/Fall/Winter
Location: Forest Hill
Cherry Beach
Want that cottage feeling but don’t want to drive an hour or two? Well look no further, Cherry beach has you covered! Located on the east end, this sandy beach checks all the boxes for your magical engagement session.
Features: beach, lake, greenery, old lifeguard house
Permit: No
Best Season: Summer
Location: Lakeshore East
Corktown Commons
If you are looking for a little variety of nature and city in your photos, you’ll want to consider this little park. Although small, it’s packed full of amazing paths, backdrops, a boardwalk and is a few steps away from underpass park and that lovely downtown feel.
Features: greenery, boardwalk, city vibes
Permit: No
Best Season: Spring/Summer/Fall
Location: King St. East
Distillery District
No engagement session top 10 would be complete without including the iconic Distillery District. The features are endless, It’s like time traveling into the past with all the original brick buildings and cobblestone roads. Whether it’s a snowy winter day or a warm summer evening, this place delivers greatness year-round
Features: cobblestone, old brick buildings, cute small shops
Permit: Yes
Best Season: All year round
Location: Downtown East
Edward Gardens
If you are looking for a more classic and timeless location for your photos, look no further! This massive park is home to acres of greenery, bridges, fountains, and winding staircases. This park can be a summer/fall hotspot but thanks to its vastness, you can always find a secluded section so you don’t have an audience.
Features: nature trails, bridge, manicured gardens
Permit: No
Best Season: Summer/Fall
Location: East York
High Park
Fun fact, this is Penny and Lenny's (our dogs) favorite place in the city. You can trust them because they sure have great taste. Where else in downtown Toronto are you going to find kilometers of trails dense in nature and wildlife. The cherry on top is that after you walk the trails you end in their well-maintained gardens and beautiful Grenadier Pond.
Features: nature paths, Grenadier Pond, manicured gardens
Permit: Nope
Best Season: Summer/Fall
Location: Bloor West
Kelso Park
Although it can be a bit of a drive, Kelso Park is well worth every minute in the car. The bottom of the park has some stunning views to explore and if you are up for a small hike, the top of the escarpment has beautiful unobstructed views of the vistas below.
Features: Lake, boardwalks, forests, and cliff view vistas
Permit: Park entry fee required
Best Time/Season: Summer/Fall
Location: Milton
Music Garden/Waterfront
Sandwiched between the City and Harbourfront, this garden has it all! whether you want to walk through the award-winning gardens, the waterfront boardwalk, or catch some cityscape backdrops, this area will not disappoint!
Features: Waterfront, manicured gardens, city vibes
Permit: Nope
Best Season: Summer
Location: Harbourfront
Scarborough Bluffs
Kick-off your shoes and pretend you are on the gold coast while you enjoy this tranquil sandy shoreline. What makes this location so unique is the iconic Bluffs in the background of all your photos As an added bonus, there is a nature trail on the walk over to the beach itself.
Features: Beach, lake, bluffs, greenery
Permit: Nope
Best Season: Summer
Location: Scarborough