A Surprise Proposal at the Jefferson Memorial

When Cesar first reached out to me about capturing his surprise proposal at the Jefferson Memorial, I had no idea just how beautiful and sweet of a moment this would be! Of course, every proposal is incredibly special, but there was something about these two that made it all the more incredible. Though these two had been together for almost 7 years at this point, they were sadly in a long-distance situation for the past year. However, that was all coming to end soon after the proposal because they would both finally be living in DC together again! Their new engagement was the perfect way to kick off their reunification!

Planning a Proposal at the Jefferson Memorial

Since Cesar was living in a different state at that time and hadn’t been to Washington D.C. in a while, he was glad to have my help in planning out his proposal! There are multiple factors to consider when planning a proposal all by itself, but the location can dictate a lot of how the planning goes. Some things to consider when planning a surprise proposal at the Jefferson Memorial are:

A Photography Permit is Required

Most people aren’t aware that the Jefferson Memorial is a location that actually requires a photography permit. I know–who would have thought?! The Jefferson Memorial is under the jurisdiction of the National Parks Service and they are the ones to issue the permit. This applies to other areas of the National Mall and even a few parks in the Washington D.C. metro area.

As part of my services, I happily take care of any permit application processes so my couples do not have to stress about how to apply and if they are doing it right. Sometimes the forms can be a bit confusing and the process for sending it in can also be a pain so as someone who is familiar with the whole process, I am happy to take that task off of my clients’ plates. All I ask is that they cover the cost of the permit itself. Permit costs can vary depending upon the amount of people participating in the photoshoot, but it is $140 when you keep it under 10 people and at one general location (i.e. the National Mall & Memorial Parks are considered “one location”).

Quite honestly, out of all the times I’ve photographed sessions and proposals at the Jefferson, I’ve never once been stopped by a NPS ranger and been asked to show my permit. Heck, I rarely even see a ranger there to begin with! If you’re planning your proposal however, it’s best to go ahead and snag that photography permit ahead of your proposal. How awkward would it be if your photographer was asked to leave in the middle of your proposal? Yikes…

Aim for the Morning

The best time of day to propose at the Jefferson Memorial is in the early morning. The closer to sunrise, the better! There’s just a few reasons why:

1. Less People Around: Listen, no one wants to intentionally interrupt your proposal but humans are naturally curious and can’t help watching magical moments unfold! If you or your partner tend to be shy, you’ll likely want to avoid having a crowd of people adding any anxiety to an already nerve-wracking moment. A sunrise session is the perfect way to minimize having any onlookers.
2. Depending on the time of year, you may be grateful for cooler temps: If you’re not familiar with summers in DC, they can be HOT HOT HOT! An early morning proposal keeps the hot and humid temps at bay so you can focus on the special moment. Plus, you and your partner probably don’t want to be extra sweaty if you’re planning to have a photographer capturing the moment.
3. Parking is WAY easier: If you are planning to park at one of the parking lots close to the Jefferson Memorial, you’ll have a much easier time finding a spot in the early morning. Let’s be real–we all know parking anywhere in DC is a pain so avoid the stress and arrive early in the day. Heads up: The parking lots near the Jefferson are paid parking with ParkMobile but there are free parking spots along Ohio Dr SW throughout East Potomac Park & Hains Point. You can find more parking information from the National Parks Service here.
4. The Light Tends to be Better: If you’re planning to hire a photographer to capture your proposal, they will likely encourage you to pick a time close to sunrise or sunset (AKA “the Golden Hours”). This creates gorgeous, dreamy lighting to allow for perfect photos of this moment! This is ESPECIALLY important if you are hoping to pop the question close to the water’s edge in front of the monument because there is no shade to help fend off odd shadows and uneven lighting.

Consider the Spot for Your Proposal

Think about the backdrop you want to have for your proposal. There are a few great options at the Jefferson Memorial that can emphasize the iconic marble pillars, the Washington Monument, the waterfront, or the whole Jefferson Memorial building itself. My favorite spot has to be the left side of the Jefferson between the inner and outer columns! It’s out of the way from the main entrance (AKA less likely for people to walk up in the middle of the big moment), it tends be more private, and it lines up perfectly to incorporate the Washington Monument in the background in combination with the stunning marble columns.

What Time of Year to Pop the Question

No matter the season, the Jefferson Memorial is a timeless location for your proposal! With an emphasis on the structure itself, the surrounding foliage plays a minimal role in making it a great location. Rather, the foliage can only enhance the location! So let’s talk through some features to consider based on the time off year:

SPRING

Ahhh spring–one of my favorite seasons as a photographer! The Jefferson Memorial is an especially popular location in the spring due to the famous Cherry Blossom trees, but the excitement tends to die down as the blossoms fade away. Cool, but not freezing, temps make spring a beautiful time of year to propose at the Jefferson Memorial.

• A note on Cherry Blossom Season: The Tidal Basin, where the Jefferson Memorial sits along, is an iconic location for the annual cherry blossoms that DC is notorious for. Tidal Basin is surrounded by Yoshino Cherry Blossom trees which produce puffy white and light pink blossoms in late March/early April.
  • Due to the fame of these cherry blossoms, the Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin can be extra jam-packed with visitors from all over the world. Unfortunately, this can really hinder the ability to find parking and avoid having too many people in the background of images.
  • Even arriving at sunrise, it can be a chaotic challenge to navigate. I always advise either taking an Uber directly to the monument or taking the metro to the Smithsonian Station or L’Enfant Station and walking or renting bikes/scooters. Keep in mind it’s approximately 1 mile from either station!
  • Something else to keep in mind is that it can still be quite chilly during the bloom (think ~30-40ºf at sunrise!).
  • To add to the chaos, there is currently an even more limited amount of Yoshino Cherry Blossom trees around Tidal Basin. This is due to the seawall renovation project that began in 2024 and will likely continue through 2027. The goal is to complete the majority of this before the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence Day, but estimates project that the renovations should be complete in 2027. Until then, a large area of where the cherry blossom trees resided are inaccessible or no longer present (for now!). Don’t let this be a downer though! You can still see blooming cherry blossoms across Tidal Basin which add a beautiful touch in the background of photos taken at the Jefferson Memorial.

SUMMER

You really can never go wrong with the summertime! Well, unless you hate the heat and humidity that can come along with it (but that’s what makes the morning a great time!). The green foliage has come back to all of the trees and there’s just a joyous energy in the air. It also helps that you won’t be freezing cold and can have more options on what to wear! I personally think summertime is the best time of year to capture a proposal at the Jefferson Memorial. Heck, I’ll even go as far as to say the sunrises are more magnificent in the summer too!

FALL

Cooler temps are abundant and the air is electrifying as the chill slowly starts to set in. NORMALLY (without the current seawall renovations), there are plenty of trees surrounding the Jefferson to capture some glimpses of the fall foliage. However, while it’s not as likely to capture the fall foliage up close, you can still see the vast array of changing fall leaves across the Tidal Basin (similar to how you can see cherry blossom blooms in the spring). Reds, oranges, and yellows fill the horizon across from the Jefferson Memorial as fall starts to get a grip on the region. I’d say fall is my second favorite time of year!

WINTER

While the Jefferson Memorial is beautiful year round, one of the challenges is how cold it can be in winter. If you’d rather not be all bundled up in coats, scarves, and gloves, I’d suggest considering another season for your proposal (or at least an indoor location!). However, the Jefferson Memorial definitely has the advantage for an outdoor location merely because the beauty of it relies more on it’s marble structure rather than if the surrounding foliage is dead. With that in mind, feel free to weigh the pros and cons of a winter proposal.

Rain or Shine, It Works!

Since the interior of the Jefferson Memorial is covered, it is a great spot to utilize even if it’s raining! The only downside is getting to the monument as you will definitely need umbrellas to walk to it.

Start Planning your Jefferson Memorial Proposal Today

Overall, I think the Jefferson Memorial is a perfect, romantic location to propose at in Washington DC. No matter the season or the weather, it always offers iconic views that are enhanced based on the season’s foliage.

If you’re thinking of planning your surprise proposal at the Jefferson Memorial or anywhere in Washington DC, feel free to reach out so we can discuss how I can preserve this magical moment for you and your partner! Trust me–you and your partner are going to want to freeze this moment in time forever. With my help, you will have photos to cherish this day for a lifetime and beyond.

Let’s Capture the Start of Your Forever

Check Date Availability

View Wedding Pricing Information

---