The St. Louis Area’s Best Places to Propose, According to a Local Photographer
Looking for the metro area’s best spot to pop the question? Local wedding and engagement photographer Sally Grieshaber shares her favorite places for creating picture-perfect moments.
Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park
To pull off a proposal framed by St. Louis’ beloved Gateway Arch, Grieshaber recommends Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park. Home to the Gateway Geyser – the tallest water fountain in the country, according to the park’s website – and the Mississippi River Overlook, this quiet green space has a viewing tower offering unprecedented Arch views. “This gives you the iconic views of the St. Louis skyline, but without the crowds that come with doing it on the Arch grounds,” Grieshaber notes.
Forest Park
For another signature St. Louis scene, look no farther than Forest Park for picturesque proposal backdrops, including the World’s Fair Pavilion, Emerson Grand Basin and Nathan Frank Bandstand on Pagoda Circle. “Forest Park has something for anyone,” Grieshaber says. “[If you] want a classic St. Louis view, Art Hill is amazing! [If you] want something a little more private, there are plenty of areas in the park that are lesser-known and have less people around!” From the peaceful Murphy Lake to the serene Kennedy Forest to the tranquil Hidden Creek Savanna, secluded spaces abound.
Klondike Park
To get engaged amid natural beauty, Grieshaber advocates for the metro area’s hidden gem: Klondike Park. Located in Augusta, Missouri’s scenic wine country, the park – about a 45-minute drive from downtown St. Louis – boasts hiking trails, stunning lakes surrounded by white sand and cycling paths along the Katy Trail. “I am obsessed with [this park],” Grieshaber says. “Although it is a bit of a drive, it is so worth it! This park is truly one of a kind and has so many beautiful views.”
Your Signature Spot
Grieshaber’s No. 1 tip for the ultimate way to make a proposal special is “completely tailoring it to you as a couple [by choosing] a spot that feels like the two of you or holds significance to you two as a couple,” the photographer says. Your special St. Louis space could be the location you met or the restaurant, theater or museum from your first – or favorite – date. And take the big moment to the next level with personalization, decking out your perfect place in a way that is authentic to the two of you.
Your Signature Spot
Grieshaber adds: “Decorate the area with your partner’s favorite flowers or favorite color, [or] set up a cute celebratory picnic at the spot with all of your partner’s favorite food.”
Sally Grieshaber Photography, sallygrieshaberphotography.com
