When Ashwanth started planning his proposal to MB, he knew he wanted a spot that had incredible views of the NYC skyline, but also felt private! Governor’s Island ended up being the perfect choice, with its stunning views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. After the proposal, they celebrated with family at the beautiful Collective Retreat, which made the day even more special.

Governor’s Island is definitely a hidden gem in NYC! It offers stunning and unique views of the Manhattan skyline to the north and the Statue of Liberty to the west. Since it’s not as crowded as other tourist spots, it gave Ashwanth and MB the private moment he’d hoped for! Ashwanth and I worked together for nearly three months planning every detail. We made sure the timing was right for their families to be there and picked the perfect spot for the proposal photo. We even visited the island a few weeks before to make sure everything was set. The team at Collective Retreat was awesome, helping us with everything we needed.

Celebrating at Collective Retreat

After the proposal, the celebrations continued at Collective Retreat. They had luxury tents, food and drinks, and even transportation from the ferry landing. It really was full service and an incredible experience working with them! Ashwanth and MB stayed in a luxurious glamping tent the night of the proposal, which made the experience even more special. Matt and the team at Collective Retreat were amazing, helping with every detail and making sure everything went smoothly.

Even though Ashwanth tore his ACL a week before the proposal, he didn’t let it ruin the day. Collective Retreat helped us arrange to have a chair at the proposal spot so he could still get down on one knee. His incredible attitude toward everything kept from his injury taking away from the specialness of the day!

A Stunning and Private Proposal

For anyone planning their own NYC proposal, Governor’s Island and Collective Retreat are fantastic choices. The views are incredible, and the setting feels much more private than many other spots in the city.

If you’re inspired by Ashwanth and MB’s engagement and are looking to plan your own, contact me to set things off on the right foot and get the best advice from one of the busiest proposal photographers in the city!