Coney Island is such a fun place to go and has so much character and life to it so why wouldn’t it be the perfect place for wedding photos? I mean, what could be more New York than getting Coney Island wedding photos?
As an NYC wedding photographer, I have been all over the city capturing weddings and Coney Island may just be one of the most fun places to get them taken. With so much going on, there is never a dull moment, plus you have the amazing views of the ocean right at your fingertips.
So, if you are thinking about having a Coney Island wedding or taking photos there, here are some of my top tips for capturing the best pictures!
Tips for Coney Island Wedding Photos
Don’t focus on the other people around you
First and foremost, don’t worry or stress about other people around you. Since Coney Island is such a popular place, you are bound to be around other people during your photos. That’s okay and to be expected!
However, this shouldn’t stop you from going all out and doing whatever you would like for your wedding photos, whether that is more playful and fun, or more romantic and serious.
At the end of the day, you have to remember that these photos are for you and your partner and not anyone else. Everyone else around won’t remember that they saw someone getting wedding photos taken 10 years from now, but you will still have these photos to look back on and remember.
So, just focus on you and your partner and block out the rest of the world. That is going to be the best way to get truly authentic wedding photos that not only feel like you, but that you and your partner also love!
Take time before your wedding to scout out some locations
It is also a great idea to take some time to scout out the area beforehand and pick out a couple of locations that you want to go to on your wedding day. Your photographer will usually do this, too! The most important reason why you should do this is timing.
Since these photos are going to be during your wedding day (maybe before the ceremony or more likely during the cocktail hour) you want to make sure that you know where you want to go so you don’t have to feel rushed or like you can’t get all of the photos you want because you have to go back to your guests.
Instead, plan out a couple of spots you want to go right to for the photos so you are sure to capture those iconic pictures you have always wanted. You could also plan for extra time between your ceremony and your reception if you want to give you and your partner a bit more time to spend here.
After all, this is your wedding day and you can plan it out however you would like!
Keep in mind when sunset is
You also want to keep in mind when sunset is. This is important for one of two reasons.
If you are looking to get golden hour photos, you want to make sure you are able to plan for those and be wherever you want to be when sunset hits. You never realize how fast the sun actually sets until you are trying to take pictures!
The other reason you want to keep this in mind is to make sure you can actually get the types of photos you want. For instance, do you want them in the daylight where you can see everything including the water in the distance? Or do you want them at night when the boardwalk is lit up?
Don’t be afraid to walk around the boardwalk
While there are some iconic photos you can get right at the entrance to the boardwalk or around it, don’t be afraid to actually walk around and do things together. This can mean stopping by one of the games and playing it together or going on a ride.
You could also stop and grab a small hand-held snack to eat for a couple photos or grab a drink to share together. This is a fun way to add in more of the boardwalk vibe to the photos and make them even more fun and filled with personality!
Now, the one caveat to this is that this will definitely work better with post-wedding photos. Since this is a public area, there are no guarantees that everything you are wearing will stay 100% clean the entire time.
So, if you do want to walk around, go on a ride, play a game, or do anything else on the boardwalk, I would suggest capturing those photos after your actual wedding ceremony!
Make sure everyone you want pictures with knows where to be
When it comes to your Coney Island wedding photos, you can choose to do them with just you and your partner, but in some cases you may also want other people, like your wedding parties, there with you too for some photos.
If you are planning on having other people in your photos here, it is important to make sure everyone knows where and when they need to be places. This could mean going over all together or having someone else coordinate getting everyone else back and forth.
Regardless of how you want to set it up, you just want to make sure you are not waiting around for people to arrive before you can actually jump into the photos (especially if there are certain photos that you want to get with just your partner!).
Remember you have the beach as well
While the boardwalk is definitely the more popular spot to grab those iconic Coney Island photos, don’t forget that you are also right on the water. Be sure to take some time to walk down to the beach and capture some amazing photos right on the shore.
This is also a great area where you can most likely find a spot with fewer people. You can even capture the boardwalk in the background!
This is one that may be best to do at the end of your time here. Since you are going to be walking on the sand and potentially right on the water’s edge, you won’t have to worry as much about getting anything on your outfits if this is the final location for these portraits!
Have fun with it!
Finally, be sure you are having fun with it! Like I’ve said before, these photos are just for you and your partner, no one else so be yourselves and let loose. This is one of the most special days of your life and you should have photos that represent that.
Think about how you want to remember this day and this time in your life 10, 15, 20 years down the line and make sure that you are being your authentic self. Don’t worry about feeling like you are standing out or doing something out-of-the-norm. Instead, just let loose and have fun!
Do I Have to Actually Get Married on Coney Island?
Now, getting Coney Island wedding photos is great, but do you actually have to get married on Coney Island to get them? Well, the answer is absolutely not! You can definitely have your wedding in a different location and go to Coney Island after.
In fact, that is what my couple Taylor and Jonathan did for their wedding. They had their ceremony in Rockaway before heading over to Coney Island for their reception after. So, if you have a dream ceremony venue somewhere else in the city, you can definitely have the best of both worlds and have your ceremony there before having your reception on Coney Island.
You can also plan a completely different post-wedding session at Coney Island if you would like too! Maybe you want to keep your ceremony and reception at the same location or just want more time to actually walk around the area and take pictures.
Either way, you can opt to do a completely separate photoshoot after your wedding on Coney Island. You can still wear your wedding outfits and recreate your looks from the day, but do it at a different time so you can have the best of both worlds!
Final Thoughts on Wedding Photos at Coney Island
Hopefully these tips help you plan out your dream Coney Island wedding photos. Whether you are actually having your wedding there or are heading there after your ceremony, this is an amazing place to get some unique wedding photos.
Now all you need is the perfect photographer to capture them for you. If you are still looking for that person, I’d love to chat. You can click here to learn more about my wedding photography services or head over here to get in touch and talk about your special day!
7 Easy Tips to Get the Best Coney Island Wedding Photos
