A Fort Tryon Park Proposal with a Love Story That Came Full Circle: Brian & Hannah
Some love stories start with sparks. Others with a swipe. And sometimes—if you’re lucky—they come back around when you least expect it.
Brian and Hannah matched on Hinge in April 2020—yep, peak lockdown. Their first date was a FaceTime call while she was staying with her family upstate and he was tucked away in Williamsburg. They had great conversation and a real connection, but with everything going on in the world, things fizzled out before they could ever meet in person.
Fast forward almost three years later: Hannah had moved to Greenpoint and surprised Brian with a message on Instagram—asking if he was still around and maybe still interested in that second date. (Turns out they had added each other on IG back in 2020 and completely forgotten.) That second-first-date happened in January 2023 at Little Rascal, and the spark was still very much there.
By April, they were official. And this spring, as they planned a weekend trip to the Catskills to celebrate their two-year anniversary, Brian was also planning something else—a proposal.
A Change of Plans and a Perfect Surprise
The original plan was to propose during their Catskills getaway, but when the forecast shifted, Brian pivoted to a stunning (and highly underrated) NYC location: Fort Tryon Park.
Specifically, the Billings Arcade—a historic stone archway that feels like a little European escape tucked away in Manhattan. As a NYC proposal photographer, I always help with planning and timing, and we picked a quiet morning when the light was soft and the park was nearly empty.
Hannah was completely surprised. Like, full-on shocked in the best way. The second Brian dropped to one knee, she jumped for joy—literally! Her reaction was so full of emotion and delight, it made the entire moment even more unforgettable.
And that ring? An absolute stunner. Hannah knew she wanted something unique, so she and Brian designed it together—a champagne-colored diamond set east-west, with an effortlessly elegant vibe that’s every bit as one-of-a-kind as she is.
A Morning Full of Magic
Once the happy tears were dried and the ring was admired (a lot), we explored the park and wandered over to the Met Cloisters for a quiet, romantic portrait session. These two have such an easy connection—whether they were laughing mid-walk or wrapped up in a quiet moment inside the Cloisters’ dramatic stone corridors, everything about the morning felt organic and intimate.
Their gallery is full of those little blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments: the way he looks at her, the gentle hand squeeze, the unfiltered joy of this is really happening.
Planning Your Own NYC Proposal?
Whether you’re popping the question in a secret garden, on a rooftop, or under a stone archway like this one, NYC has no shortage of amazing places to get engaged. But the best proposals? They’re always the ones that feel like you.
If you're looking for a proposal photographer in NYC who can help you plan a smooth surprise, stay incognito until the moment arrives, and capture the real stuff—I'm your person.
