Tomas and Wenying got engaged on a Sunday afternoon in August, inside the Walled Garden amphitheater at Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers, in front of family who'd flown in from Brazil without Wenying knowing the real reason why.


The Setup

Tomas told Wenying his brother's company was hosting a small celebration at Untermyer. They even made fake invitations for the event, and as a result, Tomas was able to get Wenny there without any suspicion and while being dressed up. His family, in town from Brazil, came along too all in on the real plan. At the gates, Tomas's brother met Tomas and Wenny and asked the two of them to run some papers over to the amphitheater. Wenny had no reason to question it.

A man proposes to a woman in the ampitheater of the Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers, NY between two ornate columns with gardens behind them.

The Proposal

When they reached the amphitheater, Wenny realized what was actually happening just as Tomas started to propose, phone still in her hand from nearly snapping a photo of the two of them. A monarch butterfly drifted into the frame right as he asked. His family, watching from a distance, broke out noisemakers the moment she said yes, then came running over for hugs and group photos. After 2.5 years of dating, they said yes to the promise of spending the rest of their lives together! They wrapped the afternoon with photos throughout the gardens before heading to a nearby restaurant for lunch.

Couple posing outdoors, man in navy blazer and woman in floral dress, smiling with green hills behind them in Untermyer Gardens.

Planning a Proposal at Untermyer Gardens

Untermyer Gardens requires a permit for proposals, $500 for non-Yonkers residents, $250 for residents, and you'll need to choose between two ceremony spots: the Walled Garden or the Temple of Love. The Walled Garden gives you more backdrop variety and more room to work with, which is why it's the stronger pick for the proposal moment itself.


Go early in the day or in the last hour before closing for softer light and fewer visitors. If you're drawn to Vista Point for photos, save it for afterward rather than the proposal itself, it's a longer walk down a path and several flights of stairs from the main garden, and it tends to stay crowded throughout the day.

Elegant garden with tall columns topped by griffin statues framing a lush green pathway under a blue sky.
Couple posing between ornate stone columns topped with sphinx statues at a formal garden with fountains.
Couple in elegant attire stands facing each other in a lush formal garden with manicured hedges and trees.
Couple standing face-to-face in a lush garden with manicured hedges and trees in the background.
Couple posing between ornate columns topped with griffin statues in a formal garden with lush greenery.
Man kneeling on one knee proposing to woman in a lush green garden setting on a sunny day.
Couple sharing a romantic kiss in a lush formal garden with manicured hedges and a fountain pathway.
Couple embracing and kissing in a lush formal garden with manicured hedges and a reflecting pool.
Couple embracing in a formal garden with trimmed hedges, columns, and a reflecting pool on a sunny day.
Couple standing together in a lush garden, sharing a tender moment by a stone ledge.
Couple sharing a romantic moment in a lush green garden alley, with a butterfly visible in the background.
Couple sharing a romantic kiss in a lush garden park, woman in floral dress, man in navy blazer on a sunny day.
Couple embracing in a lush garden, woman in floral dress and man in navy blazer, sharing a romantic moment outdoors.
Couple smiling together in a formal garden with stone columns and colorful flowers on a sunny day.
Family group with wheelchair strolling along a scenic garden path surrounded by tall green trees.

FAQ

Do you need a permit to propose at Untermyer Gardens?

Yes. Permits run $500 for non-Yonkers residents and $250 for residents, and you'll choose between the Walled Garden and the Temple of Love as your ceremony spot.

What's the best time of day to propose here?

Early morning or the last hour before closing, both for softer light and smaller crowds.

Is Vista Point a good spot to propose?

It's better saved for photos afterward. It's a longer walk from the main garden and stays busy most of the day.

Planning your own proposal at Untermyer Gardens?


If you're picturing a moment like Tomas and Wenying's, I'd love to help you plan it. I'm a proposal photographer working across Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and NYC, and Untermyer Gardens is one of the locations I know well enough to help you navigate the permit process and pick the right spot for what you're picturing. Reach out and tell me when you're hoping to propose and what you're planning, and I'll be in touch within 24 hours!