The Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC are popular for good reason. Not only are they beautiful, but they are a great spring backdrop for your DC engagement photos! Discover in this blog post what your engagement photos during the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC could look like and tips to keep in mind when planning your photoshoot.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC
The Cherry Blossoms are famous for their puffy white flowers on the trees, especially the trees around the Tidal Basin. In 1912, about 3,000 cherry trees were donated to DC by Japan and were planted around the Tidal Basin. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a yearly event celebrating the planting of the cherry trees! The festival consists of events, music, food, and more. It is a great time to take beautiful photos capturing your love story while also enjoying the festivities in DC!
What Time You Should Visit the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC
To avoid the weekend and afternoon crowds, sunrise on a weekday is the best time for photos with the cherry blossoms. Even then, there will still be people around! People come from all over to watch the sunrise over the Tidal Basin with the Washington Monument in the background. However, once the sun comes up, a lot of people tend to move out of the area and go to work. This is the perfect timing to get those iconic engagement photos of you exploring DC!
You’ll still experience people around so having an experienced photographer who knows the area well and how to navigate around people is key (aka me!).
What Month to Visit the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC
You’ll see the phrase “peak bloom” a lot when reading about DC springtime news and weather. That refers to when the 70% of the Yoshina Cherry trees are open, and that’s when they look like the white fluffy flowers everyone wants to see. It can be hard to know exactly when peak bloom will be, but planning your visit to DC anytime in the range from the last 2 weeks of March into the first week of April is a good estimate!
Katie and Quinlan’s Cherry Blossom Engagement Photos
Katie & Quinlan booked with me for a June 2025 elopement in Shenandoah National Park, and they decided to do their engagement session in DC with the cherry blossoms. We walked around the Tidal Basin and the National Mall, and even though it was cold and windy that morning, it was so worth it! We made sure to warm up in our coats from time to time. Doesn’t it look incredible?
I love it when my elopement couples also plan an engagement session with me because it’s a great way for us to meet each other before the wedding day and for you to get comfortable in front of the camera. If you want an engagement session like this, you can book with me here!
Engagement Photos at the Tidal Basin and DC War Memorial
We started their DC engagement session at the Tidal Basin and explored amongst the cherry blossoms. It felt like spring everywhere you looked with the beautiful blooms! Then, we walked across the street to the DC War Memorial for a few more engagement photos before walking along the National Mall.
You can actually get married at the DC War Memorial, and it’s only $90 for 2 hours! If you want more details about how to plan your DC War Memorial wedding, you can check out this blog post.
Exploring the National Mall During the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC
We continued across the National Mall to do some photos at the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial. This area is nice because you have an iconic DC monument in each direction for backdrops. The Lincoln Memorial one way and the Washington Monument the other! Can you see yourself taking engagement photos here?
Juliana Wall Photography | Washington DC Elopement Photography
Discover more of Katie and Quinlan’s engagement photos below to see what your spring DC engagement photos could look like! Save your favorites to your Pinterest vision board or jump down to Tips to Keep in Mind When Planning Your Cherry Blossom Engagement Photos to start planning your session today.
Tips to Keep in Mind When Planning Your Cherry Blossom Engagement Photos
Tip #1: There is Tidal Basin Construction in until 2026
Please note that beginning in May 2024, the National Park Service will begin construction on a section of the Tidal Basin to fix the seawall to prevent flooding. The project will continue until 2026 in time for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. This means planning is even more important for the next two years of visiting DC for elopements and engagements during the Cherry Blossom season!
Tip #2: There is Lincoln Memorial Construction until 2026
The Lincoln Memorial is under construction until 2026 and requires some creativity for unique angles to avoid the construction in the photos. It’s still a beautiful location and a must see for tourists and locals alike. Even though there is construction going on, you still deserve to have the dreamy, iconic DC photos you are envisioning. Luckily, planning assistance is what I offer in all of my packages, so reach out now so can talk through the details!
Tip #3: Prepare for Transportation
To minimize your chances of getting stuck in traffic or major crowds, I recommend staying in a hotel in the city and using a ride share app to get around. Katie and Quinlan stayed in a hotel the night before their session, so it was easier to wake up and get ready. They also used an Uber for transportation because traffic and parking around the Tidal Basin can be a nightmare!
Want to book your engagement photos during the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC?
YASS! I would be honored to capture your engagement photos! You deserve to have high quality photos and an incredible experience. You can directly inquire with me through my contact form or can check out my services here. Want to stay in touch? Let’s be friends on IG! I would love to connect with you.
