I was recently introduced Hershey Gardens as an awesome location in Pennsylvania to take engagement photos… And honestly? I’m obsessed.
Because whether you’re looking for romantic, whimsical, or fun as hell vibes for your engagement photo session, Hershey Gardens will deliver. (Plus, it’s conveniently located near some other DOPE engagement photo spots!)
So let’s blab about why Hershey Gardens might just be the perfect place to take your engagement photos!
Key Takeaways:
- Why you should go to Hershey Gardens, like, right now
- Things to know before you go
- 6 spots and nearby locations to bop around
Why Hershey Gardens is an Amazing Location for Engagement Photos
Hershey Gardens, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is a 23-acre botanical garden that started out in 1937 as a simple rose garden.
With trails, bridges, historic architecture, and thousands of flowers and trees, Hershey Gardens has loads of awesome opportunities for killer engagement photos. And not only is Hershey Gardens full of kick-ass plants and beautiful greenery, but it also overlooks the town of Hershey and is located near Hersheypark and Hershey Hotel. So you have a ton of nearby locations to choose from for your engagement photos!
Another thing I love about doing engagement photos at Hershey Gardens? It’s a little bit like Longwood Gardens but on a smaller scale. While Longwood Gardens engagement photos can be sick, they recently changed their rules for people who want to take photos there. It’s way more strict (an employee has to stay with you the entire time) and more expensive, but Hershey Gardens is less packed, way chiller, and all you have to pay is the admission fee to get in.
Hershey Gardens is about two hours away from Longwood Gardens, but I think it’s close enough that if you’re in that general area, Hershey Gardens is the best option.
3 Things to Know Before Taking Photos at Hershey Gardens
Before you take engagement photos at Hershey Gardens, there are a few things to know so your engagement session can go smooth as butter.
Admission Fee
Some locations require special permits to take photos, but Hershey Gardens doesn’t. You do have to pay an admission fee to enter the park, but once you’re inside, you’re totally free to take all the photos you want.
Hot tip? If you join the American Horticulture Society, which is $70 for 2 people for a year, you can get into Hershey Gardens for free and go as many times as you’d like. Otherwise, Hershey Gardens cost about $35 for two adults!
Best Time of Day
The best time of day for Hershey Gardens photos is toward the tail end of the day because of golden hour. However, you can’t aim for this time of day in the summer because Hershey Gardens closes at 5 pm. So, if you want golden hour photos, make sure to book a spring or fall engagement photoshoot.
Local Events
When you two are deciding the day you want to go to Hershey Gardens for your engagement photos, definitely check out the event schedule at Hersheypark Stadium AND the Hershey Gardens public event schedule to make sure nothing big is going on. Hersheypark Stadium is right across the street, so when there are any events there, traffic can make it hellacious.
Also, Hershey Gardens hosts weddings, field trips, birthday parties, and seasonal events, so if you want more privacy during your engagement photos (as much as you can get in a public place, at least), then it might be worth calling ahead or choosing a slower day in the middle of the week.
6 Cool-Ass Hershey Gardens Photo Ops
I kinda teased this already, but there are so many cool locations for Hershey Gardens photos. (When I did engagement photos there in August of 2025, I didn’t get to explore the entire area with my couple, so if ya want to go back with me for your engagement shoot, lemme know!)
1. Conservatory
The conservatory was built in the early 1900s by the founders, Milton and Catherine Hershey. It overlooks the rose garden, which makes for a dope background. Inside, you get a freaking wild amount of flowers, plants, and greenery that can double as sick engagement photo props.
2. Garden Paths
Get your classic candid walking photos along the garden paths. (Bonus points if you want to make ridiculous faces or do something hilarious.) There’s so much variety at Hershey Gardens that one minute you’ll be walking along colorful flower beds and the next through a sick rock garden.
3. Fountains
Who doesn’t love a good water photo? Fountains bring a chill, romantic vibe to Hershey Gardens photos, and there are tons to choose from all over the Gardens.
4. Rose Garden
This was my favorite place we explored. The rose garden was abso-freaking-lutely stunning with over 3,000 roses on display. We got lots of photos of my couple sitting on benches, walking through the rose gardens, and looking out at the fountains. 12/10 would recommend!
5. Hersheypark
Hersheypark is right across the street from the Gardens and is the perfect place to have a dope-ass time during your engagement shoot because it’s not a regular park, it’s an amusement park. So if you wanted to do a little combo action and take some classic engagement photos at Hershey Gardens and then get a little wild at Hersheypark, hell yes, do it. (And let me be your engagement photographer.)
6. The Hotel Hershey
The Hotel Hershey is an awesome, luxury hotel located near Hersheypark and Hershey Gardens. It has some cool historical architecture and is a great spot for indoor and outdoor engagement photos. If you want that epic, luxurious look for your engagement photos, The Hotel Hershey is the place to be.
Looking for an Engagement Photographer?
If you’re thinking you want to shoot your engagement photos at Hershey Gardens, and are looking for a documentary-style engagement photographer who works with rocking couples, say the word and I’ll be there.
If you’re interested, let’s chat, peeps!
If you liked this blog post, you might also enjoy:
- What to Wear for Engagement Photos: Unique Tips for Dope People
- Why an Engagement Session is Worth it (and 6 Ways to Make it a Blast)
- 14 Amazing Spots for Engagement Photos in Philadelphia
FAQs About Taking Engagement Photos at Hershey Gardens
What’s the best time to visit Hershey Gardens?
The golden hours (obviously) are super popular. However, they do close before golden hour in the summer, so if that’s your vibe, plan an engagement session in fall or spring.
Can we bring pets or kids for the engagement session?
Pets aren’t allowed inside most garden areas. Kids are welcome! If they’re young, I recommend bringing someone else along to watch them while we take couples photos.
How long should we plan our engagement photo session at Hershey Gardens to be?
All my engagement sessions are roughly 60 minutes (and that’s pretty standard!). That gives us plenty of time to explore different parts of the park and get an amazing variety of Hershey Gardens photos for your engagement session.
