The Ultimate Guide to the Cherry Blossoms
It should go without saying that the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, are one of the craziest times in the district for a wedding photographer. They are an incredible sight to see and make for an incredible backdrop for portrait and landscape photographers. I’ve witnessed a significant rise in requests to utilize this as a background for engagement photographs over the past several years as a wedding photographer in Washington, DC—just last year, I had over 15 queries for sessions here! That’s why I decided to create this guide to cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, for upcoming couples seeking to book a session during this popular time. I figured it would be helpful to provide advice to upcoming couples seeking to book a session here given the increase in popularity, so they would know what to anticipate!
PLANNING YOUR SESSION
1. Reserve your session early
Last year, before March had arrived, all of my sessions were booked. Unfortunately, the best time to photograph these beautiful blooms is so short that I have to limit the number of sessions I can offer to give my couples the best service I can. I want to make sure everyone gets a session when these beauties are at their finest since peak bloom only lasts a very short time (4–7 days, depending on the weather that year).
2. Wake Up Early
So what time should you schedule a session during the blossoms blooms? ONLY AT SUNRISE! The early wake-up call is crucial, I assure you! Yes, there will still be a lot of people at the Tidal Basin, but not nearly as many as in the evening or during the day. Additionally, I’ve noticed that the walkway is fairly crowded as the sun rises, but after about 30 minutes, most of the landscape photographers have left and there is much more room!
3. Keep an open schedule surrounding your session date
We will tentatively schedule your session when you make a reservation, but you should be aware that it may alter – maybe more than once! It is very hard to forecast the actual peak bloom more than 10 days in advance, and sometimes even less. Therefore, choosing a date in January or February is probably not a good idea, as peak bloom depends on the season’s weather.
4. Location, location, location
Yes, the tidal basin is the queen bee of cherry blossom blooms with over 3700 cherry trees, but did you know that there are other locations that are just as beautiful and have incredible cherry blossoms as well? A few of my favorites are:
- Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C.
- Montrose Park in Washington, D.C.
- Stanton Park in Washington, D.C.
- United States National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.
- Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore, Maryland
- Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland
- Fort McHenry Cherry Blossoms in Baltimore, Maryland
- Kenwood Neighborhood in Bethesda, Maryland
- Brookeside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland
- Centennial Park in Ellicott City, Maryland
- Rockville Civic Center Park in Rockville, Maryland
- Glenview Mansion in Rockville, Maryland
- Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA
- Van Gogh Bridge at Lake Anne in Reston, VA
- Alexander Bell Drive in Reston, VA
- Ad Hoc Road in Great Falls, VA
