When we began planning our engagement shoot, we knew we wanted something that felt deeply New York—elegant, iconic, but not touristy (AKA: Central Park) or overdone (West Village). Something timeless. And for me, as a lifelong Gossip Girl fan, there was only one place that made sense: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I’ve always adored the glamour of Blair Waldorf and her Upper East Side world, especially those legendary Met steps where so many iconic scenes unfolded. They’ve always symbolized a kind of classic NYC sophistication that I’ve carried with me. So the idea of sitting on those same steps, hand in hand with my future husband, felt like a full-circle moment—one that was uniquely ours.

But The Met isn’t just a Gossip Girl fantasy—it’s a deeply personal place for us. One of our favorite dates took place inside those marble halls, getting lost among the masterpieces and quiet corridors. We wandered for hours, holding hands, pausing to talk about what we saw, what we felt. That day is still one of my favorite memories. In fact, he once told me he had planned to propose at The Met—he’d imagined doing it at the Temple of Dendur, surrounded by ancient beauty and golden light. (He ended up proposing elsewhere, in another perfect moment—but knowing that The Met was in his heart made this shoot feel even more special.)

With our wedding theme—Love Is a Work of Art—we wanted our engagement photos to feel like an easter egg of what was to come. So it only made sense to return to the place where so much of our love story lives.

We worked with the incredibly talented photographer duo Natali & Kate, whose eye for storytelling and detail brought our vision to life effortlessly. Our shoot started at noon, which isn’t traditionally the “golden hour” photographers chase—but the bright midday light ended up adding an ethereal glow to the entire session. It felt fresh, romantic, and full of energy—just like us. I also did an outfit change, just to have some variety in photos.

We took photos in three different spots that each captured a piece of our story:

Outside on the iconic Met steps, channeling that signature Gossip Girl flair—glamorous, poised, and playful.

Inside the museum, among the sculptures and grand halls, capturing intimate, candid moments surrounded by timeless works of art.

On the rooftop, where the city stretched out behind us in all directions. It was a perfect mix of serenity and skyline—a reminder of where we are and where we’re going.

The photos are everything we hoped for and more—classic, romantic, and deeply us. They’re not just pictures; they’re little love letters to New York, to art, and to all the quiet, beautiful ways our story has unfolded.

And now, every time we walk past The Met, it doesn’t just feel iconic. It feels like home.