If you’ve been asking yourself where you’re going to have your engagement session, and you’re in Sydney, then I might have the perfect place for you. If you and your partner both love nature and the idea of a secret garden, coupled with views of the Sydney Harbour, as the backdrop for your photos then you have to check out Wendy’s Secret Garden.
As a Wedding and Engagement photographer in Sydney, I love this Garden for its views, fairytale vibes, vibrant scenery, and the different moods and looks you can create. It’s a beautiful spot for an engagement session, a surprise proposal, or even your wedding.
Let’s dive into more about planning an engagement session at Wendy’s Secret Garden with an overview of what you can expect to find at the Garden.
Planning an Engagement Session at Wendy’s Secret Garden
Wendy’s Secret Garden, also known as Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden, is truly a hidden oasis in Sydney and a stunning place to plan your engagement session or even a surprise proposal. The garden is located in Lavender Bay on the North side of the Harbour Bridge.
The Garden feels like you’ve been swept away into a mini rainforest, and it’s both private and peaceful. Here, you won’t have to worry about curious onlookers or distractions during your engagement session.
This spot has a wide and colourful variety of flowers, trees, and luxurious greens, all paired with incredible views. You will find jaw-dropping views overlooking Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
You and your partner can also enjoy exploring and discovering the Garden during your session. You can plan to take some photos underneath the large, looming fig tree at the top of the Garden or deep in the heart of the garden.
Since the Lavender Bay Ferry wharf is located at the bottom of the Garden, you can even plan to take some of your engagement photos there to have a variety of incredible photos with different backdrops.
Entry into the Garden is free, and there are no official opening hours, as the Garden is open seven days a week. However, something to be aware of before planning your session here is that the Garden does have steep inclines and steps.
Mini-Guide on How to Plan A Surprise Proposal
Here are my best tips for making your proposal a true “surprise”:
Time of day and location
If you want to plan a surprise proposal at Wendy’s Secret Garden, while the Garden is open seven days a week, the best time to do so is during daylight hours. You could even plan a romantic picnic in the Garden as part of your proposal, as the Garden has plenty of chairs and tables you can use.
If you aren’t planning a surprise proposal at Wendy’s Secret Garden, you’ll still want to think about the best time of day to have your proposal, especially if you’re planning an outdoor proposal.
The first thing to keep in mind when picking the time is that you aren’t choosing a time that would make your partner suspicious. Also, for outdoor photos, you’ll want to try and choose a time that still has great lighting – ideally during golden hour.
Want some ideas for other locations where you can take your surprise proposal photos in Sydney? Check out my blog post here.
Decide who else is going to be involved
Including family and friends in the proposal is extra special and exciting, but here’s the thing with surprise proposals—the more people involved, the harder it is to keep it a secret.
If you want others involved in this special moment make sure that they are people you know aren’t accidentally going to let the secret slip out and what their role in the proposal is going to be. Also, you want to know that you can trust them to show up at the right location, at the right time.
Keep it simple
The best way to plan a surprise proposal is to keep everything simple. This doesn’t have to be an over-the-top elaborate event and if you don’t want your partner to find out what you’re planning, then simplicity is key.
If you’re planning to propose at Wendy’s Secret Garden and have never been there before, you can get creative and tell your partner that you want to take them on a special date to a new place.
You can also plan an activity to do together in the Garden, such as a picnic, or tell them that you want to visit the Garden and watch the sunset at the Harbour together.
When planning out the proposal and location, make sure that nothing feels too abnormal or unnatural for your partner; otherwise, they might start to suspect something is up.
Practice what you want to say
You’re probably going to be more nervous than you might expect for this big moment. It’s great to practice and rehearse what you want to say beforehand so you don’t have to worry about stumbling over your words or your mind going blank when the time comes.
Capture the moment
This milestone in your and your partner’s lives is incredibly unique and significant, and I would highly encourage you to hire a photographer to capture your proposal and all of the raw, authentic, emotional moments as they unfold.
Also, if you work with a photographer, they can help you plan the surprise and ensure its success. I recommend working with a photographer who has captured surprise proposals before, ideally even at your chosen location, for the best experience possible.
Ready to Plan Your Engagement Session at Wendy’s Secret Garden?
I hope you found this guide helpful and feel more prepared for your engagement session or planning a surprise proposal at Wendy’s Secret Garden.
And… if you’re looking for an engagement photographer to capture your love story at Wendy’s Secret Garden, or somewhere else in Sydney, while giving you space to feel your story, let’s connect. You can learn more about what I offer here or get in contact with me here.
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