(This is part one of a upcoming four part series).
On a crisp fall morning in October, I met up with Natasha and Chris for their engagement session. Ahead of their big multi-day wedding (more on that later), they wanted to explore one of their favorite places in New York City to capture their relationship: Fort Tryon Park in Washington Heights.
Fort Tryon is a beautiful, sprawling park overlooking the Hudson River, and it carries a layered history that makes wandering through it feel like you are moving through time. Since the three of us are all self-proclaimed trivia enthusiasts (and yes, Natasha and Chris are actual trivia champions), the session naturally turned into a mix of photography and storytelling as we explored the grounds together.
As we walked, we talked through some of the park’s history and hidden details—things that make it even more interesting once you know them:
The land itself was originally part of the territory of the Weckquaesgeek tribe, one of the Indigenous groups that lived in the region long before New York City existed in its current form.
Later, during the Revolutionary War in 1776, the area became connected to the story of Margaret Corbin, a nurse who stepped into battle alongside her husband. She was later recognized as the first woman to receive a military pension for her service (!!)
And my favorite part – the Billings Arcade, a cobblestone archway that once served as the grand driveway to the Billings Estate during the Gilded Age.
Today, Fort Tryon Park sits just beside The Met Cloisters, blending seamlessly into the surrounding landscape of museums, gardens, and river views.
With all of that in mind, we spent the next couple of hours wandering the park—talking about the city’s geography, the MTA, and how Natasha and Chris plan to weave together their cultural backgrounds (Indian, French, and Italian) into their wedding weekend. To cap it off, we did a little bagel breakfast picnic by the Cloisters.
Something I love about Natasha and Chris is their genuine concern for others and their love for each other. They are so down to earth, detail-oriented and caring and it really shows with all the effort they put into designing their wedding!
Stay tuned for parts 2, 3 and 4 which highlight their Hindu wedding ceremony (complete with Bharat, Milni and Kanya Aagman), their trivia themed welcome party at a NYC bar and finally their elegant reception party held at the Montclair Art Museum.
Photographer: Emily Louick Photography
Venue: Fort Tryon Park
For more Fort Tryon history click here.
