Picture Perfect Locations

18 scenic spots to take wedding or engagement photos in Newport County.

By Veronica Musch, Newport Wedding 2021

Illustration by Sharon Morgera /  sharonmorgera.com

$ = Photo session or rental fee; visit websites or contact venue for details

1. Brenton Point, Ocean Avenue, Newport
Rocky shores, rolling waves and fields just made for kite-flying.

2. Castle Hill Light, Ocean Avenue, Newport
A wooden staircase, an iconic lighthouse and unparalleled ocean views make this a popular photography spot.

3. Fort Adams $, 90 Fort Adams Drive, Newport
Exterior shots of the sprawling lawns, bay vista and fort are free; setups inside the fort, barracks or casements are $100 the first hour and $50 each additional hour. fortadams.org

4. Bowen’s Wharf or Bannister’s Wharf , Downtown Newport
These are quintessential Newport waterfront settings, although you might find yourself competing with the crowds.

5. Goat Island Lighthouse $, 1 Goat Island, Newport
Pose with the lighthouse at Gurney’s Newport Resort and capture the Newport Pell Bridge in the distance. Call (401) 851-3378 for more information.

6. The Point, Washington Street, Newport
Outstanding views of the Newport Pell Bridge can be had from Storer Park, Battery Park and Van Zandt Pier.

7. Queen Anne Square, Thames Street between Church and Mill streets, Newport
Trinity Church’s iconic steeple makes an ideal backdrop, especially in spring, when the magnolia trees are in bloom.

8. The Elms $, 367 Bellevue Ave., Newport
9. Marble House $, 596 Bellevue Ave., Newport
10. Chateau-sur-Mer $, 474 Bellevue Ave., Newport
Photographs are permitted in the gardens surrounding these Preservation Society of Newport County mansions and outside of Marble House’s Chinese Tea House. Reservations must be made 2–12 weeks in advance, and an hour-long shoot costs $250 for members and $500 for nonmembers (although memberships start at $55). newportmansions.org

11. Ochre Court $, 100 Ochre Point Ave., Newport
Salve Regina University’s Ochre Court mansion offers a stunning interior or exterior backdrop; $275–$375 for a one-hour session; reserve 4 weeks in advance at (401) 341-2197 or mariann.maida@salve.edu 

12. Forty Steps, Narragansett Ave., Newport
This spot on the Cliff Walk offers ocean views and a dramatic staircase that descends down to the water, providing multiple options for photography. cliffwalk.com

13. Newport Art Museum $, 76 Bellevue Ave., Newport
Art lovers can reserve 90 minutes inside the Griswold House galleries or on museum grounds; $400, book at least a week in advance. newportartmuseum.org

14. Redwood Library & Athenaeum $, 50 Bellevue Ave., Newport
Books more your thing? Reserve an hour in the stacks or on the grounds with 36 hours’ notice for $350. redwoodlibrary.org

15. Boyd’s Wind Grist Mill, Prospect Avenue, Middletown
Pose beside this historic windmill at Paradise Valley Park. middletownhistoricalsociety.org

16. Horseback $, 287 Third Beach Road, Middletown
Book a Newport Equestrian trail ride at Sachuest or Third beaches, or another location of your choice; call (401) 837-4188 for pricing. newportequestrian.com

17. Norman Bird Sanctuary $, 583 Third Beach Road, Middletown
The scenic trails at NBS can be reserved 3 weeks in advance for a $75 fee, 2 hours max. normanbirdsanctuary.org/visit

18. Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, 769 Sachuest Point Road, Middletown
If you don’t mind a little dirt, the paths offer stunning vistas and the chance to encounter deer or other wildlife.