Getting to capture these romantic Cummer Museum engagement photos in Jacksonville was a literal dream come true. Located in the historic Riverside neighborhood, The Cummer Museum features romantic courtyards, permanent exhibits featuring modern, contemporary, and ancient art, and Italian and English gardens overlooking the St. John’s river, this museum is the perfect backdrop for engagement photos and weddings alike.
With a place that truly encapsulates romance and timelessness such as this, it was easy to document the feeling that Elle and Brandon were looking for. These Cummer Museum engagement photos are still living rent free in my head to this day.
Meet Elle + Brandon.
Sweet, caring, and down to earth is the best way to describe these two. We met up in the lobby of the Cummer before their session and their love for each other was beaming. Despite the heat of mid-May, we pranced around the gardens with joy and excitement, celebrating and capturing their love story under the Florida sun.
We began their session in the Reinhold Courtyard directly across from the entrance of the museum. It’s quiet and peaceful, the only sounds coming from the wind and the fountain at the center of the courtyard. In May, the florals all along the property were springing up in vibrant shades of purple and blue, as fragrant as ever. They added so much warmth to the already beautiful scenery and people behind my lens.
Gorgeous as it was, it was also pretty warm outside. Luckily, the Loggia provided us not only with a very nice break from the heat (very good AC in there), but with a stunning diffused light coming in from their floor to ceiling windows. Elle and Brandon were practically glowing, and the stunning architecture of the Loggia provided an equally beautiful backdrop.
My favorite part about this romantic engagement session at the Cummer Museum is knowing that in just a few months, Elle and Brandon will be exchanging their vows and getting married at this very location. They’ll tie the knot out on the lawn and enjoy their reception in the Loggia with all of their closest friends and family. How special is it to have your engagement photos be at the same place where you’re getting married??
What’s been your favorite part about being engaged so far?
“We’ve been loving spending a lot of time with our families and planning our future together.”
If you had to pick one thing you love most about the other person, what would it be?
Elle: One of the things I love most about Brandon is how dependable he is.
Brandon: My favorite thing about Elle is her kindness.
What was your first impression of each other?
Elle: My first impression of Brandon was how cute his dimples were when he smiled.
Brandon: My first impression of Elle was that she had good taste in music, and was outgoing enough to karaoke with strangers.
When we had decided we’d cooled off enough, we continued out to the main attraction. The gardens at the Cummer Museum are perhaps the most iconic part of the entire property. The archway cutout hedges that lookout to the St. John’s river, the beautiful fountain at the center of the courtyard, and the reflection pools on either side of the lawn of the Italian Gardens make this an emblem of the museum.
Elle and Brandon will be exchanging their vows to each other in front of their closest friends and family in February of 2026 right here at the Cummer Museum. Be on the lookout for their wedding blog!!
Have you been dreaming about having your engagement session or your wedding at the Cummer Museum? Let’s chat! This location is one of my absolute favorite places in Jacksonville. I can’t wait to hear from you and help bring your vision to life.
