How to Propose on a Private Rooftop in NYC | NYC Proposal Planner
How to Plan a Private Rooftop Proposal in NYC
Planning a private rooftop proposal in NYC? If your partner craves an intimate moment away from the city’s crowds and hustle and bustle, a private rooftop might be the most magical, and surprisingly easy, way to propose in New York City. After 15 years planning and photographing NYC proposals, it’s still my personal favorite.
My team and I at Ash Fox Proposals, have been planning and photographing marriage proposals for couples from all over the globe for over 15 years. I know. I’m shocked too! 15 years is a long time to devote your life to proposals, and in all this time, I have never wavered from my favorite NYC proposal location.
Why a Private Rooftop is the Best Proposal Setting in NYC
While I absolutely adore Central Park (it’s truly one of the most romantic places in the entire world), when it comes to NYC proposal planning, if you’re a private person, or more importantly if your future fiancé is, a private rooftop with just the two of you is my personal favorite proposal concept.
And not just any rooftop! I receive emails and calls regularly from rooftop venues all over NYC asking me to feature their spaces, but truly, only certain ones work best for a NYC rooftop proposal.
What Makes a Rooftop Right for a Marriage Proposal in NYC?
Not every rooftop makes the cut. There are three things I look for when vetting a space for a rooftop engagement in NYC:
- The view has to photograph beautifully. Some rooftops offer a nice view in person, but the skyline is too far away or at the wrong angle to show up in your proposal photos. I only work with rooftops where the view is as stunning on camera as it is in real life.
- It has to actually be a rooftop. Some “rooftops” are just small terraces, barely enough room for the two of you, let alone a photographer and any decorations.
- It has to be PRIVATE. Some incredible NYC spaces operate as rooftop bars and restaurants, open to the public, crowded, and definitely not the intimate setting you want for a marriage proposal in NYC.
Which brings me to my rooftops…
I’ve spent years scouring, testing, and photographing proposals on rooftops across New York City to know which ones work amazingly well for a NYC rooftop proposal, and which fall short. I only offer my tried-and-true favorites, and they each have their own unique charm. We have 13 incredible options available for proposing.
How to Get Your Partner to the Rooftop (Without Spoiling It)
A question I get on a weekly basis: “Ash, I love the idea of a private rooftop proposal in NYC, but HOW am I going to get her there?”
It’s a completely understandable concern, especially for my guys who live in New York City and feel like their smart, savvy partner is going to be suspicious the moment they suggest going to a random building in Midtown.
But here’s what I always tell them: the private rooftop proposal in NYC is actually one of the easiest proposals to pull off.
Why? Because so many of the best events and experiences in NYC already happen in very random buildings, often nondescript ones. Your partner won’t think twice about it with the right decoy in place.
The Best Decoys for a NYC Rooftop Proposal
Here are a few of my favorite cover stories. When we have our Zoom planning session, we’ll tailor the perfect decoy specifically to you and your relationship, but these are the ones I’ve seen work like a charm time and time again.
The Work Event :This works best if you live in NYC (harder to pull off if you’re visiting). Work events are a great cover because they give you a built-in excuse to dress up, and it’s easy to get your partner to follow your lead without raising any red flags.
The Pop-Up Event :Wine tasting, cocktail night, dessert tasting, sushi pop-up: this is one of the most popular decoys for a NYC rooftop proposal, and for good reason. Pop-up events often require being on a special email list, and the location frequently isn’t revealed until the day of. So you can easily say a friend added you to the list and you’re waiting to hear where it is. At the last minute, you pop the address in the Uber and go. She’s along for the ride, excited for the pop-up, and has absolutely no idea what’s actually waiting for her.
The Facebook Marketplace Pick-Up :You make plans for date night, and even if she suspects a proposal might be coming someday soon, she will have absolutely no idea tonight is the night, especially when you’re on your way to dinner and casually say: “Babe, I gotta grab some AirPods I bought off Facebook Marketplace, it’s right near the restaurant.” I have seen so many women absolutely SQUEAL in shock when they truly think they’re just along for a random errand pickup, and it’s actually their proposal waiting at the top of that building. The more un-romantic the setup, the bigger the reaction.
These are just a few ideas that can be tweaked to suit your personality and comfort level. But after years of planning NYC rooftop proposals, I can tell you with confidence. They work every single time.
Ready to start planning your NYC rooftop proposal? Contact me here and let’s start planning. I’d love to help you create a moment she’ll never forget.
Ash Fox <3
