By Inés Francom and Joshua Sarfert

News and Media Editors

    There are four things that prom is guaranteed to bring: glitz, glam, glitter, and Grandma’s iPhone snapping the classic prom photos. However, to ensure the perfect background for these iconic photos comes the yearly dilemma of where to take pictures. To help curb these anxieties and make this year’s prom season all the more fun and relaxed, here are some of Pine Whisper’s favorite prom photo-taking spots! 

Reynolda Village 

    Reynolda Village is a classic for a reason. Its white and pale green decor has guided generations’ worth of prom photos. Home to a big open field in front of the Reynolda House and conveniently located to many dining areas, Reynolda checks off all the prom-taking photo boxes. 

    Reynolda Village is beautiful during all seasons. Coffee and walking through browning leaves, playing in the gently falling snow, and sunbathing in the peak of summer can be seen throughout the year. But there’s one season in which Reynolda shines brightest: spring. The buzzing of bees slowly waking up and the bright colors of freshly blooming flowers make up the perfect ambiance for such an exciting day. 

    It’s no surprise this location would be packed to the brim with prom attendees, so it’s important to arrive early to claim your mark on the beautiful attraction. 

Old Salem

     If you are looking for charming scenery for you and your charming date, look no further than Winston-Salem’s historic Old Salem. Open fields with a backdrop of quaint colonial homes lined with cobblestone streets are sure to elevate your I.G. game. 

    When the Moravians first arrived, Salem became a thriving, self-sustaining community with farms, shops, and schools. Now evolved into a tourist attraction, with local cafes, and stores, Old Salem feels like a step back in time.

    If you don’t want to deal with the Reynolda traffic and are in search of a pre-prom snack, Old Salem is the perfect location to reign in the night.

The Graylyn Estate 

    From its beautiful groundskeeping, historic buildings, and lively community, the Graylyn Estate is perfect for a serene prom photo. Built-in 1928, the Graylyn Estate features many aspects of Norman architecture, such as its iconic towers, sand-colored bricks, and the grey slabs that make up the roof. This touch not only brings a historic touch to the estate but will also guarantee that your prom photos have that classic look – making them timeless. 

  Graylyn has plenty of iconic photo locations. With twenty-two acres of land perfect for the classic field photos, spiraling steps in every nook, gorgeous flowers and gardens to pose with, a bridge overlooking the stunning bridge, and a plaza housing one of the notable towers covered in ivy and a rustic fountain.     

    Quiet and serene, Graylyn is unique in its isolated and peaceful setting. Being privately owned by Wake Forest, the estate serves as a conference center, limiting the number of people who can be on the property at any given time. While this does mean no big group photo-taking extravaganzas, it does allow you to have a small window of peacefulness before the exciting night ahead. Prom is undoubtedly a long night, and having this moment of silence with no frantic texting, rushing to put on makeup, or meltdowns over a wrinkled dress is the perfect time to set this moment to memory. You only ever have two proms; you don’t want to miss a single second.