You’ve been waiting for this for a very long time – now’s your chance to dress up and tell the world you’re getting married!
It might surprise you to hear, but we don’t think you can be TOO dressy. Honestly, when else do you get to rock a tulle skirt or fancy dress?
Apart from your wedding day, you don’t have too many occasions to glam up and rock it out for portraits. Go for it!
When Brandon and I had anniversary photos done on the beach, I purchased a long blue tulle skirt and we invested in a nice suit and tie for him. It wasn’t easy coordinating and shopping (we aren’t known for our clothing style), and it wasn’t exactly cheap, but I’m SO glad we dressed up because the photos feel even more special now.
If you’re not feeling like it’s a smart purchase for a one-time use, you can now just rent formal and semi-formal wear. Just visit a website like renttherunway where you rent amazing styled dresses with ease! This is a popular option now, so there are many websites out there to choose from.
General engagement session tips
Planning is key. Always communicate your thoughts about the session beforehand so we can make sure we address any concerns and plan for the overall aesthetic you have in mind. Talking things out ahead of time also gives us the chance to ensure that we make the most of your photo session time. We will be offering tips on location ideas and the best time of day to shoot in later posts, but for now we want to answer one of our most frequently asked questions: WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Style
Dresses and skirts look amazing in photos because of their ability to shape you how you want. A longer or flowy skirt will not only flatter you, it will also create movement to the photos. We recommend this over pants or shorts because it adds an extra element of romance to the images.
Extra Special
To top this look off, you’ll love a touch of bling. Does your mom or grandmother have a special piece of jewelry (earrings, necklace or broach) you could incorporate to add in something beautifully sentimental? This is a great opportunity to borrow a piece to share your family’s culture and add the sparkle to your look. Don’t have a family heirloom piece? That’s ok, you can consider a piece of jewelry with bold color like a statement necklace to add in personality, or, if you prefer, a subtle flower crown can bring in an ethereal and romantic feel. Pro-tip: any special rings or bracelets that you want to incorporate should be worn on the right hand and we suggest keeping their size and color in mind while choosing, so as to not compete with that gorgeous engagement ring you have!
Color
We often recommend solids instead of bold patterns and muted tones instead of bright colors. This way, the attention is on YOU and your outfit only enhances the beauty without overwhelming the image. Colors we love best for photos are: soft tones like light blues and greys, elegant creams and browns, and fresh light pinks and taupes. These colors almost never compete with a background and tend to go with any setting, which will help you make the most of your session.
Coordinating
Most brides will choose their look first before deciding on their groom’s attire. This helps because we always recommend the outfits to be in the same color pallette so they don’t compete. Having them in the same family but not matching helps bring the overall look together. And to bring it up a notch, have an element of your guy’s attire match you: for example if you are in a blush pink skirt with ivory top and light blue jewelry, he could wear a navy blazer with a light blue or light pink tie or pocket square.
A casual look
Though most of our couples do tend to choose two different looks: a dressier and then a more relaxed outfit as well, we see a trend in most brides loving the dressier look. Those are the ones we see printed larger and more often.
That wraps up part 1 of our mini-series on engagement session styling. We will be sharing more in-depth tips as it relates to dressing for your engagement sessions in later posts, so stay tuned!
