written by Tara Zinser & Tanya Hartman
Perhaps one of the most exciting and intimate moments of your season of engagement is your engagement photography session. These photos are meant to capture your love for one another before one of the greatest days of your lives. They’ll appear on your save the dates, your wedding website, and possibly even on the walls of your future home. These photos will be a snapshot of your engagement, and deciding what to wear for this momentous occasion can seem a bit overwhelming. But we’re here to help.
We’ve partnered with Tanya Hartman of Gilded Social to share her fashion expertise. She has four tips for crafting the perfect engagement photo ensembles to have you looking and feeling your best for your photoshoot.
Lauryn & Jesse / Photo by Kelsey Walne Photography
01 / Wear something that speaks to your everyday life.
This outfit should be something that captures this season of your life and the moment of your engagement. Think back...what were you wearing on the day you got engaged? What clothes are you wearing right now? This look should be fun, casual, and natural to you. Find inspiration for this look in your own closet, or shop at your favorite place to find something that really fits your current style.
Find your style: in your own closet or from your favorite local boutique
Cheyenne & Rob / Photo by Ashley D Photography
02 / Wear something that fits the aesthetics or the colors of your wedding.
This look can be anything related to your wedding. Whether your big day has an elaborate theme or a simple color palette, use those elements as your inspiration for this outfit. This allows your photos to kick off the theme of your wedding or introduce your color palette, making them perfect for that wedding website or save the date card! It can be a more formal look if your wedding is black tie, or it can be super casual if your wedding is more garden party / rustic.
Find your style: check out a sample sale at your local bridal or bridesmaid dress shop. You want to go somewhere that will have lots of colors to choose from!
Cristin & Evan / Photo by Style & Story
03 / Wear something you can wear again.
This look should be something a bit more formal that you can wear again during your engagement. A few weeks ago, we published a fashion roundup of our favorite white dresses, all perfect for engagement parties and wedding showers and everything in between. A little white dress is a perfect example of what we’re going for here! You could even wear the outfit you plan to wear to your shower, rehearsal dinner or change into after your reception, if you don’t plan on wearing your dress for the whole night. You may not have a professional photographer at these smaller events, but if you have an incredible outfit you want documented, this is the perfect excuse to wear it again!
Find your style: the opportunities here are endless. Start first at the shop where you purchased your wedding dress or bridesmaids dresses. Many designers offer complimenting little white dress styles!
Paige & Nathan / Photo by Casey Cashell
04 / Wear something a bit more formal than you typically would.
Engagement photography is your chance to practice being photographed before your wedding day. It’s your opportunity to really get to know your photographer and for them to really get to know you. When your wedding day comes around, you’re probably going to be wearing something a little nicer than your favorite jeans and sweater combo. Throw in a formal outfit (if you think you need it) to emulate the formal feeling of your wedding dress and suit.
Find your style: shop a bridesmaid dress sample sale or even wear a dress you recently wore to a wedding. Here’s a fun idea: borrow your mom’s wedding dress for a nostalgic way to incorporate her dress into your own celebration.
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