By Haley McCormick
Photos By Gideon Photography
Amidst all of the chaos of planning for the perfect wedding day, many brides forget to give enough attention to another big part of the wedding—engagement pictures. Your engagements are sometimes the first opportunity family members and friends will have to see you and your fiancé together, so treat your shoot like the official debut of you and your future hubby. You’ll continue showcasing these pictures for your wedding decorations, sign-in albums, and so on… creating the perfect look for your engagement shoot should be a high priority in the wedding planning process. Here are a few tips to give your engagement shoot the attention it deserves:
Prepare ahead of time. Don’t stress yourself out by waking up the day of your engagement session and realizing that you have no idea what to wear. Plan a few weeks in advance so you have plenty of time to shop for anything you might need to complete your look. Consult with friends, bridesmaids, and most importantly your photographer, if you still aren’t sure what will look best in front of the camera. In regards to your photographer, make sure you are in good hands. Hire someone you can trust, with years of experience in making every couple shine!
Plan according to your overall wedding theme, vibe, or feel. If you are going for a certain vibe in your wedding, introducing your theme in your engagement shoot is the perfect opportunity. For a vintage-classic wedding, wearing your favorite little black dress and deep red lipstick while leaning against a ’32 Ford coupe lets guests know what to expect. If you aren’t going for a specific theme or feel for your wedding, you can still choose to have an urban, dressy, or retro look for your engagement shoot. However, be cautious of wearing anything too trendy or overly theme oriented—you will want to display these photos for years to come! Classic pieces such as pea coats, pearl necklaces, and pencil skirts are timelessly chic.
Don’t be afraid to help your man with his outfit. Think of your engagement fashion as a complete look—you, your fiancé, and the setting. Often the best route to take is nailing down what you’re going to wear, then planning his outfit to complement it. Your wedding color scheme are a top-notch palette to choose from, but keep in mind, gone are the days of just wearing matching sweaters. One idea is to dress your fiancé in a solid-colored shirt and jeans while you wear a patterned dress or cardigan with a similar color scheme.
Accessories can make your look feel put-together…. but don’t overdo it. A bold statement necklace or classic headband can add that little extra flare to complete your outfit. Beware, however, of anything that will be visually distracting. The focal point of the engagement photo should be you and your fiancé—don’t let a bulky, graphic scarf steal your spotlight! Give thought to what shoes you will wear as well. For a rustic outdoor wedding, engagement photos of you in a light summer dress with a pair of well-worn cowboy boots pulls everything together.
Wear something that will make you feel comfortable. Ultimately, feeling at ease in front of the camera will make for the best and most flattering photographs. Be sure that what you and your fiancé are wearing make you feel beautiful and confident. Don’t be afraid to snap a few pictures ahead of time on your own camera to make sure that what you are wearing not only looks good, but makes you feel good too. Your style speaks volumes about your personalities, so use your engagement photo shoot as an opportunity to show off how perfect you look together as a couple.
