Okay, so you’re engaged. First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!! This is a major step and I am so incredibly excited for you and this next journey of yours. Now amongst all of the crazy wedding planning, you’re probably thinking… what’s next? And understandably so! You’ve booked your vendors including your wedding photographer *cough cough* and now maybe you have even had the opportunity to take engagement photos – woohoo! With all the stress of a wedding day you now have one more thing to worry about though. What the heck do you wear to your engagement session? Well don’t worry, I got you. I’m going to be giving you my tried and true tips on what to wear to your engagement session.

Compliment, Don’t Match

Gone are the days where you come to your session wearing matching outfits. While there isn’t anything inherently wrong with doing so, I would recommend wearing outfits and colors that compliment each other. Focus on complementary colors and solid prints rather than loud colors & patterns that may distract from the main subject of your image… aka YOU!

Choose Clothes That Feel Like You

You may look at some photos and think “how do they look so comfortable in front of the camera?”. While a lot can go into this such as experience and comfortability, one of the main factors to being comfortable in front of the camera is what you wear! I always tell my couples to wear clothes that feel like you and feel comfortable. Most of the times when we think of having professional photos taken, we get nervous that we need to dress in something completely out of our element. WRONG! The best thing to do is to wear items of clothing that aren’t too far off from what you would normally wear. Your engagement photos are not the time for experimenting! Wear clothing items that reflect your personality and style and make you feel beautiful. Trust me, this can go a long way and it can really show in your final images.

Dress For The Season

So I know that you got those amazing new flip flops that you’ve been dying to wear. However when it’s 30 degrees and snowing, this may not be the best option for your engagement session. The best thing that you can is focus on the season and dress accordingly! Just because it may be Fall or Winter doesn’t mean you have to stray away from bundling up in a scar and gloves. When it’s Spring or Summer don’t be afraid to go barefoot on the beach with some shorts. It’s all about dressing for the season & occasion and making it work!

When In Doubt, Stick With Neutrals

When it comes to your engagement photos, the best thing that you can do is stick with the basics. I know, I know… this may sound boring and totally cliche but it’s for a good reason! While you may love those bright neon greens and crazy zebra patterns, oftentimes this can distract from the main focus of your photos which is you. If you’re staring at your closet right now, thinking “what should I wear?” when in doubt… stick with neutrals. Neutral colors such as whites, creams, beiges, blacks, browns and tans are some of the many variations of neutrals that actually you can make a lot of pairings with! You are also able to coordinate with your partner a whole lot easier, which makes for planning on what to wear to your engagement session THAT much easier.

Prepare For Anything

What’s that saying… “expect the unexpected”? Yeah, that can apply to your engagement photos as well. While we all hope for everything to go well on such a special day, we always have to prepare for some things to go a miss. Hey, it’s life and it happens but it doesn’t have to ruin such a special moment for you two! The best way to avoid any mishaps is to pack certain items in preparation for injury, weather or wardrobe malfunction. Some of these items may include:

• Flats or flip flops (your feet may end getting uncomfortable in your heels, so having a backup pair is a MUST)
• Touch up makeup (sweating off your makeup is a no-go!)
• Umbrella (just in the off chance that it rains)
• Mini sewing kit (we do not want any buttons coming off or any rips happening as we are adventuring)
• Coat or Jacket (just in case the weather ends up being a bit chillier)
• Water Bottle (we want to make sure that you are staying hydrated for your session, especially in warmer weather)

Stick To The Classics

Classics are classic for a reason! While we may love current trends and want to be “hip” for the camera, trends can come and go. The last thing that I would want for you is to look back on these photos and not feel like yourself because your outfits were following the current trends, rather than classic pairings that never die. Sorry for all of you who are interested in the tennis skirts and platform sandals, but maybe put those away for your engagement photos and you may just thank me later *wink*.

Don’t worry though, if this all seems overwhelming I totally get it. This can be such an exciting and overwhelming moment at times which is why I am here to help! Your engagement session is supposed to be filled with so many memories and that’s what I’m here to capture. At the end of the day, it’s not about what you wear it’s about the moment of celebration. You are getting married and that is something to celebrate!

If you loved these tips on what to wear to your engagement session, then you’re going to love these tips for an unplugged wedding ceremony!