What to wear for engagement photos can vary greatly from one bride to the next. It’s exciting to be asked to be a witness to the biggest event of your life. Engagement photos are the perfect chance to show off who you are as a couple and showcase the sparkle in your partner’s eyes. But it’s also not something you want to put yourself through. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you plan your wedding and engagement photo shoot.
The first thing to remember when you are thinking about what to wear for engagement photos is that this is not your ordinary photo session. Your photographer is going to be asking a lot of questions about you, your personality, what kind of photographer you prefer (aspiring photographers vs. freelance photographers), and more. These are all important components of any great photo session, but these will not be easy to answer without being prepared. So plan ahead and think through the answers you would like to give to your photographer before the actual day arrives.
One of the best things you can do for what to wear for engagement photos is to look casual. You may be surprised at just how much time your potential photographer will take looking at your outfit, which will tell him or her a lot about what kind of style you’re going for. The key is to look confident. Don’t try to hide yourself or pretend to be someone you’re not. Let your natural skin color shine through, but at the same time be sure to choose something tasteful that goes with the rest of your wedding ensemble.
Elopement dresses should always be on your list when it comes to what to wear for engagement photos. One of the big advantages of this type of dress is that your guests will get the chance to see a little of you and what you have planned for your upcoming wedding. This can help set the mood for your photo shoot as well. A simple black or white maxi dress in ivory will be quite elegant, but you can get fancier with a bouquet of flowers or a simple tiara if you’d prefer to.
If you don’t really have a favorite color, a neutral color such as charcoal gray is perfect. Just be sure you know your way around gray. If you absolutely hate gray, then consider choosing a bold, bright color such as red or orange, both of which have very contrasting features. A white dress shirt and a nice, warm, fuzzy sweater are also excellent ideas for an engagement photo shoot, although I recommend pairing it with a dark pair of jeans so that your legs won’t get too much hot air.
The number one thing you should never wear for professional photos is anything too loud. It’s perfectly fine to wear bright, bold colors, but there’s nothing worse than seeing your dress color projected on the back of a white background. You’ll want to choose a simple style such as a fitted jacket, a button down shirt, and perhaps a tie. If you really want to be bold, consider wearing a bright red sports jacket, but again, keep everything else in moderation.
One of the most popular trends in modern engagement photos is wearing a solid colored top combined with either a plaid skirt or a flowing skirt in one pattern. This ensemble will look terrific when worn with a white blouse under a really low cut gown. There are so many great options when it comes to solid colors that it’s easy to just go overboard with this one. One of my favorites though is wearing a solid colored top and then wearing a very light colored skirt. This will draw the eye down to the waist and create a fantastic waistline.
Finally, one of the most important things you have to remember about wearing a great engagement photo outfit is to make sure it fits! A lot of people assume they know what they’re going to wear, but often end up in an uncomfortable situation because their outfit didn’t fit properly. Remember that the whole point of wearing an outfit for an engagement photo is to show your personality off, not emphasize the fact that you’re wearing the wrong outfit. A simple slip won’t do!