What to Wear in Your Engagement Photos

So you’re engaged – congratulations! Being engaged is such a special and exciting time in your relationship. Even though AJ and I dated for over five years before getting engaged and I was convinced nothing would change in our relationship, I feel our engagement has brought us closer and even more committed to one another. One of the many exciting events to celebrate your engagement and commemorate the moment is taking engagement photos. Once you’ve found your photographer and set a date for the shoot, it’s time to start thinking about what to wear for your engagement session.

I knew right away I wanted to wear Grace Loves Lace in my engagement photos – I’ve been obsessed with the bohemian Australian bridal line for years and jumped at the chance to finally wear one of their gowns. I chose the Inca, which has many of my favorite qualities in a dress: all lace, long sleeves, low back, and a train. Their lace gowns are gorgeous for any occasion. But I think they are particularly beautiful for a beach or summertime wedding.

I also used my engagement shoot as an opportunity to have a mini glam session – something I highly recommend doing, unless you are a pro at doing both on your own! Professionally done makeup especially will photograph differently than when you do it on your owns (hint: contouring helps). It also doesn’t have to break the bank – I got a blowout at Drybar and had my makeup done at Blushington in West Hollywood and was happy with how both turned out.

Here are my tips for determining what to wear in engagement photos.

Consider your location

First things first, determine the setting of your photos. Where (and when) you take your photos will play a huge role in what you’re wearing. Shooting in a more urban location? Consider a cocktail dress, denim, or even a leather jacket. If you’re going for a more outdoor-focused location (think beach, mountains, or a garden), you might consider a sundress or more feminine look.

Coordinate with your fiancé

You don’t have to be completely matching. But make sure you communicate with them what you both plan on wearing. You don’t want to show up in a sundress while your fiancé is wearing a tuxedo. Consider complementary colors and prints – neutrals (black, gray, white, navy, camel) are usually a safe bet, as well as avoiding too many prints.

Wear clothes that fit

Now is not the time to wear anything that is too big or small. The camera will show these flaws more noticeably. So finding clothes that are well-fitting and that you feel comfortable in is key. Movement is secret to a lot of great photos, so I would also recommend avoiding anything too constricting

Stay true to your style

Don’t wear anything you wouldn’t usually wear or that you don’t feel comfortable in. Some of my favorite engagement photos I’ve seen have consisted of the couples wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. Simple and classic, you can’t go wrong. Personally, I love wearing white, so it felt natural to choose a more “bridal” look. If you aren’t the biggest fan of white, don’t feel obligated to wear it. If black is your favorite color, rock your favorite all-black look! Your photos will be timeless and chic.

Have fun!

Don’t overthink what you’re wearing. At the end of the day, this is a chance for your love for each other to shine and to get used to taking photos together in front of a camera (we definitely need some more practice!) before the big day.