Not every bride has asked my advice when it comes to her engagement session wardrobe. But somewhere along the way, I realized I really ought to share my advice with every bride as we plan the engagement session. I knew that my job entails a lot more than showing up with a camera, and one of the best ways I can serve my couples is to give them a few tips to help orchestrate a cohesive, beautiful engagement session that would showcase who they are as a couple, as individuals, and result in photographs they’ll be proud to display for years to come. And wardrobe, for better or worse, plays a huge role in that.So here are the simple tips I want every couple to consider as they plan their engagement session outfits:

• Choose outfits that you’re still going to like when you look at the photos in 20 or 50 years — outfits that your children and grandchildren won’t laugh at, preferably.
• Choose outfits that you feel good in and that you don’t have to tug into place, re-button, etc. If you’re comfortable in the photos, it shows. If you’re not comfortable, it shows even more!
• You and your fiance/fiancee definitely don’t need to be matchy-matchy in identical tops and pants, but you will want to wear colors and patterns that coordinate or are complementary.
• Think about the colors of your surroundings. The shoots that look most cohesive usually feature couples either wearing colors that blend well with the surroundings, or that pop against the surroundings. The only colors I generally recommend shying away from, especially if you’re having an outdoor shoot, are dark or kelly green — because if you’re out in nature, there will already be so many shades of green that you might just disappear into the foliage . . . or completely clash with it.
• Patterns are great, as long as they don’t distract from your faces. Patterns with just a few colors, or simple patterns like checks, polka dots, and plaids, work really well — they add interest, but not too much interest.
• Layering can be really nice, too, as you can add and remove layers for different looks without having to change entirely.
• If you’re planning to use these pictures for save the date cards or in other wedding-related ways, you may want to consider wearing the colors you plan to use in your wedding. Similarly, if you’re planning to display them in your house (especially if you plan to display them on a large canvas or print), you may want to consider how the colors and patterns you wear will fit into your decor.

Want to see some more examples? Hop over to the Engagements section on our website for a few well-styled, personality-fitting wardrobes during engagement shoots!

~ Laura