Look, I’m not one to judge anyone based on what they wear. I mean, do you know how many days I spend in sweatpants?! Spoiler: it’s a lot. But, there’s a time and place for those, and most of the time sweats aren’t the best outfits for engagement photos. Planning out what to wear to your engagement session is a crucial part of the wedding planning process. 

You’ll probably be using some of your engagement photos for “Save the Dates”, Invitations, or something else related to your wedding. So, it’s a good idea to plan them out and not just show up with your spiffy Hawaiian shirt.

A Guide to choosing engagement session outfits

Of course, if you’re still searching for that perfect photographer to capture your engagement photos, maybe I can help. Plus, I have a nifty little checklist after you’ve gotten engaged!

But, if your engagement session is already scheduled out, it’s time to figure out what to wear! For some, this is a daunting task (yes, hello to a lot of guys out there!), but it really doesn’t have to be. In fact, getting yourself a little outfit spruce up can feel really good (not that I would know…).

So, if you’ve been searching for some good inspo on engagement photo outfits then you’ve come to the right place!

1. Choose comfort

This is a little tip before we dive into the outfit styles themselves. My favorite thing when talking about engagement session outfits is to remember one simple idea: whatever you wear, you should be comfortable. 

Seriously. Just like with your mattress, comfort is king!

If you’re not comfortable with what you’re wearing in your engagement photos, it will show. Trust me. The best thing you can do for your engagement photos is to choose garments that you’re cozy and confident in. It will go a long way to just letting your engagement session be about your and your partner; not becoming about you fighting that pesky skirt you’ve never worn before!

Choose outfits that are normal for you 

Okay, so maybe this is obvious, but if your normal attire consists of a suit and slacks, or a business blazer, this isn’t the time to swap that flow for a t-shirt and jeans look. The mantra is simple: your engagement outfits should look like the best you. Picking your fav maxi dress or plain white tee is totally cool if that’s the best for you!

2. Compliment eachother

There’s a stark difference between matching outfits and complementing outfits. 

This is your family’s Christmas photo, dammit. These are engagement photos celebrating the love between you and a partner. Maybe you like to match on occasion, but now’s not the time to whip out those matching plaid jackets. 

Instead of exact replicas of each other, your engagement outfits should provide that complementary feeling. Ya know, like the colour wheel shit we learned in primary school? It applies to engagement outfits! 

Using your clothing choices can also tell a story about your engagement session, and you can use it to tie everything together.  

3. Neutral tones

As we just talked about, complementing engagement session outfits is what your goal is, and an easier way to achieve said goal is by using plain, neutral-coloured garments as your base. 

Sure, breaking out that vintage, slightly-stained denim jacket for a few pics isn’t a bad idea (totally is a great idea), but for the majority of your engagement pictures, you’ll want to include colours that are cooler in nature, or slightly warmer. The key is to keep both your and your partner’s colour scheme the same. 

So, if you want to wear that neon-soaked Patagonia sweater (probably not the best choice but we’ll talk about this in a second) but your partner is dressed up in a light blue blazer–yeah, you see where I’m going with this. 

You can also use pastel tones to still have a pop of colour involved with your outfits for engagement photos. Again, the key is softer, lighter colours rather than the bold, bombastic tones of certain clothing. 

4. Two outfits is the sweet spot

This is probably the easiest advice to give on this list. With only one engagement session outfit, your photos can’t really tell a full story. With more than two outfits, your engagement session can’t show you and your partner’s relationship since you’ll constantly be worried about changing clothes. 

So, yeah, two engagement outfits are really the sweet spot. 

With two, you can also incorporate slightly different styles. If you started with a more dressed-up look, feel free to get a little casual with your second choice. Make sure to remember the tips we already discussed above, though!

Want even more engagement session outfit inspo? Take a peek at this blogs articles next:

• Dreamy Pink Cliffs Engagement Session

5. Spice up your look with an accessory

It’s amazing to me how few couples want to use accessories to add a touch of variety to their engagement session photos! The truth is, you can easily create a new look with a stylish scarf or a unique jewelry piece. 

This also means layering, and for you gents is a convenient way to incorporate distinct looks without going through a full wardrobe change. 

Speaking of accessories, make sure you keep to the seasons–there’s no reason to pair a scarf in summer or a furry coat in winter!

One final note with your outfits for engagement photos

Lastly, remember just where you’re getting your engagement pics taken! Just like we’ve talked about with the seasons, the actual location of where you’ll be matters too. If you’re on a freakin’ beach, yea rock those sandals and beachy vibes. On the flip side, those same beachy outfits won’t look magical in a deep forest. 

Overall, it may seem like a bit much to take in. But, if you think a little bit more about what you plan on wearing to your engagement photos it can go a long way. Engagement pics are an important time in anyone’s relationship, so the little things go along with when planning engagement outfits.

Of course, you also don’t have to stress too hard about this. If you have simple outfits that you already have chosen, amazing friend. Rock those. If you want to dig a little deeper, then this guide should’ve given you some ideas to think about when doing that. 

Regardless of that, just remember the idea behind your engagement session is similar to your wedding: you want them to be keepsakes for the years to come! 

xxPeta