What to Wear to Your Engagement Shoot
What Should I Wear For My Engagement Pics? A Pro Guide For Engagement Outfits | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
It’s a question we’ve been asked hundreds of times, “what do we wear to our engagement shoot?” The short answer is—anything that makes you feel confident and stylish—but the problem with that is that it gives you the license to justify any outfit you own, depending on how creative you are. So please use the following tips as guidelines for you and your partner to looking great and feeling even better.
What Not To Wear
Let’s start with the basics. Don’t wear any colors that will cast a light onto your significant other’s skin tone, i.e. bright red, neons, etc. Also, skip the Ed Hardy (do people still wear these?) shirts and any clothes with really loud prints or logos. Complicated designs pull attention from your beautiful faces! Lastly, contrary to popular belief, all black can fall flat sometimes. It may be “slimming” but you’re getting married because you love each other as you are, so ditch the Johnny Cash look and lose the baggy pants. Hiding in clothes in plain sight masks the person beneath them. REMINDER: You should wear something that expresses your personality for your engagement photos!
Trendy sport jacket + little white dress: Here’s one of my personal favorites— this outfit combo is upscale without feeling out of place. Little details like loafers and a pop of lipstick pull together the overall look perfectly.
Bring Two Looks (1 Formal + 1 Casual)
We say hell yes to outfit changes if the time and location allow for it! Some photographers try to use outfit changes as an excuse to charge more money, but we think that’s silly. We recommend one look that’s a bit more casual (one or two degrees fancier than your normal getup) and then one that is more formal and makes you feel like a boss.
Here’s a personal fave: A formal, cultural outfit + a casual, stylish one!
When In Doubt, Go For The Tuck:
Heather constantly makes me tuck my button-down shirt into my pants and it drives me nuts. I feel like a middle-school science teacher. But the truth is it presents a much cleaner, put together appearance, and unless you’re full-on grunge or goth you can afford to tuck your nice shirt in for a few engagement photos. Plus, if casual really is your thing, bring a more casual shirt or outfit that you like and we can get some of you two in those as well (but please, gentlemen, leave the baseball or brewery cap behind) #hathair.
Pro-Tip: Buy a New Outfit at an Upscale Consignment Store
Say you’re maniacally cycling back through your wardrobe in your closet and everything feels old or worn. We’ve all been there—but because it’s your engagement photos the pressure is cranked up a few notches. Fear not, friends, we’ve got you! Head down to an upscale consignment or thrift store in your town to save a few bucks and “fight the man,” or even spoil yourselves and buy a new shirt or pair of pants if your budget allows. The point here is that the piece of clothing makes you feel confident because we all know we feel good when we look good and vice versa!
Accessorize
Ladies, this one’s more for you because us gentlemen typically don’t go further than a watch, cufflinks, or a tie (maybe some funky socks, but save those for the groomsmen at the wedding). It’s time to bring out that cute hat you’ve been meaning to wear or that scarf or shawl. Adding accessories to your outfit creates layers and makes it easy to make a simple look appear more stylish and dynamic. Hold up, am I really giving fashion tips right now? Who am I?
Here’s a great example of using ACCESSORIES to get a few looks in a short amount of time:
Believe it or not, this afternoon was damp, rainy, and cold so we all wanted to hustle through this engagement session. By swapping out a hat and jacket, Eve was able to get three quick looks without having to do a full outfit change.
Bring a bouquet!
We see them all the time for weddings but not engagement sessions. Why though!? Bouquets are awesome and elevate all your pictures.
Schedule Your Hair-and-Makeup Trial
This is the perfect time to have your wedding hair and makeup trial done! First of all, you’ll look amazing for your pics— trust us, we’ve photographed hundreds of couples and we can tell when hair and makeup is done professionally. The other big bonus is that you can see how your hair and makeup holds up after a few hours and looks in the pics. It is a great chance to iron any kinks out before the big day.
Here are two outfits that we loved! Frances and Bryce (on the left) killed an upscale neutral palate and this shoot was actually scheduled intentionally around Frances’ hair and makeup trial which gave her a great chance to proof her HMUA before the wedding.
Emily and Augie (on the right) had casual, preppy outfits that worked well against the color scheme of the city skyline. My personal favorite part of the outfit is the summer cashmere sweater with a small pearl necklace!
Last But Not Least, FLOWY DRESSES Are My Jam
You guys, I’m a sucker for a good flowy (is that even a word?) dress. Anything with movement is a winner for me because it creates amazing leading lines and is ALWAYS flattering. My artistic side goes nuts for a breezy afternoon and a summer dress that moves with the wind. This also goes for wedding dresses or pretty much any outfit, and as a bonus, nothing brings out your inner child quite like twirling around on the top of a mountain with a flowing dress.
Easy Breezy Flowy Dress Goals: I’m in love with the outfits here… the material is form-fitting, flattering, simple, and MOVES! Movement is so fun in pictures and keeps the images from feeling too stagnant.
Think about your setting, too: matching your outfit to an urban vibe / coastal vibe / etc is always a good idea!
Last But Not Least: Bri and Tyler nailed two looks that show off their personalities and of course, the flowy dresses are icing on the cake.
>> SOME OF OUR FAVORITE BRANDS FOR ENGAGEMENT OUTFITS
Anyways, I hope these few pointers helped calm your nerves a bit. Your engagement shoot is going to be fun! Believe me! We keep the whole thing light, it’ll be over before you know it, and we’ll be drinking a beer or glass of wine in no time. At the very least we will get to know each other better and we will know who has the crazier family—SPOILER ALERT— We all do.
Wedding “I-Dos” and Don’ts: The Inside Scoop
Wedding Planning Tips from Photographers Who Have Shot Over 100 Weddings— The Inside Scoop on How To Prioritize Your Timeline and Budget
Wedding “I-Dos” and Don’ts:
Things You Should Know For Your Wedding Day
Some people have been thinking about saying “I Do” since they were marrying their stuffed animals in a fort underneath their coffee table; while others, well not so much. Whether or not you have a Monica-sized binder of wedding ideas, rest assured that your wedding day is going to be a wonderful experience. It’s a day where you’re doted upon like royalty as friends and family deliver their support, love, mimosas and/or whiskey and everything in between. There will inevitably be stresses, but if you safeguard the experience of your wedding day by heeding a few of our industry tips, you and your significant other will live happily ever after.
I Do…
Host Cocktail Hour Before the Ceremony
This one may be controversial as it goes against the tradition of not seeing the bride before the ceremony, but everyone knows the feeling of sitting through a wedding ceremony when cocktail hour starts to creep into your mind. By welcoming guests with hors d'oeuvres and beverages upon arrival, you’re able to ease your guests into the day, creating happy bellies and heads to fully enjoy your wedding ceremony. Yes, you may run the risk of your irresponsible relative or friend loading up on a few drinks, but as long as you keep it short they won’t have much of a chance; or better yet, save the hard liquor for after the ceremony.
You will find that you create a much more relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where people can be themselves, especially for those guests who arrive late. We initially thought of this for our wedding because we wanted to create the vibe of a dinner party, knowing how critical it is from a hospitality standpoint to make someone feel welcome as soon as they enter an event. We felt more like gracious-hosts than guests-of-honor, and encourage couples to create their own timelines to reflect their personalities as well.
Take The Edge Off With A Little Bubbly Before The Ceremony
I Don’t…
Schedule Your Itinerary Down to the Minute
With all of the moving parts of a wedding day, it makes sense to want to be hyper-organized when it comes to your itinerary. The thing that most couples don’t realize is that while you may be organized, that doesn’t mean the rest of your guests and event staff will be up to the task. It is all too often that we get a four-page timeline that goes something like, “6:47PM Welcome Toast, 6:51PM Blessing By Bride’s Father,” and we know how impossible it is to adhere to that tight of a schedule. So when you’re charting out your day, keep in mind that you have to account for things like: wrangling your uncle’s four cranky kids when taking family formals, finding a chair for grandma to sit on, the changes in location when the weatherman was wrong yet again, and how the staff forgot to set up for your special seating arrangement sign.
I’m not trying to say all of these things will go wrong -- but I am saying that something inevitably will -- and when it does, your perfectly laid plans will start to stress you out because you’re quickly 4 minutes, then 7 minutes, and then 10 minutes behind schedule. Our advice is to treat your itinerary like a guideline, not a schedule, that way you have a structure to follow, but you can still be flexible to accommodate for the many variables of your wedding day. Figure out what actually needs a concrete time and let everything else bend with the breeze. For us, those were our guests arrival time and when the DJ would begin playing music—everything else—had some room to breathe. One of our favorite 2017 brides put it best when she said:
“Our wedding (and life) was rough around the edges, but straight from the heart.”
Roll With The Punches And You’re Guaranteed To Have A Good Time
I Do…
Have a Backup Location for the Ceremony
Most venues accommodate for this, but you would be surprised how many weddings we’ve been to that when the weather got cranky, everyone stood around staring at each other wondering what to do. It is super important that when you book your venue, you know where the backup ceremony location is and that you’re happy with it.
We could tell you some war stories about shooting in torrential rains, subzero temps, nor’easter floods, sideways hail, and hotter-than-hell sun because there either: (A) was no backup plan, or (B) the bride simply would not get married anywhere else. I have literally watched a group of 200+ guests get pelted by hail while the couple is standing at the altar pretending like shit isn’t hitting the fan.
Maybe we’re superstitious, but we tend to believe that the more content you are with your backup location, the less likely it is that you will actually need to use it! Similar to the itinerary advice, you have to gauge your expectations to the many variables of the day, and this is especially true for the weather. Be realistic and aware about the seasonal weather patterns of your locations, friends! (i.e. it is probably going to be crazy-humid in NYC in August / you can expect a wet day in Seattle in May / and it’s not unheard of to have a September blizzard in CO.)
We’ll Be There, Come Hail Or High Water
I Don’t…
Spend Big on the Cake
Yes, we all want to mush cake on our significant other’s face to get back at them for beating us at Scrabble (is it just me?). And yes, we all want to seize the opportunity of having a tiered custom cake made to our specific wishes and desires—but think for a minute—can you specifically remember any cake you had at a wedding? According to WeddingWire, the average couple spends about $500 on their wedding cakes. I’m not saying that the bakeries are over-charging because they really aren’t, but maybe your wedding isn’t the time to live out your Cake Boss fantasies. This is a great place to trim the fat (literally) and reallocate some of those funds to some real memory-makers.
Chances are you’re going to be too busy tearing up the dance floor to actually tear into the cake with grandma over a cup of decaf coffee anyway. So instead of shelling out for something that will most likely wind up in the trash (we see it ALL the time), go for a dessert that your guests can enjoy on the fly, like an assortment of cookies, brownies, cupcakes, or try thinking of a fun and healthier option! (We had a caramel apple bar with slices of apple on sticks and melted chocolate and caramel for dipping.)
Cupcakes Are A Great Money-Saving Alternative To A Traditional Cake
I Do…
Take a Few Minutes for Yourselves
The other side of being treated like royalty on your wedding day is that everyone wants a piece of your time. As wedding photographers, we’re almost part-paparazzi part-security in how we snap pictures of a couple as we shuffle them along through gauntlets of friends and family. The flow of the day can quickly feel like you’re being shuttled from one place to another without stopping to enjoy the day that you spent so much time and money planning.
As hospitality professionals, Heather and I recognize when this is happening and always encourage a couple to take a moment to duck out in a room to take a few breaths and steal a few kisses. Everyone who has gotten married will tell you how “the day goes too fast,” so slow it down by finding some quiet time to take it all in. Go to the bathroom, drink some water— it sounds obvious, but you might be surprised at how even the most basic of needs can fall by the wayside on your big day. According to The Knot, the average wedding celebration clocks in only around 5 hours (although it feels like five minutes). What good is having a wedding if you don’t thoroughly enjoy it!?
Sneak Away For Sunset
I Don’t…
Stress About Wedding Favors
Have you ever taken a wedding favor and thought, “this is amazing, I can’t wait to use it?” Us neither. Yet we’ve heard so many couples talk about how difficult it was to choose something to give as favors to their guests. Some ideas can get expensive very quickly, so what are some ideas that are inexpensive but not “cheap,” and won’t go directly into the trash?
We like to suggest things that are edible (especially if it’s good for soaking up booze), like specialized cookies or popcorn you can make at home, or something that is eco-friendly like wildflower seeds. The average wedding produces about 400lbs of trash and 63 tons of CO2 according to the Green Bride Guide, so we love the idea of doing something to give back to Mother Nature in lieu of a crappy present.
Another great option is to donate some money to a charity of your choice and tastefully let your guests know which organization you went with. The reality is, like wedding cake, odds are people aren’t going to remember it, so direct your stress and your funds to something that actually adds to yours and your guests’ experience! Take it from a Pro Event Coordinator with The Pines at Genesee:
“Less can definitely be more, people don’t miss what they don’t know isn’t there!!”
Eco-Friendly Flower Favors
Hi and Welcome!!
We are Heather & Terrence Huie— the husband-and-wife team behind Apollo Fields. We are a photojournalist duo who have worked weddings big and small all over the United States as well as International Destination Weddings. As vendors who have also been through the process of planning and executing a wedding ourselves, we have a unique perspective on the good, the bad, and the ugly that can happen on your “big day”. What works for us certainly won’t work for everyone, our hope is that our inside scoop can help you and your fiancé prioritize your wedding timeline and budget in a way that actually serves you (and your guests).