With your engagement date approaching quickly, the wardrobe must be on the top of your priority list. While it is a tempting and convenient idea to choose the most trendy outfit or select a dress you fell in love with at first sight, there’s so much more you need to consider when making your final choice.
Before I begin, make sure that you understand that while your guests would not exactly remember your engagement look after a few months, the photographs would stay there forever as a reminder. Therefore, it is incredibly important to select outfits which would appear aesthetic in the photographs.
That being said and without further ado, here are my top 7 tips to ace your engagement look!
- Coordinate your outfits
You might not realize how classy well-coordinated outfits look for an engagement, but as a photographer, I can assure you that it’s a terrific idea when pulled off right. Coordinating your outfits does not necessarily mean twinning in the same colors, but wearing clothes which complement each other’s.
Moreover, coordinating eliminates the risk of the couple looking ill-suited together in their respected outfits. Many times it happens that despite both the man and the woman donning eye-catching outfits, they look almost ridiculous together due to how mismatched and uncoordinated their looks are. And this gets even more highlighted in the pictures.
If you are completely unsure as to how to coordinate your outfits, here are two simple yet elegant ideas.
- If you have planned quite a formal ceremony and invited a large number of guests over, you might want to keep your look ceremonious accordingly. The woman can select a simple, knee-length dress and pair it with heels. Couple this look with colorful accessories to add that extra oomph. The man may choose to wear a dress shirt with dress pants. If necessary, add a blazer to finish the look.
- For a casual ceremony with close friends and family only, make sure you keep your look toned-down and don’t go overboard. Don’t worry, you have the wedding to look as glamorously extra as you want. This time, choose a flowy, floral-print dress and wear heels, flats, or wedges as per the venue or your style. Your fiance can select a colored, leather jacket to be worn on top of a shirt and nice pants.
Also, don’t hesitate to send in pictures of your wardrobe for ideas and opinions regarding them. Some combinations just look far more attractive in pictures than others.
- Experiment with earth tones
I have to be completely honest! Those are my favorites!
Selecting the exact colors of your outfits would require you to consider multiple factors including the location, time, and weather.
Earth tones are colors with shades of brown and tan. Also, these colors look extremely inviting and fresh. This means that not only does your outfit appear very comfortable, it is also very pleasing to the eyes. Furthermore, earth tones help you ensure that your look is not too ostentatious or stark for an engagement.
- Don’t let your budget limit you
It goes without saying that the budget is the biggest problem when finalizing the wardrobe. You have ideas upon ideas and know exactly how to create the most aesthetic of looks, but you unfortunately cannot afford it. In that case, you need to look for cheaper and more affordable options, correct?
Absolutely not. This is your once-in-a-lifetime event and you cannot settle for less in any way.
Even if you cannot buy your dream dress, you have the option to rent it. Yes, you read that right! There are websites such as Rent the Runway from where you can get an insanely amazing range of outfits and accessories for a few days on very affordable rates.
Now that your budget issue is resolved, make sure you leave no stone unturned in perfecting your dream engagement look.
- Accessories are a must!
You’d be surprised to see the difference mere accessories add to a look, particularly in pictures. On its own, a watch, an anklet, a set of glitter hair pins, or a choker might not appear too special, but when paired right, these small pieces can enhance your look tremendously.
For women, I would suggest bracelets or light, delicate necklaces since they look quite regal and do not make your look too extra. If you do not want to let your hair loose, choose fine hair accessories instead of pinning your locks with plain, old bobby pins. Apart from these, if your dress is very plain, adding a flower crown will add subtle beauty to your look. A flower crown made out of red and white roses, is arguably, a beyond majestic accessory as an engagement wear.
While men have rather limited options for accessories, a watch is often the safest bet for an engagement. Also, a pendant might go quite well with your look if you are planning to wear any sort of solids. However, some man look really good with scarfs and hats to feel free to experiment!
- Backdrop is a game-changer for pictures
I simply cannot stress this enough. More than half the game, when it comes to photography, is about choosing the right background. Why else do you think people fret over conducting their photoshoot at the exact time or go through the hassle of renting outrageously expensive venues? It’s because a breath-takingly beautiful backdrop would make you appear more photogenic as well.
My top two picks for a background for an engagement are a beach or greenery.
- Beach engagement photographs come out to be beyond sublime. Imagine everyone dressed in whites or pastels against a dirty blonde or sandy brown background as the blues and whites of the water hurling towards you provide the most breathtaking of backdrops?
- Greenery is one of those basic yet picturesque backgrounds you rarely ever go wrong with. The best part about this is that the natural beauty of trees and lush green grass would provide you a lot of freedom for your clothes. Almost everything looks good against such a backdrop which makes it quite a trendy and sought-after option.
In addition to this, keep the following in mind when choosing a location or time for your engagement party.
- If the wardrobe consists of blacks, dark shades, or deep colors, a night ceremony would be more fitting and the venue can be a closed location.
- For bright, light, or pastel outfits, daytime events are the best since you’ll get sufficient sunlight to capture the radiance of your outfits and smiles. Make sure to go for open venues such as beaches, lawns, and other vast, open spaces.
- M-A-N-I-C-U-R-E
Manicure. Manicure. Manicure.
Do not forget to get your hands and nails in utmost perfect condition. There is, without doubt, any event in your life where the state of your hands and nails would matter more than your engagement. There will be multiple, close shots of your fingers and hands which can be quite embarrassing to look at later if your hands and nails aren’t in proper condition.
Make sure you clean your nails of any dirt, cut them to your desired length and shape, and moisturize your hands well. You can’t afford ill-maintained hands or nails to take away from the beauty of your engagement ring.
- Get help from a professional
This is the perfect time to do a wedding trial make up!
The touch of a professional can add extra volume to your hair and make it appear healthier. Your cheekbones and jawline can look sharper with a professional’s brush. The right makeup can highlight your prominent features gracefully. And who wouldn’t want that on one of the most special days of their life?
This is why even if you have to shell out a few extra bucks for a professional makeup artist, do not hesitate to do so.
Now that you are aware of the most important tips to up your wardrobe game on your engagement, here are a few ideas for stunning engagement looks. These will help you visualize how to bring together the right kind of outfits with matching accessories against the best backdrops. Moreover, make sure you notice how the coordination of clothes is subtle and not over-the-top.
Last but definitely not the least, if you are uncertain about any part of your look, be it the dress, the accessories, or the venue, you can send me pictures. I can help you create, from the perspective of a photographer, the most aesthetic and wondrous look for your special day.
