How to Coordinate Outfits for Stunning Engagement Photos

Photo by Leo_Visions on Unsplash

A couple’s photoshoot is a wonderful way to capture the love and excitement between you and your fiance, but to get the perfect picture you need the perfect outfits. Here’s how to coordinate what you wear for gorgeous photos you can’t wait to hang on the wall.  

Start with a Color Palette

Deciding what to wear for your engagement photos can feel overwhelming at first. You’ll be looking back at these pictures for the rest of your life, so it’s an important decision. Begin with something simple: choosing a color palette. This means picking two or three colors that go well with each other and using them as a starting point to base your outfits around.  

Earthy hues, neutrals, and pastels are great options as they suit most settings and have a timeless appeal. If you love bold colors, that’s fine too; just be sure to balance them with softer shades to avoid overpowering your photos.

Color Palette Examples

Here are some classic color combinations to inspire you: 

● Khaki, cornflour, sky blue: A flowy light blue dress for her, a smart-casual blue polo neck, and khaki pants for him.

● Dusty pink, grey, cream: Try matching a powder pink dress with a slightly darker shirt and grey tailored trousers combo.

● Mint green, beige, navy: For a more casual look, layer a pastel top and jacket or jumper over pressed jeans.

Colors and Your Surroundings

While you want to complement your surroundings, you don’t want to disappear into them. If you’re heading to the desert for your photo shoot, it’s probably best to avoid beige. For sessions in the forest, opt for natural colors but steer clear of forest greens that might cause you to blend into the backdrop. Deep reds, burnt oranges, or even cool blues work well instead. 

Photo by Slav Romanov on Unsplash

Dress Comfortably and Be Yourself

At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you feel confident and comfortable. This way, your genuine emotions can shine through, enabling your photographer to capture more authentic moments. Ultimately, your engagement photos should reflect your personality; they’re a celebration of you. If you never normally wear heels, don’t feel the need to dress up for the occasion. Be yourself and opt for stylish flats instead. If going for fashion over function, this engagement photographer in NYC recommends bringing comfy shoes to wear in between shots.

Show Your Personality

If you want to throw all the rules out the window and do your own thing, then go for it! Your engagement photos should make you feel wonderful and be as unique as your relationship. If it sounds challenging trying to communicate your entire personality in one outfit, you don’t have to. 

Most photographers will encourage you to choose a second outfit to change into halfway through the shoot. This gives you a chance to show off more sides of your character. You could start with a more formal, serious look and transition halfway to a playful, casual outfit, or try out some different color theme variations. 

If you’re swapping locations, bear that in mind, and don’t forget to align your outfits with each type of scenery. For even more variety, adding or removing layers and accessories can help you create multiple different looks with very little effort; think scarves, jackets, and so on. 

Photo by Karina Thomson on Unsplash

Don’t Attempt an Exact Match

Matching outfits can be cringe at the best of times, so it’s best to keep things classy for your engagement photos. The aim is for your looks to complement one another, rather than be an identical match, as tempting as it may be. The only exception may be cute same-sex couples who can get away with coordinating suits.

Coordinating Textures and Fabrics

A brilliant way to create a unified look without wearing the exact same is by playing with textures and fabrics. Here are some examples: 

● The groom could wear a cozy, chunky knit sweater while the bride-to-be wears a contrasting sleek and silky dress.

● Mix denim with softer materials like chiffon or lace to slightly tweak your casual vibe and give it a touch of elegance.

● Choose tweed or fleece for one partner while the other wears velvet to add depth and richness to your photos. 

Combining different textures helps develop visual interest without looking too matchy-matchy, so test out different fabrics next to each other and see what you can create.

 Photo by Kristina Litvjak on Unsplash

Balancing Cuts and Silhouettes

Even if you and your hubby are wearing different colors and textures, the fit and structure of your outfits can give a sense of harmony. It’s all about finding the balance between coordinating and countering. For example, if you wear a flowy, loose dress, the groom could don a structured blazer or fitted shirt for contrast. On the other hand, two tailored outfits like a jumpsuit and suit will result in a polished look without being identical.

Make It Location and Season-Appropriate

Consider the set and setting; your outfits should look natural for the location and time of year.

Summer and Warm Weather

For example, light, flowy fabrics and bare feet provide the perfect beach aesthetic for a summertime coastal shoot. If you’re by the water, working from a nautical theme could be an option as well. Boat shoes, tailored shorts, and sea blues provide a great mix of sophistication with a relaxed vibe that looks great on camera.

If you’re planning something a bit more grand, a tailored suit and gown combo works well for lavish interiors. For instance, many couples choose elegant shoots with impressive backdrops at mansions, manor houses, stately homes, and castles. These locations exude romance and history, so your outfit should as well. If you want a formal style then a classy long dress can help you feel like a princess. Whether you’re posing in manicured gardens or against a grandiose fireplace, you’ll look and feel the part.

How Can I Be Stylish in the Cold?

Dressing for cold weather can feel like more of a challenge, but looking cute is still very achievable! Think cozy textures, warm tones, and plenty of layers. Fall brings a stunning natural palette of blazing oranges, chocolate browns, golden chestnuts, and corn yellows. These gorgeous colors are a delight to coordinate with, making it a great time of year for outdoor photoshoots. Choose one bold shade (like orange) and pair it with neutral options (like browns and creams) to avoid having too many colors competing for attention.

Avoid Logos and Loud Patterns

You don’t want your clothes to distract from the main focus: you and your partner! So, avoid any overly loud, complicated, or bright patterns. Solid colors are your best bet, but subtle prints like dainty florals also work well. Generally speaking, plain shirts are the way forward, regardless of material. Causal linen shirts in white, off-white, cream, pale blue, and petal pink are popular choices. In formal attire, you can rarely beat a crisp, white shirt.  

One of the most important things to remember is to wear something without any visible brand logos or motifs. This will ensure your photos age well, and a timeless feel is the ultimate goal. The idea is this: you want to be able to look at these pictures in 10 or 20, or hopefully even 50 years, and think you still look stylish. Choosing plain clothing without branding or logos also reduces the visual clutter, so less detracts from the happy couple. 

Photo by Natalie Runnerstrom on Unsplash

Don’t Forget the Details

It’s the little things that make all the difference, so to pull your look together, you must consider the finer details. Overall, go for minimal accessories, polished shoes, and good grooming.

Accessorizing

If you want to accessorize, the key is not to overdo it. Keep jewelry simple; if anything, you want to show off your engagement ring, so anything else just gets in the way. Additional hand jewelry, necklaces, or showy earrings are just a distraction. If you normally wear earrings, a subtle thin hoop or studs can keep you feeling ‘you’ without detracting from the main event: your engagement ring. Depending on the style of your shoot, a chic hat or floral crown can add a unique touch, but be careful it’s not overpowering.

Grooming and Beauty

In terms of hair and makeup, a natural look that enhances your features is ideal. Don’t forget a manicure, especially as your hands will likely be in many close-ups. A pedicure is also an absolute must for spring or summer shoots where your toes are out in sandals or if you’ll be barefoot on the beach. A fresh haircut can also help you feel your best, along with a beard trim or shave for the groom. However, avoid any last-minute cuts, colors, or drastic changes. That way, just in case anything does go wrong, you’ll still have time to fix it.

Shoes

You might not think much of it, but a scuffed shoe can totally ruin an otherwise well-put-together look. Matching the color and material of your shoes and belt is another quick style trick, so whether your shoes are brown, navy, or black, pick a belt that’s the same shade.

Endnote

Finding the right outfits for your engagement photoshoot is simple: pick a palette, dress for the setting, and focus on looking like the best version of yourselves. The most important thing is to have fun with it and embrace your unique personality.