What We Wore For Our NYC Engagement Photo Shoot
It’s 2023, which means it’s officially our wedding year!
We did an engagement shoot at the end of 2022 so we could use the photos for our save the dates and I wanted to share how I figured out what to wear for our engagement photos in case any other brides-to-be are looking for advice and recommendations.
If you’re wondering what to wear for your engagement photos (and maybe even what *not* to wear for your engagement photos) you’re in the right place.
When are you taking engagement photos?
First, I’d decide when you think you want to take engagement photos. Some people like to use their actual engagement as an opportunity to do engagement photos, but since I was very happily surprised for the actual engagement and not in an outfit I would have picked out, we opted to do a styled engagement shoot a few months later.
If you know about your engagement you can definitely use this as an opportunity to plan ahead more, but most people schedule an engagement shoot later on so that they can just relax and enjoy the moment as it’s happening.
“Wear something that makes you feel like yourself”
The advice I heard over and over again when planning for our engagement photo shoot was to wear outfits that we felt comfortable in and that felt like us.
I was deciding between two dresses a day before the shoot—one of them definitely felt more “bridal” but the other clearly felt more me. I think I would have been fine in either one but I was much more comfortable in the second one and I’m so happy I trusted my gut.
an alternate dress I rented from nuuly that I didn’t end up wearing
Andrew wore two outfits that I know he’s very comfortable in that he wears all the time. One was a classic suit (his work uniform) and the other was a pair of chinos and boots with a sweater from a company in Norway, where his family is from.
How many outfits should you plan to photograph?
Now I know that I’m one to go a little overboard when it comes to a photoshoot, but I was happy we ultimately decided to shoot two looks in two hours.
I liked that we were able to have variety with our two outfits. The first pair was definitely dressier and the second set of outfits was more laid-back and so it felt like we got two totally different sets of photos.
Pro tip: Photographers will often charge for an engagement session by the hour so just keep in mind that the more outfits you want to do, the longer it will take and the more it will cost.
What time of year and day are you taking your photos?
I really like the idea of taking engagement photos during the same season that you’re getting married to get a similar vibe. For example, we’re getting married this fall so we went for more fall and winter inspired outfits for our engagement shoot vs taking photos at a beach.
However, you may find you want the opposite! Maybe you’re doing a winter wedding but to maximize your photo options you decide to take photos in the spring or summer.
If you’re doing a winter engagement photo shoot, you can absolutely wear jackets and boots to stay warm. If you’re taking engagement photos in the summer you might gravitate towards more breathable fabrics like linen and cotton.
I also recommend getting up early to do your engagement photos if you’re planning to do them in an area that tends to be crowded.
We planned a sunrise engagement photo shoot outside at Brooklyn Bridge Park and even though it ended up being a little overcast, we practically had the whole waterfront to ourselves so there were fewer distractions in the background.
I also liked that we had planned to take some photos inside a café in case of bad weather.
What colors should you wear?
It may be a little obvious, but I do think that the bride wearing white, ivory or cream really communicates “these are our engagement photos” without you needing to say so.
Then again, if you don’t like wearing white or it’s not a color you would typically find yourself reaching for, you can totally wear something else.
I have a few white and cream accessories and statement pieces in my closet so I decided to go with a full bridal vibe for my outfits and coordinated with Andrew in a casual and cozy outfit of neutrals at the coffee shop.
However, If you don’t want to wear white I would still suggest leaning into neutral or light fabrics like browns, grays, or pastels for a classic and clean look for your engagement photos if you’re not sure what to wear.
If you wouldn’t be caught wearing anything other than vibrant colors and bold patterns, wear those! These are your engagement photos after all and are meant to capture your love at this exciting moment in time, so they should reflect your personal style.
You might also consider the background of where you’re planning to photograph your outfits.
If you’re shooting at the beach, a pattern or color can stand out against the water. If you’re shooting in a location with a busier background, you might prefer a more simple outfit.
Classic vs trendy outfits
Again, since you’ll have these photos forever if you’re not sure what to wear I suggest aiming for more classic and casual engagement photo shoot outfits and silhouettes.
A long sleeve mini dress and heeled sandals is something I’ve worn for years that I know I can look back on years later and still really like.
I would be more inclined to wear a trendier outfit at my bachelorette party since the overall vibe will be more playful than sincere.
Should I buy a new outfit for my engagement shoot?
Even if you’re planning a small wedding, everything wedding-related can add up quickly. I actually rented my dress, sweater and pants that I wore for the shoot from Nuuly.
I’ve been using Nuuly since 2019 and I love renting pieces for special occasions (like weddings and photo shoots) and pausing my boxes when I don’t need them.
(Click here for $10 off your first month of Nuuly!)
Since I did this I didn’t technically buy any new outfits but I did buy a few accessories like these white heels and my hair bow, both from Amazon.
If you want to wear clothes you already own to be comfortable and save money, that’s always a great option as well.
Overall vibe of your engagement shoot
Another thing I’d keep in mind is how your outfit relates to the aesthetic you’re going for in your engagement shoot and the rest of your wedding planning.
If you’re planning to take your engagement photos and/or get married in an urban city environment, that might also influence what you decide to wear.
Your engagement photos don’t necessarily have to match the vibe of your wedding (especially if you haven’t gotten that far into the planning process yet) but you may also want to keep things somewhat cohesive.
Pro tip: A lot of wedding photographers will photograph your wedding invitation suite on the big day, where they’ll sometimes shoot a flat lay photo of your invitations and save the dates together so if you care about these matching or being related, that’s another thing to keep in mind with engagement photos.
You can also consider the tone of your photo shoot—are you a serious couple? Funny? Sincere? Wholesome? Happy?
Consider picking 2-3 key words or phrases to keep in mind throughout your shoot and tell them to your photographer so they can let you know if you’re conveying the tone you want to when you take your photos.
(Can you guess our word based on these two photos? 😂)
Other key engagement photo shoot tips:
Bring a bag with a change of shoes, fashion tape, safety pins, and Shout wipes.
Save Pinterest poses for inspiration and share them with your photographer beforehand so they can see the vision you’re going for
Book your wedding photographer for your engagement shoot! This give you a chance to get to know them ahead of the big day and you can usually book your wedding photos and engagement photos all at once
Choose an activity to do—I loved that we went to the coffee shop and posed sipping on our coffees because that’s how we start pretty much every morning so it felt very natural and relaxed
Other notes about our NYC engagement shoot:
We shot our photos on a Sunday morning in December 2022.
Our shoot locations included: Brooklyn Bridge Park and got photos in front of both the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge, walking along the West Elm building, by Jane’s Carousel and inside of Arabica Coffee on Old Fulton Street in DUMBO.
We also changed our outfits inside the public restrooms at the West Elm Building!
Oh, and one other little fun fact for you about my dress outfit is that I actually wore the dress backwards! I thought it looked cleaner and I didn’t want to deal with fixing the draped part in the front so I just flipped it and taped up the tag with fashion tape so it wasn’t visible.
Pictured: (left: worn normally, right: worn backwards)
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What other questions do you have about choosing outfits for your engagement shoot? Leave me a comment and let me know!
Big thank you to our photographer Kate Edwards Weddings and to Andrew for coming along on our 2-hour engagement shoot adventure in Brooklyn.
Looking for white boots for a fall/winter engagement shoot? Check out this blog post next.
yours,
Austen