What to Wear in Engagement Photos – The Cutest Outfits for Your Engagement Pictures Session

When I got engaged in Bali, one of the first steps in my wedding planning process was to get engagement photos taken. If you’re not sure whether or not you want a professional engagement shoot done, I am here to say it is 100% WORTH EVERY PENNY. These are the photos that you’ll use for your save the dates, your thank you cards, to frame at your engagement party, and so on and so forth. Plus how often do you have an excuse to get all dolled up with your future hubby and have some amazing photos together to treasure forever. 

But there are a few big questions – what do you wear for engagement photos?? Should you wear a flowy dress? Do you wear white in engagement photos? What is the best outfit – do you bring two options? and what does the guy wear in engagement photos? 

I’m here to answer all of the above.

But first, you should decide on what you want the vibe of your wedding (and therefore your engagement photos) to be. It wouldn’t make much sense if your wedding is a trendy farm in Upstate New York in the Fall, but your Save the Date is a vacation photo in Aruba now would it? And similarly if you’re having a destination wedding in Hawaii, you may want to have a beachy, tropical feel to your save the dates and engagement photo session, and if you’re getting married in the mountains, you’ll want your save the dates to have that feel to them, too. You want your photos to FEEL inherently like you and your fiance, and you’ll want to wear clothes that reflect your personalities, and your wedding’s personality. 

Should you bring two outfits for an engagement photo session? I’m all for it! I’d recommend one more casual outfit and one more dressy. They can both be dresses if you want or you can do a mix with something like a pretty blouse and jeans! A flowy dress for one half of the session works great (and looks great in photos) and for the other half something more casual. Or go all dressy! Do you.

What color should you wear for engagement photos?
Think about where your engagement photos will be taken and pick a color that complements that. If you want to stand out against your backdrop, a bright color can look great, or if you want a more subtle feel, white is always a great color for anything wedding related. Once again, do you!! Be unique to you and what looks best on you. 

Should you wear prints or solids in engagement photos?
Stay away from any overwhelming prints or drastic attention-grabbing cut outs (you’re going for conservative, not overly sexy, you can save that for your bachelorette party outfit) – but don’t be afraid to wear a print that you feel looks awesome on you! Just think about the location / vibe of your photos. 

The best engagement photo outfits 

Cute flowy maxi dresses for engagement photos

Selkie The Engagement Gown in Orchard House

THE GRENADA BAMBOO SMOCKED MAXI DRESS

THE JETSET WHITE RESORT DRESS

THE JETSET WHITE BAMBOO SMOCKED MAXI DRESS

Sabina Musayev Tati Dress in Lime

Shona Joy La Lune Tie Front Bias Midi Dress in Cream L*SPACE Santorini Dress in Rose Quartz

Reformation Nadira Dress THE JETSET WHITE BANDEAU MAXI DRESS THE BALI BAMBOO SMOCKED DRESS

THE JETSET WHITE BANDEAU MAXI DRESS 

Nation LTD Gwen Tie Back Midi Dress in Blossom

French Countryside White Floral Print High-Low Dress

Sweet Surprise Bright Pink High-Low Maxi Dress

Show Me Your Mumu Mia Midi Dress in Pink Clip Floral

Lulus Dear To My Heart White Swiss Dot Tiered Ruffled Midi Dress

Lulus Fairytale Love Story White Lace Off-the-Shoulder Maxi Dress

THE JETSET WHITE BANDEAU MAXI DRESS

Shop this dress here

Steve Madden Roman Holiday Maxi Dress in Optic White

Yumi Kim Baxter Maxi Dress in New Day Blue

NBD Haze Midi Dress in Ivory

HEMANT AND NANDITA Teien Caftan in Pastel Teien

Lovers and Friends Ahamani Gown in Meadow Floral

Strictly Romance White Satin Asymmetrical Tiered Midi Dress

SIMKHAI Analise Bustier Midi Dress in Pacific

Lulus My Favorite Day Ivory Floral Print Tulip Skirt Midi Dress

French Countryside Blush Floral Print High-Low Dress

ASTR the Label Emporia Dress in Pink Green Multi

 ASTR the Label Emporia Dress in Pink Green Multi

SAU LEE Georgia Dress in Blue & White

Elegantly Inclined Cream and Blue Floral Print Wrap Maxi Dress

Lulus Sparkling Charm White Sequin Tie-Strap Tiered Midi Dress

Lulus Sweet At Heart White Floral Embroidered Two-Piece Midi Dress

I love a bold color like pink or red for an engagement photo because it really POPS, but if you’re looking for a subtler look, you can’t go wrong with white or light blue, or a light floral. This goes-with-any-backdrop white dress and stunning flowy blue dress for an engagement photoshoot would be absolutely perfect.  

Engagement photo outfit ideas for the spring and summer

byTiMo Sequin Strap Dress in Bright Bouquet

Lovers + Friends Karen Maxi Dress in Baby Blue

Agua Bendita Suzie Maxi Dress in Multicolor

SAU LEE Peyton Dress in Powder Pink

I love a floral off-the-shoulder dress for engagement photos. It’s so pretty and looks good in so many spring/summer backdrops! 

courtesy Laura Memory

Abercrombie & Fitch Tiered Maxi Dress in White

 

ASTR the Label Primrose Dress in Peach Multi Floral

Rolla's Shelley Datura Dress

ASTR the Label Primrose Dress in Peach Multi Floral

AKNVAS Sasha Knit Fringe Dress in White

Bronx and Banco Megan Mini Dress

Lust or Love Cream Embroidered Lace Long Sleeve Dress

A gorgeous colored dress like yellow (pale or bright!) will add a fun pop to your photos – and looks great on the beach. I’m also personally a big fan of pretty florals for summer day photo sessions and beach engagement photoshoots!

Engagement photo dress / outfit ideas in the winter

Redormation Sigmund Long Sleeve Midi Dress in Black

L'Academie Metallic Knit Knotted Midi Dress in Deep Sea Blue

 

Admire You Orange Floral Print Ruffled Long Sleeve Mini Dress

L'Academie The Janeiro Mini Dress in Red Nothing stands out one a save the date more than bright red!

Engagement photo dress / outfit ideas in the fall

copyright Dean Oreweiler

Lovers and Friends Alex Midi Dress in Emerald Green

L*SPACE Alessandra Dress in When In Bloom

Cleobella Daria Midi Dress in Brick  Tularosa Nola Dress in Vibrant Yellow

L'Academie The Janeiro Mini Dress in Red

A nice navy dress for an engagement photo or a forest green or mustard yellow dress with sleeves would look great in the fall. 

or something like this gorgeous fall floral midi (seriously, when did Abercrombie become SO cool again?? Their stuff is SO good nowadays, I’ve been buying their dresses like crazy!!)

What does the guy wear in an engagement photoshoot?

What should your guy wear for your engagement photos? Something simple works best – just make sure you coordinate his outfit with your outfit!!

I think a chic buttondown shirt like these below would look great with jeans, then add a blazer if you want a little formal touch. 

Photo via KT Merry

Katie May Bambina Gown in Ivory

Lulus Ivywood White and Beige Embroidered Lace Backless Maxi Dress

Generation Love Bea Halter Maxi Dress in White

  

Below is what my fiance and I wore in ours (for our Hawaii wedding) I loved how the hot pink in my dress coordinated with the flamingoes on his shirt (Flamingo shirt from Kenny Flowers here

My dress is from here, but I think they are out of the pink

Other engagement photo outfits I like for guys:

A suit is always a good call – especially with flowy dresses! 

The engagement photos that I took for my friends Matt & Lindsay in San Francisco – her dress is from here! 

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Christina is a leading luxury lifestyle and travel blogger with over 2 million readers. Follow her on instagram @jetsetchristina.

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