What to Wear for Engagement Photos in Boston: The Ultimate Guide from a Boston Engagement Photographer
Trust me, I know that wedding planning is a lot. Trying to coordinate everything from RSVPs to what color your linens are going to be can get overwhelming super quickly, and then adding in planning your engagement session? It’s tough!
As a Boston engagement photographer, I hear it all the time: You have no idea what to wear for engagement photos. And believe me, I get it. Being someone who captures engagement sessions ALL the time, though… I’ve learned a thing or two about what outfits work and what outfits don’t. So, here’s my ultimate guide that’ll detail exactly what to wear for engagement photos.
What to Wear for Engagement Photos in Boston: Everything to Know
First Things First: Dress Comfortably
If you only take one thing out of this entire blog post, let it be this: dress comfortably for your engagement photos. Seriously! I know you want to be cute and express yourself, but there are ways to do it that still let you actually enjoy your time.
The more comfortable you are, the more you can focus on each other and make all of these little moments count. Because your engagement session isn’t just a check off the list, it’s like a super-fun date night (just with a Boston engagement photographer as your third wheel).
For comfort, I always recommend something like flowy dresses for the gals and something that’s not constricting for the guys. We’ll be moving around a lot for your session, so make sure you can move your arms, sit down, and stand up easily, and maybe even dance a little.
What Colors to Wear for Engagement Photos
When it comes to picking out colors for your engagement photo outfits, I like to look at what photographs best. And the answer to that is almost always neutral colors. You can truly never go wrong with a good neutral outfit!
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Oh, I want some more color in my engagement photo outfits,” don’t worry. Neutral doesn’t just mean black, white, tan, and gray! There are neutrals of every color. Sub your bright red for a more rusty tone, or your neon green with a forest green. It just evens out the on-camera hues a little bit and photographs really beautifully.
With that said, though, if you absolutely love a certain bright color and wearing it feels most true to you, I’m so here for it. Sometimes, rules are meant to be broken! If that sounds more up your alley, I love you already. I also always love a good pop of color, so if you want to incorporate your favorite hot pink shoes in with your white dress… Let’s do it.
If you’re still stumped, let your engagement photo location guide you. It’s really easy to play into the color palette of your surroundings. For example, if your engagement session is at Boston Public Garden, lean into the soft pastels and greenery of the plants! If you’re taking your photos at the Boston Art Museum, pick something that complements the neutral architecture tones.
Coordinate, Don’t Match
When you are planning your color palette for your engagement photo outfits, make sure you’re coordinating colors rather than matching colors. You want your outfits to look good together, but never clash with each other. So don’t both wear a blue shirt and khaki bottoms, but instead, wear a color that complements your partner’s blue shirt well!
How to Wear Patterns for Engagement Photos
As far as designs go, we love a good pattern here, but if one person is wearing one, keep the other in a solid color. Too many patterns clash, like, really easily, so we definitely want to avoid that!
Personally, I always love a good striped shirt for engagement photos. And when one person wears a striped shirt, and the other wears a solid color that matches the stripes? Yeah. It looks good EVERY time.
Consider the Season
Boston weather throws us some curveballs sometimes, so always make sure you’re prepared for what may come. Here’s my seasonal guide for what to wear for engagement photos:
Spring: Maxi skirts or a nice pair of slacks fit spring really well. I personally always love a pastel color palette and some flowy fabrics for spring.
Summer: Skirts, light dresses, and small pops of color always work really well for summer (especially if we’re on the beach!)
Fall: Let the colors of the season guide your outfit’s palette, and bring some layers that are easy to take on and off.
Winter: Deep, jewel tones look great against the snow, and LOTS of layers protect you from getting way too cold.
No matter which season you’re taking engagement photos in, it can always be nice to bring a small cardigan or even a blanket, just in case it gets chilly while we’re out there.
Add Some Accessories (Because We Love a Little Personality!)
Props and accessories are always fun to add in, because your engagement photos should have “you” written all over them. Here are some accessories that I always love paired with engagement photo outfits:
A short veil – I personally love this embroidered one from Etsy
A pair of gloves – because your bridal era deserves to feel elevated. I love these gloves from Anthropologie!
A bouquet – especially when it’s made in your wedding colors. So cute.
Fit Your Location
When you are planning what to wear for engagement photos, I always recommend that you think about your location. The colors you’ll be around, whether it's indoors or outdoors, the overall vibe of the space… Because that can really help you narrow down what kind of style you should go for. A classy bar? Go for something sleek and elevated. An outdoor park? Something more casual and flowy is perfect.
If you’re still looking for the best engagement photo location, I see a TON as a Boston engagement photographer. Check out my full guide to engagement photo locations in Massachusetts. Or, if you’re looking for Boston-specific spots, you can find the best ones here.
Outfit Changes
One thing about me is that I’m always pro-outfit change. So if you really can’t decide what to wear for engagement photos… Bring a few options! One classy look and one casual look? I’ll take it. One neutral look and one colorful look? Yeah. Love.
This is something I’ll always help you coordinate, so if you’re wondering where you’ll change or what to wear for two engagement photo outfits… I’ve got you covered as your Boston engagement photographer.
Still Wondering What to Wear for Engagement Photos? | Links to Engagement Photo Outfits
If your head is still spinning… I get it. Maybe you’re someone who just needs links to pieces that really work. And if that’s you, I’ve got you covered!
What to Wear for Classy Engagement Photos
A simple, satin slip dress, like the VILA dress from ASOS
A blazer dress, like Etta from Club L London
What to Wear for Casual Engagement Photos
A flowy, textured striped shirt, like this Zara top
A white shirt + a pair of jeans, for a classic look
A white romper – I love this one from Petal and Pup
What to Wear for Beach Engagement Photos
White flowy dresses always work well. I love this one from Zara!
Linen, always. Shirts, pants, skirts, you name it.
A two piece set, like the Quinn Set by Shop 520 South
To see some beach engagement photo outfits in action, check out Krystle and Jon’s session.
More Places to Shop for Engagement Photo Outfits
If you feel like you’re on the right track now for what to wear for engagement photos but just need to look a little bit more, here are the stores that my couples always shop at for engagement photo outfits:
Ashley Olafsson | Boston Engagement Photographer
As a Boston engagement photographer, I’m always here to help you pick out what to wear for engagement photos. So if you have a few options in mind or just need help starting from scratch to make your vision come to life, I’m here to help. You can inquire here today!
