SOMETHING OLD no.2

engagement photo shoot

You may have heard of them before but most likely it is just conjures up images of faded backgrounds and cheesy formal portraits, but Engagement Photo Shoots are standard for most international brides, and if you take a look at today’s versions you can see why!

These are hip and happening and a true reflection of the couple and their personalities. What’s more besides having a blast at the shoot itself these pretties have so many great uses:

1) Place an advert in the local newspaper to announce your engagement status with your favorite shot.

2) Use as part of your engagement party or rehearsal dinner party invitations, table numbers, favour tags etc.

3) Frame these photos and make a feature wall at the engagement, rehearsal dinner or even the wedding! Best of all these can later be hung up in your new home.

4) Use the photos for in a slideshow together with other photos of the both of you, these can even date back to your childhood! This works great for all types of wedding parties, and especially the bridal shower or bachelor party.

5) Have these printed together with lots of other photos into a coffee table style photo album and then use as guestbook for your guests at the wedding.

6) Pick your most loved photo and have this printed onto a large canvas, mount this and display at the wedding maybe by the bar or dessert buffet.

And here are our tips for a the photoshoot itself:

1)   Organise your photo shoot with your wedding day photographer, not only are you likely to get a good rate but it makes a great test run for the wedding day itself. It allows your photographer to get you know you and vice versa.

2)   Pick a location(s) that is a reflection of the both of you. A picture is worth a thousand words , so let the place tell a your story. Maybe it is where you first met, where he proposed, anywhere that has a special place in both of your hearts.

3)   Plan upfront what you want to use the photos for. This will help with the choosing your location, wardrobe and style. If it is for the wedding you may want to already work in the colours of your wedding day. Likewise for the engagement party or rehearsal dinner. The great thing about a themed photo shoot is that you can match it exactly to the theme of one of these parties. That way the photos alone can be your biggest source of decoration and what could be more personal?

4)   Have fun! This is a great opportunity to celebrate being engaged and having it recorded for many years to come!

Another trend on the back of this; is having a “Trash the Dress” photo shoot. This is where you and your new hubby get all dolled up again but no longer have the time constraints of a cocktail hour to have some stunning photos together. Maybe it is some you missed on the wedding day, maybe you want to do something completely different, and for some it maybe the chance to really “take the plunge”!

IMAGES: RUFFLED