Tips
What to Wear to Your Pre-Wedding Photo Shoot
Not sure what to wear for your engagement or pre-wedding session? Here's our practical guide to choosing outfits that photograph beautifully.
One of the most common questions we get from couples is: “What should we wear?”
It’s a great question, and the answer isn’t as complicated as you might think. Here’s everything you need to know about choosing outfits for your pre-wedding or engagement session.
The Golden Rule: Wear What Makes You Feel Good
This is the most important advice we can give. If you feel amazing in what you’re wearing, it shows in the photos. Confidence translates directly to great images.
That said, here are some practical tips to keep in mind.
Coordinate, Don’t Match
You don’t need to wear the same colour. In fact, please don’t. Matching outfits can look dated. Instead, aim for complementary tones.
What works:
- One partner in a warm neutral (cream, beige, camel) and the other in a deeper tone (burgundy, forest green, navy)
- Both in different shades of the same colour family
- One bold colour paired with a neutral
What to avoid:
- Identical outfits or colours
- Busy patterns that compete with each other
- Neon or very bright colours (they reflect onto skin and can be distracting)
Consider Your Location
Your outfit should complement your location, not clash with it.
- Garden or park: Flowy fabrics, soft colours, romantic silhouettes
- Urban / downtown: Sleek, modern, structured pieces
- Beach / waterfront: Light fabrics that move in the wind, earth tones
- Historic buildings: Elegant, formal pieces that match the grandeur
Plan for Multiple Looks
If your session is 3+ hours, plan 2-3 outfit changes. This gives variety to your gallery and lets you play with different moods.
A common approach:
- Formal / dressed up: for the cinematic, editorial shots
- Casual / relaxed: for the natural, candid moments
- Cultural or traditional: if you want to incorporate your heritage
Practical Tips
- Try everything on in advance. Take photos in your outfits at home. See how they look together.
- Iron or steam everything. Wrinkles show in photos.
- Bring layers. A jacket, scarf, or shawl adds visual interest and keeps you warm for outdoor shoots.
- Shoes matter. If you’re walking on grass, trails, or cobblestones, bring comfortable shoes for walking and swap to your formal shoes for photos.
- Grooming: Get haircuts 1-2 weeks before, not the day of. Same with any skin treatments. You want to look like you, just polished.
What About South Asian Outfits?
Traditional South Asian outfits photograph beautifully. The colours, the draping, the details. If you’re incorporating desi attire:
- Rich colours (red, gold, emerald, royal blue) pop against most Toronto locations
- Lenghas, sarees, and sherwanis create gorgeous movement and drama
- Plan extra time for traditional outfit changes since they take longer
Our Role
Don’t stress too much about this. During your consultation, we’ll chat about your location, the vibe you’re going for, and help you narrow down outfit ideas. We want you to show up feeling excited and confident. We handle the rest.