My Engagement
As I mentioned in my previous post, I plan to share some things that happened in the past. I didn’t have my blog up then but it’s all important things to me and I can’t miss out on sharing it! So consider this post part of my wedding series. My engagement shoot took place October 2021. My wedding was February of this year (2022) for reference. Overall, Dillon and I had a 6 month engagement. 6 months is not a lot of time if you want a mid to big size wedding. But for me and Dillon, it was just right.
I will share more about my wedding day in a future post. But for this post, I’ll focus on my engagement. Since I had a relatively short engagement, I tried to knock out the priority items on my to-do list first. For me, it was finding the venue and then some vendors that were really important for the big day. Even though I live close to the beach, a beach wedding was never my style. I always envisioned a gorgeous estate with a lake view. After some research, I found just that. My venue was BellaCosa Lakeside Lodge & Inn. The Spanish moss trees surrounding the venue along with a pier on the lake to capture some amazing pictures were the icing on the cake. There is so much history to this venue- I mean, even Marilyn Monroe stayed there in the past!
After that, I starting checking one thing after another on my to-do list. Find the photographer/videographer? Check. Book the caterer? Check. Find the dress? Check. Also, side note- if you are having a short engagement, please search for your dress ASAP. My dress took 6 months to be completed from production to delivery to the bridal store. I got it around 2 weeks before my wedding day and had to do my alterations quickly. Thankfully, it all worked out! The other option is to buy the sample dress off the rack which will give you a big discount. Or you can buy a size they already have in stock. But if the size is not available, you need enough time to have it made in your size or settle for another dress. That’s how it goes for brides buying through bridal shops.
Another important thing on my to-do list was the engagement shoot. You don’t need to do one but they’re fun and a great way to get excited for the big day! Plus, you can add those pictures to your wedding website or wedding stationary which looks really nice! Engagement shoots can also get a nervous bride more comfortable behind the camera. These shoots tend to be more candid and it will give you some practice for the big day. My photoshoot took place in Bill Bags State Park, which has a beautiful beach with a lighthouse. My engagement photoshoot photographer was Lillian and you can check out her amazing work on Instagram! Dillon and I were going to that beach even before the photoshoot because we love how it’s a more secluded beach in the Miami metro area. Below are some tips for those of you planning an engagement shoot in the future:
Engagement Shoot Tips
- Try to have a cohesive look. While you don’t need to match your fiancé head-to-toe, the looks should compliment one another and have some element that ties it together. Maybe use colors of the same tone. Or both dress up. Or both dress down. Either way, it should look unified but not in a way that screams, “I’m your twin.” Please don’t both do prints. It will most likely clash if the bride-to-be has a floral print and the fiancé has a striped tee.
- Neutral colors are always a good option. Engagement shoots tend to be outdoors. If you’re out in nature, a green dress won’t really stand out. You’ll actually blend in. Or if you are shooting in a historic site, neutral colors look great as well. Bold colors can be very strong and certain colors can even clash with the background depending where you go for your shoot. Therefore, try neutrals like white, beige or cream, light grey or blue. Denim is nice for a more casual look.
- Bring a second outfit. While Dillon and I only wore one outfit our entire shoot, we both brought a back-up option. You can have a look that’s more dressy and then bring a casual set to switch into for later. It can give more variety to your pictures.
- Take your pictures during golden hour. Golden hour is right after sunrise and right before sunset. This is when the lighting is the best and it will avoid the awkward shadow the sun sometimes casts on your face.
- Have fun! This is self-explanatory but the more you try to relax and have fun, the more natural and beautiful your photos will look.
