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10 Winter Engagement Photo Outfit Ideas & Advice
Published Tuesday, Dec. 31st, 2024
You said Yes! What to Wear for Engagement Pictures in Winter, With or Without Snow
There were a flurry of Christmas proposals and sweet New Year’s Eve proposals this year, with forecasts calling for more winter engagements in the weeks ahead!
According to The Knot, about 45% of couples get engaged between November and February – that’s over one million couples saying YES to love during the colder months.
Related: 5 Great Reasons to Ask a Friend to Officiate Your Wedding
Winter engagements are a perfect time for cozy friend-and-family gatherings, fireworks and champagne parties, quiet time spent together in nature or at home, and celebrating the start of a new year and a new chapter together.
Now that you’re engaged, it’s time to start planning your engagement photos! Engagement photos are a perfect way to capture these authentic moments of excitement and anticipation. You’ll be able to look back at these photos for years to come, remembering every cuddle, every kiss, every sweetly awkward pose (trust your photographer!), and every magical moment.
We’ve gathered some helpful engagement photo advice below, along with 10 winter engagement photo outfit ideas. To choose the look or looks that’s best for you, consider location, weather, the desired tone or vibe, and who you’ll be sharing your photos with.
What are Engagement Photos Used For?
What you wear for your engagement photo shoot should reflect you as a couple, and what you want to use your photos for. For example, you might not want to post boudoir engagement photos on social media or send them to elderly relatives on the guest list – or maybe you do!
Engagement photos are also a way to capture the authentic energy and dynamic between you and your partner, and to share that unique joy with friends and family. Photos can be romantic, playful, outdoorsy, elegant, and anything in between.
Engagement photos are often included as part of wedding photo packages offered by professional photographers. You can also hire a photographer for your engagement shoot as a trial session, to see if they will be a good match for your wedding day.
Engagement photos can be used as:
- ‘Save the Date’ cards for the people on your guest list
- Engagement announcement cards & party invites
- Practice posing in front of a photographer before the wedding day
- Personal keepsakes
- Social media posts
- Photos for your wedding website / online registry
Planning your engagement photos? Outfits can be personalized to say something special about you as a couple! Consider the tone you want them to convey – playful, romantic, elegant, or outdoorsy? (Photo: DrGrounds / iStock)
Winter Engagement Photo Tips & Advice
Before we dive into our favorite looks, here are a few more tips for scheduling and preparing for your winter photo shoot. Keep these suggestions in mind when choosing your engagement photo outfits:
- Stay flexible when booking your session! If you want photos in the snow, you’ll need to be on Mother Nature’s schedule. Be ready to meet your photographer soon after a good snowfall
- In cold climates, bring warm layers, hand warmers, and boots to wear in between photos, and when walking to and from your desired locations
- In cold climates, take breaks to warm up in your car between photos as needed
- Bring a blanket or stool to sit on between shots
- Bring something warm to drink in a thermos
- Choose a cozy indoor location that’s ‘weather proof,’ one that doesn’t rely on Mother Nature’s cooperation
- Bring tissues and concealer to deal with red or runny noses and red cheeks
Related: The Ultimate Wedding Emergency Kit Checklist: 45 Essential Items
10 Winter Engagement Photo Outfits : Ideas We Love
1. Classic Black & White Coordinates for Snow Engagement Photos
We see lots of variations on this theme – black and white coordinates that compliment and contrast the fresh winter snow. It’s an instant winner! To pull it off, one of you can dress all in black and the other all in white, or dress in mostly black or white with accents of the other color to show off your personal style.
2. Suit & Sequin Dress Engagement Photos
Indoor engagement sessions are perfect for any season, and we love this glittering emerald green sequin dress and classic black suit. Festive, formal, and unforgettable.
3. Country Engagement Photos
Country lovin’ never looked so good! This look is perfect for winter engagement photos without snow, or in warmer climates. For a semi-formal country photo shoot, put on your best cowboy hat and shine that belt buckle. Then pair them with something simple but stylish that hints at the wedding day, like a black dress shirt and slacks, and a romantic white lace dress.
4. Ski Engagement Photos
Celebrate on the slopes! Head to your favorite ski resort for fun engagement photos in the snow. Wear all your cutest ski gear and bring your poles for cute poses that are authentically you. (This idea works for snowboarding engagement sessions too! Check out this cool retro snowboarding engagement photo.)
5. Casual Engagement Photos
Are you only comfortable when you’re casual? Then this look is for you! You might have to dress up for the wedding day, but your engagement photos are a chance to dress casually. They should capture you being yourself, and the joy behind your authentic, adventurous love – muddy hiking boots and all.
6. Bright Colors for Bold Engagement Photos
Wear a bright contrasting color for memorable engagement photos in the snow. Bold reds, golds, fuschia pinks, and bright blues or greens will really pop against a white snowbank! Avoid muted earth tones, tans, and grays for this look. Partners in toned-down hues can coordinate with colorful matching accessories.
7. Speakeasy Themed Cocktail Engagement Photos
Classy, sleek, speakeasy-themed engagement photos are trending! Plus, if you take your engagement photos in a bar, it’s easy to celebrate after the last shot. Wear something sexy, sensual, and sophisticated, perfect for a night out with your soon-to-be spouse.
8. Plaid Outfits Engagement Photos
Calling all buffalo plaids, checked coats and blankets, and cozy plaid winter coats in coordinating colors! Winter engagement photos with a touch of plaid are an undisputed favorite.
9. Sports Themed Engagement Photos
If you’re die hard sports fans, wearing a sports jersey as one of your engagement photo outfits is a no-brainer. This look is a great option if you’re wearing two or three outfits during the shoot, giving you the chance for something offbeat and authentic. If a jersey’s not your style, take photos at a stadium, or wear a knit cap and scarf from your favorite franchise.
10. Jewel-Toned Velvets & Elegant Engagement Photos
Even without snow on the ground, jewel-tones and classic blacks bring a winter color palette to life. Dress in lush velvets, soft satins, and structured blends to complete the look.
Whatever you choose to wear in your engagement photos, remember...
Your photos are a reflection of you -- your relationship, your personal style, your unique and special dynamic. Ultimately, you should wear what makes you happy!
Engagement photos should reflect what makes you special as a couple! (Photo: FOTOGRAFIA INC. / iStock)
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A Simple Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline for Busy Couples
This simple wedding planning checklist can help you plan a personal and unforgettable day. Click the article linked above to get started!
Ask a Friend to Officiate Your Wedding Ceremony!
Good things happen when friends and relatives help out at the wedding ceremony! Having a friend officiate your wedding or elopement is a great way to ensure the wedding day is as intimate and personal as it can be. When a loved one officiates, every moment means more!
Ask a friend or family member to officiate your wedding with free online ordination through American Marriage Ministries (AMM).
|* custom-button, "https://theamm.org/ordination-application", "ORDAINED MINISTER ONLINE APPLICATION" *|
Why AMM? American Marriage Ministries is an inclusive nondenominational internet church that ordains and trains ministers to officiate marriage ceremonies. We are a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit church, and help people from all backgrounds and beliefs become ordained ministers for weddings. Our online ordination is free, accessible, and never expires.
Officiating weddings is an incredible honor, and a great way to show your love and support for the people getting married. As a wedding officiant, you will help to create memorable ceremonies and memories that last a lifetime.
AMM Ministers can legally officiate weddings in every state* (it's much harder in Virginia, where we're looking into our options). After getting ordained with AMM, you might need to register your ordination with your local county clerk’s office. Click the link above to get started!
Become an ordained minister online with American Marriage Ministries and officiate wedding for friends and relatives. (Photo cropped: O_Lypa / iStock)
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