While all your focus is on finding the perfect wedding day look, you might forget how important it is to choose great engagement session outfits. But don’t worry! Here are a few essential tips to ensure you and your partner look amazing!

Colorado’s landscapes bring their own personality to engagement sessions, bright alpine sun, quick weather shifts, and those iconic mountain backdrops. When you’re choosing outfits, think about pieces that move well in the wind, layers you can add or remove as the temperature changes, and colors that complement Colorado’s natural tones. Whether we’re shooting in Denver, Boulder, or the foothills, here’s how to choose outfits that feel like you and photograph beautifully in this wild, ever-changing state.

How to Choose Your Engagement Session Outfits

Coordinate, Don’t Match

I always tell my couples to make sure their clothes are coordinated, but they don’t need to be so matchy-matchy that they look like they’re straight out of an Old Navy ad. You and your partner should be wearing clothing in a similar vibe, but you don’t need to be super coordinated to the max. Consider picking a similar color palette, like earth tones or neutrals. Or, if one of you is wearing a color, make sure the other is coordinated.

Bring an Outfit Change

Changing up your look halfway through gives you a variety of photos. I recommend having two styles, one more casual and one on the fancier side. Start with the more casual look while you get comfy for the camera, and then change as the sun is setting! I love to incorporate activities into my engagement sessions for a little extra spice.

So, if you’re planning to incorporate an activity into your session (paddleboarding, hiking, biking, etc.), make sure you bring appropriate clothes! And don’t worry, we’ll find you a private place to change, even if we’ve planned for an outdoor session.

a couple sits on their paddleboard for their Colorado engagement session

Plan for Colorado Weather + Movement

Colorado has a personality of its own, and it definitely shows up during engagement sessions. The weather can swing from warm sunshine to cool wind in minutes, especially in the mountains, so choosing outfits that layer easily and move with you makes a huge difference.

Fabrics that catch the breeze photograph beautifully, and pieces that aren’t too stiff or structured help you stay comfortable when the wind picks up or the temperature drops. Think flowy dresses, cozy sweaters, jackets you can slip on between locations, and shoes you don’t mind walking a bit in.

If you’re dreaming of a mountain engagement session (especially in places like RMNP), this flexibility is key. For more ideas on what to expect and how to prep, here’s my full Rocky Mountain National Park Engagement Session Guide.

Avoid These Major Pitfalls

While I don’t love telling you to avoid wearing what feels most like you, there are a few things that just don’t photograph well. Here are the things you should avoid when planning your engagement session outfits:

Bright colors, especially neon: Neons reflect against your skin tone and will shade your skin that color! No one wants engagement photos that make them look like they’ve just landed from Mars!
Brand-new clothes that you’ve never worn before: If you have sensitive skin, you could have an allergic reaction to these. And they may just be less comfy than you anticipated, leading to unnecessarily awkward photos.
Large prints and designs: The print will look too busy for the camera, and will draw attention away from the two of you.
Logos: These photos are intended to last a lifetime, not just until the next new trend comes along. And remember: these are your engagement photos, not a magazine ad.
Clothing that doesn’t fit just right: Wear your favorites, not something that’s too baggy or too tight.
The wrong footwear: If we’re walking a mountain trail, bring shoes with traction. Heels? Totally fine, just swap them in once we reach the overlook.

Pack these essentials to make sure you come prepared!

Here’s a quick packing list to make sure you’re totally ready to go:

Change of outfits
Shoes to walk to the location in if it’s far
Bottle of water
A blanket for cozy pictures sitting on the ground
Champagne bottle and glasses, if you’d like to make a toast
Touch-up kit for makeup
Hairbrush for touching up your hair
Dog treats if you’re bringing your dog!

Are you bringing your dog to your engagement session?

If your dog is part of your story, bring them along, Colorado is full of beautiful, dog-friendly places that photograph perfectly with pups. Just keep their outfit simple (a clean leash, a cute bandana, or nothing at all) and plan for a few breaks so they stay comfortable.

If you need inspiration on where to go, here’s my guide to the best dog-friendly engagement session locations in Colorado.

a couple cuddles their golden retriever in front of a city skyline

If you need help….

I’m just a text away to help out as you are prepping for your session! Need some final advice or help choosing between outfits? I’m ready to lend a hand. You can even send me photos of what you’re thinking or a Pinterest inspo board as you’re getting started.

I look forward to helping you choose the perfect engagement session outfits!

Bonus tip

Once you’ve put all this effort into choosing your outfit, consider scheduling your wedding hair and makeup trial for the same day to complete the look with ease! This will allow you to get an idea of how your chosen look will photograph, and if there is anything you want to change before the big day!

How to Choose Your Engagement Session Outfits