I stumbled across Duke Photography on Instagram yesterday*, and I’m LOVING their engagement shoot M.O. Instead of wearing slightly nicer-than-average engagement outfits, a lot of their clients get super-duper dressed-up for their engagement pictures. I’m talking grooms in tuxes and brides in full-on ball gowns.
This is my new favorite thing—you know, as of yesterday—for three reasons: (1) There are so few occasions to get majorly dressed up in real life. Why not create one? (2) For the rest of your life, you’re going to have pictures taken in your everyday clothes. I think it’s awesome to seriously step it up when you can. And (3) Your wedding is the next—and maybe last—time you’ll get red-carpet dressed-up. It can’t hurt to have a dry run in similarly shmancy clothes, right? Just look how stunning these images are:
I’m always eyeing the black-tie dresses on Rent the Runway. If I got a do-over I would totally rent something way over-the-top, like this Marchesa gown. (And you know, take engagement pictures. Which we didn’t.)
Would you get crazy dressed-up for your engagement pics? Or will you wear a slightly nicer version of what you always wear?
PS: I know my headline is overly dramatic. It’s late and I have limited self-control. And really, everything else does look unexciting next to formal wear.
*Someone I follow on Instagram regrammed the top picture yesterday. If it’s you, speak up.