W E L C O M E
Wedding planning can be stressful. I'll share some of my tips on what to wear for your engagement session, wedding trends for 2023, and tips for your reception!
What should we wear?
My clothing recommendations will vary depending on location. But my go-to rules are always, make sure it fits YOU and that you feel comfortable and awesome in it.
Busier Nature Locations: (AKA a background that has a lot going on like the canyons, greenhouses, wildflower fields, etc.). Avoid super busy patterns like plaid, bold floral prints, etc. and instead focus on textures.
Textures: velvet, chunky knit sweaters, dresses with tights, jackets, linen, etc. Textures can really add subtle pops and dimension to your outfits without overwhelming the image.
Color: Always make sure your color makes sense with the season and the location. For busier, nature locations in the Spring/Summer I love lighter colors like lavender, soft pink, soft denim, tans, whites/creams, muted greens, navy etc. In the fall/winter mustard yellow, maroon, tans, blacks, white/creams, denim, and navy all look great.
Jewelry: Also, keep it simple. We don’t want to detract too much attention from the love we are creating in the images. Think a simple gold necklace or a few delicate necklaces layered. A small gold hoop earring always looks effortlessly chic and a simple gold bracelet can add a little sophistication. We really want to show off that ring!
Hands and Feet: If you are wearing open toed shoes make sure you have nicely manicured toes in a subtle color. Since we will be doing up close ring shots, make sure your nails are either free of nail polish or have had a recent manicure or coat of nail polish.
Tanning: I’m a huge fan of adding a little color to your face, arms, neck, chest, and legs for pictures. A sun-kissed glow makes you seem healthy and vibrant. There are so many products out there, go experiment! A few products that get rave reviews are: St. Tropez, Isle of Paradise tanning drops (great for your face), and Tanned AF (you can get this at Walmart). There are also many people who give professional spray tans, check out @staygolden_ut, she charges $20. Highly recommend!
Makeup: I will always recommend to have your makeup professionally done; however, if budget or other restraints don’t allow for that, here are a few tips:
1. Wear a tiny bit more makeup than normal. Trust me, it’s a camera thing.
2. Bring lipgloss or your lipstick to the session. Chapped lips are very hard to fix in editing and lips with subtle color or shine on them helps brighten up your face.
Engagement Session
FAQ's
2023 Wedding Trends
Florals
No surprise here, but large, loose, asymmetrical bouquets are still in. You can also expect to see a lot of colorful bouquets this year. We are seeing a lot of pinks, yellows, and oranges in bouquets.
Wedding Colors
Like I said earlier, color is back in. Expect to see a lot of color-filled weddings!
Barbie pink is having a moment - along with other shades of prink.
Modern, earthy neutrals have been a hit the last few years and are continuing to stay strong in 2023.
We've seen dark academia all over TikTok and it's making it's way into the wedding industry. Think black bridesmaid dresses, deep-colored florals, and heavier fabric like velvet!
Intimate Weddings
Piggy-backing off the last few years, many couples are opting for more intimate weddings and elopements. You can plan an intimate dinner - think a beautiful tablescape under a tent filled with florals or forego the reception all-together or plan an elopement in Southern Utah amongst the red rocks or on top of a mountain in SLC or at dusk at the Salt Flats.
An Engagement Photo Experience
One of my favorite things right now is incorporating more YOU Into your engagement session. Adding in activities that you as a couple like to do - even if it's playing games at home together, rock climbing, or shopping downtown - is a fun way to add some authenticity into your engagement session.
Private last dance
Save some time at the end of the evening for a beautiful, intimate private dance. This allows time for the guests to prepare for the exit and allows you to have some one-on-one time with. your spouse to soak in the day before the end of the evening.
Late Night Snack
If you plan on partying well into the night - make sure to provide your guests with a late night snack. It could be as simple as ordering take-out pizza or chick-fil-a nuggets. Something that'll fuel the party and keep your guests wanting to stay!
Do An Exit
Absolutely do some sort of exit. There are many options - sparklers, confetti, glow sticks. It makes for some great pictures and helps the guests know that it is time to head out!
Hire a great DJ
If you're wanting to have a great dance party and have a reception that flows and stays on schedule, I absolutely recommend hiring a DJ. They will keep things running on schedule by announcing what "event" is next, play the best songs to get people up and dancing on the dance floor, and they are great at keeping things exciting!
RECEPTION TIPS
