Paisley Petunia

I have been begging the lovely Miss Marnie to do a guest post here on Paisley Petunia for some time now. She’s so creative and passionate, I really wanted her to share her ideas. We met years ago when I moonlighted as an event planner for her speed-dating company here in LA (we can go into that more at a later time, I’ve got good stories) and we connected on so many levels – our love for philanthropy (we also volunteered together at WriteGirl), events, photography, LA, etc. Last year, I enjoyed following Marnie’s blog as she created an ethereal forest & friendship themed wedding for her and her fiance’s Connecticut nuptials. So going along with my Year of Weddings, here is a fabulous little post on “what to wear: the engagement shoot.” Especially for my lovely brides to be, but really, its great advice & inspiration for any kind of photoshoot. Take it away Marnie!

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Oh hi there! My name is Marnie Goodfriend and I am a lifestyle photographer and event/wardrobe stylist based in sunny SoCal. The lovely Stephanie invited me over to the Paisley Petunia lounge (it’s soo pretty in here!) to chat about an often-confusing question on many newly engaged couples minds: how do we look put together without looking too matchy? Well I’m glad that you asked! Engagement shoots are not only a great way to get to know your photographer, but an incredible opportunity to document being in love and fusing your individual styles so that you look great together, not like each other. So then, what to wear?

Like all things about wedding planning, it is your day.  Be inspired by wedding trends but plan your engagement shoot (and wedding too!) with what you already love.  If you’re stuck, write down all the things you and your partner like to do, see, wear, and a beautiful tapestry of your individual and shared tastes will emerge. Really.

For the big “what to wear for the e-shoot” question, I photographed and styled three couples with very different closets: classic chic in the canyon, vintage charm in the forest and rock and roll on concrete with a side of sweet treats. I focused on outfits that compliment each other, digging into your closet rather than your wallet, and using sentimental pieces to personalize your engagement shoot.

If you are a vintage maven, you’ve probably got 30 outfits picked out before you’ve chosen your photographer.  Choose pieces that have texture, interesting buttons, details, and go all the way. Stockings, hats, clutches, ties, scarves will pull your look together.  For our vintage shoot, a $5 bouquet was used a prop and a boutonnière for the dapper gentleman. Embroidered shoes, fishnets and a fabulous sequin beret transformed a simple black pencil skirt and tank top into a chic vintage ensemble. The tie is actually a thin paisley scarf. Everything was found in our collective closets.

Click: if you love sun flare, wear something with glitter or iridescent accents. When the light shines through it, a dreamlike kaleidoscope of colors dances around your background. Swoon.

Classic couples that favor JCrew over thrifting should focus on one thing: color! Primary picks typically trump pastels but don’t forget to consider your location.  If you are having an urban shoot you’ll want to stand out against cement, brick and other drab backgrounds.  Patterns are always welcome as are fabulous heels and cute as a button flats. For example, I pulled the red from these ruby red shoes and plucked up a red tie and red and grey striped socks for some unexpected color and cohesion.  A quick change from a canary yellow dress to a striped and floral frock was an easy match with our male’s black and white checkered shirt, jeans and black dress shoes.  To add a little sparkle, I layered a black tulle skirt with sequins under the dress. Classic can be funky, preppy or timeless.  An extra layer under or over your foundation is a key element to a memorable look.

My rock n’ roll couple’s looks were built off our guy’s everyday style.  He’s a Dickie’s pants and white t-shirt kind of guy (with a few tattoos) so I kept things casual with a women’s Coney Island t-shirt and striped scarf that doubles as a prop. The red converse compliment the orange and red shirt and is a cute pairing with his black chucks.

I suggest at least three looks for the women and two for the men.  Guys can layer a blazer or v-neck sweater and have look #2 nailed like Superman in a phone both.  For women, aim for a casual look (simple sundress, jeans and a bright t-shirt), a dressy casual (jeans and a dressy shirt, skirt and tank top) and finish off with a going out dress like this:

Whether it’s silly helium balloon cows as “pets” or your mother’s vintage scarf collection, your props and accessories add a uniqueness and provide another opportunity to bring more personality and memories to your engagement shoot.  I did indeed say balloon cows. Not everyone has pets…and my prop collection is never-ending

Sweet treats are a nod to love and a fun way to get comfortable in front of the camera.

I’ve got lots of love to give. Check out more “what to wear” photos and my top ten favorite e-shoot tips and tricks on my blog.

Happy styling!

With love,

Marnie from Marnie Goodfriend Photography

**Marnie is so kind to offer a 10% off discount off of packages for Paisley Petunia readers (valid through March 28th, 2010).

She focuses on couples, kids, maternity, portraits and events.  Please contact her directly at marnie@marniegoodfriend.com and don’t forget to include the code PAISLEYP, what type of shoot, and your *phone number* in your email. **