5 Reasons An Engagement Shoot is a Great Idea

So, maybe you’re considering an Engagement Session, but you’re kind of “on the fence” about it. Or, maybe you think you don’t really need one and that being professionally photographed on your wedding day is more than enough for you. It’s totally normal to feel this way! Most people feel at least a little bit awkward about having their photo taken, so why in the world would you want to do it twice?!

As someone who has photographed hundreds of couples and educated them on how to look natural and relaxed in their photos, I have seen the benefits first hand, and I want to share my perspective on why I think you should absolutely go for it!!

1. To ease your nerves and get comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day! There can be enough surprises on your wedding day without your photography being one of them. Let’s face it, most of us are not professional models, and we certainly don’t expect you to be. It’s one thing to be comfortable goofing around with your friends taking selfies all afternoon (hey, we’ve all done it) but it’s a whole other ball game to be on the other end of a professional camera. Having an engagement shoot will allow you to gain more confidence in front of the camera so that when wedding day finally rolls around you’ll be past the point of testing out your new poses and feeling things out. You’ll be calm, cool and collected, already knowing what angles work for you and what type of shots you may or may not care for. You’ll hardly notice the camera in the room because you will have gotten all of your camera phobias out of the way during your e-shoot! If possible, you can also schedule your hair and make-up trial run on the same day as your engagement shoot, so you’ll not only look flawless for the lens, but you’ll be able to see how your desired hair style/color and make-up look on film and will have plenty of time to talk with your stylist and make adjustments with anything you may not have been thrilled with.

2. To get to know your wedding photographer and let them get to know you! Even if you’ve already sat down with your photographer(s) face to face, it’s extremely beneficial to both parties to have some time with each other during a pre-wedding shoot. During this time you’ll be able to learn your photographers style of shooting so that you know exactly what to expect on your big day. And while you’re learning about their moves, they’re learning about yours! Your photographer(s) need to know how you and your fiance interact with each other, with and without the camera around, so that they can easily capture your personalities, quirks and emotions. It’s helpful to know all of these things before your wedding day so that it’s smooth sailing for everyone involved! It’s also nice to be able to really get to know your photographer(s) on a personal level – you’re going to be spending a LOT of time with them on wedding day. Possibly more time with them than with anyone else! Break the ice with your engagement shoot and cross the line of stranger to friend, which will make the big day so much for comfortable and fun for everyone!

3. To have beautiful photos of yourselves as a couple in non-wedding attire. Yes, your wedding photos are going to be gorgeous and you’re going to want to show them off to anyone and everyone who will look at them, but – do you really want to ONLY have beautiful photos of the two of you in your wedding day attire? Engagement sessions are a way to have amazing photos of the two of you looking like your usual selves. It’s a great way to remember this super special time in your lives (and if we’re being honest, how many wedding photos do you really want to hang on your walls!?).  Because they’re more casual it makes them usable for many more things, especially decor around your house. Use them for Save the Dates, your wedding guest book, or your wedding website. Send them off to your local newspaper to announce your upcoming nuptials or create a keepsake album of memories to display on your coffee table at home.

4. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of wedding planning. Your engagement shoot should not be a dreaded event. In fact, an e-shoot can be a great reason for a much needed date night! It’s an excuse to pamper yourself a little (grab a quick mani/pedi and blowout or schedule your wedding beauty trial for the same day)! Get dressed up, relax, have fun, laugh and enjoy each other’s company! Pick a shoot location that’s meaningful to you as a couple; the location of your first date, your favorite picnic spot or coffee shop, the location where you got engaged. Be creative! Do you love cooking together? Farmer’s Markets are your absolute favorite thing to do with each other on the weekend? You’re both obsessed with board games? Make it your own and make it fun! It’s all about loosening up and just having a good time with the one you want to spend your forever with.

5. Because your engagement is a small slice of amazing bliss in your life and you should have it documented forever. These photos aren’t necessarily just for today. These photos are forever. They capture a brief time in your lives when you were on Cloud 9 for having just decided to spend the rest of your lives together. The feeling of commitment is fresh and new and exciting during this photo session. It’s so important to preserve these emotions for your children and your grandchildren to witness for themselves decades later, and for you both to relive together when you’re old and gray.

It’s totally not mandatory to have engagement photos taken, but there are so many benefits to doing them that make it a great decision. Spending that two hours with my couples allows me to really get to know them, and if I don’t have to spend time getting to know them on their wedding day, it frees me up to tell their story straight from my heart without having to make guesses about who they are (because I already know!).

Did you have engagement photos taken before your wedding day? We would love to hear from you!!  Do you feel like it was a helpful experience? Please share in the comments below!!

Looking for a super unique Engagement Shoot location?? Check out this couple’s shoot!

8 Unique and Whimsical Gift Ideas to Wow Your Wedding Party

There’s a reason why you choose the people you do to stand up next to you on your wedding day. They may be your siblings who have been with you since the beginning and will be with you til the end, regardless of how many times you pulled their hair and they stole your clothes. Or maybe you two met at the bus stop on your very first day of school with your matching Ninja Turtles lunchboxes in tow and have been inseparable ever since. Or perhaps you bonded on that first nerve wracking day of high school and helped each other get through your awkward and emotional teenage years by rocking out hard to Death Cab for Cutie (…or The Backstreet Boys). Maybe it’s your sister from another mister or brother from another mother. No matter who it is, you know they’re each special to you in a way that is hard to put into words. And although you love them all equally, your relationship with each one is so unique from your relationship with another. That’s why it’s important to select an equally unique gift for each of them that not only says, “Hey- thanks for agreeing to hold my dress while I pee” but also says, “You mean more to me than words can say, so here’s a special gift to show just how much I appreciate YOU being here with me on the most important day of my life.”

So how exactly do you go about choosing such unique gifts for such important people?! It can certainly be overwhelming, especially when you add it to your ever growing list of wedding to-dos (seriously – does anything ever get crossed off that list?!). Lucky for you, we’re here to help! Whether you’ve always had a hard time picking out gifts for other people (a gift card can be meaningful… right???) or you just need a little inspiration to help you along because your brain is absolutely fried from trying to figure out what color napkin is that perfect shade of blush pink you were going for, we’ve got you covered :)

These are just some suggestions to help guide you on your path to selecting the perfect gifts for the people you love most on your wedding day, (the girls AND the guys!). As you read through the post, scroll your mouse over the text and click on the links to bring you to shops that offer these fun and whimsical gift ideas! Do you have some other super awesome ideas that we didn’t include?? Feel free to share them with us in the comments!!

1. A custom drawing. (And don’t worry – no one expects you to bust out your Crayolas and draw these yourself. Thank God for Etsy, am I right?!) This is one of our favorite unique and meaningful gift ideas. It could be a fun and whimsical drawing of the two of you together or maybe a watercolor of their beloved dog, Chewbarka. Or maybe a cool art deco drawing of their hometown or your alma mater! If you’ve been friends since you were little kids you could go even more personal and give them a drawing of the childhood house they grew up in – the house you spent hours playing in together when you were just wee little tots. The options are endless and are sure to show just how much your special friends mean to you.

2. Personalized jewelry. You might be thinking, “um, this is not a unique idea. Everyone gives jewelry to their bridesmaids,” but not like this they don’t! Leave the matching pearls and color coordinating earrings at home and opt for more customizable ideas like these beautiful Latitude & Longitude bangle bracelets or these super sweet and dainty monogrammed necklaces using just her initials or go true bff style and use hers and your initials together. Or these! Or these! There are so many unique jewelry options on the worldwide web you’re sure to find something special and unique for each bridesmaid!

3. A handmade journal filled with memories. Ok, this one takes a little extra work on your part but if you have a small wedding party made up of just a couple of your absolute closest and longest friends and you happen to be a little crafty or extra sentimental then this might just be the option for you. Find a cool journal like this or this and personalize it to include inside jokes, special memories, the story of how you met, what you see for your future together as best friends forever, photos of you looking wonderfully and horribly 90s together, meaningful song lyrics, poems and other special things that represent your unique and sometimes awkwardly fantastical friendship. 

4. A hand embroidered heirloom handkerchief because who wants to carry around a wad of tissues all day?? (And seriously.. where are you hiding those things anyway??) If you know your ladies (or guys!) can get emotional and you’re expecting some tears to be shed on wedding day then give the gift of beautifully dry tears! These gorgeous personalized handkercheifs are the perfect accessory to carry around with them throughout the day and also make great keepsakes (after you wash them, of course!).

5. Locally made goods. Who doesn’t love something that was handmade with love by someone in their own hometown?! Locally made goods like these truly have a special place in our hearts. For those of you who, like us, are native to Buffalo, there’s the deliciously scented bath and body goods from Zandra Beauty, (one of the most incredible, sweet as pie, talented teenage Buffalonian entrepreneurs ever. Seriously – this girl is still in high school and she blows our mind with how amazing her products are and how humble and sweet she is). The super awesome scrubs, lip balms and beard butters from EllePeaTee. There’s also the incredibly beautiful handmade customizable decor and kitchen goods from Kitch Studios. These are just a few of our favorite Buffalo makers but there are tons more out there! And if you’re not from Buffalo, fear not! Etsy has the search ability to find makers based on your specific location so we’re certain that you, too, can find amazing makers near you!

6. Handmade soy candles. What’s so special and unique about a candle, you ask? Well, THESE are not your average candles. First off, we have to say, thank God for Ms. Betty and her amazing sense of humor- perfect for the wedding party who isn’t afraid to get sassy and sarcastic (seriously… click that link. The labels are incredible). And then for our more PG friends who love to bond over books, there’s Frostbeard’s handmade soy candles for book lovers. Whether your friends are Potter Heads, or into the classics, there’s something at Frostbeard’s for every book nerd! If you’re looking for insanely deliciously scented candles without the silly and sarcastic labels, try out Linwood Candle Co. (another amazing Buffalo maker!). The Sweet Grapefruit scent is our favorite!!

7. Handmade beer and wine bath products. Yes, you read that correctly. For your friends who love wine and craft beer, give them the gift of bathing in it! Well, sort of. But really- these handmade all natural wine and beer based skin care products and craft beer soaps are pretty freaking awesome. Who knew that wine actually had amazing anti-oxidants in it, perfect for skin care?! And on that note, what guy wouldn’t want to slather his face in craft beer shave soap for the best shave of his life?! Heck, we’re even thinking of growing some facial hair ourselves just to be able to try it out!

And last but not least…

8. The perfect greeting card because what gift is truly complete without one?? If you’re like us and absolutely dread dragging yourself to the drug store just to stand in the middle of the card aisle and stare mindlessly at the over abundance of painfully sappy and horribly bland greeting cards, you’ll LOVE Silla Rojo. Created by one of our very own Ayres Photography brides, the ever amazing Sarah Mosser, Silla Rojo is stocked with absolutely hilarious, unique and colorful greeting cards. If you really are sorry for what you said when you were hangry, Sarah gets it. And she’s probably already designed the perfect card for you and your friends. (And, flashing back to idea #1, she also does super amazing pet and home illustrations!! A woman of many talents). If you’re a Buffalonian who loves to stay loyal to the locals, there’s also the ever talented Rust Belt Love, located right in the heart of Downtown Buffalo in the Market Arcade building. With a wide variety of greeting cards ranging from “potty mouth all the way down to sweet” you’re definitely sure to find the perfect cards for your perfect wedding party!

Hopefully this list filled with fun and sentimental gift ideas helped you to zero in on that perfect present for your incredible and unique friend(s)! We’d love to hear which ideas were your favorite and what items really struck a cord with you. Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Looking to get a super amazing wedding day gift for your fiance?? Check out what this bride bought for her groom!