Our Engagement Shoot Part 2- How To Make The Most of Your Engagement

We finally did it! We had our engagement shoot.

Did you see them??

Did you love them??

Oh, we have more!!

This is part two of our shoot. Our look before THE LOOK. We decided to do two looks so we could get comfortable with Alix first and just have some fun walking around town! I love some of these shots and how playful they are! So casual... sipping an espresso, jumping on B. It's pretty much the daily routine! Haha..

But now... for some serious insight on being engaged for the past 7 months.  Let's get into my top tips for being engaged!


"Oh my gosh! Congratulations! I'm so happy for you... now when's the big day?!"

Um. Sorry? What... I literally got engaged five seconds ago.


That is pretty much how every conversation went down the months after we got engaged. Brandon proposed to me on vacation and from the moment we got home that's all we heard! Are you people serious?! All we wanted to do was enjoy being engaged and not rush into picking a date. It's such a special feeling. Even if you have been together for so long. It just feels different when you're engaged! You want to enjoy all the little moments that come along with this time. And most importantly remember it all! So to help you out, I'm sharing a few ways we have been making the most out of this special time!



1) Take in every moment.
Being engaged is not a countdown or timeline. It is a period of time. Why rush this? Just take the time to bask in each other's love and embrace. Get giddy and enjoy calling each other fiance for a while! It has such a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Take pictures, all the cheesy ones! Yes, with your hands in the air. And you best wave them around like you just don't care! We did it all! Hand up, holding the champagne glass, hand holding our lock on the love lock bridge in Paris. You will want to remember these little moments! When the wedding ball gets rolling, it will get rolling, and fast! Remember to slow down and make time stand still, even if just for a little bit.



2) Ignore the pressure.
Family, friends, colleagues, they all want to know-- when's the big day? You do not need to get caught up in all the wedding talk. You will set a date that works for you both and it will be magical. We got engaged in October and in January we finally picked a date and a venue! At times it was hard to admit that we didn't know when it would happen or hadn't started planning. But that's okay! We were just loving being engaged. Believe me, once you start planning it will feel like you've jumped on a high-speed train to the chapel so there is no need to get bogged down that nothing is in place yet. You will get there and you will get there fast once it starts.

3) Decide on a timeframe.
Okay, so I know I said to enjoy just being engaged and forget about the timeline, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Deciding on just a year, or month will make it all less stressful!  Most importantly, make the date realistic. What year are you thinking? What month? This will have a big impact on when you need to start venue searching.  We got engaged in October and knew we wanted to set a date for summer 2019, that way we would have ample time to plan. This timing also gave us a grace period where I didn't feel crazy anxious about not planning. I knew that once January came along the hunt would begin, which would give us around a year and a half to plan. Plenty of time in my eyes! Even as we were venue searching now, many places were still taking bookings for summer 2018. So I knew we were in the clear. Remember you can't pick a date without having a venue so don't get your heart set on a date as it may not be available for your ideal venue. The two go hand in hand (just like yours and your lovers... cheesy? I know!).



4) Brainstorm.
Here is where my eyes get real big, and a sly smile appears on my face. Ah, the Pinterest boards, the magazines, the wedding shows-- they can be so exciting! I would be lying if I said I didn't already have a wedding board on Pinterest before we got engaged, but this is the time when I started sectioning them out into venue looks, design elements, and decor. Just start collecting images that inspire you! Start compiling inspiring images and you will see a common theme starting to develop. I show them to B and it makes it so easy to see what he likes and doesn't. When I can't explain a design properly I can show him, and his reaction is a dead giveaway to see if he likes the idea or not. This part is fun and allows you to dream. What does your dream day look like? It can be out of reach-- even if just for a little while!



5) Stay true to yourself.
Guys, sometimes the FOMO is real. We all get it. The magazines, the Instagram accounts... they can be a little bit overwhelming and unrealistic. Most of the weddings chosen on these accounts and in the magazines showcase extremely elaborate florals, cakes, and decor. Remember that what is do-able for someone may not be do-able for you. Even if it is unrealistic it can still fun to look at and gain inspiration from. Just remember why you are in this and that is to be married! To commit yourselves to one another. The day will come and go and no one will be as focused as you are on the design elements. Stay true to the big picture and focus on the things you really want.



Does this help?! Let me know if you have any other suggestions. Do you have any wedding planning advice for me?! I'd LOVE to hear it!

All photos were taken by Alix Gould Photography.

Our Engagement Shoot Part 1- Top Tips to Plan Your Engagement Shoot

The date for our engagement shoot was booked months in advance. Back in February, May seemed so far away! It was... except that it totally crept up on us. I couldn't believe when I looked at my calendar and saw that it was a week away, and I had nothing planned! No outfits, no location, no ideas. Just a dream photographer and an evening session scheduled.

I hummed and hawed over the location for a good week. Should we do the Scarborough bluffs? What about Cherry Beach? Alix, our photographer, reminded me that the cherry blossoms were in peak season and suggested Trinity Bellwoods Park. I was so unsure-- the park is always flooded with people trying to capture the blossoms, and on a mild spring evening in the city, it was sure to be no different. Alix reassured me we would make it work and I'm so happy she did suggest Trinity Bellwoods because it ended up being perfect. We got two different looks in and had a fun evening galavanting around Queen West. After going through this whole process I took a few things away from it that I wanted to share our tips, along with our photos. I can't believe how they turned out. To say I am in awe is an understatement. If you're planning an engagement shoot and wondering how it make it go off without a hitch, here are my suggestions (for starters, get in touch with Alix to capture the most dreamy shots ever!!):

1. Decide on an area, not a specific location.  There are many different factors that can come into play when choosing a location and it can be so difficult to predict how anything will look on a specific day, let alone the moment you're there. People could be sitting on your favourite bench, the sun could be glaring in your eyes maybe there is even a dump truck that just won't move. For us, the day of was non-stop rain; I thought we were going to have to choose a different location as the blossoms were falling off the trees like hot cakes. Also, I did not want just a nature setting. So when we landed on Queen West/Trinity Bellwoods area I knew we would have a few different options.

2. Pick two different outfits and start with the one you like least. Having two different looks is a great way to get more bang for your buck. Alix also suggested we start with the outfit we liked least. This allows you some time to get past the awkward shots and get more comfortable with your photographer. We started with our casual outfit first and it gave us the time to get into our groove and really feel it. For me, it was also beneficial to start with the casual outfit first, as you can make your hair/makeup more dramatic after this shot is done. In terms of outfits, go with what you feel comfortable in. Choose less trendy pieces and focus on timeless. We went with white shirts for the casual. For our dressy look, there is no way I could not NOT wear this dress from Honey from the moment I laid eyes on it. It could be a wedding dress. It's stunning-- lace, backless, mermaid... it was me! Since everyone who knows me, knows I am obsessed with fresh flowers it was essential that I incorporate them into the shoot.  Wild North Flowers  created the most gorgeous reverse floral crown.  It was whimsical, soft, delicate and I love how you it could be captured from the back.  

3. Scope out a place to change. Trinity Bellwoods has public washrooms, but we opted to take advantage of the cute cafes in the area. We headed into Nadege (camera away!), for a coffee. Alix ended up sneakily snapping some pictures while we sipped our beverages and then we each took a few minutes to change in their washrooms. You want to maximize the amount of time you have with the photographer, so it helps when you have it mapped out so you are not spending ten minutes looking for a washroom. 

4. Save some photos of shots you like. I had saved tons of pictures on my Instagram account and sent Alix screenshots in advance. I even prepped Brandon with them in advance! Haha! In the moment you can kind of freeze and forget what you wanted to do, so it helps to have something to pull up if you need some inspiration. Other than that, don't focus on being so posed. Just have fun, and the beauty of your love will be captured!

5. Prep the night before. Pull out your outfits, make sure they are washed and ironed. Get all your shoes together and pack a little bag for make up touch-ups. Pack it all up and have it ready to go. This way you will forget nothing when it's time to go!

My heart floods every time I look at these images. Engagement shoots are seriously a fun, beautiful way to capture such a special time. Don't overlook it. And guys... there is  Part 2 to come! Our casual look and how to make the most out of your whole engagement is up next... 

Thank you to these amazingly talented people:

All photos taken by Alix Gould Photography
Floral crown by Wild North Florals
Dress by Honey