Congratulations! He asked and you said yes! Exciting and wonderful times lay ahead for you both.  There’s nothing quite as exciting as planning a wedding but it’s so important to enjoy and capture the moments leading up to your wedding too, including your engagement. If you’ve recently started planning your engagement shoot, here is a checklist to keep on hand that will help you better prepare for it.

• Time & Date: Have several time and date options ready to go. Remember that your photographer might not be available on the date you had in mind so it’s best to have a few other options available.
• Location. Take some time choosing an engagement shoot location as it should not only represent you as a couple but be quiet enough for your photographer to take shots without anyone in the background.
• Schedule hair and makeup appointments. Now that you have a date set, schedule a hair and makeup appointment for the same day. Your groom-to-be should also cut his hair prior to the shoot to ensure he looks his best.
• Decide on outfits. Your location and the theme of your shoot will play a leading role in the outfits you choose. Select outfits that are appropriate for your location and make sure that you stay away from distracting prints and accessories.
• Get your nails done. Since there will be a lot of close up shots of your hands, it’s important to have your nails done if you want photos that look really good. Make sure that your partner’s nails are trimmed and clean too.
• Clean your ring. Your beautiful new engagement ring will be featuring in a lot of photos so make sure that it’s clean and sparkly for your shoot.
• Pack comfortable shoes. If you will be moving around to different spots in- between photos, have a pair of flat, comfortable shoes on hand to make this easier.
• Plan your wardrobe change. If you will be changing outfits during your shoot, make sure that you’ve also packed shoes and accessories to match.
• Bring water and snacks. Since you will be busy for an hour or two, it helps to have some light snacks and water on hand to keep you hydrated and energized.
• Don’t forget about touch-ups. You never know when you may need to touch up your lipstick or blot your face to get rid of excess oil and sweat so come prepared in terms of makeup and blotting paper.

Finally, aim to make a day out of it! Since you’re going to be all dressed up already, why not plan a lovely late lunch or early dinner after your engagement shoot to end the day off perfectly.