Photo by Sweet Little Photographs
After Monday's engagement post I was getting lots of requests on where to get Ali's look. Who could blame them?! She looks amazing! Well, today is your lucky day because I'm about to break it down for ya! 
Dress, Lip Gloss, Earrings, Nail Polish, Luminizer, Heels
Ali's style is clean and classic with a little bit of prep thrown in for good measure. She loves to look effortlessly chic and (especially due to her incredible height) this style totally suits her. When Ali and I started talking about outfit ideas for her and Tyler's engagement shoot she had some criteria. She knew she wanted it to be an elevated version of what she would normally wear, she wanted to show off her legs and she wanted to feel comfortable. Ali also tends to gravitate towards neutrals which don't always photograph well. Since we wanted them to stand out among the setting of the Sutro Baths we decided that some color was the way to go. So the challenge was to find a color that Ali loved and felt great in, that also worked well in photographs. Ali is also not a huge fan of big accessories. While she loves a great earring or necklace, they are usually smaller pieces and meant to compliment her style not be the statement. Since we were "elevating" her look we liked the idea of a dress that had some texture and detail in it to create visual interest without tons of jewelry.
The Dress - This gorgeous Nanette Lepore dress was perfect for Ali because it showed off incredible legs as well We wanted to show them off in a classy and stylish way. This dress also was a great color for Ali and the lace detail added the perfect detail without a ton of jewelry. Ali got this dress from Rent The Runway which is an amazing source for women who have high end taste but who don't want to spend a ton every time they have an event. You can rent a dress (they send you a few sizes to make sure it fits) for a few days for a fraction of the price! Such a smart idea.
Heels - Ali owned a pair of great nude pumps and opted to wear them opposed to getting something new. I always suggest that if you are going to be in heels for a long period of time, it's better for them to be broken in. Also, we didn't want anything competing with that dress! The nude heel also didn't add any lines so her legs weren't cut off and looked even longer! If you don't own a pair of nude heels, you should probably go shopping right now! They are so versatile and flattering.
Earrings - Ali wore the Stella and Dot drop earrings shown above to add a little bit of color and to accentuate her eyes. They were the perfect way to complete the look.
Makeup - One thing I always suggest to brides who are having their engagement pictures taken is to get their hair and makeup done. I know it may seem frivolous, but unless you are a whiz at doing your own, it's nice to know you are going to look put together and great without you having to stress. Ali went to Bare Escentuals to have her makeup done and they did a fabulous job. She looks like she's glowing! The makeup has a golden hue and looks very soft and natural. I'd like to have that look every day!
Hair - Ali had her hair blown out at a Blow Dry Bar near her house. Blow Dry Bars are the new up and coming thing and I couldn't be a bigger advocate of them. They are usually very affordable and you always leave feeling fantastic! Ali started with a soft updo before taking it down for the next look. She told her hair stylist that she was going to take it down which was important so she knew how to add the bobby pins. We decided Ali's hair should be up with the Nanette Lepore dress because we didn't want anything to compete with the neckline and it felt cleaner.
Nails - Since everything except for the dress was light and complimentary Ali decided to go with the Shellac color "Beau". How fitting! It's important to have manicured nails ESPECIALLY for engagement pictures because there is a possibility that their will be a lot of photographs featuring your ring or up close shots of your hands. I'm a huge fan of Shellac because it lasts for so long. I also think they tend to look more polished (pun intended) because they won't smudge at all when you leave the nail salon. Like I always say... "Once you Shellac, you never go back!!!"
And there you have it! Ali's complete look from her engagement pictures broken down for your viewing pleasure. I didn't mention the most important accessory because it's quite personal to each bride. But, I should mention that the number one, most important thing in your engagement photos (besides you!!!) is of course your uber attractive fiance. =) The best thing you can do is relax, enjoy your time with your fiance and it will make for killer photos in the end.
xoxo,
Melanie
Melanie
