The team from Cote Designs and Pastel Makeup and Hair are on a roll this week after two beautiful features in two days! Be sure to check out their stunning Southern bridal inspiration with Stacy Bauer Photography we featured yesterday before you leave! We know that having your engagement portraits done can sometimes be stressful. It's often most couples' first time in front of the camera and let's face it, we just don't know which way to look. That's exactly why engagement sessions should be done. Get your practice in front of the camera before the big day. Let your photographer direct you so you know what they expect and will ask you to do. Get comfortable just being with your partner in public! That's right, your photographer will no doubt ask you to kiss in lots of different ways so start puckering up!

The reality is, you need to feel as comfortable as possible. And we know that our stylish brides want to look good too! So keep it personal, elegant and minimal. Choose your clothes and suit them to the season. We love how Ashley Seawell Photography and Cote Designs has dressed this couple in subtle Autumnal colours to keep it seasonable. With complementary florals and the cutest pooch we ever did see (!), this is one perfect engagement session. Making sure the couple feels natural and has plenty to interact with, Cote Designs used a picnic as a way to introduce food items and a relaxed feel to it all...

From Ashley: "We were inspired to curate a styled engagement session that reflected the autumn season in our equestrian community of Aiken, South Carolina. We took cues from the leaves that were beginning to change color and prepared culinary dishes that incorporated seasonal ingredients. The team at Cote Designs created foraged arrangements with local foilage, berries, hellebore, and pitcher plants."

Photography: Ashley Seawell Photography | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Floral Design and Styling: Cote Design | Hair and Makeup: Pastel Makeup and Hair | Catering: Donna Jannik Catering | Menswear: Lionel Smith (Aiken, SC) | Bride's ring: Floyd and Green | Bride's Necklace: Hello Darling

Posted in: Décor, DIY, Engagements, Florals & Bouquets, Hair & Make Up, Inspiration, Stationery, Style, Styled shoots Tags: Autumn, Best Wedding Blog, bouquet, Decor, DIY, Engagement session, Engagement shoot, Engagement shoots, Film, Fine art photography, Florals, green, How to Style Your Engagement Shoot, Picnic engagement, Rustic, Stationery