Save the date photo ideas: photographer taking a photo of a couple at the beach

Before your wedding date comes invitations, and before invitations come save the dates. As you’re prepping for your big day, you might have a photoshoot in mind to create beautiful save the dates featuring you and your partner. But what should you do for your photos? 

We have lots of save the date photo ideas to share! Peruse our list, along with some gorgeous templates you can customize, and find an idea that excites you.

1. Meaningful Location

For a special shoot you’ll look back on with fondness, pick a location that’s significant to you as a couple. This could be:

  • Where you met: Go to the place your love story started, whether that’s a bar, a restaurant, a coffee shop, your university, or even your office!
  • Where you’re from: Go to your hometown or somewhere around the city you live in. Favorite landmarks or romantic lookouts with a view of the city skyline are always nice choices. 
  • Your favorite place: Is there a particular park you walk your dog at every day? Is there a lookout bench you go to on dates? Is there an ice cream shop where you’re a regular? Figure out how to do a shoot there so that your pics feature your favorite spot.
  • Where you fell in love: Is there a spot you associate with falling in love? Maybe it’s the exact spot you confessed your love for one another, or perhaps it’s a place you realized you were in love. It could even be a city you no longer live in. Schedule your save the date photoshoot there!

2. Formal Outfits

Put on your best outfits for your engagement photos. You could purchase special outfits so you’re in fresh new duds or even use a rental service like Rent the Runway or Nuuly to get higher-end clothes at a low price. Or, you could pull out your favorite formal dress or suit that you don’t get to wear often. This save the date photo idea is right on target for a black tie wedding announcement, as it sets the tone for your event.

3. Center the Ring

We bet you’re super proud of that engagement ring, so why not make it the center of attention? After all, it’s more than just bling. It’s a symbol of your everlasting love and commitment to each other. We adore wedding photos where a couple is embracing, and the rock is showcased on a hand casually draped over a partner’s shoulder or curved around their neck. Try emulating the pose above at your engagement shoot.

4. Seasonal Shoot

Embrace the season you’re in — literally. A super practical engagement photo idea is to celebrate the season, like so:

  • Winter: Bundle up and snap your photos in the snow. You may need to seek higher ground to find snow, in which case, snowy mountain photos will be epic. If you don’t have snow, see if you can find pine trees or Christmas lights.
  • Spring: Head to your nearest cherry blossom trees for a breathtaking shoot under falling petals. Find bursting blooms of any type, actually, and spend time among the flowers.
  • Summer: Go to a body of water! Whether it’s the beach, the lake, or the river, soak up the sun at a beautiful spot nearby. Getting in the water leads to ultra-romantic shots.
  • Fall: Play in the leaves at a park, stroll down a color-changing, tree-lined street, pick pumpkins, or bundle up in scarves and beanies and sip on coffee through foggy windows.

5. City Photoshoot

Mod Mood Save the Date

Matching Design: Mod Mood Save the Date

An urban photoshoot makes for an ultra-cool save the date. Head to the nearest city and go to a rooftop. It could be a rooftop bar or hotel deck, but a clever hack is to head to the top of a parking structure. It’s free, you don’t need to have a reservation, and there will most likely be no one else there. Get the city skyline or some skyscrapers in the background to set the tone.

6. Black and White

As you talk to photographers, consider whether you want a black and white photo for your save the date card. Some photographers love color and are strictly against B&W, while others do almost exclusively black and white for their portfolio. We love a black and white photo — it’s slightly moody, a bit dramatic, and cuts out any distractions. All there is to see is your beautiful faces looking more in love than ever. This is such a cute save the date idea!

7. Beach Shoot

The beloved beach shoot is one of the most popular save the date picture ideas, and for good reason. The rolling waves, sweeping sand, and uninterrupted horizon make for a special view. The wedding photography industry is very accustomed to beach shoots, so there’s a high likelihood your chosen photographer will have a preferred beach and will guide you with an expert hand. If you’re having a destination wedding somewhere beachy, this is an even better idea — it’s a bit of foreshadowing!

8. Cozy at Home

This creative save the date idea is so underrated — have a comfortable photoshoot in your own home! Home is where you can be the most yourself. It’s the perfect vibe for a couple nervous about being the center of attention — you’ll be in a private space with everything you need at your fingertips. You’ll also capture your home or apartment at this exact phase of your life, which will forever be special if you move after your wedding (or at all)! You’ll always have photos of this home where you and the love of your life were in your wedding planning era.

9. Golden Hour

The golden hour is an excellent choice for the vision and theme for your photos. This magical early evening time, right before the sun sets, is characterized by warm, glowy light thanks to the sun being low on the horizon. Instead of being covered in harsh shadows, you and your partner will look naturally stunning. Schedule your photoshoot for golden hour and get ready to fall in love with the pics.

10. Bring Props

This is another creative idea to help ease your nerves — bring props! Try a blanket, a bouquet, a hat, a parasol, or a picnic basket. These lead to fun poses and hopefully a relaxed time together. 

Or, bring something that represents your hobbies and interests:

  • Watercolors/paints: Do some type of art together for the shoot; your photographer will be so excited!
  • Board games: If your friends and family know you two as the ones who always bring a board game wherever you go, bring one to your photoshoot!
  • Books: If you and your partner are constantly curled up on the couch with your Kindles, pack books to read for the photos.
  • Your pets: Bring your fur babies along for a session full of cuddles and kisses. You can even capture a shot with your pet’s paw placed on top of both of your hands to showcase your little family. 
  • Wine or beverages: A champagne toast or sipping from straws out of Diet Coke cans can make for sweet pictures.
  • Food: Eating won’t make for the cutest shots, but a charcuterie spread or a celebratory cake will certainly lead to beautiful photos. So will cooking together — we can see you slow-dancing in the kitchen now!

Steal Our Save the Date Photo Ideas

Are you getting excited for your photoshoot? We hope these save the date ideas lead to beautiful designs that you’ll be thrilled to send out. (Here’s a guide on when to send a save the date, if you need it!). 

With Greenvelope, you don’t have to waste paper or postage on postcards or save the date magnets. You can get your wedding date in inboxes when it matters most — ASAP! Most of our save the dates are part of beautiful digital wedding stationery suites that include a wedding invitation and a thank you card. You’ll be able to find something that matches your wedding theme in just a few scrolls. Happy hunting!