Not sure how to put together jaw dropping bridal boudoir outfits? In this guide I’ll walk you through what bridal boudoir is, what to wear, where to shop, and even how to style your looks.

What is bridal boudoir?

Bridal boudoir is a style of photography where brides pose for spicy or glamorous photos to present to their partner as a wedding gift. It's a personalized and romantic experience capturing the client’s beauty, confidence, and anticipation leading up to their wedding day. These images serve as an intimate gift for their partner and a timeless keepsake of their journey to matrimony.

Why do Brides do Boudoir Shoots?

Brides choose to do boudoir shoots for a variety of meaningful reasons:

• Create an Unique Gift for Their Partner: Boudoir photography offers brides a memorable and personal way to surprise their partner with a heartfelt gift. These images can make for a deeply meaningful wedding or honeymoon present, symbolizing their shared love and intimacy.

• Practice Being on Camera Before the Big Day: Many brides are camera-shy or have never done a professional photoshoot before. A boudoir session is a wonderful way to practice being in front of the camera, learning to pose, as well as how to feel comfortable and relaxed in front of a camera. By the time the wedding day arrives, they’ll feel more prepared and at ease, ready to shine in every shot​​.

• Capture the Moment: The time leading up to a wedding is full of excitement and anticipation, and a boudoir shoot allows brides to document it.

• Feel Beautiful and Confident: For many brides, a boudoir shoot is an opportunity to embrace and celebrate their body, capturing a moment of confidence and self-love before stepping into a new chapter. The experience can be empowering, helping brides see themselves in a beautiful light​​.

When to do a Bridal Boudoir Session

You’ll want to do your session at least a few months before your wedding date, as the turnaround time for photos and albums is generally six to eight weeks.

Be sure to book in advance! Many studios, Earthly Venus included, can be fully booked during local wedding seasons. You want to lock in your photoshoot date on the calendar well in advance to be sure not to miss out on your opportunity to create an unforgettable wedding gift for your partner.

When to Give Your Fiancé Your Photos

I always recomend that my bridal clients give their partner their album to open the morning of their wedding. It’s such an unexpected time to receive such a personal surprise, and imagine seeing the nervous look of excitement on your partner’s face as you walk down the aisle! It’s such a memorable way to add an intimate touch to your special day.

Need help planning your perfect session? Download my FREE Ultimate Guide >>>

What do you Wear to a Bridal Boudoir Shoot?

Most bridal boudoir outfits are some type of lingerie or other revealing attire, however you only ever need to undress to your own level of comfort. Select sets that make you feel beautiful above all else. The goal is to make you look stunning while feeling confident and empowered!

• Your Wedding Ring: Incorporating your wedding ring into your boudoir photos adds a deeply personal and romantic touch, symbolizing the commitment and love leading up to your big day. Highlighting the ring—whether it’s by gently resting your hand on your collarbone, placing it near your face, or subtly capturing it in close-ups—adds a layer of intimacy and significance to each shot.

• White Lingerie: Whether you’re seeking timeless elegance, or a sultry slutty look, there are plenty of options for classic white wedding lingerie. The purity and sophistication of white lace or silk evoke a sense of romance and class. You can find sets adorned with delicate lace details, subtle embroidery, florals, straps, and more to set the stage for a beautifully ethereal, sultry, or delicate wifely aesthetic. And you can use a white set as a base for a look, incorporating your personality through the way you accessorize.

• Lace or Silk Robe: For a more relaxed, effortless and undone vibe, a lace or silk robe offers the perfect balance of comfort and allure. Wearing a robe can invoke the feeling of lounging together at your hotel on your honeymoon. Like you just rolled out of bed and woke up beautiful.

• Little White Dress: A white mini dress can be styled to evoke mystery and romance: think of soft off-the-shoulder looks, slipping one strap down, or pulling up the hem just slightly to reveal a bit of skin. Pair it with delicate lace lingerie underneath or leave a few buttons undone to create an inviting, teasing effect.

• Garter: Garters add a touch of allure to your legs, offering a seductive hint from underneath your wardrobe. Worn just above the knee or mid-thigh, garters highlight the curves of your legs and draw the eye with an irresistible charm.

• Veil: A veil in your boudoir photos adds an enchanting layer of mystery and romance, evoking both bridal elegance and captivating allure. Draped softly over your shoulders, pulled gently over your face, or cascading down your back, a veil creates a delicate, ethereal effect. You can play with it as you model to subtly reveal or conceal.

• Heels: Heels bring a striking, seductive element to your boudoir photos, adding confidence and enhancing your natural curves. Whether classic stilettos or lace-up styles, a pair of heels elongates your legs, accentuates your posture, and adds an undeniable edge of sophistication.

• Gloves: Gloves add a touch of vintage glamor and refined sensuality to your boudoir photos, creating an alluring contrast between covered and bare skin. Whether they’re silky, lace, or opera-length, gloves can be playfully used to accentuate your poses, drawing attention to your hands, arms, and even your face as you delicately adjust them or trace along your collarbone.

• Something Personal or Sentimental: Stir up heartfelt emotion and personal significance in your photos by incorporating something sentimental to your partner or your relationship. Do you two have matching pins? Did they gift you a funny shirt as an inside joke? What’s their favorite sports team? What can you steal from their closet that they’ll recognize when they see your images? You can choose an items that hold special memories or symbolizes significant moments in your relationship, or you can have something custom made as a nod to your relationship. When they open their book and see the easter eggs you’ve hid for them in your images, their hear will be warmed by the way these photos were clearly created specifically for them.

Do you Bring your own Outfits?

At most photoshoots you should plan on bringing your own outfits.

Your photographer may also have a client closet with additional outfits for you to choose from and wear. This is a curated collection of high-quality lingerie, robes, and accessories provided by the photographer for clients to use during their boudoir session. This closet often includes a variety of sizes, styles, and colors, offering options that flatter different body types and personal tastes. While using the client closet can be convenient and allows you to experiment with styles you might not own, it's still a good idea to bring some of your own outfits.

What to Consider When Choosing Your Pieces

Choosing the right outfits for your bridal boudoir shoot is about more than just looking beautiful—it’s about feeling confident, capturing your unique style, and telling a story that reflects the romance of your upcoming wedding. Here’s what to keep in mind as you plan your looks for the shoot:

• Size: Proper sizing is essential to make sure you feel confident and look your best. Whether you’re shopping online or in person, visit a local lingerie boutique to get your proper measurements before ordering. And remember to size yourself on the larger side — no one will know what the tag says, and you will not feel or look your best in your looks if your lingerie is uncomfortably squeezing your body.

• Fit: Poorly designed outfits can feel uncomfortable to wear, need constant readjusting as they awkwardly move around your body, and distort how you look. Choose items that are well made and enhance your natural shape.

• Your Style: Consider your unique style and how you want it to come through in your photos. Are you drawn to vintage elegance, with lace and delicate details, or do you prefer a more modern, edgy look? Whether you lean toward classic silhouettes, soft romantic vibes, or bolder, sultry aesthetics, let your personal taste guide your choices. The right style can help you feel empowered, authentic, and ready to showcase your personality in each shot.

• Imagining Fantasy Moments: Your album will be a collection of scenes, images, and moments for your partner to drool over. Define a mood or moment that resonates with your relationship or wedding. Imagine how each outfit can bring that moment to life in your photos.

Taking these factors into account when choosing your bridal boudoir outfits ensures that your session feels personal, authentic, and memorable, creating photos that capture the excitement, romance, and joy of this special time.

Where to Shop for Bridal Lingerie

• Adore Me Bridal Collection: Adore Me has a good range of fairly good quality bridal lingerie selections at very affordable prices.

• Amazon: We’ve even curated this shopping list of bridal wardrobe options for you!

• Agent Provocateur: As a lingerie snob, I’m a huge fan of Agent Provocateur. These are high quality, high fashion styles, but be warned they’re also a much higher price point than other sets on this list.

• The Bridal Edit from Empress Mimi: These sets are gorgeous, frilly and girly. I particularly love the details they put into their pieces, such as the pearl-lined under-busts.

• All Bridal from Fleur du Mal: Fleur du Mal has a wide range of elegant sets, featuring lace, vintage, and even gender-bending lace and silk boxer sets.

• For Love & Lemons Bridal: Everything from For Love and Lemons has a frilly, delicate, and girly feel to it. If you want cottage-core bridal energy, this is the brand you need to look for.

• Honey Birdette Bridal: This brand designs luxe, kink-inspired bridal sets.

• Intimissimi: Intimissimi has a lot of silk and lace looks with a particularly vintage feel to them.

• Savage X Fenti: This brand is incredibly affordable, and has a lot of inclusive sizes and nude tones.

• Victoria’s Secret Bridal: We all know about Victoria’s Secret, and while they may have traumatized you at one point or another, I promise they do have some really cute sets if you’re on the lookout for them.

Tips for Styling Bridal Boudoir Outfits

Styling your looks is all about creating a look that is as unique and multifaceted as you are. Thoughtful details and creative choices help bring a variety of moods and layers to the session, allowing you to capture your bridal essence with depth and elegance. Here are some tips for making your boudoir styling stand out:

• Layering for Variety: Adding layers, like robes, jackets, or even a soft sweater, can add a dynamic quality to your photos. Layers let you create different looks without fully changing outfits, allowing you to move seamlessly from covered, cozy shots to more revealing and provocative poses. This gives your photos a beautiful, story-telling-like progression.

• Playing with Colors Beyond White: While white is traditional for brides, soft hues like blush, champagne, and even delicate blues can add warmth and a hint of your personality to the shoot. These colors complement most skin tones and bring a romantic softness to your images. Blending these shades into your outfits—whether through lingerie, veils, or accessories—enhances the visual richness of your photos.

• Choosing the Right Footwear: High heels are a timeless choice for boudoir photos, as they naturally elongate the legs and add a touch of sophistication. Whether you opt for platforms, boots, strappy sandals, or delicate stilettos, choose a pair that feels natural to you and complements your outfits. Footwear can add polish and personality to each shot and bring an extra layer of elegance that enhances your overall look.

Styling your outfits thoughtfully can make your session feel even more personal and expressive. By using layers, exploring colors, and selecting the right footwear, you create an experience that captures the many facets of your style and celebrates the journey leading up to your wedding day.

Plan Ahead for a Stress-Free Session

Don’t wait until the last minute to start looking for your bridal boudoir outfits. Preparing ahead of time can make your session feel seamless, fun, and empowering. Giving yourself time to find the right pieces can help you avoid stress and find the perfect pieces.

Consult with Your Photographer

As your photographer, we’re here to guide you and make the session truly yours, so don’t hesitate to reach out! A pre-shoot style consultation gives you the chance to discuss everything from outfit choices and styling ideas to poses and themes that reflect your personality. This can help us to better understand your vision, so we can help you create images that capture exactly how you want to be seen.

Ready to Begin Your Boudoir Journey?

No matter the occasion, boudoir photography offers an empowering and unforgettable way to celebrate your story. Boudoir Photos NYC by Earthly Venus offers a powerful and transformative experience that goes beyond the lens. It’s an opportunity to explore your confidence, express your individuality, and create a lasting keepsake that reflects your strength and beauty. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, reclaiming your self-worth, or simply treating yourself to an empowering experience, this is the perfect opportunity to do so.

Get started on your boudoir journey by contacting me for a consultation. You can also download my free Ultimate Guide to Boudoir to learn how to make your photoshoot experience amazing. If you’re ready to embrace your journey and see yourself in a new light, book your session with me today.

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