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The engagement portrait session is the precursor to your wedding day. You’ve likely put a few hours of thought and planning into the way you want the images to turn out. As an Atlanta, Georgia wedding photographer, I shudder to think there are people who do nothing with their lovely engagement photos. *Gasp!* Today I’m sharing with you 10 creative ways to use your engagement portraits.

#1 Create A Photo Wall

Creating a photo wall doesn’t have to happen all at once. Start with three of your favorite engagement photos and build out from there. Remember, you’ll have lots more to print once you get your wedding photos!

#2 Put Together A Coffee Table Scrapbook

This one will be more appealing to the creative types. However, making a scrapbook can be as simple or eccentric as you want it to be. If you’re not convinced, there’s always the option of ordering a photo album online.

#3 Create Wine Bottle Labels For Your Reception

I love Evermine for wine bottle labels! I am a sucker for anything that adds a little customization to the event and creating a set of wine bottle labels is a subtle way to do just that.

#4 Christmas Cards

Christmas is my favorite time of year so i’m all for this idea! Chase and I created our 2016 Christmas cards using our engagement photos and everyone loved them!

#5 Thank You Cards To Send Wedding Shower Guests

There are tons of websites these days that make it super easy to order things like this. You just upload what images you want to use, select the card design, click order and within a week or two they show up in your mailbox! Easy Peasy!

#6 Gifts to Parents, Grandparents, and In-Laws

This was one of our favorite things to gift our families the Christmas that followed our wedding. I create photo albums for our parents, prints with pretty frames, ordered prints for me and Chase, to name a few. Weddings are expensive and although I’m biased toward photographs, I do feel like we should be able to get the most out of all the money we spend on the wedding photography. After all, that’s all we have (besides the marriage, duh!) once the wedding has ended.

#7 Use Them On Your Wedding Website

Opt for photos that convey your true personalities. Posed images are nice and by all means, use a few of them on your site as well. Using the beautiful, very real, candid moments will evoke much more emotion from the guests who visit your wedding website! Plus, showing off the images that capture your authentic selves is just the best in general. 😉

#8 Create A Calendar

There are some really cool websites that offer calendar building. One of the most unique calendar’s I’ve seen was a Social Print Studio Calendar. They’re pretty affordable and small enough to use on a desk or kitchen counter.

#9 Start Using Your Wedding Hashtag

Post your photos to social media apps, like Instagram, using your wedding hashtag! Continue using your hashtag at other wedding festivities like bridal showers and the bachelorette trip!

#10 Print Your Favorite Photos for Table Decor At The Reception

Ideas for doing this can be as simple or as unique and eccentric as you want. Below is a list I’ve put together for inspiration. (While everyone is different and to each their own, this list is created to inspire ideas, not to suggest you should do everything on the list) 

• Printed 4×6 images, framed and placed on high-top tables during cocktail hour
• Framed 11 x 14 with matting around the photo for your guests to sign their names and write a warm message to the newlyweds
• Print and frame several of your favorites and place them on the gift table
• Purchase picture frames that fit the style of your wedding day and frame several images for the table that holds your ceremony programs
• Photo cut-out cake toppers
• Create cards to go on the center of the guests tables with one side showing an engagement photo and the other side listing funny or lesser known facts about the couple.

Your Turn!

Which idea was your favorite? What other ideas can you add to this list that I may not have mentioned? Drop a comment for me! I love hearing from my readers. 🙂

I’d like to grow my readership and reach more awesome people! Can you help me out by sharing this blog post?