One Outfit or Two? What to Wear for Your Perth Pre-Wedding Photoshoot

One of the most common questions I receive from couples travelling to Western Australia is:

“Should we have one outfit or two?”

Choosing between one outfit and two is one of the biggest decisions couples make when exploring pre-wedding photoshoot outfit ideas. The right choice depends on your session length, locations and whether you want relaxed photographs, formal portraits or a combination of both.

However, if your session timeline allows, adding a relaxed second outfit can completely change the feel of your gallery.

The best pre-wedding photoshoot outfit ideas are not simply about choosing beautiful clothes. They are about creating variety, matching your surroundings and making sure you feel comfortable enough to be yourselves.

Pre-Wedding Photoshoot Outfit Ideas for Perth Locations

The short answer is:

• Choose one outfit for a shorter session at one location.
• Choose two outfits when you have enough time, multiple locations or want a mixture of relaxed and formal photographs.

For a 60 to 90-minute session, one carefully chosen outfit will usually create a smoother experience. You can spend more time photographing and less time changing, touching up makeup and reorganising everything.

For a longer session, two outfits can give your gallery much more variety. My favourite combination is:

• A comfortable casual outfit to begin
• A wedding gown and suit for sunset

Rather than thinking about this as two outfits, think of it as creating two different experiences.

One feels relaxed, playful and natural.

The other feels timeless, cinematic and romantic.

If you are still deciding how much you would like to fit into your session, start with my guide to the best pre-wedding photo locations in Perth and Western Australia. Your locations and travel time will help determine whether an outfit change is worthwhile.

Why I Recommend Starting Casual and Finishing Formal

I usually recommend beginning your Perth pre-wedding photoshoot in your casual outfit.

At the start of the session, you are still becoming comfortable in front of the camera. Wearing something familiar makes it easier to move naturally, laugh together and settle into the experience without feeling overly posed.

Your casual session might include walking, exploring, sitting together or simply enjoying the location. It creates the candid, intimate photographs that reflect what your relationship feels like away from the wedding day.

As the afternoon progresses and the light becomes softer, you can change into your formal wedding attire.

Sunset is usually the perfect time for the gown, suit, veil and bouquet to appear. The softer light, movement in the dress and changing colours in the sky create the romantic photographs many couples imagine displaying at their reception.

It also gives the session a natural sense of progression—from an afternoon adventure together to something more elegant and cinematic.

When One Outfit Is the Better Choice

Two outfits are not automatically better.

One outfit may be the right choice when:

• Your session is 90 minutes or shorter
• You are photographing at only one location
• There is nowhere private or convenient to change
• Your location requires a long walk
• You want a simple and unhurried experience
• Your main priority is formal photographs for your reception

A single outfit can still create plenty of variety through movement, different backgrounds, changing light and a mixture of wide, intimate and candid photographs.

I would rather give you a relaxed experience in one outfit than squeeze two looks into a timeline that leaves you watching the clock. Outfit changes are useful only when they support the experience—not when they take over the afternoon.

What to Wear for a Casual Pre-Wedding Photoshoot

Your casual outfit does not need to be elaborate.

Choose something that feels like an elevated version of what you would normally wear together. You should be able to walk comfortably, sit down, move naturally and enjoy the location without constantly adjusting your clothing.

Avoid large logos, fluorescent colours and very busy patterns. These can draw attention away from your expressions and compete with the surrounding landscape.

You do not need to wear identical colours. Instead, choose tones that complement each other.

For example:

• Cream with soft blue
• Beige with olive
• White with warm brown
• Sage with neutral linen
• Dusty blue with charcoal
• Ivory with navy

The goal is to look connected without appearing as though you have arrived in matching uniforms. Your relationship already matches—you do not need identical shirts to prove it.

Perth Pre-Wedding Photoshoot Outfit Ideas by Location

Western Australia offers everything from calm city beaches to white sand dunes, rugged coastlines and towering forests. Your outfit should complement the environment while still feeling like you.

The following pre-wedding photoshoot outfit ideas will help you choose colours and fabrics that complement each Western Australian location.

Perth Beaches

Soft, light colours photograph beautifully beside the ocean.

Consider:

• White
• Ivory
• Beige
• Linen
• Soft grey
• Sage green
• Light blue

Flowing fabrics work particularly well near the coast because they create movement in the breeze.

Perth beaches can become windy and cooler around sunset, even after a warm day. Check the Bureau of Meteorology’s Perth climate information when planning your travel dates, and bring a warm layer that you can wear between photographs.

Lancelin Sand Dunes

The bright white dunes reflect a lot of light, so warm and earthy colours create beautiful contrast.

Consider:

• Cream
• Warm beige
• Camel
• Mocha
• Chocolate brown
• Rust
• Olive green

Long dresses and textured fabrics can look incredible against the simplicity of the dunes. However, the sand is soft, so comfortable footwear is essential while walking between locations.

If Lancelin is on your list, read my guide to planning a Lancelin Dunes pre-wedding shoot before choosing your outfits.

Margaret River Coast

Margaret River offers rugged cliffs, beaches, open skies and dramatic natural textures.

Beautiful colour choices include:

• Champagne
• Cream
• Dusty blue
• Soft sage
• Warm neutrals
• Muted peach

For suits, charcoal, navy and earthy brown tones photograph beautifully against the coastline.

Because many Margaret River locations involve rocks, uneven paths and changing coastal weather, bring walking shoes and change into formal shoes once we reach the photography spot.

You can see how travel, outfit changes and sunset work together in my Perth South West pre-wedding shoot itinerary.

Boranup Forest

The towering trees and filtered light of Boranup Forest create a softer, moodier atmosphere.

Colours that work particularly well include:

• Cream
• Ivory
• Olive
• Rust
• Soft brown
• Muted green
• Warm beige

Natural colours allow the forest to remain an important part of the photograph without making you disappear into the background.

Boranup also pairs beautifully with a coastal location. A softer casual look can work among the trees before changing into formal attire for sunset near the ocean.

If you are planning professional styling, my Margaret River pre-wedding hair and makeup guide includes artists I trust and advice for planning your appointment around the shoot.

How Much Time Should You Allow for an Outfit Change?

An outfit change is rarely as quick as changing a shirt.

You may also need time for:

• Finding a suitable changing place
• Adjusting the wedding gown
• Touching up hair and makeup
• Changing shoes and accessories
• Preparing the bouquet and veil
• Travelling between locations

As a general guide, allow approximately 15 to 30 minutes for a complete outfit change and touch-up.

This does not mean the session needs to feel rushed. I help plan the order of the locations and outfits so the change fits naturally into the experience.

Keep Hair and Makeup Changes Simple

You do not need two completely different hairstyles or makeup looks.

Small adjustments can make the outfits feel distinct without adding unnecessary stress.

For example:

• Wear your hair down during the casual session
• Change to a low bun or half-up style for the formal photographs
• Touch up your foundation and lipstick
• Add earrings, a veil or a statement accessory
• Remove or add a jacket for your partner

If you are travelling outside Perth, consider whether your stylist will travel with you or whether you will be comfortable completing the touch-ups yourself.

The aim is to refresh your look—not begin an entirely new hair and makeup appointment on the side of a sand dune.

Should You Bring Your Wedding Dress to Perth?

If your wedding gown has already been fitted and altered, bringing it with you will usually give you the most reliable fit and styling.

You already know how it feels, how it moves and which accessories work with it. You also avoid spending part of your holiday attending fittings or exchanging rental dresses.

If you are flying from Singapore, check your airline’s baggage requirements before travelling. Singapore Airlines provides specific guidance for carrying wedding dresses, including carry-on, checked-baggage and extra-seat options.

I explore this decision in more detail in my guide, Should You Bring Your Wedding Dress to Australia or Rent One?

Do You Need a Bouquet?

A bouquet is not essential, but it can add colour, texture and movement to your photographs.

It also gives your hands something natural to hold during formal portraits.

For a timeless look, consider:

• White roses
• Cream garden roses
• Baby’s breath
• Eucalyptus
• Soft peach flowers
• Neutral dried florals
• Green and white arrangements

For Lancelin, dried or structured flowers often cope better with travel and wind. Along the coast, softer bouquets can complement the movement of your gown and veil.

Your bouquet should support your outfit and surroundings rather than compete with them.

Comfort Always Comes First

Even the most beautiful pre-wedding photoshoot outfit ideas will not work if your clothing prevents you from walking, moving or relaxing naturally.

The most beautiful outfit will not help if you cannot breathe, walk or relax in it.

Pack a small bag with:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water
• A warm jacket
• Makeup for touch-ups
• Hairpins
• Tissues
• Fashion tape
• A towel for beach sessions
• A garment bag for your formal outfits

You can remove the practical items before the photographs begin. Nobody will know there was a pair of sneakers hiding beneath the gown five minutes earlier.

Most importantly, choose clothing that lets you focus on each other rather than constantly checking how you look.

What to Wear for a Casual Pre-Wedding Photoshoot

When couples begin planning their pre-wedding photoshoot, it is easy to focus entirely on finding the perfect dress.

I believe it is more important to create the right experience.

The outfits are only one part of the story.

The laughter while walking between locations. Watching the sunset together. Exploring somewhere new. The wind catching your veil. The quiet moment you share after the camera is lowered.

Those are the moments that give your photographs meaning.

If you have enough time, a casual outfit followed by formal wedding attire creates a beautifully varied gallery. If your session is shorter, one thoughtfully chosen outfit can feel equally complete.

There is no single correct way to style your Perth pre-wedding photoshoot. The best choice is the one that suits your personalities, locations and the experience you want to remember.

Planning Your Perth Pre-Wedding Photoshoot?

Your outfit decision should follow the location and flow of the day. Start by choosing the right Western Australia pre-wedding location, then decide how many locations you genuinely need. My guide to what happens during a Perth pre-wedding shoot will help you understand where outfit changes fit into the experience.

Every pre-wedding session I photograph is planned around your personalities, travel itinerary and the kind of experience you want to create.

Whether you are dreaming of a relaxed afternoon on a Perth beach, the white dunes of Lancelin or a dramatic Margaret River sunset, I will help you coordinate your locations, timeline and outfits so everything feels effortless.

Explore my Perth pre-wedding photography packages, or get in touch to start planning your Western Australian pre-wedding adventure.