The Brilliantly Awkward 80s Engagement Shoot That Started at a Bottomless Brunch | Lisa & Sian

Bubblegum, big hair, dramatic yearbook poses, and a competition I probably should not have run after quite that many pornstar martinis.

Some of the best things in life come from questionable decisions made at a bottomless brunch, and this shoot is the proof!

Picture the scene. I was out enjoying said bottomless brunch, a little bit tipsy (okay, a lot), when I had the genius idea to run a competition on my Instagram stories. The prize? A free photo shoot. The challenge? Guess exactly how many pornstar martinis I had put away. And history was made, because Lisa guessed correctly and won herself a shoot.

Two brides-to-be blow a bubblegum bubble at their 80s themed engagement shoot

Enter the 80s

When we started arranging it, Lisa threw out the most magnificent suggestion: what if we did a deliberately awkward, 80s themed engagement shoot? YES. A thousand times yes. I was one hundred percent, completely and utterly on board. I bought myself a pack of Hubba Bubba for authenticity, we spent a happy while mood-boarding the most gloriously cringe poses we could find, and a plan was born.

Awkward 80s style engagement portrait of a same-sex couple in the woods
Fun 80s themed engagement shoot pose in the woodland

The main event

And then the day itself. I could gush about how brilliant Lisa and Sian were, how game they were for absolutely anything, how they threw themselves into every ridiculous pose with total commitment. But I think, in this case, the pictures really do say it better than I ever could.

So I will simply present to you: the chin-on-hands dreamy yearbook gazes. The synchronised high kicks. The bubblegum. The dramatic woodland staring. Everything an awkward 80s dream is made of, delivered flawlessly by two people who clearly do not take themselves too seriously. My kind of couple!

Classic awkward yearbook chin-on-hands pose at an 80s themed engagement shoot
Playful leg-kick pose on a tree stump at an 80s themed engagement shoot
Dramatic reclining pose at an 80s themed engagement shoot
Couple draped over a fallen log at their 80s themed engagement shoot
Same-sex couple on a wooden bridge at their 80s themed engagement shoot
Playful moment on a fallen log at an 80s themed engagement shoot
Couple peeking through spring flowers at an 80s themed engagement shoot
Affectionate couple by the lake at their 80s themed engagement shoot

The best bit

Here is the part that gets me right in the feels. Lisa and Sian loved these photos so much that they secretly had them framed and dotted all around their wedding venue as a surprise for their guests to find and giggle at throughout the big day. Which means this daft, joyful little shoot became a proper part of their wedding story. I could NOT love that more!

Fancy a shoot of your own?

Whether you want soft and romantic, or gloriously silly and completely you, an engagement shoot is such a lovely way to get comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day (and, occasionally, to relive the 80s). If that sounds like your idea of fun, I would love to hear from you. Head over to my contact page and let’s dream up something brilliant.

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