Gabby is the senior editorial director for Brides and has been a writer and editor for over ten years.

There's no doubt about it: For the average couple, the wedding day (or , if you're hosting a series of different events) is the most photographed experience of your entire life. The images captured aren't just the tangible memories of your wedding day -- they're also the ones you'll print and frame around your house, the photos that will fill the albums you thumb through with family and friends, and the snapshots you'll use on holiday cards. Choosing a -- one that builds off itself and pairs nicely with the attire your partner wears -- is essential in ensuring the photos captured on and around your big day are ones you'll cherish forever.

Don't confuse coordination with a need to be matchy-matchy, though. You want your attire to be harmonized and complementary, not identical. So, where do you start? According to stylist and BRIDES contributing fashion editor Corinne Pierre-Louis, it's all about choosing looks that build over the course of each event and pairs nicely with what your partner has selected. "The key to choosing wedding attire that builds off itself is to think of your wardrobe as a style story that progresses from casual to formal," Pierre-Louis says. "Consider the -- such as the welcome party, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and after-party -- and select pieces that gradually build in formality based on each occasion."

To illustrate how to build a wedding wardrobe that builds upon itself and your partner's looks, we styled The Bachelor's Grant Ellis and his date, Zoe McGrady, a mode, during her hometown date in New York City. "I used my exact approach when styling Zoe and Grant. Every outfit was tied to a wedding milestone -- specifically the engagement photos, welcome party, ceremony, and reception -- and I curated their looks by elevating the dress code for each," Pierre-Louis notes. "The goal was for each outfit change to feel like a seamless transition, building up to the most formal moment of their wedding story."

Here, we're sharing a wardrobe that includes looks for engagement photos, the welcome party, the wedding day itself, and the after-party. Plus, get more of Pierre-Louis's top tips for building a similar wardrobe for your own nuptial events.

Your engagement photos will likely feature on or , so this is a great first opportunity to introduce your wedding style to your loved ones. Are you more classic and formal, or do you want your attire to feel laid-back and casual? Think about how your outfits will play together, too. It's not just about how you both look aesthetically, but it's also about how you appear together -- the goal should be to appear as a united front.

Your welcome party or rehearsal dinner look will likely more formal than what you chose for your engagement photos, but it should still be more casual than what you'll wear on the big day itself. When selecting your attire for this event, consider colors and textures. If you like the idea of wearing the same hue, go for it; if not, consider how your different attire will play together.

Pierre-Louis dressed Grant in a pale blue suit that looked just right next to Zoe's white set -- the looks were cohesive in terms of formality, but their textures and colors were different. "Play around with color, fabrics, and accessories," she urges. "If one person is wearing blue, the other can opt for a white look with subtle blue detailing. This keeps the outfits cohesive without being too matchy-matchy."

The biggest thing to keep in mind when choosing complementary wedding attire? Formality. Zoe's dramatic ball gown pairs perfectly with Grant's classic black tuxedo -- both looks are elevated and fashion-forward, but still somewhat traditional. More importantly, both outfits look like they belong at the same event; you don't want to pair with a casual slacks-and-shirt look, just like you wouldn't pair a simple mini dress with a multi-piece tuxedo.

"You and your partner should think of yourselves as a unit, and your styles should enhance each other's looks," says Pierre-Louis. It's also important that the look you select feels like you -- not someone you think you need to be on your wedding day. "Don't wear anything that strays too far from your personal aesthetics," Pierre-Louis adds. "You want to look back at your photos and recognize each other. Essentially, if you choose something just because it's trendy at the moment, but not really you, there's a chance you both might regret it in the future."

At the end of the night, it's time to let loose. Grooms should take note of Grant's simple outfit switch -- taking off a jacket and unbuttoning the top of a dress shirt is all you need to do to create a more casual look, but you could certainly change into something else if you wanted. For Zoe, an embellished (one of the season's hottest fashion trends) was the perfect party-ready look.

"When coordinating with your partner, it's important to have a shared vision while still letting each person's style shine," Pierre-Louis notes. "Shopping together can be helpful if you want to see how your outfits match, but it's not always necessary."

Pierre-Louis also suggests looking at accessories as your unifying elements, which ensure you wear the look you really love but still feel connected to your partner's attire. "Accessories are another great way to tie everything together. Coordinating metals in jewelry, or even wearing shared details like monograms can subtly pull your styles together," she adds.