Engagement pictures, though not a vital part of the wedding, are an important part of a memorable wedding. Many people choose to get engagement pictures for several reasons- here are a few:

Engagement Announcements- This can be either an ad in a newspaper, an announcement sent to friends and family, or an invitation to an engagement party. It is nice to have a picture for these things so that friends and family can see what your fiance looks like (if they haven't met him) and visa versa for his family. Plus, you can show off how extremely happy you two are together.

Wedding Scrapbook- Some brides decide to document the wedding from the engagement to the honeymoon in a scrapbook. It is a very fun idea, and can be used as an activity at the bridal shower (decorating pages). Of course, pictures are a necessity for scrapbooks, so an engagement picture is a must.

Personal Use- If you had a short relationship, or just didn't ever get around to taking pictures together, an engagement photo is a great time to do it. It's nice to be able to have a picture in your wallet to show people when you talk about your fiance and subsequent marriage.

Wedding Invitations- Some couples actually choose to incorporate an engagement picture into their invitations. This is done either by putting a picture in with the invitation (with a layer of tissue paper to protect it), or actually printing the picture on the invitation/ printing the invitation on a picture. Even though it is uncommon, it is easy enough and adds a fun element to your invitations that guests love.

If you are not sure about getting engagement photos, see if your photographer has a wedding package deal that comes with them, or see if the package you chose has engagement pictures available at a cheaper rate. It may just tip the scale enough to finalize your decision to get them or not.