read time: 8 minutes
Your wedding day details encompass a variety of things, from stationery and small signage to welcome bags and accessories you plan to wear! Heirloom pieces also make a great addition to your details. Our philosophy is that your details should look like a small snapshot of your overall wedding day style. And that's not a light job!
Below are our tips to curate the perfect wedding day details for your photographer!
Your details should look like a snapshot of your overall wedding day style
Your details have likely been thoughtfully planned and collected - and so we need to give them the moment they deserve! Styling details often takes about an hour for one photographer, so if you'd like your details photographed in a "layflat" style, it's important to set aside this un-interupted time in your getting ready timeline!
We will bring all the basic pieces - like a fabric to shoot on, trinkets and little additional pieces to make your details stand out as a piece of art. You add the style so your details tell the story of your day!
For destination events, we can even retrieve your details the day before and photograph them then! Just let us know if this is something you prefer and we can send over the information!
What are the wedding day details?
Gabby chose to have old images of her grandparents wedding with her for her bridal details
This is the style Kristen excels in and is highly coveted by her clients. This can also be called "Flay Lay Photography", where you details are expertly laid out on flat lay mats and include trinkets, floral and other heirloom pieces. Our photographers will bring a styling kit with things like vintage postage stamps, ribbons and ring boxes to incorporate in to your final photograph, if you'd like! This type of photography can range in timing and usually depends on how intricate each set-up is. A full hour is recommended for these photographs.
editorial style
A documentary style means photographing the details in their natural setting - using couches, beds, carpet or other items that show the details in full view. This is quicker for us to photograph and wouldn't require the same amount of time as an editorial style.
Documentary style
Different Photographers Approach Wedding Details in Different Ways
Getting the perfect blooms for your details
Floral can be one of the most important elements of perfect editorial detail photographs. Your florist can provide these blooms (ask about any additional costs). It's important the florals for flat lays arrive at the beginning of our coverage, otherwise we can't use them.
A large array of bloom-heavy pieces is ideal. The best flowers for us will lay flat once the bloom is cut off. These should also be a snapshot of your floral story! Our favorite florists have invited us to come pull whatever we need when we arrive - a huge benefit of having us all in the same place to start!
Planning to attach an heirloom locket to your bouquet? Or a custom ring you've worn for decades? Have any pieces that are sentimental to you with your bridal details so that we can include it in the photos! We love unique and individual pieces that tell the story of your family!
heirloom jewelry & pieces
We recommend bringing 2 full invitation suites (complete with envelopes) so we can use fronts and backs whenever possible. We also love if your stationer can provide 2 of your seating cards with your names on them! For other paper, menus and cocktail napkins make great additions. Save-the-Dates, welcome bag tags and detail cards can also be included! Another beautiful paper - hand written notes or vows to each other! If you have these, definitely have us photograph them!
paper & signage
Don't forget about the groom when planning details! Shoes, cufflinks, cologne, bowties and watches all make great details to incorporate. We also love his favorite cocktail - so consider a stirring stick, cherries, fruits or other things he may want in his signature drink. Heirloom details are great - so if he loves his grandfather's pocket watch, we'd love to use it!
For the Groom
Bridal details usually include anything the bride plans to wear on her wedding day. Perfume is my favorite - I always recommend buying a scent that you don't wear already, and then every time you use it - it reminds you of your wedding day! Shoes, hairpieces, earrings, old photographs, a clutch and - of course - the rings - make our ideal bridal detail set! It's recommended to have the groom's ring during this time as well - but ask your photographer if they prefer that to be with the groom's details instead! And don't forget the vow books!
For the Bride
A Comprehensive List of Wedding Details
download our free details checklist
The dress and ways to make it more unique
The days of hanging dresses are over (sorry), and you'll find that we often prefer to photograph gown details while you're in your dress. Typically, most dresses really shine when they're on the human form - so if you'd like your gown photographed before you put it on, we recommend bringing a dress form to display the gown for photographs.
Kristen's note: I feel bad for saying this, but I absolutely hate photographs of hanging dresses. I'd sooner lay it on a bed, casually waiting to be slipped on, rather than precariously hanging a 20lb gown by an Etsy hanger over a 2 story balcony.
Our couples have gotten so creative and we love to share! From sunglasses to custom cookies, dog collars and monogrammed champagne bottles - you can find inspiration everywhere for your details! We will "categorize" them when we photograph the details so it all makes sense in your gallery together!
A few more ideas
As a team of wedding photographers, we have seen countless unique approaches to wedding parties. If you’re struggling to find a structure that feels true to you, reach out and we can share some insights, or we can come up with something totally new. For more inspiration, follow us on Instagram.
