The Ultimate Wedding Detail Guide
Curating the Details That Tell Your Story
Your wedding day is made up of countless meaningful moments, but it’s also made up of details you thoughtfully put together.
The textures, colors, heirlooms, and personal touches you’ve chosen all help shape the visual story of your day.
Flat lay photos are where all those pieces come together.
These curated detail images are more than “pretty things.” They’re small chapters of your story, photographed with intention so they can live beautifully alongside your portraits and candid moments. Here’s how to prepare for them and why they matter.
Why Detail & Flat Lay Photos Matter
Before the whirlwind of the day begins, I take time to photograph the items that carry meaning—your invitation suite, heirlooms, accessories, and sentimental objects. These images create a foundation for your album, grounding the story of your wedding in the aesthetic and emotional details you chose with care.
They add context, beauty, and personality, enriching the full gallery and tying everything together.
What to Bring for Your Flat Lay Photos
Think about the pieces that feel like you. These can be practical items, sentimental items, or both. Some ideas include:
Invitation Suite (full set, envelopes, stamps if possible)
Bouquet or loose florals from your florist
Perfume or cologne (your wedding scent becomes a memory cue forever)
Vow books or letters to one another
Jewelry (rings, earrings, bracelets, cufflinks)
Watch or accessories
Tie or bowtie
Veil or hairpiece
Pretty dress hanger
Shoes
Heirlooms (lockets, charms, handkerchiefs, something borrowed/blue)
Any sentimental object that holds meaning for your story
This is your chance to include the small details that deserve to be remembered but may not appear naturally in candid images throughout the day.
Preparing Your Details
To make the morning smooth, gather everything together in one place—a box, basket, or flat surface in the bridal suite. Having these items organized and ready to go helps us begin photographing right away, which keeps your timeline on track.
Your florist can also provide a handful of loose blooms or greenery to tie the details together visually. These add softness, color, and cohesion to the finished flat lay.
During Getting-Ready Photos
As we photograph the details, you can also think about the moments and people you want present during your getting-ready portion of the day.
If you’d like a parent, sibling, or friend to be the one helping with your:
veil, shoes, boutonniere, tie & jewelry
…make sure they know ahead of time so they’re ready when the moment comes. These small interactions often become some of the most emotional and memorable photos of the morning.
Why These Images Matter in Your Final Gallery
Flat lays and detail photos help tell the story of your wedding day in a way that feels complete and intentional. They weave the personal items you’ve chosen into the broader narrative of the celebration—adding texture, color, and meaning to your album.
From heirloom jewelry to handwritten vows, these pieces deserve to be celebrated just as much as the big heartfelt moments.