If you’re here, you probably know that you need to set aside some items for your wedding day details photo, but you don’t know what. The “flat lay” is what photographers use to describe any variety of images styled to capture various detail items from your wedding day. Some may be intricately placed flat lays with about every detail from the day. For others, they appear to be thrown together, capturing just the most basic detail items. Identifying different types of flat lays can help determine what matches your style and what you might want to request or gather for your wedding. Let’s go over what should be included and how to pack it ahead of your wedding day.

What Details To Pack – For Her

Your something borrowed–your something blue–the designer shoes that are carrying you down the aisle–a memento from your first date. Anything that might tell the story of your relationship, can be be used in a wedding flat lay.

• Bridal Accessories: This includes jewelry, veil, hairpieces, clutch, and any other accessories you will be wearing on your wedding day. These items tell the story of what you were wearing.
• Shoes: The shoes you wear are incredibly personal and representative of your style! Include them as part of your story. Do you plan to change for your reception? Include those, too!
• Perfume: Your wedding day signature scent can evoke memories and add a sensory dimension to the photos.
• Invitation Suite: You spent so much time crafting and choosing your invitation suite. It is often the first glimpse your guests get of the look and feel of your wedding day. Incorporating this into your flat lay captures not only a part of the guest experience, but also your personalized touch. It includes your names, the names of the venue(s), and the design usually tells something about the day, too.
• Personalized Items: Include any personalized items, such as vows, love letters, or sentimental trinkets that hold special meaning for the you. These items add depth, emotion, and storytelling to the photos.
• Bouquet & Extra Florals: Have your bouquet ready, and ask your florist for a few extra stems to be used for your details. Flowers are so personal to each wedding and always tell a different story! I would argue that florals are the most pivotal part of your wedding look. These are great framing pieces for your flat lay that add an extra dynamic.
• Rings: Include all the rings that the bride will wear. These can be safely returned to the groom or best man once the details photos are done. But your wedding flat lay simply is not complete without them!

What Details To Pack – For Him

A groom’s wedding flat lays are usually simpler, and much more masculine.

• Groom’s Accessories: This includes cufflinks, tie or bowtie, pocket square, watch, socks, and any other accessories the groom is wearing. These items add polish to the groom’s attire and provide opportunities for creative shots.
• Boutonniere: Like the bride’s bouquet, the boutonniere is a key detail in many wedding photos. The boutonniere communicates a major aspect of his wardrobe and the look of the wedding.
• Cologne: Like the bride’s perfume, the cologne tells the scent aspect of the details story.
• Personalized Items: Similar to the bride, include any personalized items that hold sentimental value for the groom. This includes as handwritten vows, a special gift from the bride, or family heirlooms.

How to put it together

Most of these items (for both the bride or the groom’s side) can be packed in a small shoebox sized bin. Create a list for what is important for your flat lay, and then start gathering them as you move closer to your wedding date. Place them in carefully in a small box or plastic shoe box so that no fragile items get damaged, and then label the box. Providing a label such as “bride’s details” and “groom’s details,” they can be easily found by your photographer or someone in your wedding party. This means your photographer can hit the ground running, without interrupting you or getting behind schedule by waiting to gather and find details! Most importantly, it means nothing will get forgotten.

By preparing these items ahead of time, you can be sure that any items that you really want captured in your wedding day flat lay will be there! You won’t be missing any aspect that is important to you. It keeps the items in a safe, easily found location. It will save you and me time in locating the items on your wedding day, allowing me to capture your details without interrupting you to ask for items!