When it comes to your wedding day, the little details matter just as much as the big moments. These small touches tell the story of your day in a beautiful and personal way—capturing the essence of your wedding style, personalities, and the special pieces that mean the most to you.
To make sure I capture all of these details, it helps to gather a few key items ahead of time. By collecting everything in a small box and having it ready on the morning of the wedding, it allows your photographer (that’s me!) to get those gorgeous, stress-free detail shots right from the start. Here’s a breakdown of what you (the bride and groom) should consider bringing to make these detail shots shine.
What Should the Bride Bring?
As the bride, you likely have a number of sentimental and carefully chosen details that you will want to capture before you even slip into your dress. Here’s what to include in your “detail box”:
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Loose Flowers: Ask your florist to provide a few extra blooms from your bouquet. These will be used to style flat-lay photos, making everything look polished and cohesive.
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Bouquet: Speaking of flowers, your bouquet is a must-have for detail shots. Its colors, textures, and design are part of the wedding's overall aesthetic and will look stunning next to your other items.
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Jewelry: This could include your earrings, necklace, bracelet, or any other accessories you’ll be wearing. These small pieces add sparkle and elegance to detail photos.
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Veil: Veils make for lovely styling pieces in flat lays. Plus, it’s such an iconic piece of the bridal look, we’ll want to showcase it.
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Shoes: Whether you're wearing heels, flats, or something completely unique, your shoes are a part of your style and should be included in the details.
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Wedding Rings: If possible, gather all the rings—engagement and both wedding bands. Including them in your detail shots creates beautiful, sentimental compositions.
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Vow Book: If you're writing personal vows, bring along your vow book. It adds a meaningful touch to the story of the day.
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Dress: While the dress will have its own big reveal later, having it hanging on a beautiful hanger (think wooden or custom) can add to those pre-ceremony photos.
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Invitation Suite: Bring an extra copy of your wedding invitation, RSVP card, and any other paper goods (like menus or programs). This allows us to capture a flat-lay shot that ties in with the rest of your details.
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Any Special Items: If you have something with deep personal meaning, like a handkerchief from your grandmother or a charm for your bouquet, don’t forget to include it! These items add richness and depth to your photos.
What Should the Groom Bring?
Grooms, you're not off the hook! There are a few key pieces you'll want to gather to ensure your details are just as polished as your partner’s. Here’s what to pack in your box:
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Cufflinks: Whether they’re classic or personalized, cufflinks are a key accessory to photograph.
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Watch: Watches are a timeless piece for groom detail shots. If you’re wearing one, make sure it’s included.
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Tie or Bowtie: This is a great detail to capture—whether it's a bowtie, tie, or even a special clip.
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Socks: This might seem like a small thing, but if your socks have a fun design or personal touch, it’s a great way to inject personality into your detail shots.
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Belt or Suspenders: Both are essential parts of your wedding day look and can be captured alongside other items like cufflinks and ties.
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Shoes: Like the bride’s, the groom’s shoes play a part in tying the look together. Make sure they’re polished and photo-ready!
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Boutonnière: Just like the bride’s bouquet, your boutonnière will help create a cohesive look in the detail photos.
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Wedding Rings: If you’re the keeper of the rings until the ceremony, make sure to have both rings ready to go for detail shots.
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Vow Book: If you’re exchanging personal vows, be sure to include your vow book.
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Any Special Items: If you have a meaningful pocket watch, handkerchief, or even a personalized gift from your bride or best man, include it in the details for a touch of personal sentiment.
How to Organize These Items
The easiest way to make sure all these important items are captured is to place them in a small box or bag the night before the wedding. That way, when I arrive on the big day, everything is organized and ready to go, allowing us to start photographing those gorgeous details right away!
You can keep this box in the bridal suite or somewhere easily accessible in the groom’s prep space. A few minutes of organization ahead of time can help create beautiful, meaningful photos that you’ll treasure for a lifetime. Adding all these details to your album help to tell the overall story of your wedding day.
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