planning your

wedding day details

it's all in the details

Chances are that you put a lot of effort into picking out every little detail of your wedding day. From the shoes to the jewelry to the flowers, every little detail tells a piece of the story of your wedding day! The beginning of the wedding day is the perfect time for us to capture all those little details before the craziness of the day starts! So by having all these items gathered ahead of time and ready to go when we arrive, we can ensure that everything is documented without running around the morning of to look for everything! So this document will tell you all the items you’ll want to gather together and some tips to make the whole process smoother!

a note to

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These are a few of our favorite details to photograph but really you can include anything for your wedding day! These are just the most common details that almost all brides & grooms have. The best way to keep all of these details organized is to have a designated bag or box the week of your wedding. As you are packing everything, you can place all of the details in the same area and it makes it super easy to find everything on the wedding day.

For dress shots, a custom hanger isn’t necessary but a pretty, white wooden hanger would make a huge difference. You spent a lot of money on your wedding dress and put a lot of thought into which one you said 'YES!' to! It deserves to be photographed on something better than a plastic hanger!

Bridal Gown

If your wedding is local, save the dates should be sent between 6 to 8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out 10 to 12 months before the wedding. 

If you’re hoping to use your engagement photos for your save the dates, we recommend scheduling your session at least two months before you plan to mail them out to your guests. Between inclement weather, editing, designing your save-the-dates and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready. 

Save the Dates

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The ring shots are some of our favorite details! Your rings will be the main focus of many detail photos so make sure to clean your engagement ring beforehand. Also, don’t forget to have all three rings together (all wedding bands and engagement rings) in the same place the morning of the wedding.

One of the best ways to show off all the beautiful details is with a ring box. They come in many different colors so you can find one that matches your wedding colors. Then, after the wedding is over, it makes for a beautiful keepsake. Check out The Styling Reserve for beautiful ring boxes.

Rings

Many brides spend a lot of time trying to find the perfect shoes for their wedding day. If you are a person who wants pictures in gorgeous heels but you have no clue how you will wear them all day, we have good news for you! Most of our brides have two pair of shoes for the wedding day. They have their heels for flat lays and bridal portraits and then they switch into something more comfortable. Some of the cutest bridal shoes I have seen for comfort are the Kate Spade glitter sneakers.

Some of the most beautiful bridal heels we've photographed are:

- Bella Belle
- Jimmy Choo
- Badgley Mischka
- Manolo Blahnik

Shoes

Invitations are probably the most forgotten detail of the day. Please remember your invitations on your wedding day. If you have two copies, then bring them both, including all of the envelopes (yes, even the rsvp envelope). I love styling the invitations with all of the other bridal details and it brings the story of the wedding together. Feel free to include any other stationery you had made for your wedding. This could include save the dates, menus,  vow books, etc.

If you are writing your own vows, a great place to write them is in vow books. These vow books will look beautiful in your photos and video. We will capture detail shots of them and also while you are reading your vows during your ceremony. Another great idea for vow reading is to bring them with you to your First Look and read them to each other then! This way, you get a chance to practice them right before your ceremony and you can get some of the jitters out! It’s an incredibly special moment just for the two of you.

You can also write letters to each other in your vow books if you aren't writing your own vows. There are so many ways to incorporate these as an extra detail!


Invitation Suite + Other Stationery

If your wedding is local, save the dates should be sent between 6 to 8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out 10 to 12 months before the wedding. 

If you’re hoping to use your engagement photos for your save the dates, we recommend scheduling your session at least two months before you plan to mail them out to your guests. Between inclement weather, editing, designing your save-the-dates and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready. 

Save the Dates

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Extra rings, necklaces, family pearls, bracelets, anything else you might be wearing on your special day! Keep these with all of your other details so they can also be photographed!

Have any heirloom jewelry cleaned so it's shiny and beautiful for photos!

Jewelry

I tell all of my brides to treat themselves with new perfume just before their wedding day. First of all, a bottle of perfume makes for beautiful pictures during the bridal details. It also is super sweet to capture the bride spraying perfume on her wrist. But the most important part about this special detail is the memory that perfume will create. You can wear this perfume on special occasions and every time you smell it, it will remind you of all the amazing memories you created on your wedding day!

Perfume

If your wedding is local, save the dates should be sent between 6 to 8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out 10 to 12 months before the wedding. 

If you’re hoping to use your engagement photos for your save the dates, we recommend scheduling your session at least two months before you plan to mail them out to your guests. Between inclement weather, editing, designing your save-the-dates and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready. 

Save the Dates

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Veils & headpieces are also some of the lovely details to include in the bridal photos. If you have no clue what type of veil you want, my vote will always be a cathedral veil! Check out some of my wedding or bridal blogs. Many of the brides have cathedral veils because they make for the dreamiest pictures. Simple veils are lighter in weight and blow in the wind easier. They also won’t feel like they are pulling your updo or curls out. Veils with lots of details are gorgeous to photograph but can also be heavy! If you have your heart set on a veil with lots of lace or details, but also want to have "blowing in the wind" photos, you can also have a 2nd veil just for those photos!

Veil + Headpieces

Be sure to coordinate your flower delivery time with our arrival time. You’ll want your flowers delivered at least 30 minutes before our arrival so they are available for getting ready photos. This way, your florist can also provide extra loose florals for your flat lays! I am sure you spent a lot of money on your flowers and it is important to have them photographed. Plus it adds a pop of your wedding colors to all of the detail photos. We love when the bouquets and boutonnieres are nearby for easy access.

Bouquets

If your wedding is local, save the dates should be sent between 6 to 8 months before the wedding. For a destination wedding, you’ll want to send them out 10 to 12 months before the wedding. 

If you’re hoping to use your engagement photos for your save the dates, we recommend scheduling your session at least two months before you plan to mail them out to your guests. Between inclement weather, editing, designing your save-the-dates and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready. 

Save the Dates

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Even if these items aren't something you will be wearing or carrying with you on your wedding day, please include them! If they are special to you, include them for photos!

Blue, Borrowed, New

04.

Loose flowers and greenery make such a lovely addition to bridal detail photos! Ask your florist to include some loose florals and greenery with the bouquet delivery!

Loose Florals

03.

Including extra styling elements that go with your wedding theme and colors like fabric, ribbon, patterened paper, ring dishes or trays can help to give the detail photos a cohesive look that is consistent with the rest of your wedding!

Styling Items

02.

Do you have a special heirloom item like your grandmother’s wedding ring or a special hankerchief that are a part of your wedding? Include them with your bridal details to be captured!

Heirlooms

01.

You can never have too many details! Think of anything else you will be wearing, carrying, pinning etc. If any of those items have a special sentimental value to you, then include them.

A few ideas for these extra items can be found below.

Extra Items

Be sure to also include all the envelopes with your invitation suite so that I can capture the entire design! And feel free to include your Save the Date as well!

Tip #4

Have all 3 rings (engagement ring, bride’s band, groom’s band) included with bridal details so I can photograph them all together! Once I am done with them, we can give the bands to whoever is in charge of holding onto them!

Tip #3

If you had calligraphy or any special lettering done on your invitations, have an extra copy made for me to photograph! You can use a fake address or even the address of your venue!

Tip #2

Have the bouquets, boutonnieres and loose florals delivered to your getting ready location 30 minutes before I am scheduled to arrive to ensure they are ready to go when I get there!

Tip # 1

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Put all of your details in one bag or box to make sure you don't forget anything! It will also make it really easy for me to carry your items just in case we have to photograph your details somewhere with better light than your bridal suite!

Tip #8

Bring two copies of your invitation suite, save the dates or other stationery especially if you have a photo or special artwork on one side and information on the other. This will allow us to show both sides in the same photo.

Tip #7

Remove any ring size adjusters because those may show in your photos, especially in any macro shots we take. 

Tip #6

Your detail items will be photographed together in a flatlay as well as separately. For a more editorial look, choose items that complement each other aesthetically so that they photograph well together!

Tip # 5

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Let’s be real, the guys are typically not as into the details as the ladies. Normally we arrive to the groom's getting ready room and ask for their details and they look at us as if we have 3 heads, lol! But the groom's details are just as important to tell the story of your day and continue that editorial look in your gallery and album! 

Click on the arrows to view a few items that the groom will normally have on the wedding day.

Groom Details

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You've likely planned for the tie or bow tie to go with your wedding colors. Including them in groom flatlays will tie your photos together and will go with the overall theme of your album!

Tie or Bow-Tie

Groom Details

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Florals can make a huge difference in any type of photo, even groom photos! This is a great chance to include the florists work for the groom, best man, dads etc!

Boutonnieres

Groom Details

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Cologne is another item we can photograph and include in flatlays. Just like we mentioned for perfume, a full bottle photographs great! Grab a different scent than is worn on a daily basis and the scent will remind you of your wedding day on those special occasions!

Cologne

Groom Details

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