If you know me, you know I am a sucker for a wedding day detail shot. These are definitely some of my favorite photos to help tell the story of your big day! A lot of life history, family heirlooms, and items specific to your love story make up these visual works of art. Spending time gathering details for a wedding flat lay will ensure that your photographer has more than enough to choose from when curating these beautiful snapshots of your big day!
What is a Wedding Flat Lay?
Simply put, a flat lay is a set of styled photos that capture all of the significant details of your day, including invitations, florals, jewelry, shoes, and heirloom pieces. A flat lay helps you to capture all the small details that are often overlooked on the big day, allowing you to remember each individual detail and the careful planning that went into your wedding.
READ MORE: Top 5 Photos To Plan For on Your Wedding Day
Essential Items for Your Wedding Flat Lay
Every flat lay is different and what you decide to include depends on you and your day. That said, there are a few things that most people include, but you can include the details that really mean something to you and your partner. Some of the most commonly included details are:
Stationery Suite
As a graphic designer in my past life, this is definitely my favorite one. I am practically giddy when I get my hands on a professionally curated invitation suite! Your wedding invitations, RSVP cards, save-the-dates, menus, name cards, and any other stationery that is included in your wedding are great to include in detail photos. These shots help to capture the tone of your wedding and provide a keepsake of your chosen theme.
Rings and Other Jewelry
A flat lay always includes your rings—both wedding bands and engagement rings. Your wedding ring is something you’ll wear for the rest of your life and it symbolizes you and your partner coming together.
As well as your rings, you might also want to include your wedding jewelry, such as earrings, necklaces, and other accessories like veils or hairpieces. The jewelry you choose for your wedding day holds sentimental value and will complement the other details captured in your flat lay.
Olive & Piper, BHLDN by Anthropologie, and Etsy are great places to shop for wedding jewelry!
Perfume and Cologne
Both perfume and cologne bottles are another great addition to your wedding day flat lay. The bottles themselves have an aesthetic appeal, and you will always be reminded of the scent you choose on your special day.
If you’re shopping for a wedding day fragrance but aren’t sure where to begin, start by exploring my fragrance guides!
- 7 Most Popular Wedding Day Scents Of All Time
- 17 Best Wedding Day Fragrances from Every Fragrance Family
- How to Create an Unforgettable Wedding Scent Memory
Shoes
Whether you have opted for classic heels, fun flats, or something uniquely you, they look great on a flat lay. If you dance the night away at your wedding, your shoes might never recover, so pre-wedding detail shots are a great way to “preserve” them.
Extra Floral Pieces
Okay, so not to toot my own horn, but I am something of a floral artistry wizard when it comes to arranging flowers for flat-lay photos. There’s something about the texture, dimension, and beauty that florals add to your detail photos that gets my fingers tingling to put it all together. From boutonnieres to table arrangements and, of course, the bouquet, they all help to set the scene for your special day and capture your chosen theme.
Note about requesting extra florals:
When you’re finalizing your wedding flower order, don’t forget to ask your florist for some extra blooms and greenery for those dreamy detail shots! Most florists are totally cool with this request, so just mention it when you’re wrapping up your order details. Just make sure the flowers arrive about 30 to 60 minutes before my scheduled start time and have them dropped off near where you’re getting ready. And no worries—your florist will keep everything in water, so your flowers will stay fresh and fabulous for both the photos and the ceremony!
Wedding Vows and Letters
Many couples choose to write a letter to each other on the day of their wedding, and while you will treasure the letters for a lifetime, including them in your detail photos means your friends and family get to enjoy them too and see your love for each other. If you write your own vows, handwrite them and include them in your flat lay too for an intimate and personal touch.
Additional Meaningful Items
Don’t forget to include the meaningful items that made your day unique to you. Think family heirlooms, keepsakes – something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
Top Tips for the Perfect Flat Lay
Prepare Your Flat Lay Items
Place everything you want to include in your detail shots into a protective box and hand it over to me on the morning of your wedding. This will help me start arranging and shooting details as soon as possible before the delightful chaos of the day begins.
Coordinate with Your Photographer
In the weeks leading up to your wedding, discuss your flat lay with your photographer. Talk about specific items you want included and any styling preferences you might have. These are photos you and your partner will treasure for the rest of your lives, so it’s important to get them right!
Are you in the middle of planning your wedding? I’ve been shooting dreamy couples in the Philadelphia area for over a decade, specializing in engagement and wedding photography. Submit an inquiry on my site today so we can nail down all the details and capture the best day of your life!
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