Wedding Flat Lay Checklist: The Deets

First, we have to talk about what a wedding flat lay is. It’s a fancy term wedding industry pros use to describe your detail items and accessories. It’s a styled image that will showcase the vibe of your wedding. Think things like colors, and overall mood. These photos start the story of your best day ever! I made it easy for ya and made you a whole wedding flat lay checklist.

When you’re looking back on your wedding photos, your detail wedding photos are some of the first that you’ll see. It sets the whole mood, the vibe, the scene for your wedding day journey. Even before you walked down the aisle, you sent out your Save the Dates and Invitations to your loved ones to come celebrate with you. Relive that moment!

When Photography Coverage Begins

The morning of your wedding is probably going to be a little crazy. You’ll have nerves and excitement running through your veins. Your phone will be ringing non stop with calls and texts from friends wishing you well as you get ready to walk down that aisle. Having a checklist of everything you need for your detail wedding photos is going to be super helpful. Plus, if you’re like me, checking things off my list helps my nerves big time!

Upon my arrival, this is the first thing that I’ll start to put together. Of course, after checking in on you and bringing the HYPE because HI, IT’S WEDDING DAY! What I need from you, is all these items in one spot so I can get right to work on creating your wedding flat lay. Make sure your bridesmaids know where your items are, too.

Detail wedding photos are a great space to honor those that aren’t able to be with you on your wedding day. From that old locket your grandpa gave you, to the handkerchief your mom carried down the aisle on her big day. Detail photos tie together generations and memories in a beautiful and unique way.

So what exactly do you need? Let me tell ya! Keep reading to see what items you need to make your detail photos pop.

For Her

Invitation Suite & Save the Date

This is the centerpiece of your wedding flat lay. For cohesive styling, I recommend having two envelopes if possible. When storing your invite suite and save the date, make sure you’re preventing bending. We want these in pristine, fresh off the press condition. Your invite suite is anything that was sent with your invitation, including response cards, and directions.

Bouquet

The second main character of your day! Most of the time, we’ll be showcasing your florals while you old them, but I do like to try and get stand alone images if it works out.

Loose Flowers

Ask your florist in advance to include some loose flowers and greens with the bouquet delivery.

Speaking of bouquet deliveries, have your florist deliver the flowers about a half hour before I’m set to arrive. That way you can place them with the rest of your detail items and I’ll be ready to get to work!

Wedding Jewelry

Hair accessories, veil, necklace, earrings.

The Rings

Have all THREE rings with you. Your engagement ring, your wedding band, and his wedding band. Task someone you trust with delivery of the ring to the groom.

Wedding Perfume

I recommend choosing something you’ve never used before! A signature wedding day scent. This way you can pull it out for special occasions, like your anniversary, and be brought right back to your best day ever. Smell is one of the biggest triggers for memory and emotion!

Vow Books

His and Hers, or just yours.

Wedding Shoes

Are you a high heels or custom sneakers kind of girl? Whatever the case, we need ’em!

Heirloom Items

Are you going for high heels, or custom sneakers? Whatever you choose, they’re part of your day.

Anything that’s of sentimental value to you should be included. If you don’t have anything or don’t know what to include here, stick with the traditional rhyme. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Why blue though? If you know, drop it in the comments.

Honorable Mention: Gown and Hanger

This isn’t part of your wedding flat lay, but it is part of your detail photos. Have your dress ready with a stylish, or custom hanger. Due to the limited time to document everything during the getting ready portion of the day, I do not typically document bridesmaids dresses along with the bride’s dress.

For Him

This list is a little more straightforward, but our guys deserve some love, too! Check out their wedding day flat lay checklist.

• His shoes
• Cologne
• Fun & funky dress socks. Do not put these on until after photographer documents them. I repeat: DO NOT. We need these ✨crispy✨. If they’re just regular dress sock, more power to ya, but we don’t need to include them.
• Tie
• Boutonniere
• Jewelry such as cuff links, a watch, earrings etc.
• Any gifts from the bride or groomsmen like wedding day bourbon.

Download and print the Wedding Day Flat Lay Checklist for him and for her.