I love shooting weddings and one of my very favorite parts of the day is photographing the details of the day. Reason being is that they tell a more intimate story of the day. Details are the things that you, as the bride, have thought through, pinned profusely, and made the day unique to you.
I love these details so much that in the past few years I give my brides one an extra hour of my time. What does that mean? Well because I am contracted hourly, I typically come an hour earlier than contracted time to photograph these details. Why? Because these details help tell your story, they create more content for an album and if you are wanting your wedding to be published anywhere, editors are looking for loads and loads of details to show off to those potential next year brides.
So what are these details? Today I am going to give you a quick checklist of the amazing and super easy details you can bring to your wedding day to help tell your wedding day story years after the day is past.
Dress, shoes, and veil– Obviously you will have your dress there, but what about adding your dress and shoes there as well? Many times I photograph these all together, but other times will use parts of your dress and veil to add texture and highlight parts of your dress that are just too gorgeous to miss!
Rings and Stationary Suite– Having both rings makes for great photos right away and having your entire stationary suite (envelope, table cards, place cards, etc) make for a great photo separate as well as put together!
Mens attire –(Tie clip, cufflinks, shoes, flask, cigars, watch, phone, etc)- Don’t forget about your hubbie. His details make the story just as valuable as yours. Bring along one or all those details above and you will be amazed at what we can photograph!
Wooden Hanger– Most venues have hangers, or even your wedding dress comes on a hanger, but your dress will photograph so much better with a beautiful wooden hanger rather than the plastic one that comes with your dress!
Perfume or Cologne – Our minds have a way of remembering events when they are related to smells. Why not bring that new bottle of perfume you have been wanting to purchase and use it for your wedding day?!
Flowers – If possible, having your bouquets and the mens boutonnieres delivered by your florist early is an added bonus. Photos of flowers while they are still fresh make amazing photos to pair with all the above items.
A plate or serving platter– I know this is a super crazy one, but this past year, I had a planner bring a beautiful serving tray to the wedding and it just made detail shots even prettier. It added elegance to the shot that wouldn’t otherwise be there. Bringing something that is part of your family’s history is even more meaningful!
Jewelry besides the rings– Earrings, your belt, hair pieces, floral crowns, bracelets, extra rings, and necklaces are all beautiful to photograph, even more so when they have significant meaning.
Bridesmaid Dresses and Robes– Photographing your dress with all your maids dresses can be a beautiful shot. Especially when there are multi colored dresses and styles that you will be highlighting!
Your garter, Grandma’s handkerchief, etsy purchases are all other items that you can plan to bring to have photographed throughout the day. I tell my brides if you have thought through it and there is special meaning to you, then bring it and I will photograph it!
