Wedding flat lay tips
Flat lays are one of my favorite things to photograph on a wedding day! A flat lay is where I photograph a collection of items from the couple. It’s a great way to document some of the smaller details that help make up your wedding day; from shoes, invitations, to family heirlooms, or even some fun items that really showcase the couple’s personalities.
It’s one of the first things I photograph on the big day, so it really get those creative juices flowing. A flat lay can include items from both partners, or I can do them separately as well. Here are some ideas of what you can include in your flat lay.
List of items to include
- Invitations & save the dates – multiple copies if possible, that way I can show off the unique details that may be on the envelope as well.
- Shoes
- Engagement ring + wedding bands
- Jewelry – earrings, bracelet, or necklaces
- Vow books
- Veil
- Perfume and cologne
- Lipstick
- Heirloom items; hair clip, handkerchief, pin, jewelry
- Cuff links
- Watch
- Groom’s tie
- Borrowed & blue details
Bonus point items-
- Florals! Ask your florist for some blooms to add into your flat lay, it really ties everything together.
- Ring boxes or dishes
- Fabric or ribbon in your wedding color
- Unique items/details that are just so youuuuuuu and help add to your love story.
Even though flat lays are my favorite, these are by no means required for your wedding day. If it’s not your thing, that’s okay! But if you like them, make sure to organize all your details into a box or bag so everything is ready to go when your photographer arrives. These photos are lovely, but they do take time to curate and photograph. Make sure your timeline allotts 20-30 minutes for your photographer to capture these detailed shots.
I make sure to arrive a bit earlier than my “clock in” time to make sure I have the necessary time to photograph the flat lay. I like to shoot these on a plain background so I bring my styling boards to try to fit with your particular color scheme. Sometimes I get inspired by something unique at your venue like wedding decorations, flooring, or sofas and may use that instead. Adding your veil to the styling board is a nice way to get some extra texture for a more dynamic shot too. I really look forward to starting the day off with these sweet little details that just begin to tell the story of your wedding day. What would you include in your wedding detail flat lay?
