What to Prep In Your Big Day Photo Styling Kit

^{Photo Credit: Purewhite Photography; @purewhite_photography}

Confession time: for me, as beautiful as wedding photos are with people (the couple of the moment, of course) in them, I am just as obsessed with the inanimate detail shots. A bride’s tirelessly-sought-after shoes, her tediously-balanced signature wedding scent, the hand-scribed letter that she gets on the morning of her wedding (perhaps from a partner who usually despises putting pen to paper), these ‘little things’ are what complete the love story, and the long-awaited wedding day wouldn’t happen without them. Don’t hate me when I say this, but these are the pictures that I think have the infinite meaning, Even though they’re stills, there is still sooo much life inside them.

Now, of course, as the bride you’ll remember (well, okay, that’s the plan, there are always things that mistakenly get forgotten… hold on that thought, too, i’ll explain) all the things you need to get ready the morning of your wedding. You’ll pack your shoes, you’ll bring your dress, you’ll get your jewelry all sorted out, but then there are other things that you may not be wearing or even using, styling items that can be added to photos to make everything come together. Be it a spool of ribbon, some loose flower petals, a few vintage stamps, etc., these props bring the magic along with an extra special dose of beauty and editorial artfulness.

^{Photo Credit: Simple Joie Photography; @simplejoiephoto}

^{Photo Credit: Vanessa Hicks Photography; @vanessahicksphotography}

Oh - and about that point about ‘getting ready’ things that you really can’t go without. A hanger for your dress. Whether it’s wire-twisted-with-your-new-last-name bespoke, simple wood etched with ‘bride,’ or white-washed with hand-painted flowers and your wedding date, please just find a hanger that isn’t heavy duty plastic. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself looking back at your wedding photos and cringing hard over the overlooked details. I’ve been married six years now, and those ‘styled’ photos of my dress still hang over me, pun so intended.

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Flat lay photos just so happen to be one of my favorite wedding references, and you know when you see them. They’re shot from an aerial perspective and they typically include a collaging of all your ‘finishing touches,’ items that feature in your unique nuptials narrative, beautifully curated. Your photographer likely already has his or her own legit flat lay/detail styling kit, but since you’re the bride, you can probably help amplify the pretty with flourishes your photo team might not have in their arsenal…

Peep our exhaustive list of props to prep for your wedding morning.

And remember, these just help to add color to your wedding story and how the day unfolded (these are the relics you’ll want to be able to recall in 10, 20, 30, + years).

Hot tip

You’ll be sending a photo shot list to your photographer a few weeks prior to your wedding, so that’s when you can dialogue the props and materials you have for flat lays. Make sure your film team at least knows your color palette, your overall wedding vibe (be it rustic, vintage, modern, whimsy, boho, etc.), and your dress aesthetic (do you have a veil or headpiece, heels or flats, does the dress have any unique features you'll want to hone in on, etc. tulle makes for great drapery), that way they can gather complementary styling essentials ahead of time.

Ribbon (perhaps the same kind that your bouquet will be wrapped with)
A mirror
Shoes (and a shoe bag, if it’s particularly pretty or photographable)
Jewelry
Engagement ring and wedding band(s)
Ring dish and/or ring box
Makeup (lipstick tubes uncovered, that’s right)
Perfume bottle along with an atomizer (if you have a favorite, pretty one)
Real (ask your florist to supply some loose petals from your statement blooms, if he or she can) and faux flowers (sometimes silk flowers photograph better and they’re good to have anyway, because you can play around with them)
Clutch or minaudière
A styling tray(s) large enough to display your invitation suite or an assortment of other items
Lingerie or your garter
Your somethings old, new, borrowed, and blue
A special gown hanger
Vow books
Your wedding invitation + stationery (including all elements of the suite, a wax seal, a sampling of stamps, etc.)