Wedding Flat Lays: How to Tell Your Story Through Details
Flat lays are visual storytelling at its most personal. They can be clean and minimal or richly layered. What makes a flat lay meaningful isn’t how much is in it, but what each piece represents.
What is a flat lay?
A curated arrangement of your wedding details photographed from above. It preserves textures, typography, and heirlooms you rarely see together in one frame.
What to include
Choose what feels you, not just what looks pretty.
Paper goods: full invitation suite, envelope liner, RSVP, menu, program, vow books, wax seals, vintage stamps
Jewelry: rings, engagement ring box, cufflinks, tie bar, bracelet, watch, hairpins
Fashion: shoes, veil, bow tie, pocket square, gloves, garter
Beauty: perfume, lipstick, compact, comb
Textiles: ribbons, silk or linen scraps, napkins that match your palette
Heirlooms: lockets, handkerchiefs, rosary, coins, charms
Personal tokens: ticket stubs, travel mementos, little notes, pressed flowers
Floral: a few loose blooms or greenery from your florist
Styling tips
Palette: echo your wedding colors with one neutral anchor (ivory, stone, gray).
Texture: mix smooth (vellum, satin) with tactile (linen, deckled edges).
Hierarchy: feature one hero item (rings or invitation) and support with smaller accents.
Negative space: let items breathe; not every inch needs filling.
Symmetry vs. movement: symmetric for formal vibes, diagonal flow for organic feel.
How to prepare before the wedding day
Ask your stationer for an extra full suite and spare stamps/wax seals.
Clean and polish rings the day before.
Remove tags from fashion items and tuck spare laces or straps.
Steam textiles and pack flat in a hard folder.
Gather everything in a labeled details box or pouch.
Day-of logistics
Place your details box with your planner or in the getting-ready room.
We usually style and photograph flat lays in the first 30–45 minutes of coverage, near a window for soft light.
Ask your florist for loose blooms; a handful elevates the set.
Our approach
While many photographers will bring props for the flat lay, we try to use only what you provide. We may add items for elevation or organization purposes, but what you see in the frame is almost only your artifacts, and elements from the space we’re in.
Do’s and don’ts
Do
Prioritize meaning over quantity
Include handwritten elements (vows, a note)
Make sure fragile items are safely packed
Don’t
Overcrowd the frame
Forget small fasteners or backs for jewelry
Quick packing checklist
Invitation suite, envelopes, stamps, wax seals
Rings and ring box
Jewelry and cufflinks
Shoes, veil/bow tie/pocket square
Perfume / cologne
Ribbons or textiles in your palette
Heirlooms or personal tokens
Loose blooms from florist (request in advance)
FAQs
What if we don’t have an invitation suite?
Bring vow books, a note, or meaningful paper from your story. Minimal can be powerful.
Should we buy props?
Not necessary. Even if you come with the bare minimum, we'll create something meaningful for you!
Will our items be safe?
Yes. We inventory at the start and return everything to a single location when finished.