If you are a bride or have been a bride, you might have already heard the phrase “detail box” from either your photographer or friends and family. As your wedding day draws closer, your photographer will ask you to compile a list of items that you will want photographed during the detail portion of the timeline and to put it in a detail box, but what do you need? What is important? Do you even need detail shots? As a wedding photographer for over 5 years, I am going to outline what I love to see in my bride’s detail box and why details are an important part of your day – and your final gallery!

Multiple Invitation Suites

When I photograph an invitation suite, I like to have extra copies for several reasons:

• In case one has a stain or a smudge, I’m almost sure to have a clean copy!
• If you have text, a picture, or a design on the back of your invitation, having multiple copies will allow me to be able to capture both sides of the invitation in one shot.
• If there is a cover or vellum wrap on your invites, then I can photograph the invitations both ways without ruining the vellum.
• If there are liners in your envelopes, but also nice script on your invitations, having multiple sets will allow me to capture both the beauty of the script and the liner in the same shot!

All 3 Rings

A simple, but important detail is all 3 rings – the engagement ring, the bride’s wedding band, and the groom’s wedding band. I like to have some shots with all 3 rings as the focus, and then get some of just the bride’s rings with her details and some of just the groom’s ring with his details. The small detail just magnifies the importance and symbolic nature of the wedding rings.

Shoes

One of the more popular items you see photographed during weddings is shoes! Most brides end up splurging on some cute or fun shoes to wear for their wedding day, so it’s important to capture them! My shoes for my own wedding were a big purchase for me and I LOVED them. After 2 babies, I can’t fit in them anymore, but I love looking at the pictures of them from my wedding day!

Perfume

If you have a pretty or fancy bottle of perfume, include it in your detail box! I know it seems silly, but it really elevates your bridal details. Like the shoes, a lot of people buy special perfume for their wedding days!

Vow Books

While you will probably keep the physical vow books to preserve the memories and to be able to read them later, having them in your detail photos adds to the mood of the day – especially if they match your wedding colors!

Bouquet

This has been one of my favorite detail shots for as long as I can remember! I have especially loved including them in my flat lays lately. The simple backdrops I have really make the bouquets “pop” and highlight the beautiful florals perfectly.

Jewelry and Sentimental Items

When choosing jewelry to include in your details, think about what you’ll actually be wearing and any sentimental pieces that you may not be wearing, but want included. For example, I wore my great grandmother’s diamond necklace on my wedding day. It has huge sentimental value to me and I wish I had gotten a photo of it. I’ve had brides who have old necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings given to them by family members that make such a special addition to your detail box.

Speaking of sentimental items, I LOVE when my couples include items that are unique and/or special to them. These could be things like hankies, handwritten notes, pieces of fabric from a loved one’s wedding dress, the list goes on! If you have something special with you on your wedding day, don’t hesitate. Include anything you want captured – these are YOUR pictures!

Extra Florals and Paper Goods

One of the best things you can do to help your photographer (and add to some STUNNING flat lays) is ask your florist for some extra stems and blooms to add to your detail box for your photographer. It seems so trivial, but the extra florals really do make all the difference! It adds that special touch that ties all your details together!

In addition to your invites, you might also want to add other paper goods you have sent out that are important, such as save the dates, rehearsal dinner invites, or detail cards!

Why Do Details Matter?

While looking through these, you might be wondering “why do these photos matter?”. To be frank, they don’t to a lot of people. However, I see the beauty of them. The details that seem trivial actually come together in your gallery to tell a story. These photos are the little things that came together to make up your wedding day. They are usually in the beginning and they set the tone and mood for the day (and for the rest of the gallery). You may not hang these on your wall, but someday, your children or grandchildren will be able to look at them and smile. They’ll get to see how fashion has changed, how wedding trends have evolved, and some of the fun and special touches your wedding had that they might want to include in THEIR day. They are special and deserve attention!

Check out some more wedding tips and tricks here!