If you’ve spent months choosing every detail of your wedding day, the last thing you want is to look back and realize none of it was photographed. Here’s exactly what to have ready and how to make it easy for your photographer.
Let me be honest with you for a second.
When it was my turn to get married, I became that bride. The one who had photographed hundreds of weddings and still found herself obsessing over every single detail of her own day. And because I’m a photographer, I actually ended up photographing my own details myself, just to make sure they were captured exactly the way I envisioned them.
And you know what that experience taught me? I realized very quickly what I had and what I was missing. Things I had told my own couples to prepare for years, I suddenly understood on a whole new level from the other side of the camera.
One of the best decisions I made was bringing my own mannequin to The Walton Hurst, where I was getting ready, which happens to be right next door to The Historic Walton House. I know that sounds a little extra, but hear me out. There is something about seeing your dress on a mannequin that a hanger simply cannot replicate. It has shape, presence, and looks the way it was designed to look. And photographed in the right light at a beautiful space like The Walton Hurst, it becomes one of those images you’ll want to print and hang on your wall.
So yes, I drove there with a mannequin. And I have zero regrets.
That experience completely changed how I talk to my couples about getting ready details. Because now I don’t just know it as a photographer. I know it as a bride.
Here’s everything I recommend having ready, and why each piece matters.
For the Bride
Your dress — on a mannequin if you can make it happen
I know I already made my case, but I’ll say it again. Mannequins have become the new standard for bridal dress photos and for good reason. They give your gown the shape and structure it deserves so it can be photographed the way it was designed to be seen. If a mannequin isn’t possible, a wooden hanger still works as it did for Mika’s wedding at The White Orchid.
Your accessories
Lay these out together before I arrive. The more intentional the collection, the more editorial the photos feel. Think:
- Earrings (both the pair you’ll wear and any you considered)
- Your engagement ring, wedding band, and his wedding band
- A meaningful ring box, the more personal the better
- Necklace and bracelets
- Your veil
- A fun personalized clutch
Your shoes
These deserve their own moment. Whether you’re wearing something classic, colorful, or custom, your shoes tell a story. If there’s something written inside them like a date, initials, or a little message, let me know ahead of time so we don’t miss it.
Your bouquet
Your florist will typically deliver your bouquet before the ceremony so it’ll already be in the room. Keep it in water until just before we photograph it. The fresher the blooms, the better the photos.
Loose flowers and ribbon from your bouquet
This is one of my favorite things to ask couples to bring and one of the most commonly forgotten. Ask your florist for a few extra stems and the ribbon or twine from your bouquet wrap. These make gorgeous fillers for flat lay arrangements and add so much texture and color to detail compositions without any extra cost.
Your vow book or vow card
If you’ve written personal vows, having your vow book or card photographed is such a beautiful detail, especially if it’s handwritten. These images take on a whole new meaning years down the road.
Your invitation and stationery suite
Your full stationery set, including the invitation, envelope, details card, and even the wax seal, tells the visual story of how your wedding began. Tuck the whole suite together so it can be laid out as a flat lay. This is honestly one of the most underrated detail shots in any gallery and one I always look forward to photographing. This one in particular was special, Caro, my Ancient Spanish Monastery bride, designed and printed out her own stationery from her small business, Doll Paper Co. All mixed with Cuban cafeteras to represent her Cuban heritage and Tyler’s Cowboy boots.
Something borrowed, something blue
If you have meaningful heirlooms or sentimental pieces like a grandmother’s brooch, a handkerchief with a story, or jewelry passed down to you, these deserve to be photographed. Tell me about them before the day so I know to look for them and give them the attention they deserve.
For the Groom
The suit or tuxedo jacket
Hang it somewhere clean and well-lit, ideally near a window. If there’s a monogram inside the jacket or a special lining the two of you chose together, point it out. Those little details are the ones worth documenting.
The boutonniere
Like the bridal bouquet, keep it cool and in water until shortly before photos. A fresh boutonniere photographs so much better than one that’s been sitting out all morning.
Cuff links
Small but mighty. Cuff links, especially monogrammed, heirloom, or custom ones, make for incredibly personal detail shots. Place them on a watch box, inside the ring box, or against the jacket fabric for a bit of texture and depth.
The watch
If you’re wearing a watch on your wedding day, have it out and ready. Watches are one of the most photographed groom details and they photograph beautifully against suit fabric or alongside the rings.
The tie or bow tie
Laid flat or loosely draped, ties add texture and color to the groom’s detail story. If it’s being hand-tied rather than clipped, photograph it before it goes on.
A Few Tips to Make the Morning Run Smoothly
Gather everything the night before. The morning of your wedding is not the time to be hunting through bags for your ring box. Put everything in one place, whether that’s a box, a tray, or a small basket, so that when I arrive we can get straight to it without the scramble.
Keep the getting ready space as tidy as possible. I’m not expecting a perfectly styled suite and I promise I’ve seen it all. But the fewer coffee cups and clothing piles in the background, the more versatile your photos will be. A quick tidy from a bridesmaid or groomsman before I arrive goes a long way.
Let natural light do the work. If there’s a window in your getting ready space, position yourself and your details near it. I got myself to The Walton Hurst early partly because I knew the light there would be gorgeous for exactly this. Natural window light is the most flattering and most beautiful light for getting ready photography, full stop.
Tell me what matters. If there’s a piece of jewelry with a story behind it, a detail your grandmother handmade, or a personal touch that most guests won’t even notice, tell me before the day. The details I know about are the ones that get photographed with intention.
Getting ready photos are often the ones couples tell me they forgot would matter so much. They’re the bridge between the anticipation and the celebration, the last quiet moments before everything begins. With a little preparation, they become some of the most meaningful images in your entire gallery.
And if you’re considering a mannequin? I say go for it. I’m living proof it’s worth the effort. Here’s the link to the one I ordered for my wedding!
Planning a wedding in South Florida and looking for a photographer who will take care of every detail? I’d love to hear about your day.
