As a bride, you put so much love and thought into every part of your wedding day. From your shoes to your invitations, each item helps tell your unique story. That’s why wedding detail photos are so special. These close-up shots capture all the little things that make your day truly yours. But, what do you include in wedding detail photos? 

As wedding photographers in Metro Detroit, we’ve seen how the right details can bring your whole wedding gallery to life. Let’s walk through the must-have items every bride should set aside for your wedding detail photos.

Your Wedding Dress and Veil

The dress is one of the most iconic parts of your wedding day. Before you put it on, we’ll take some beautiful shots of it hanging—maybe on a custom hanger or near a pretty window. Don’t forget your veil, too! The lace, tulle, or beading adds so much texture to your photos. We often like to use your veil or the train of your dress for the background of our detail shots to incorporate as much of your day as possible in one photo!

Pro tip: get a plain white hanger or custom hanger to use for the dress photos! This will make a huge difference in photos.

Wedding Shoes

Whether you’re wearing sparkly heels, soft ballet flats, or custom sneakers, your shoes deserve a moment to shine. Pro tip: clean the bottoms ahead of time if you’re wearing them outdoors. If you have two pairs of shoes, we may use both! 

For the guys, we love including their shoes and ties. If it’s a bow tie, it usually looks best if it is already pre-tied.

Jewelry

Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and even family heirlooms should be included in your wedding detail photos. These little accents help tie your look together—and they often hold special meaning. Lay them out neatly or hang them creatively for a styled shot.

Make sure to have all three rings: both wedding bands and your engagement ring. For guys, include their watch if they are wearing one. If they have cuff links, throw them in the box, too!

Rings

Your engagement ring and wedding bands are a big part of your love story. Make sure all three rings are available during the detailed photo time. You can bring a ring box or let me style them with flowers, lace, or your invitations.

Invitation Suite

Including your full invitation suite (invite, RSVP card, envelope, and any extras) helps tell the story of your wedding style. It also captures the tone you’ve set for your big day. Bonus: bring an extra clean copy for this purpose—one that hasn’t been bent or written on. If you also have programs, grab a copy of one of those for us to use, too!

If you used a wax seal for your invitations, these can make a great addition to detail photos as well. Bring the stamp and seal and we will use it when photographing your invitation suite!

Perfume & Cologne

If you’re wearing a special perfume on your wedding day, it’s a sweet touch to include it. Some brides choose a scent just for this occasion so the smell always reminds them of their day. A pretty bottle adds an elegant touch to your photos. If your groom is using a specific cologne, we’d love to use that, too! 

Bouquet and Florals

Ask your florist for a few loose flowers or greenery clippings. We love using these to style your detailed photos and tie in the colors of your wedding day. If your bouquet arrives early, we can feature it too!

Also grab a boutonniere to include to represent the groom’s detail photos if you’re able.

Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue

These special traditional items are personal and meaningful, and they make great photo subjects. Whether it’s a locket from your grandmother, your new earrings, or a borrowed pin, we’ll find a creative way to include them.

Vows or Letters

If you’ve written personal vows or exchanged letters with your partner, include them in your detail items. Handwritten notes are deeply emotional and add a personal story element to your gallery. We also love using the front of vow books, especially if you  have them customized!

Extra Styling Items

Think about adding ribbon, lace, fabric swatches from your dress, or a pretty ring box. These small items help us create beautiful flat lays that look like they came straight out of a magazine. We often arrive with some ribbon, but we cannot guarantee we will be able to completely match your color scheme. 

Some other items you may want to include in your detail photos may be:

• Lipstick
• Bride clutch or purse
• Special sunglasses
• Jewelry dish
• Handkerchief
• Cake topper
• Stamps that match your wedding theme
• Wedding day gifts

How to Prepare for Detail Photos

You don’t have to remember all of this on the morning of your wedding! Here’s a simple tip: put everything in one box before your big day. A small tote or shoebox works great. Ask your maid of honor or a bridesmaid to bring it to your getting-ready location. When I arrive, I can jump right into styling and photographing everything without having to search for items. Check out the video below for a little behind the scenes look into wedding day detail photos:

Metro Detroit Wedding Photography

You’ve spent time choosing each piece of your wedding day. Wedding detail photos help you remember those choices forever. They also set the tone for your full wedding gallery. When you flip through your album years from now, these images will remind you how it all felt—from the lace on your dress to the scent of your perfume.

So, if you’ve been wondering what to include in wedding detail photos, I hope this guide helps! When we work together, I’ll make sure every beautiful detail you chose is captured with care and creativity. If you’re a bride in Metro Detroit, we’d love to hear more about your plans and help you tell your story. Contact us today for availability and pricing!