5 Details to Bring to Your Bridal Suite
You’ve swooned over the wedding galleries of other brides, but haven’t considered how to help make sure you receive the same romantic, cherished images from your upcoming wedding. Like anything else in wedding planning, helping your photographer capture all the beautiful details from your wedding takes, you guessed it, a little planning.
Most of these five items will already be in the bridal suite with you (like your wedding gown, duh), while other items may be on site or waiting for you at the ceremony location. To best cover all of your detail images in an efficient amount of time, it’s important to make sure they’re all in the same room with you and ready when your photographer arrives! For me, I prefer to photograph the bridal details as soon as I arrive on site to ensure your details are captured in style and can move forward with the rest of the day without stress that we missed them.
Coordinate with your photographer and bring these simple five items to your bridal suite as you’re getting ready, prepare yourself for having your own swoon-worthy, romantic shots of your bridal details:
1. The dress, veil, and shoes
These items are the obvious ones that I probably don’t need to remind you to bring but are worth mentioning anyway. Oftentimes, the dress, veil and bride’s shoes are photographed in several combinations to best flatter the detail of the dress and shoes. The veil will be included in these detail shots, but could also take the center of attention in bride and groom portraits later in the day, romantically blowing in the soft breeze. Additionally, any jewelry you as the bride will wear on your wedding day is good to include in these detail shots.
2. All three rings
Yup! Capturing his and her rings together at the start of the wedding day is the best timing. They look great photographed alongside the invitations and wedding details. When I’m unable to photograph the groom’s wedding band with the bride’s engagement and wedding rings, I have to ask to borrow them during the reception. When I have to resort to photographing the rings during the reception, I’ve noticed that the bride and groom can feel a little wary about taking off their precious marriage symbols. It’s usually loud, busy, and high energy at the reception, and while I’ve never lost a ring, I hate to make you feel uncomfortable on your wedding day. It’s best if we photograph the rings first thing and not worry about it later!
3. Wedding invitation suite
Even though you’ve sent your save the dates and invitations months ago, we won’t let it get neglected on the big day. Having your invitation suite styled and documented within your wedding photo gallery will help you cherish it alongside your other wedding memories. Your wedding invitation suite can include your save the date card, invitation, response card, envelopes, and any additional informational paper goods that were included in your invitation mailing.
4. Loose-stemmed and bridal flowers
Of course I want to photograph your bouquet with your details, but what are “loose stemmed flowers?” These are a few individual flowers and greenery that I can use to embellish your bridal detail images. I will definitely use them to photograph your invitation suite and may include them with your other wedding details.
Just ask your florist in advance to include a couple of flower and greenery stems with your wedding day floral delivery. Ideally these are leftovers from creating your bouquets and reception centerpieces, so they match your entire wedding colors palette. It’s best if these florals and greenery are loose-stemmed and not needed for other purposes in the day because it’s highly likely that I’ll snip and clip those stems specifically to compliment your bridal detail shots.
5. Family heirlooms or other special details
I like to know if certain jewelry or details are family heirlooms, because to me it may just be a necklace but to you a treasured piece that holds many fond memories of a loved one. Knowing which items are family heirlooms or hold special meaning to you as the bride will allow me to give them the attention they deserve while photographing them. If there are any other items special to you that you’d like included in your detail images, be sure to mention them during your final consultation and timeline review to make sure there is adequate time planned for all your detail images to be captured.
If certain details aren’t in the bridal suite ready for the photographer, it could slow down your morning timeline if you’re waiting for someone to bring the groom’s wedding band to the bridal suite, for example. Worst yet, you would miss certain detail shots altogether and would chance an opportunity later in the day to make up for those detail shots after the day is in full motion from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception.
Have another question about your wedding detail images? Email me here and ask away! I’d be happy to help.