Wedding blog

What Is a Wedding Flat Lay and 20 Ideas What to Include

A wedding flat lay is a photo artistically styled with your invitation suite and other meaningful wedding day accessories.
Have you ever scrolled through Pinterest looking at all these beautiful images of wedding invitations carefully arranged among flower stems, perfume bottles, cufflinks, or wedding bands? Well, you have been looking at flat lays.

But except that flat lays are pretty, flat lay images beautifully tell the story of your wedding day. They are a true keepsake to remember those tiny details that otherwise get overlooked so many times. Like the perfume, you used on your wedding day. Besides, wedding flat lays are gorgeous additions to your wedding gallery.

Who styles your wedding flat lay?

Usually, your wedding photographer or planner does the flat lay styling on the day of your wedding. Be aware that they need to do the styling even before your getting-ready images as they will need all your accessories like your jewelry, your headpiece, or any other items you want to have included.

Many planners and photographers have their own flat lay kit that they will bring. Typically the kit contains various accessories like ribbons and ring boxes in assorted colors, wax seals, or vintage stamps.

Sometimes they also bring styling mats as a surface to arrange the flay lay on. Though wedding flat lays can be styled on any other surface such as the floor, a table, or a piece of fabric.

Pro tip: Always ask your wedding photographer or planner to give you a detailed list of items you need to bring on the day of your wedding. Because you can never assume that they have accessories that match or wedding colors.

Also, to make the wedding flat lay a one-of-a-kind, the essential accessories are your personal items. This is the only way to make the flat lay tell your unique wedding day story.

What are personal accessories for your wedding flat lay?

The first item that you always have to include is the wedding invitation. In addition, add save-the-dates, RSVP cards, detail cards, vow books, and envelopes (bring at least two for styling purposes). Furthermore, think of day-of stationery like wedding programs, menus, or your seating cards.

Besides your invitation suite, here are 19 other examples that you could include:

Handwritten love notes
Engagement rings and wedding bands
Ring dish or ring box
Flower stems
Bouquet or boutonniere

Pro Tip: ask your florist to include a few loose flowers with the delivery and make sure they deliver the flowers before the planner or photographer starts taking the flat lay images.

Wedding shoes
Garter
Jewelry (necklace, earrings, watch, bracelets)
Wedding hair accessories (hair comb, headpiece, hairband)
Veil
Cufflinks
Suspenders or belt
Socks
Ties
Custom dress hanger
Perfume bottles
Shaving brush
Vintage photographs from family weddings
Heirloom pieces (antique hand mirror or comb, embroidered handkerchief, pocket watch, flask)

Pro tip: only choose accessories that complement your wedding theme and remember, less is more.

To sum up, a wedding flat lay is a beautiful keepsake of your wedding day. It not only captures the overall look and feel of your wedding but tells your unique wedding story through images.

I love hearing from you! If you have any questions or anything else I can help you with, send me an email at michaela@lovelyandplanned or get in touch with me right here.

Love, Michaela