What should you have ready for your wedding photographer? Use this wedding details checklist to organize your rings, invitation suite, jewelry, shoes, heirlooms, and more before your photographer arrives.

What to Put in Your Wedding Details Box

Wedding morning has arrived.

Hair and makeup is happening. Bridesmaids are getting dressed. Someone is looking for a steamer. Mom is asking where her earrings are. Someone else needs scissors. Your flowers just arrived.

And then your photographer walks in and asks:

“Okay! Where are all your details?”

😂

This is EXACTLY why we tell our couples to create a Wedding Details Box before the wedding day.

It’s one of the simplest things you can do before your wedding, but it makes a huge difference in how smoothly your morning runs—and helps us create beautiful photographs of all those little things you spent months choosing.

So what actually goes in it?

Let’s go through it.

First: What Is a Wedding Details Box?

It’s literally just a box.

Nothing fancy required.

Before your wedding day, gather everything you want photographed and put it together in ONE place.

That’s it.

Then when we arrive, instead of asking:

“Where are the rings?”

“Does anyone know where the invitation is?”

“Where are your shoes?”

“Does Mom have the heirloom handkerchief?”

You—or preferably your maid of honor—can hand us one box.

And we can get to work.

1. Your Full Invitation Suite

Bring the whole thing!

Not just the invitation.

If you have them, include:

• Invitation
• RSVP card
• Details card
• Save the date
• Envelopes
• Envelope liner
• Belly band
• Wax seal
• Ribbon
• Custom stamps
• Any other paper pieces from your suite

Your stationery helps us tell the story of your wedding before we’ve even photographed the ceremony or reception.

It usually contains your names, wedding date, venue and design elements that coordinate with the rest of the day.

PRO TIP: Ask your stationer to give you an extra COMPLETE invitation suite specifically for your photographer.

And don’t mail that one. 😂

2. All Three Rings

Yes.

All three.

Bride’s engagement ring.

Bride’s wedding band.

Groom’s wedding band.

If possible, we love having all three rings with the bride’s details when we arrive.

Why?

Because it gives us the opportunity to photograph the rings together.

Once the day gets moving, the rings tend to go in three different directions—and we’re not interrupting the ceremony to ask the best man if we can borrow the groom’s wedding band. 😂

Have all three in the details box, and then we’ll make sure they get back to the right people afterward.

3. Your Wedding Shoes

Even if you aren’t sure you’re going to wear them all night.

Actually…

Especially if you’re not going to wear them all night. 😂

Your shoes are part of the story of what you chose for your wedding day.

Heels, flats, boots, sneakers, designer shoes, sentimental shoes—we’ve photographed all kinds.

Put them in the box or right beside it so we’re not searching through luggage when we arrive.

4. Jewelry

Earrings.

Necklace.

Bracelet.

Watch.

Hair pieces.

Anything you’re planning to put on while you’re getting ready should be gathered together.

Jewelry is especially easy to misplace on a wedding morning because the pieces are tiny and there are approximately 47 people walking through the room.

Okay, maybe not 47.

But sometimes it feels like it. 😂

5. Your Perfume

This is one people sometimes forget, but perfume bottles photograph beautifully.

Especially if you’ve chosen a scent specifically for your wedding day.

And there’s actually something really sentimental about this one.

Years later, you may smell that perfume somewhere and instantly remember getting ready for your wedding.

Scent is powerful like that.

6. Vow Books or Letters

If you’re writing personal vows, exchanging letters, or giving each other cards on your wedding day, include them.

We don’t need to photograph what you’ve written!

That’s yours.

But the books themselves are another beautiful piece of the story.

And if you’ve had custom vow books made with your names, date or wedding colors, definitely include them.

7. Sentimental and Heirloom Pieces

These are some of our FAVORITE details to photograph.

Your grandmother’s ring.

Your mom’s wedding veil.

A locket with a photograph inside.

A handkerchief.

A pin from someone who couldn’t be there.

A piece of fabric from a parent’s wedding dress.

A family Bible.

Cufflinks passed down through generations.

These aren’t just “details.”

They’re pieces of your family story.

Tell your photographer what they are, too.

If something belonged to your grandmother, we want to know that.

It changes how we see it and how we photograph it.

8. Loose Flowers or Extra Greenery

This one isn’t necessarily something YOU need to provide.

Ask your florist!

We love when florists leave us a few loose flowers or pieces of greenery that match the wedding florals.

Why?

Because we can use them while styling your details and invitation suite, which helps tie your detail photographs into the overall design of the wedding.

And florists—if you’re reading this—we love you for those little baggies of loose blooms. 😂❤️

9. Your Wedding Dress

Okay, this probably isn’t going IN the box.

Unless you have a Mary Poppins situation happening.

But have your dress ready.

Ideally, your dress should be out of the shipping bag and hanging somewhere accessible before we arrive.

And if you have a beautiful or custom hanger, have that ready too.

We may move the dress.

Actually, there’s a very good chance we’re going to move the dress.

We’ll look for the best light and a location that allows us to photograph the full gown beautifully.

10. Anything Else That Feels Like YOU

This is where we don’t want you to get too caught up in a checklist.

Every wedding is different.

Maybe there’s a bottle of champagne you’ve been saving.

Maybe you have custom sunglasses.

Maybe you’re wearing cowboy boots.

Maybe you embroidered something inside your dress.

Maybe you have a photograph of someone you love tucked into your bouquet.

Maybe there’s a tiny detail that would mean absolutely nothing to anyone else—but means everything to you.

Include it.

These photographs aren’t about checking off a list of things Pinterest says you’re supposed to have.

They’re about documenting the pieces that help tell your wedding story.

Don’t Forget the Groom’s Details!

The groom gets details too!

And this is one of those areas that can get overlooked.

We love photographing things like:

• Shoes
• Tie or bow tie
• Cufflinks
• Watch
• Cologne
• Pocket square
• Boutonniere
• Socks
• Belt
• Vow book or letter
• Sentimental items
• Gifts
• Any custom accessories

If Maggie is photographing the bride while Patrick is with the groom, having BOTH sets of details ready allows us to immediately start documenting both sides of the wedding morning.

Nobody needs to be hunting down a watch while we’re trying to photograph it.

Our Biggest Advice: Have Everything Ready BEFORE We Arrive

This is really the whole point of the details box.

Your wedding morning should not become a scavenger hunt.

😂

The night before your wedding, put everything together.

Then assign ONE person who knows where the box is.

Your maid of honor.

Your mom.

Your planner.

Your sister.

Whoever you trust.

When we arrive, they can hand it to us and say:

“Everything is in here.”

Music to a wedding photographer’s ears.

And while we’re photographing your details?

You get to keep getting ready.

You don’t have to stop hair and makeup because we’re asking where your earrings are.

You don’t have to dig through bags.

You don’t have to text someone asking who has the invitation.

You get to drink your coffee—or champagne—hang out with your people and enjoy your morning.

THAT is the goal.

Beautiful Details Are About More Than Pretty Pictures

Yes, we want to create beautiful photographs. But wedding details are also part of documenting your story.

Twenty years from now, your invitation won’t just be an invitation.

Your grandmother’s ring won’t just be jewelry.

Your husband’s cufflinks won’t just be cufflinks.

They’re little pieces of one very specific day in your life.

And our job is to document all of it.

The big moments.

The tiny moments.

And all the beautiful things in between.

❤️

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Wedding Details Box Checklist

Here’s the quick version to screenshot:

BRIDAL DETAILS

□ Invitation suite
□ Save the date
□ All three rings
□ Shoes
□ Earrings
□ Necklace/bracelet
□ Perfume
□ Veil
□ Hair accessories
□ Vow book/letter
□ Heirlooms/sentimental items
□ Custom hanger
□ Any personal details

GROOM DETAILS

□ Shoes
□ Tie/bow tie
□ Cufflinks
□ Watch
□ Cologne
□ Pocket square
□ Socks
□ Belt
□ Vow book/letter
□ Sentimental items
□ Gifts/accessories

BONUS

□ Loose florals from your florist
□ Extra ribbon or styling pieces
□ Anything unique to your wedding

Want the Checklist Without Having to Screenshot This Entire Blog Post?

We’ve already made it for you. ❤️

Download our FREE Wedding Details Box Guide and save it with your wedding planning documents. Then when wedding week arrives, you can pull it out, gather everything in one place and officially check this one off your list.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE WEDDING DETAILS BOX GUIDE

Already a Living Radiant couple? Don’t worry—we’ll help you with this too. Our goal isn’t just to show up and take pretty pictures. We want to help you prepare for a wedding day that runs smoothly, feels relaxed and gives us the opportunity to tell the whole story.

— Maggie + Patrick
Living Radiant Photography