Helpful Tips about Wedding Details from Raleigh Wedding Photographers

I’ve been to A LOT of weddings and I promise I’m not exaggerating when I say every wedding is totally different. That’s because every couple has different priorities for their wedding day. This edition of Elyssa Explains may be totally irrelevant to some couples, but for brides or grooms who are incredibly detail-oriented it may be the post you refer to the most often when thinking through your wedding day plans.

AKA: Elyssa Explains Wedding Details

This post is all about the “wedding details.” And I don’t mean what time the invitation says the ceremony starts, I’m talking about the invitation itself.

We love photographing the little details incorporated into your wedding because those are the things that convey your personality and the unique wedding vibe you want to convey (if you’re a Kivus & Camera couple, then it’s probably a vibe of “super fun wedding!”). These personal wedding details are not just invitations, although we’ve definitely seen some really awesome invitation suites. When I say wedding details, I mean everything from your florals to your jewelry, from pocket squares to funky socks, handwritten notes, mementos from loved ones, custom Ketubahs, a sixpence in your shoe, inside jokes with the wedding party, etc. Those are the details we’re talking about here! 

Even though the Kivus & Camera team will always be on the lookout for important, personality-filled, and customized details on the wedding day, it really helps if
(a) you let us know ahead of time what details are most important to you, and
(b) you consolidate details you definitely want photographed into one area in your respective prep locations (of course, reception-specific details like table decor and signage doesn’t need to be there, but things like your invitations, jewelry, and similar accessories are often important “getting ready” details)

We typically start the day by photographing those “getting ready” specific details. Note that I always suggest including the invitation suite here, so we can photograph it along with things like your jewelry and other mementos. Check out the example list below for help in determining what you might want to set aside.

Some examples of those sort of important “details”: 

• The rings: engagement rings, wedding rings (I suggest having all rings in the same place to start the day so I can photograph them together – just let us know who should have the rings leading up to the ceremony and we’ll get the rings to that person as soon as we’ve photographed them)
• Paper products (make surer to bring extra copies of your save the date, invitation, rsvp cards, programs, etc.)
• Gifts (for one another, wedding party, parents, etc.)
• Wedding day outfit and accessories: wedding dress, veil, shoes, jewelry, bouquets, jacket, vest, tie, watch, cufflinks, boutonniere, funky socks, shoes, suspenders, etc.
• Any other special mementos – handkerchiefs, handwritten notes, and charms for bouquets are just some of what we’ve seen before.

That’s what I’ve got to say about wedding details! But as always, I’m here to help, so never hesitate to reach out with questions (photography related or not)

-E