The Flat Lay Wedding Photo: Gorgeous Ideas From the Bride & Blossom Archives

What started out as an afterthought with photographers scrambling to find bits and pieces to place on a hotel room floor while the bride got ready, the flat lay photo is now one of the most anticipated shots in a wedding album. Personal and artistic, it can be perceived as a symbolic portrait of a couple expressed through jewelry, heirloom keepsakes, and invitations. And together, these objects of affection tell a very special story.

Planning and curating are essential to getting a gorgeous flat lay wedding photo. It’s all in the details, so think about which elements of being a bride and getting married mean the most to you. Be sure to talk with your photographer ahead of time – some pros are very experienced in this type of photography and even carry a styling kit with them. Lastly, decorative accents such as flowers and petals, ribbon, ornate dishes, and beautiful ring boxes all help in making a perfect picture. To stimulate a creative flow of ideas, we rounded up highlights of flat lay shots from our Real BB Weddings.

Bridal Accessories
After months of searching, you finally found all the glittering pieces that will translate into your big day look. Together, they create a glamorous bridal armor that will carry you down the aisle and on into the night.

Radiating sophisticated elegance, this shot artfully displays gold Jimmy Choos, a pearl ‘Bride’ clutch, rings, diamond tennis bracelet, and sparkling drop earrings. Crisp, white Phalaenopsis orchids, which were used in the wedding’s floral theme underscore the bride’s upscale style.

 

A dark background will make classic bridal white accessories pop. Here, BB Featured Bride Ashley‘s silk bow Christian Louboutin sandals take centerstage and are complemented by petal-soft white roses.

 

We love how the blush box not only shows off the bride’s glittering rings, but also how the pretty hue complements her champagne colored Manolo Blahnik Hangisi shoes and pearl clutch. Beautifully placed eucalyptus leaves and white ranunculuses emphasize the photo’s romantic color palette.

 

Against a white and grey marble background, the bride’s statement star earrings, pearl encrusted shoes, and floral crystal comb sparkle like celestial beings above. The midnight blue ring box and gold tassel emphasize this heavenly elegant style.

And let’s not forget the groom! Below are layouts that direct attention to what grooms have worn in Real BB Weddings.  A gentleman’s big day arsenal includes shoes, boutonniere, bow tie, rings, jewelry, cufflinks, watch, cologne, and even adult beverage of choice can all be included in the photo.

 

 

 

Wedding Vows
Searching for the right words to say was overwhelming at first (how does one summarize a love, promises, and commitment to last a lifetime?!) But once your wedding vows took shape, the words flowed endlessly from the heart. Many couples choose to hand write the vows in a small personalized booklet. Arranged with other precious items in a flat lay, these keepsakes become symbolic reminders of the feeling and emotions written on their pages. This is also an opportunity to include each partner’s rings and accessories in a single shot.

 

 

 

Wedding Invitations
Long before a guest steps foot into your venue, your invitations set the tone for your wedding. From the paper and envelopes to the font style, colors, ornamentation, and personal details, they are the first impression people will have of your wedding aesthetic and personalities. It’s no surprise then, that couples devote a shot to exhibit their invitation suite.

Real BB Weddings couple Rebecca and Nelson announced their stylish cosmopolitan wedding with a modern invitation suite paying homage to NYC’s iconic skyline. Placed against a chic blue background and accompanied the bride’s shoes and accessories, this layout sings ‘New York State of Mind.’

 

Accentuating the setting and atmosphere, the season that your wedding takes place is a very important character in your wedding story. For their mid-autumn affair, Real BB Weddings complemented their classic navy and white invitations with a bouquet of cotton stems.

 

Real BB Weddings couple Lindsey and Brendan alluded to their white, blue, and green floral theme with a gorgeous letterpress invitation suite complete with a painted flower liner and fancy stamps. Tying together the classic palette are a royal blue ring box showing off the couple’s wedding bands, a blue and white China dish, and smattering of petals, leaves and berries.

 

For their Hamptons weddings, Real BB Weddings couple Nicole and Sean sent out invitations along with a custom map outlining key locations for guests. Framed by the bride’s bouquet and Valentino rockstud pumps, the precious paper pieces are placed on a weathered wood background, echoing the relaxed sophistication of this coastal celebration.

Rings, jewelry, vows, and invitations – they part of your history together. With a wedding album that has captured these precious items, you can relive treasured matrimony moments over and over again.