How to Prep All of The Details | Tips From a Utah Wedding Photographer
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Your wedding day isn’t just about the big moments. It’s also about the small, meaningful details that you spent time planning to all fall into place. Your rings, invitation suite, florals, shoes… they all tell a part of your story.
As a Utah wedding photographer, I’ve learned that when couples prepare their details ahead of time, the entire day flows more smoothly, and the photos feel more intentional without feeling staged. Whether you’re getting married in Salt Lake City, Park City, American Fork, or anywhere in Utah, these tips will help you feel calm, organized, and confident.
Why Wedding Detail Photos Matter
Detail photos aren’t just “pretty extras.” They help set the tone for your full wedding gallery and preserve things that often get forgotten once the day moves on, like:
- The style and colors you carefully curated
- Family keepsakes that matter deeply
- Stationery that welcomed your guests
- Textures from fabric, florals, and jewelry
They help your gallery flow naturally into the bigger moments: getting ready, first looks, the ceremony, and everything in between.
Pro Tip: Organized details = more time for photos and way less stress.
Wedding Session
Starting at $750
- $250/hour, 3 hour minimum
- Average of 50 edited images per hour of coverage
- 30% non-refundable retainer to book
- Remainder due 30 days before the session
- Travel fees applicable if 35+ miles from West Jordan
- Discounted rate available for Engagement and Bridal Session additional sessions
What Counts as Wedding Details?
You may have more details than you realize! Every couple and wedding day is different, but here’s a checklist of potential to ensure nothing is overlooked:
- Engagement ring + wedding bands
- Ring box
- Invitation suite (full set + envelope + stamps)
- Perfume or cologne
- Shoes
- Dress, suit, or wedding outfit (with a nice hanger)
- Veil or hair accessories
- Tie, belt, or suspenders
- Jewelry (earrings, bracelet, necklace, watch, cufflinks)
- Vow book
- Any sentimental items (letters, charms, heirlooms)
- Bouquet or boutonniere
Other Special Details:
- Personalized gifts
- Ceremony programs
- Wax seal or ribbon from invitations
- Loose floral stems
- Custom signage elements
- Save-the-date cards
- Family keepsakes
Pro Tip: Order a second invitation set so one stays clean for photos.
Tips from a Salt Lake City Wedding Photographer
Tip #1: Gather Everything in Advance
The number one wedding photography secret? Place all your details in one dedicated box or bag labeled: “DETAILS FOR PHOTOGRAPHER”. This ensures no one is hunting for rings, vow books, or accessories on your wedding day. When I arrive, I can start photographing immediately without stress.
Tip #2: Ask Your Florist for Extra Stems
A few loose florals add texture and visually tie your detail photos into the rest of your day. Most florists are happy to include them if you ask.
Tip #3: Bring a Clean, Simple Hanger
Your wedding outfit deserves better than a plastic hanger. A wooden or custom hanger looks amazing in wedding photos.
Tip #4: Keep Rings Together and Hand Them Off Early
Rings are small and easy to lose. Place them in your detail box and give them to your photographer when they arrive.
Tip #5: Choose Items That Actually Mean Something
Some of the most emotional detail photos include personal items. Consider adding a handwritten note from your partner, ribbons from your bouquet, and your “something old, new, borrowed, or blue.”
Tip #6: Build in Time (or Embrace the Real Moments)
If your timeline allows, set aside some time at the beginning of the day for me to capture stylized details. If that isn’t possible or your timeline is tight, I can capture what’s called “lived-in detail photos.” These are moments as they naturally happen:
- Shoes as you put them on
- Your necklace being fastened
- Rings in your hands
- Perfume on the vanity
- The final veil adjustment
Both approaches are beautiful; it just depends on your day and how you’d like to see your details in your final gallery.
Note: Most couples I work with prefer “lived-in details”. You’ll be able to note your preference in the final questionnaire I give you before the big day!
A Utah Wedding Photographer Who Helps You Protect the Moments That Matter
Your wedding day deserves to feel like you. Not rushed. Not staged. Not built around a camera, but around your people, your priorities, and the moments you’ll treasure forever.
I want to be there to help you create a timeline that protects what matters most, to advocate for the moments you care about, and to capture your story as it unfolds naturally. The tears, the laughter, the quiet pauses, and the chaos; all of it.
If you want a Utah wedding photographer who will support your vision and document your day, I would love to be that person who will help make your wedding day unforgettable.
