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Updated Mar 06, 2025How to Create the Wedding Flatlay of Your Dreams
The art of capturing your invitation suite, rings and more.
From those glam Manolo Blahniks to your creatively designed wedding invitations, you'll want to capture all the small elements that complete your wedding style and theme. Enter: the wedding flatlay. This stylized photo is a contrast from candid wedding photos in that it features an artfully curated arrangement of items from your wedding day alongside accents like flowers or ribbon. It's a still shot that evokes both your wedding vibe and the meaning behind your love—a must for your wedding photography shot list.
Ultimately, "It's a creative way to capture the couple's personal details of the day," says Indianapolis-based wedding photographer Stacy Able. Need some inspo on what wedding detail shots to include and how to arrange them? We've got all you need to know below.
In this article:
What Is a Flatlay at a Wedding?
"A flatlay is a stylized image of wedding details laid out on a flat surface," Able says. "Think invites, rings and other curated items from the day. It's all about capturing those special little items that tell the couple's story, from cufflinks to grandma's ring."
Flatlays are typically photographed from a direct, above angle. If you've ever seen a picture of a wedding invitation, then you've seen a flatlay. "Showcasing this angle for paper goods highlights the overall feel of a wedding," says Melissa Fitoria, owner and designer of Epoch Design in San Diego, adding that it reveals the nature, style and overall color scheme. "The image can help visualize a tangible nuance, such as textures, accents and items chosen to highlight specific details of the wedding."
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But while stationery is typically the star of these wedding detail photos, they don't have to be. You can capture wedding accessories or even messy detail shots, a new trend in wedding photography.
Make sure to examine still shots as well as dynamic photos when looking for a wedding photographer, which you can find on The Knot Vendor Marketplace, to get an idea of who can best bring your flatlay wedding photo dreams to life. Just get familiar with the average wedding photographer cost before you book.
What to Include in a Wedding Flatlay
Be ready with suggestions of what you want to include in your flatlay. Think of what's meaningful to you both as a couple, as well as details that nod to your wedding theme or style. It should fit your wedding color palette, Able says. She suggests considering the following things you need for a wedding for your wedding flatlay checklist:
- Invitation suite (The Knot Invitations has beautiful invitations with matching wedding websites)
- Rings and a ring box or ring dish
- Jewelry, including the engagement and wedding bands
- Perfume
- Vow books
- Florals or boutonnieres
- Ribbon, fabric or small props
- Personal or sentimental items
- Elements from the welcome bag
While your photographer will style the flatlay, you have a say in what it looks like. If there's a spot that you think would make for a good backdrop, don't be afraid to suggest it. If there isn't one, don't worry—Able says your photographer can bring a linen board or canvas specifically made for flatlays.
Remember: "Less is more—unless it's paired with delicious flowers," Fitoria says, adding that they are papers' best friend. "Pairing floral textures always elevates any paper element. That, mixed with a background that gives some texture, is always very much appreciated in the aesthetic nature of these details." But, if we can give you one wedding day tip for your flatlay, it's that you want it to be slightly overcrowded, so trust your photographer to create a balanced look.
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Wedding Flatlay Ideas
Whether you're having a boho wedding or whimsical nuptials, there are plenty of different ways to style flatlays and capture the day's small wedding details. Let these flatlay wedding photography ideas inspire you.
Boho Wedding Invitation Flatlay
While most wedding flatlays call for a clean background, sometimes a maximalist one can really emphasize your wedding style. Colorful printed fabrics in this flatlay nod to both the couple's boho wedding aesthetic and cultural heritage—"a multicultural Indian-Jewish meets woodsy summer camp" vibe, as the bride described it.
Vintage Wedding Invite Flatlay
Muted but colorful tones, a floral motif invitation suite and tassel accents in this wedding details shot give a nod to the Belle Époque era, a period of late 19th-century Europe known for its association with peace, prosperity, growth and optimism.
Wedding Flatlay Props
Your wedding flatlay doesn't always need to include your wedding invite. You can always make other elements the focal point, like your wedding shoes. We love how these white heels are propped up on a chinoiserie platter to evoke the elegance and whimsy of the couple's secret garden wedding theme.
Minimalist Groom Flatlay
Modern, handsome jewel tones in dark blue and green create a sleek and sophisticated flatlay. Minimalist elements like a small bottle from the grooms' Rittenhouse venue and gold cufflinks complete the look.
Wedding Stationery Flatlay
Neutral tones, calligraphy stationery and vintage details like old stamps create a romantic vibe for this flatlay. It even includes a brass bell, which the couple used as table number markers.
Napkin Flatlay Wedding Details
When you personalize your wedding with fun and quirky details like lavender disco ball napkins, make sure you get wedding flatlay photos of them. This flatlay features each napkin design, plus matching cocktail stirrers for fully stylized drink vibes.
Vow Book Flatlay Wedding Photo
This flatlay keeps things simple—crisp white vow books accented in ribbon and bright blooms pop against a subtle marbled background. The simplicity highlights the meaning behind the vows.
Destination Flatlay Details
Major inspo for a destination wedding: Wood prayer beads, ceramic dishes, a woven fan and colorful blooms come together for a flat design that's perfect for nuptials on the beach.
Men's Flatlay Wedding Look
Brown leather loafers and a silver link watch get paired with desert-esque details like cacti and twine for a flatlay that's both masculine and in line with the couple's wedding style.
Wedding Ring Flatlay
A sparkling engagement ring and wedding band are the centerpiece in this flatlay, with a contemporary, color-blocked invitation suite in canary yellow and orange-red artfully cropped off in the shot.
His and Hers Wedding Flatlay Items
This flatlay delicately combines details from both the bride and the groom—perfume and cologne, their rings, handkerchiefs and pocket squares, and the bride's jewelry—next to a fresh bed of pink florals for a romantic touch.
Flatlay Wedding Invitations
If the box for your invitation suite is just as eye-catching as the stationery itself, it must be included in the flatlay. Such is the case for this emerald green set, which is brimming with elegant details, from a wax seal and ribbon to custom illustrations of the Prospect Park Boathouse.
