Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. Brides make hundreds of decisions to plan the perfect wedding and we want to help them make some of those decisions easier. In this series, we’re opening up about  different parts of the wedding day timeline and uncovering some of the best decisions every bride can make before the wedding to help ensure the day is everything the bride envisions, and maybe even more!  If you’re joining us for the first time, you can catch up here:

1. 5 Tips for Choosing Your Getting Ready Venue
2. 5 Things Every Bride Should Bring to Her Getting Ready Room
3. Is a First Look Right for Me?
4. The First Look from a Groom’s Perspective
5. Building in Time for Bride and Groom Portraits
6. The Three B’s: Bridal Party, Bouquets, & Boutonnieres
7. Making Time for Ceremony and Reception Details
8. Why We LOVE Linens

John Wooden said, “It’s the details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” We couldn’t agree more. Like thread, the details are weaved into the fabric of the wedding day. They’re the frosting on the wedding story cake. The details make our hearts swoon, and we couldn’t imagine a wedding day without them. So, here are the top five details to bring to the getting room:

1. Custom Hanger 
You dream of your wedding dress your whole life. We want to make sure we get an image of your perfect dress on your perfect day. Unfortunately, most wedding dresses come dangling on wire or plastic hangers, which can be very distracting to the final photograph and don’t support the dress well while hanging from a door or window. Investing in a custom hanger can up the visual interest of your wedding dress photograph. Consider a hanger with your new last name (“Mrs. Demos”) written in wire, a hanger that sparkles, or a hanger that compliments the color story of your wedding day.  Even a wooden hanger from your closet can be a good solution that supports the weight of the dress without distracting your eyes away from it.

2. Wedding Rings, Jewelry, & Family Heirlooms
It’s traditional for the best man to hold the wedding rings until the ring exchange, but we think that’s a mistake. We love to photograph the engagement ring and both wedding bands together, because we’re able to use the bands to support the engagement ring, symbolizing the support you’ll give each other in marriage and both of you becoming one. Also, if you’re wearing a necklace, bracelet, or earrings, or have an antique jewelry box, family heirloom (like your grandmother’s broach), or anything else you’ll be wearing that’s important to you, make sure it’s all pre-organized together in one box or bag that you can hand us when we walk in. It’ll give us more time to stage and shoot it, so we’ll spend less time tracking it all down, and give you more photos of your most prized possessions.

3. Complete Invitation Set
Aside from engagement photographs and save-the-dates, your invitation set represents a great first impression for your guests. You’ll spend hours choosing the design elements for everything from the packaging to the return address labels, and you deserve to have memories of your hard work. If you can remember, also include a wedding program, any other paper products and color textures that you’re incorporating somewhere else that matches your theme (like extra lace from your bouquet or a ribbon used to seal your invitations). Details look best when they’re told as a color story. Put everything in a large manilla envelope marked “For My Awesome Photographers” and put the envelope in a basket with the jewelry mentioned above. This alone will dramatically increase our effectiveness for you. Plus, when we’re done, we’ll just put everything pack, so you’ll know where to find it!

4. The Bouquets & Boutonnieres
Most florists will deliver the bouquets and boutonnieres to the wedding venue instead of the hotel. If you’re able to have them delivered to the hotel, that’ll give us the chance to incorporate your flowers into the other detail shots, and make sure you have your flowers for your first look and bridal party portraits. Just have some water handy, and the bouquets and boutonnieres will be dandy!

5. Perfume
This is the PERFECT something new! If you bring a new bottle of perfume to wear on your wedding day, your brain will remember that new scent and relate it to the happiest day of your life! Every time thereafter that you wear it, that smell should bring you both right back to your wedding day!

Next week, we’ll be breaking down the first look, why we chose it for ourselves, and why we love it as photographers.