Every once in a while, I get an inquiry for a wedding and after initial conversation, the tide turns and the bride-to-be tells me she only needs me there to shoot portraits. That makes my wedding photographer heart ache, and it brought me this post today- Why do bridal details matter?

Now first off: I should start by explaining my definition of “bridal details.” It can range from your flowers down to the perfume you decide to wear. Even the little things can mean the most! I love documenting details. I mean like SUPER duper love them. If i had to pick a favorite part of the wedding day, shooting details would come as a close second to your portraits. But why?

Your bridal details are the things that you have been planning anywhere from 6-18 months. You have taken the time to think about what earrings will look best with your dress. You have spent hours looking for that perfect necklace to fall right in line with the neckline of your dress. Maybe you and your bridesmaids found the cutest matching shoes to wear on your big day. And your perfume, you really shouldn’t get me started on your perfume.

One of the strongest senses we have is our sense of smell. Think back to when you were a kid. Now think of something that when you smell it, it takes you back almost to a specific time. Mine is super weird. Whenever I smell a copy machine, i’m taken back to probably 5 years old. My mom would take me to the public library and she would copy off page after page of who knows what. But do you know what, the smell of that copy machine takes me back. I can remember the exposed wood of the library. I can remember down the walkway to the armchairs next to the covered magazines, and the “Horse and Rider” magazines that I would look through for what felt like ages as she made those copies. I remember getting to press that green button, and feeling the warmth in those copied pages as they came through the rollers.

All of that comes to mind from just one little scent. How fun is that?!

So imagine yourself, a few months to a year of being married. Your getting ready to go out for Valentine’s day, and you find your perfume. Let’s say it’s Gucci Bamboo because that’s literally my all time favorite. Ever. You spray a few spritzes and all of sudden you are transformed back to your wedding day. You remember spraying that on yourself after you had just gotten into your dress. You remember me amping you up in preparation for your first look. You remember how anxious you were to see the man of your dreams dress up to the nines, as well as the emotions that flood in the second you did get to see him.

From one little scent.

Now, i’m letting my thoughts get away from me a little, but I really do love shooting bridal details on a wedding day. It’s generally the first thing I start to shoot, and it really let’s my creative juices start flowing. I’m usually in a corner of the room (maybe even outside), and it’s just me and all your special details for your day. I try to incorporate special things from your day as well to help you remember it in it’s entirety. Once I get your details shot, it’s time that things start rolling quicker, and the horses are off.

So those times when I have a bride tell me they don’t really “need all those detail images,” you’re absolutely right. You don’t need those images, but I want you to have them. I want you to remember the entire day. I want you to remember those weekends before the wedding picking out your perfect head piece. I want you to remember making your own veil. I want you to remember it all, and have gorgeous images of the beautiful trinkets that may just end up in a box. And I definitely want you to have perfume. 🙂