How to Photograph a Catholic Wedding Flat Lay Image

October 24, 2025

This is a must-have in any final wedding gallery! Here’s everything couples need to know about Catholic wedding flat lays and what they need to create them.

What is a Flat Lay?

A flat lay is a style of photo captured from a bird’s eye perspective. The picture includes wedding day trinkets such as shoes, ceremony programs, jewelry, invitations, and more. It is an aesthetic way to capture all of the small details of the wedding day in one visual snapshot.

What Wedding Day Details Should Be in a Flat Lay?

As a Catholic wedding photograph, Four Loves Photo and Film recommends that couples bring these items with them to their wedding day:

Rosary
Crucifix
Wedding gown
Veil
Tie/bow tie
Shoes
Jewelry
Cuff links
Perfume/cologne
Rings/wedding bands
Loose florals (ask your florist for these!)
Wedding invitation suite
Other sentimental accessories

Other Wedding Day Details

The Catholic wedding flat lay should showcase the pieces of your wedding that make it yours. For instance, some couples have included items like a St. Joseph figurine or a letter stamp. Some other uniquely Catholic ideas might be prayer cards, Saint medals, or Icons.

Catholic wedding flat lays are particularly special when there are sentimental accessories or family heirlooms that couples want to highlight as part of their day. We recommend that couples gather their flat lay items into a box that can be given to the photographer on the day. It is a good idea to have two boxes—one for the bride and one for the groom—since each may be getting ready in a different location.

One benefit of asking for a Catholic wedding flat lay is that it also lets the photographer know which details to look for throughout the wedding mass and reception. This might look like capturing an heirloom jewelry piece up close, or focusing on rosary beads during a portrait session.