The groom’s details matter just as much as the bride’s.
Let’s pause for a second and appreciate how ridiculously chic this black flat-lay turned out.
While the bride is usually surrounded by lace, pearls, and perfume bottles, the groom’s items often get overlooked. Not on my watch. This setup belongs to a man who knows exactly what he wants: crisp black loafers with silver hardware, a perfectly knotted silk bow tie, a stainless watch that probably has a story behind every scratch, and a boutonnière of white ranunculus and cedar that somehow looks both classic and cool. Then there’s the little white vow book with gold “His Vows” lettering and the matte black ring box holding the band that will change everything.
I built this flat-lay on a wedding day at The Sixpence, where the natural window light from the west hits just right in the late morning. The dark background makes every detail pop. I brought the black styling mat with me, especially for his details. The black-on-black palette feels sophisticated and masculine without trying too hard, and the textures (leather, brushed steel, soft petals) create depth even in a single frame.
Grooms rarely realize how much these images mean later. Years from now, when he opens the album, this photo will take him straight back to the moment he stood in that suite, adjusting his bow tie in the mirror, heart racing because he was about to marry the love of his life. He’ll remember the weight of the watch his dad gave him, the scent of the cedar in his boutonnière, the way his hands shook just a little when he slipped that ring box into his pocket.
At The Sixpence, the groom’s suite (also known as "The Workshop") has the perfect mix of dark wood and soft light for these shots. I always steal 10 minutes while the guys are finishing cufflinks or taking one last sip of bourbon to curate these details. Sometimes they tease me (“You’re really taking pictures of my shoes?”), But when they see the back of my camera, they always smile and tell me that they love the way it looks.
Because yes, the dress deserves its moment. But so does the man who’s about to promise her forever.
This flat-lay isn’t just stuff.
It’s the quiet before everything changes.
And twenty years from now, it will still feel like him.
This photo was captured with the Nikon Z9 and a 35mm prime lens in window light and edited to look like film.
Location: 4400 N 1000 E, Whitestown, IN 46075.