Oh, family photos at weddings.
This is probably going to cause a collective grumble (and maybe fears of your face being frozen in a smile after standing there for 20+ groupings) … but family photos are one of the most important parts of the wedding day for many of our couples – and especially for their parents & grandparents. It can be a rare occasion for some families that everyone is together, and while they may not enjoy them being taken, they sure love having them to look back on later.
and yet…
It’s rare that people think about how the CLOTHING COLORS they are going to wear can impact those photos (and the ceremony photos). And there is always one family member that shows up in something neon.
How can you make sure your wedding will have family photos you’ll love for years to come?
- TELL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT THEY’RE GOING TO BE IN PHOTOS
Believe it or not, a lot of extended family members are surprised to learn they’re going to be in photos. Even grandparents are shocked to be on the list (yes, really). - TELL THEM YOUR WEDDING COLORS – AND WHAT COLORS ARE ACCEPTABLE TO WEAR.
Better yet, show them swatches or photo examples of your exact colors. Send them to them in a way that they can refer back to when shopping or choosing outfits. - SET GROUND RULES & EXPECTATIONS.
Make sure that your family knows what you want them to wear – are jeans acceptable, or would you prefer semi-formal attire? If you can’t describe it well, create a pinterest board of examples you can send to them. Make sure you are very specific about what is NOT ok (neon, Hawaiian shirts, tie-dye, club dresses, etc, whatever this may be for you). - FOR WOMEN, IT’S OK TO SPECIFY LENGTH OF DRESS.
Would you prefer your photos all have long dresses? It’s ok to ask for that. It’s also a good idea to mention that you’re ok with any length of dress if that’s the case, too. - NAILS, HAIR AND SHOES DO MATTER.
We are not going to photoshop better shoes, nail polish, a hairstyle, etc. Make sure your family knows it’s not ok to expect something to be photoshopped. - COMMUNICATE WHEN THESE ARE HAPPENING.
Make sure that everyone in family photos knows what time they need to be ready for family photos (if you’re doing them before ceremony, tell them to arrive DRESSED AND READY 15 minutes before the actual photo start time). Make sure they know that this start time isn’t the time to go to the bathroom or get dressed – and that if they’re where they need to be these will go SUPER fast. - LET THEM KNOW THAT WE’RE ONLY DOING THE GROUPS ON YOUR LIST.
At least during this time. They can absolutely grab us during down times in the cocktail hour and reception to grab other groups. - MAKE SURE WE KNOW OF ANY MOBILITY ISSUES OR YOUNG KIDS.
That will allow us to prioritize certain photos, choose the photo location with these things in mind, and make things go smoothly. - TRY NOT TOO GET TOO STUCK ON A PHOTO LOCATION.
We are going to choose the location that will look best in photos – we definitely don’t want anyone squinting (and unfortunately a lot of ceremony backdrops are in full sun for quite awhile after ceremony time). - ASSIGN SOMEONE WHO ISN’T IN THESE PHOTOS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE WATER/DRINK FOR YOU.
Photos can take a lot out of you, even if you’re not speaking – and you’re going to be in a LOT of family groupings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many family photo groups should we plan for on our wedding day?
We recommend keeping the formal list to immediate family only – your parents, siblings, and grandparents. That’s usually 6-10 groupings maximum. Extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins add time quickly, and you’re doing this while your guests are waiting at cocktail hour. If you want extended family groupings, plan them as informal requests during cocktail hour when people naturally gather – it takes the pressure off everyone and the photos still happen.
Should we share a family photo list with our photographer in advance?
Yes – and the more specific, the better. “Parents” is not enough – tell us which parent configurations you want (mom + me, dad + me, both parents + me, both sets of parents together, etc.). Send the list at least 2 weeks before the wedding so we can flag anything that looks like it’ll take more time than you’ve budgeted. We can also help you figure out the most efficient order so that people who need to leave early or have mobility concerns get their photos done first.
What is the most common family photo mistake couples make?
Not telling family members what time to be dressed and at the photo location. We regularly have family members who drift to the bar at cocktail hour or change into more comfortable shoes right as we need to gather everyone. Assign one person (someone not in the photos) to physically round up family members and get them to the right spot at the right time. That one step alone keeps the family photo block from running 20 minutes over.
