How to plan your family group picture list for your wedding day.
There are so many important aspects to your wedding day and your family group pictures happen to be one of the most important outside of you exchanging your vows to each other. Your Wedding Day is fast approaching, everything you’ve worked so hard on making your dream wedding vision come to life and it’s all coming together. You’re filled with emotions and are so completely ready to be married to your best friend. Family group pictures are probably the furthest thing on your to-do list as far as planning goes.
Usually these pictures are taken after your ceremony and you’re full of emotions after finally getting married!!! Some couples will want to head off to a private area for a few minutes to bask in the celebration of finally exchanging their vows to each other, some will of course greet guests and well wishers. Depending on your timeline and how long you have at the church/chapel (or your ceremony site) it’s advisable to photograph them right after your ceremony while your families are still in one place.
As your wedding photographer, I want you to get them achieved as quickly and efficiently as possible. This way we can get to your couple portraits and get you to your cocktail hour and reception. Below are my 5 top tips to help you plan your family group pictures to ensure they go smoothly and efficiently as possible.
Click here to get my free Family Formal planning worksheet!
Depending on the size of your families, I recommend setting 30 minutes aside to accomplish all the images that you want to capture and then, if you haven’t done a first look, your couple portraits and bridal party images afterwards.
Here’s the list of my top 5 Tips to help you plan your family group pictures
- Make a Family Groupings List: One of the ways I help my couples is that I send out a family grouping worksheet with suggestions for each grouping picture and suggested email/text your can send out to your families. Preparing this list is key as we read out the names of each person in each of the groupings. Note that each grouping of people takes about 2-3 minutes. Family photos will take no more than 30 minutes and we can move forward with bridal party portraits and couple portraits. To download the FREE Worksheet here.
- Communication: I highly suggest you email/text family members before the wedding day to let them know about taking family photos after the ceremony and your desire for them to be a part of them.
- Designate a Family Member: Designate a family member from each side of your families to help gather and Identify family members this helps tremendously. Be sure to share the list with them so the can help gather people.
- Bride and Groom In All Formal Photos: I highly recommend that the couple be included in every photo taken with family and friends. This is to avoid too much repetition after the ceremony. I totally understand that you want images of you and your family (without your spouse) thus I recommend taking these during the getting ready portion of the day. This will maximize the family formals timeframe.
- Check Your List: A few days before your wedding, be sure to look over your list to ensure no one has been missed! AND be sure to send it back to your photographer/planner well in advance in order for us to look it over to ensure there aren’t any questions.
Bonus tip! Of course we’ll take any images you want. Want images with your college gang? OF COURSE we’ll oblige! Just ask me, these are great moments to capture at the reception as well while you’re partying.
Family group pictures can be stressful and often time consuming part of wedding planning. However, it will definitely pay off tenfold to put some fore-thought and effort into the shot list beforehand. By downloading my Family Formal Worksheet, we’ll work as efficiently as possible to get them DONE. This way you and your love can enjoy the rest of your day!
Get the FREE Family Group Worksheet Here
Are you planning a destination wedding? read about the 17 Essential Items you Need to Pack.
Jeannemarie is a Destination wedding photographer based in Charleston, South Carolina and Hawaii. She is available to photograph your destination wedding on any of the Hawaiian islands, the Low Country or where ever your wedding takes you. Contact her today about your photographing your wedding.
