5 Tips for Stress-Free Family Photos on Your Wedding Day

Your wedding day should be filled with joy, excitement, romance… and ideally, as little stress as possible! There’s really no other day in your life that will bring together all of your family and friends together in the same space. Such an extraordinary day brings beautiful memories that you will want to remember forever. 

However, it’s important to remember that with large groups comes greater organisational needs. Combining all of your nearest and dearest in one place requires a lot of coordination, especially when it comes time for family photos. Coordinating family members and ensuring a smooth photoshoot can be a source of stress for couples. You don’t want to be thinking about managing family and herding people into groups on your wedding day - and you don’t have to! To help you navigate this process with ease, we have compiled five valuable tips for stress-free family photos on your wedding day.

1. Create a List of Combinations for Your Photographer

To streamline the family portraits process, it is essential to create a list of group combinations beforehand. Before your wedding day, sit down with your fiancé and jot down the various family groupings you want to capture, such as immediate family, extended family, and specific relatives or friends. It can be helpful to break down the list into an order that makes sense. For example, if you are getting a photo with your parents, schedule the next photo to be with your parents and siblings. Simply add and remove people as required to make the process fast and efficient.

For example:

Bride + Groom + Groom’s Parents

Bride + Groom + Groom’s Parents + Groom’s Siblings

Bride + Groom + Groom’s Parents + Groom’s Siblings + Groom’s Grandparents

Bride + Groom + Bride’s Parents

Bride + Groom + Bride’s Parents + Bride’s Sibling

Bride + Groom + Bride’s Parents + Bride’s Sibling + Partner + Kids

When writing your list, try to provide the names of family members and, where possible, their relationship to you. This will help move things faster, especially when it comes to our next tip. Share this list with your photographer in advance and allow them to organise the session, capturing all the important moments without any confusion or delays.

2. Designate a Person to Assist the Photographer

While your photographer's main focus is capturing beautiful images, having a designated person to assist them can make the process much faster. This individual can help gather family members, keep track of the list of combinations, and ensure that everyone is present and ready for their photos. It could be a trusted family member, a close friend, or even a wedding planner. Whoever you choose, make sure they know when and where they are needed and have a good idea of who is who in each family. By delegating this responsibility, you and your partner can stand in place while everyone subs in around you and does the work for you. Simply relax and enjoy the experience!

3. Inform Your Family in Advance

Clear communication is key to avoid any unexpected surprises or delays during family portraits. Inform your family well in advance about the scheduled time and location for the session. For example, if you’re planning to take family photos straight after your ceremony, make sure your family knows to stick around and wait for the photographer’s directions. Ask for their cooperation and explain the importance of their presence during this special moment. By setting expectations ahead of time, you can prevent any last-minute disappearances or delays caused by family members wandering off or getting caught up in canapés. 

4. Have Your Celebrant Announce the Photo Session

Before your ceremony, your photographer will usually select a location nearby for family photos (depending on the light and space required) and inform the celebrant beforehand. To ensure that all your guests are aware of the family photoshoot, consider having your celebrant make an announcement right before you walk down the aisle. It can be as simple as saying, “Before I announce the newlyweds, can I please remind everyone that family photos will be straight after the ceremony over in the garden. If you are required for photos, please make your way in that direction after the ceremony.”

Alternatively, your celebrant can make this announcement after you’ve walked down the aisle. However, as your guests are gathered to congratulate you after the ceremony, it can be hard to hear the announcement and can also interrupt your celebrations. This announcement serves as a gentle reminder to everyone, minimising the chances of people getting caught up in conversation or leaving the area before the photos are taken.

5. Trust Your Photographer's Expertise

Your photographer plays a vital role in orchestrating the family photos. They have experience in arranging and posing groups of various sizes, ensuring that everyone looks their best in the final images. With the help of a designated person to herd each family grouping together, your photographer can get through each family photo very quickly and efficiently. Trust their expertise and allow them to guide you throughout the process. Professional photographers often have creative ideas for positioning family members, and they will typically place the couple in the centre while arranging the other individuals around them. This makes it super easy to sub everyone in and out and keeps it stress-free for you. Simply stand together, soak in the moment and let everyone else do the work for you!

Family photos on your wedding day hold immense sentimental value and will be cherished by you and your family for years to come. By implementing these five tips, you can alleviate stress and make the most of this important aspect of your special day. Creating a list of combinations, designating a person to assist the photographer, informing your family members in advance, having your celebrant announce the session, and trusting your photographer's expertise will contribute to a smooth and enjoyable family photo experience! Remember, the ultimate goal is to capture the love, joy, and togetherness of your wedding day. So, relax, smile, and create beautiful memories with your loved ones.