Navigating Group Pictures with Family and the Wedding Party
Congratulations on your impending wedding day! There’s so much to be giddy about. Other than obviously marrying your beloved, a significant part of the pent-up excitement leading up to your special day can be attributed to celebrating with your wedding guests! Think about it, when else will you and your spouse be in the same place at the same time with all of the most meaningful people in your life? Your wedding, that’s when! So let’s chat about our most helpful tip that will guide you towards snapping the kinds of photos you will cherish most. Ready? Here it is — keep it small.
Wedding Guests
The deed is done. You’re married! Bask in the happy moment with all your guests, then get to the business of documenting it all. Like you, we love photos that encompass the entirety of your wedding guests, but we suggest snapping just a few, to ensure ample time for photos with those closest to you. Your allotted photo-taking time can serve as a chance for aunts, cousins, and the rest of your extended family and friends to enjoy themselves at a luncheon or cocktail hour. Not only will your guests appreciate a relaxing break in their day, but it will also allow you to join them in celebrating sooner.
Kids
Following photos with all of your wedding guests, family photos can begin. To start, we recommend beginning with the kids in your family (nieces, nephews, flower girls, ring bearer, etc.) and keeping it short(!). This encourages optimal happiness (fingers crossed) - the excitement is still fresh, and the cranky feelings of waiting are kept at bay. Afterward, set the tiny people free, and begin with the rest of your family members.
Family
Alas, it’s time to take your parent’s Christmas card photos (aka family photos). Here we get to capture the proud, elated feelings of your parents, siblings, their spouses, and grandparents. Include all kinds of photo combinations with you, the bride/groom. Trust us, everyone is going to want to hang your wedding pictures on their wall.
Bridal Party
Finally for the bridal parties. There is beauty in symmetry. We love when couples have roughly the same number of bridesmaids and groomsmen. It allows us to center the bride & groom in each photo (after all, it’s your day) without straining to include those on opposite ends of the bridal party. Additionally, like all your other photos, we recommend keeping the bridal parties smaller. Many of our brides and grooms have appreciated the intimate experiences of including only close friends and family as members of their bridal parties. Not only does it allow us to capture photos with you (the bride/groom) with each individual party member, but it also makes choreographing authentic feelings in unison easier (i.e. Want a jumping photo? Imagine the number of attempts required to capture ten-plus party member’s feet off the ground simultaneously). Don’t let our suggestion hold you back though. We have shot a bridal party with sixteen bridesmaids and groomsmen, and the photos were phenomenal. The decision merely boils down to your personal preferences.
We hope you find this resource helpful as you’re planning the outline of your upcoming wedding photos! Happy wedding planning!