Stress-Free Family Formals: How To Survive Family Formal Photos On Your Wedding Day

Family formal photos are some of the most important images you’ll capture on your wedding day. These are the photos that end up framed on the wall, shared during holidays, and cherished for years. So, it’s totally worth putting a little thought into which family combinations will mean the most to you.

From my experience photographing weddings, I know this part of the day can be a bit hectic. You want to make sure everyone is included, but you also want the process to be quick and smooth so you can get back to celebrating! So, I’ve put together my recommended family formal combinations to help you plan out this part of your day with ease.

Let’s start with my pro tip.

Pro Tip: Knowing Everyone’s Names

To keep the family formals moving quickly and stress-free, I always ask my couples for the first and last names of each family member they want photos with. This way, when it’s time to take the photos, I can call people by name and get everyone in place without any confusion. It makes the process faster and helps everyone feel more comfortable knowing they’re being included and recognized. Plus, this small detail helps things flow so smoothly so you can get back to celebrating sooner!

Begin with Just the Two of You

Before we jump into the big family groupings, I always love to take a few photos of just the two of you—these are the cornerstone shots of your day! These images capture the joy and excitement of your first moments together as newlyweds. Depending on the layout of the day, these photos are usually done during cocktail hour. But if you’re doing a first look, we can also do these photos before the ceremony so you can enjoy your cocktail hour with your guests.

Immediate Family

Once we’ve got some beautiful portraits of you two, it’s time to focus on your immediate family. These photos are often the ones that will be passed down through generations, so I like to take my time to ensure everyone gets a special moment with you.

For partner 1:

• You with both of your parents

• You with each parent individually

• You with all of your siblings

• You with each sibling individually

• You with your parents and siblings all together

• You with your grandparents

• You with each grandparent individually

For partner 2:

You with both of your parents

• You with each parent individually

• You with all of your siblings

• You with each sibling individually

• You with your parents and siblings all together

• You with your grandparents

• You with each grandparent individually

Both Families Together

• The couple with both sets of parents

• The couple the bride’s immediate family

• The couple with the groom’s immediate family

Extended Family

If you have time, extended family photos are a great way to include more loved ones in your portraits. I recommend keeping these organized by sides of the family to keep things flowing smoothly.

• Partner 1 with extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins)

• Partner 2 with extended family

• The two of you with extended family from each side

Making Family Formals Run Smoothly

Now, if you’re worried about how all of this is going to fit into your busy day, don’t worry—I’ve got your back! Here are a few tips to keep things running smoothly.

Have a Shot List Ready

Before the big day, we’ll work together to create a list of all the family photo combinations that matter most to you. That way, we’ll be organized and make sure nothing is missed.

Designate a Family Wrangler

Have a sibling, cousin, or trusted friend on each side help gather family members for photos. This makes sure no one is missing when we’re ready to take the shot.

Be Flexible

Weddings are full of emotions, and sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. I’m always ready to adapt and go with the flow if changes pop up.

Of course, every family is unique, and these combinations are just a guide. Family dynamics play a big role in how we approach the formal photos. Whether you have a blended family, certain family members who should be photographed separately, or specific relationships you want to highlight, I’m here to adjust the order and combinations to fit your needs. We don’t have to stick to a rigid plan—if it makes more sense to group things differently or take photos in a different order, we’ll do whatever feels right for your family. My goal is to ensure the process is smooth, flexible, and comfortable for everyone involved!