Many of my couples can get a little overwhelmed when they’re asked for a list of the photos they’d like for their family photo groupings, so I’ve put together a list of some of the usual suspects for you!
IMPORTANT FOR TIMELINE: Each grouping will take an average of 4 minutes to complete (that's longer than you thought, right?). That means if you have ten groupings, we have to allow about 40 minutes of family photos on the timeline. Try to prioritize and remember that you don't have to have 40 small groupings with a few people vs. a few larger groupings with more people.
TIPS
- I highly suggest you list the names of the people you’d like in photos, not just "brother, aunt, dad". It not only makes rounding them up easier, but also makes the organization and execution easier on the day of the wedding.
- Give a copy to each of your mother’s and also one to the best man and maid of honor (or bridal party member who would know the people on the list) and have them start letting those people know where to gather and when.
- If anybody in your family is elderly and/or has a hard time standing for a while, I will make my best effort to do all groupings that involve those folks first so they don't have to wait around. If you write your list that way, that will simplify me trying to figure it out on the wedding day!
I’ve listed some variations below, but I do suggest the list be structured like this:
KATE'S FAMILY
1. Kate & Josh with parents Mike and Conny, siblings Seth and Matthew, Grandma and Grandpa Smith, Great Grandma Riggs, cousins Doris and Matthew, and all nieces and nephews
2. Kate & Josh with Great Grandma Riggs
3. Kate & Josh with Grandma and Grandpa Smith
4. Kate & Josh with immediate family, parents Mike and Conny and siblings Seth and Matthew
JOSH'S FAMILY
1. Kate & Josh with parents Amber & Eliot, siblings Todd and Bradley & their spouses Samantha and Katrina, Grandma Perkins, Grandpa Mack and Mary Johnson, and all nieces and nephews
2. Kate & Josh with Grandma Perkins
3. Kate and Josh with Grandpa Mack and Mary Johnson
4. Kate & Josh with immediate family Amber, Eliot, Samantha & Todd, Bradley & Katrina
...etc.
Sample Family Photo Groupings for Wedding Formals
Please note, variants may need to be added in for divorced or remarried parents.
BRIDE & GROOM FAMILY GROUPINGS
Bride and Groom with brides parents, grooms parents, brides grandparents, grooms grandparents, brides siblings, and grooms siblings
– and siblings with spouses (married only) and their children
– with siblings unmarried partners
Bride and groom with brides parents, brides grandparents, and brides siblings
Bride and groom with brides grandparents
Bride and groom with brides parents and siblings
Bride and groom with brides parents
Bride and groom with brides siblings
– and siblings with spouses (married only) and their children
– with siblings unmarried partners
Bride and groom with grooms parents, grooms grandparents, and grooms siblings
Bride and groom with grooms grandparents
Bride and groom with grooms parents and siblings
Bride and groom with grooms parents
Bride and groom with grooms siblings
– and siblings with spouses (married only) and their children
– with siblings unmarried partners
most common groupings
Remember, 10 groupings will mean planning for 40 minutes of family photos. These are suggestions to spur your thinking, not a guideline for every shot we need to get!
BRIDE & GROOM FAMILY GROUPINGS
Bride and Groom with brides parents, grooms parents, brides grandparents, grooms grandparents, brides siblings, and grooms siblings
(optional) – and siblings with spouses
(married only) and their children
(optional) – with siblings unmarried
partners
Bride and groom with brides parents, brides grandparents, and brides siblings
Bride and groom with brides grandparents
Bride and groom with brides parents and siblings
Bride and groom with brides parents
Bride and groom with brides siblings
(optional) – and siblings with spouses
(married only) and their children
(optional) – with siblings unmarried
partners
Bride and groom with grooms parents, grooms grandparents, and grooms siblings
Bride and groom with grooms grandparents
Bride and groom with grooms parents and siblings
Bride and groom with grooms parents
Bride and groom with grooms siblings
(optional) – and siblings with spouses
(married only) and their children
(optional) – with siblings unmarried
partners
BRIDE ONLY W/FAMILY GROUPINGS
Bride with brides grandparents
Bride with brides parents and siblings
Bride with brides parents
Bride with her mother
Bride with her father
Bride with brides siblings
– and siblings with spouses (married only) and their children
– with siblings unmarried partners
Bride with each sibling
– and siblings with spouses or unmarried partners and their children
Bride with her mother and mother-in-law
Bride with her father and father-in-law
GROOM ONLY W/FAMILY GROUPINGS
Groom with grooms grandparents
Groom with grooms parents and siblings
Groom with grooms parents
Groom with his mother
Groom with his father
Groom with grooms siblings
– and siblings with spouses (married only) and their children
– with siblings unmarried partners
Groom with each sibling
– and siblings with spouses or unmarried partners and their children
Groom with his mother and mother-in-law
Groom with his father and father-in-law
Most of my clients stick to keeping both bride and groom in all the shots. After all, everybody's family now! If you do want photos with just the bride or just the groom, I suggest keeping those to a minimum.
less common groupings
BRIDE ONLY W/FAMILY GROUPINGS
Bride with brides grandparents
Bride with brides parents and siblings
Bride with brides parents
Bride with her mother
Bride with her father
Bride with brides siblings
(optional) – and siblings with spouses
(married only) and their children
(optional) – with siblings unmarried
partners
Bride with each sibling
(optional) – and siblings with spouses or
unmarried partners and their children
Bride with her mother and mother-in-law
Bride with her father and father-in-law
GROOM ONLY W/FAMILY GROUPINGS
Groom with grooms grandparents
Groom with grooms parents and siblings
Groom with grooms parents
Groom with his mother
Groom with his father
Groom with grooms siblings
(optional) – and siblings with spouses
(married only) and their children
(optional) – with siblings unmarried
partners
Groom with each sibling
(optional) – and siblings with spouses or
unmarried partners and their children
Groom with his mother and mother-in-law
Groom with his father and father-in-law