I love each and every part of photographing a wedding day, but the logistics of getting the group wedding photos sorted can be tricky! I wanted to break it down so you can plan them ahead of time, then you can enjoy them and get back to your guests. Here are my nine ways on how to make the group wedding photos easy.

Group wedding photos are great – here’s why

You see, even if you want natural wedding photography that is more documentary in style, there is still a place in the day for a small number of group wedding photos (by small number I am talking under 10 individual setups). I am, in the main, a lover of a more natural, candid style of photography. I enjoy capturing the day as it happens in order to create beautiful storytelling images that go further than just recording who was present. I love to photograph the natural moments and the in-between bits; the happy tears from your mum as she watches her daughter say ‘I do’, the groom burying his face in his hands as his best man tells a few stories from years past, the proud smile on your granddads face as he watches you walk down the aisle. These are the photos I love to capture and the moments that make an image into something very special. However, I also totally appreciate that this is the one day where all your family, friends and loved ones are there at the same time.

It’s the one time you might have four generations of family together, the one time all your best friends from school will be in one place. Getting a group photo of all these people can also add to the memories of the day in a different way. Group wedding photos can be particularly important to your parents and older relatives. These are the photos that often get the most print orders and I know they will be adorning the mantlepieces of proud aunties and grandparents countrywide.

The trick is to plan the photos in the right way!

Click here for Genna & Calum’s full festive big day at Moor Park wedding

Click here for Sarah and Andy’s full stylish Town Hall Hotel wedding

There is definitely a right and easy way of doing group wedding photos and a wrong and more complicated way of doing them! With over 300 weddings under my belt, I can safely say that I know the right way to approach these photos. If you want easy, stress-free group wedding photos that don’t take forever and allow you to actually enjoy the time during your reception here are my top tips to keep things running smoothly.

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1. Keep the number of group wedding photos down

I recommend no more than 10 individual combinations. Do you really need all 20 of the groups you initially considered? Are you really going to print all of them? Do you really want to spend the whole of your reception taking group wedding photos? Prioritise which shots you really want within the formal photo time e.g. immediate family, bridal party, parents. Don’t forget, your photographer is generally there for most of the day so there will be time during the day to grab them for more spontaneous photos of other groups and people. The formal photo time should be kept for the closest and most important groups.

Click here for Belinda and Pete’s colourful outdoor Sanctum on the Green wedding

Click here for Jen and Darren’s two ceremony Wootton House wedding

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2. Allow enough time for each shot in your group wedding photos

Not allowing enough time for the groups is the most common mistake made when working out the wedding reception timings. For groups of 6 people or less you should allow 3 minutes to round up, arrange and take the photo. For larger groups allow for 5 minutes. A photo of everyone at the wedding can easily take 10-15 minutes to sort out. It is also a good idea to allow another 5 minutes for any unexpected things, such as family members going awol! It happens…a lot!

3. Who is included in each shot in your group wedding photos?

Who is included in the ‘family’ shot? Parents, siblings, cousins, siblings other halves? Are friends classed as everyone who isn’t family? It can be a bit of a minefield if you leave things open so it helps to be specific. Write the names of the people in each shot so you know who is needed. This is also helpful for your photographer to understand family dynamics. It will help your ushers or those allocated to help round people up for the groups. Which nicely leads me to point 4.

Click here for Caroline and Simon’s car loving Hatfield House wedding

Click here for Sarah and Andrew’s Town Hall Hotel wedding

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4. Allocate people to help round others up for your group wedding photos

Let the ushers ush, or something along those lines! Choose someone who will be happy to help and who is responsible enough to be useful! I say this from experience. Having a ‘helper’ who vanishes to the bar when they should have been collecting Aunty Mavis it’s useful. Often it’s helpful for one of the helpers to be a family member so they will know who the guests are. Some people are naturally better at this job than others. They will need to be nice but firm in rounding guests up and someone who has a slightly louder voice can be useful for making announcements! I am happy to help gather people but guests are generally more responsive to a charming bridesmaid or smooth-talking usher.

5. Talk to your parents ahead of time about the group wedding photos

This is sometimes the point in the day where there are differences of opinion on who should and shouldn’t be included in a photo. It can also be the point where it all goes pear-shaped and what was supposed to be a handful of photos turns into many, many more! To avoid any conflict or issues, or spending ages lining up extra people for photos, have a chat to your parents beforehand. This way you can either add in ones they would like before the day or at least discuss what you are wanting to do.

Click here for Jen and Darren’s fabulous Wootton House wedding

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6. List your shots in a streamlined way 

To make the best use of the time you have its good to arrange the order of the shots in a way that makes logical sense. If you have one person in shot 1 and then again in shot 5 the chances are you will lose them and it will take time to get them back again. I tend to start with the larger family shots, which is especially helpful if they include grandparents who don’t want to be standing around for too long. From there you can slowly remove people and work down to shots with parents. Its good to leave the wedding party photos until the end so there is time for something a bit more fun.

Here is my recommended wedding group shot list for your wedding photographer:

• the couple’s extended family
• the couple’s immediate family
• the couple’s parents
• one half of the couple’s parents
• the other half of the couple’s parents
• the couple’s friends
• one half of the wedding party (the bridesmaids, maid of honour)
• the other half of the wedding party (the ushers and best man)
• the wedding party (the bridesmaids, maid of honour, ushers and best man)

7. Let your photographer guide you for your group wedding photos

My primary concern when choosing a place for the group wedding photos is somewhere that has good light. I’m not going to suggest you stand in front of the bins, but the beautiful spot you thought would work might not work so well if it’s in the glaring sun, leaving you squinting with panda like shadows under your eyes. This is never going to be flattering! If you really have your heart set on a particular location have a chat to your photographer about it. It might be that you will need to do these photos later in the day when the sun is lower and the light softer.

Click here for Yvonne and James’ beautiful outdoor South Farm wedding

8. Have a reserve list 

This is the follow on from point 1. The reserve list is the people who you would like a photo with, or of, but groups that can be a little more spontaneous or informal. They might not even need to include the bride and groom. These could be relatives who have travelled from far away or friends who are there with their new baby. The reserve list doesn’t need to include every guest! Just a handful of people who don’t need to be included in the main formal list, but those you would really like a photo of. I always remind my couples that I am there for the day, so there is no panic in getting photos with friends or more distant relatives. I am available to be grabbed during the reception or later in the evening and these spontaneous photos can be a lot of fun for everyone.

9. Group wedding photos don’t have to be static

For the most part, your group wedding photos will be arranged in a line or group where everyone can be seen. However, you don’t have to have all your photos done this way. While your granny might not be up for doing anything too unusual, you can do something a little different with a wedding party photo. I always take a guide from my couples about doing group wedding photos that are a little less static. Not everyone wants to do that (which is totally fine), but if you do you can add some movement (walking, jumping, holding a pose, it’s up to you), or do something a little out of the norm with where you have the photo taken or how you set it up (use chairs, use a part of the venue that is particularly striking). Have fun, a brilliant group photo doesn’t always need everyone looking to camera. Sometimes the loveliest ones are when the people in the photo are interacting.

My aim is to make this part of the day as efficient and easy as possible and to scoot through in about 20-25 minutes, leaving you plenty of time to celebrate with your guests and have a canapé or two.

Click here for Claire and Simon’s pretty garden party wedding

Click here for Lydia and Tom’s elegant summer wedding at King’s College Cambridge

Click here for Sheila and Paul’s beautiful outdoor wedding at Old Hall Ely

Click here for Yvonne and James’ full outdoor South Farm wedding

Click here for Sarah and Ade’s stylish Pembroke Lodge wedding

Click here for Kate and Cory’s beautiful Chelsea Town Hall wedding

Click here for Belinda and Pete’s outdoor wedding in Berkshire

Click here for Ashlea and Sam’s elegant Greenwich wedding at Queens House

Click here for Natasha and Joe’s sparkly Belair House wedding

Hope this gives some ideas and top tips for making the most of your group wedding photos. Most couples will never have organised such a large event, so feeling a bit lost when it comes to planning your photos is understandable. If you want more guidance or help I’m always happy to share, just ask! You can find more top tips by checking out my tips on planning your wedding page. You may particularly enjoy my post on how to get the best out of your wedding reception photos and my popular post on how to make your wedding as unique as you are.

Thanks for popping by,

Fiona x