A Complete Guide to Taking Family Photos at Your Wedding

To the people who have been there from the beginning.

family

PHOTO BY SAMM BLAKE / Design by Michela Buttignol

The couple is the focal point on any wedding day, but there’s another set of guests that’s equally important, particularly when it comes to photographs: family. Sure, couples want those must-have wedding photos like vows and the first look, but according to wedding photographer Sirena Singleton, wedding-day family photos are some of the most treasured mementos. “In the future, the number one thing you’ll want is photos with your important family members,” Singleton says. “When my grandmother died, I looked back on all of our wedding photos together constantly.”

Meet the Expert

Sirena Singleton is a wedding photographer and the founder of Aneris Photography based in Charleston, South Carolina.

Wedding-day family photos can get complicated. It’s overwhelming to decide which family members you need to include in your photo session and how to coordinate timing to keep the day on schedule. Ahead, everything you need to know to understand the ins and outs of wedding-day family photos.

Family Wedding Photo Tips

Not sure who to include in your wedding photos or when to take them? While immediate family members should be a given for your photo album, there are some gray areas as to who you should and shouldn't feel obligated to include. Keep reading for how to stay organized and keep your photographer in the loop during the process.

Focus on the VIPs.

One of the main questions Singleton gets is: “Who should I include in my family wedding photos?” Of course, you’ll want your parents, siblings, and grandparents, but it’s tough to determine who else should make the cut—especially with limited time. Singleton says to focus on the VIPs, then work backward from there. “If there’s someone who raised you or is super special, I always tell couples to have those people first,” she says.

What about divorced or remarried parents?

Whether your parents are divorced but friendly or barely civil, you'll want to arrange for pictures with your individual families first, so put those at the top of the list. The two of you as a couple should take pictures with each parent, including their new significant other if they are in a relationship or are remarried. If you're inviting step-siblings to the wedding, include them here, too. That said, if you do not have a relationship with your parents' new significant other or your step-siblings, but invited them to the wedding out of obligation (or to avoid family drama), don't feel pressure to include them in your photos.

Send a list to your photographer.

“I send clients a questionnaire and ask them to list out which family members they want to be included,” says Singleton. Wedding photographers use this photo list, typically with about 10 must-have family groups, to coordinate post-ceremony photos quickly. That’s when the bulk of wedding photos happen; it’s one of the few open times when all family members are in one place. For that reason, it’s wise to give these VIP family members a heads up that you’ll need them to stick around post-ceremony, too.

If you have someone extra special in your life—such as a grandmother—give your wedding photographer advanced notice so they can keep an eye out for photo opportunities throughout the day.

Your siblings' new significant other and extended family

It's completely acceptable to not want your brother's girlfriend of a month whom you barely know in your wedding photos. The same goes for your mom's third cousin once removed. If you don't have a close relationship with an extended family member, it's perfectly fine to leave them out of family photos.

If you take them before the ceremony...

Taking photos before the wedding is a new practice, kicking out the old tradition that the couple can't see each other until the ceremony. This gives you the freedom and the time to take photos before the wedding celebration actually begins. But it can also be stressful, hectic, and often a headache. Make sure that family members arrive at a certain time so that they will be there during the family portrait hour.

Don't be afraid to ask for help.

The best way to take all your family photos without giving yourself a pre-wedding panic attack is to ask a friend to be in charge of organizing. They'll make sure everyone who needs to be in them is present and help the photographer move this process along so that it doesn't take more time than necessary.

Must-Have Family Wedding Photos

From getting ready in the morning with your sister and walking down the aisle with your parents, to first dances and cousins group photo, these are the must-have photos you should include on your big day.

The Classics

Expect traditional look-at-the-camera poses with your extended family; getting creative with each relative would eat through your time at cocktail hour—or make you late for the reception. In these extended-family photos, Singleton says the couple is almost always in the center, with the family members posed around them.

During Prep

Beyond the can’t-miss family images like parents walking their children down the aisle or participating in first dances, and of course the post-ceremony classics, some must-have shots happen during prep. Expect adorable candids with your mom or sibling zipping up that dress, and of course, the tear-jerking father-daughter first look. For grooms, it could be dad helping tie that tie or put on cufflinks.

Candid Moments

Once the couple is dressed and ready, Singleton says photographers will sneak in a few pre-ceremony family photos to capture those once-in-a-lifetime butterflies. “I encourage the couple to make sure their parents come in for that getting ready period,” she says. “These more personal, un-posed candids are some of my favorite shots.”

Around the Altar

For a church wedding, these family photos typically happen at the altar. For an outdoor wedding or non-religious ceremony, they happen in a photogenic space in or around the venue. It’s best to ask your coordinator, photographer, or venue contact for group-photo location ideas before the big day.

As you brainstorm must-have family portraits, we've rounded up the most important wedding-day family photo ideas for inspiration.

01 of 18

Getting Ready

a bride of Indian culture in colored garb getting ready with her mother and sibling

PHOTO BY ANDREW BAYDA AND MISHA MOON

Photographers like to have the bride’s VIPs, like maid of honor and mother-of-the-bride, help with getting ready. This makes for meaningful candid portraits that encapsulate your big day.

02 of 18

Dad Tying the Tie

a father tying the groom's tie

PHOTO BY KELLY BROWN 

Prep-time photos aren’t solely for the bride. Key groom-prep moments, such as dad (or an uncle or grandfather) helping with the tie, make for sweet family candids, too.

03 of 18

The First Look

a father looking at his daughter as a bride for the first look

KATIE GRANT PHOTOGRAPHY

Few moments are as heartwarming as that first look with mom or dad. Reliving that reaction alone—which often has the father-of-the-bride holding back tears—is worth the price of your photographer.

04 of 18

Personality Pics

family members smiling and showcasing their personalities with the bride

PHOTO BY BOKEH COMPANY

Inside jokes abound in just about every family. Photographers love to capture these silly jokes, big and small, throughout your wedding day. In fact, tell your photographer ahead of time if there are any specific jokes they should keep an eye out for!

05 of 18

Sibling Portraits

two sisters in floral dresses posing together by the water

PHOTO BY OLIVIA LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHIE

Photographers know the family shot list isn’t complete without the couple’s brothers and sisters. Sometimes the sibling portraits are silly and candid, other times they’re heartfelt or serious. The photographer feels out the vibe for the day and leans into that intuition to capture each family shot perfectly. Be sure to get a shot with your sibling as well as your new brother- or sister-in-law.

06 of 18

Parent Portraits

a bride and groom posing with both sets of parents under trees

PHOTO BY JUSTIN LEE

The classic parent photos, with the couple in the center and parents on both or either side, is a photographer staple. These typically happen after the ceremony and incorporate both immediate and extended family.

07 of 18

Solo Parent Portraits

a solo parent portrait of an Indian-cultured mother and father dressed in red and gold

PHOTO BY FLORA & FAUNA

The couple is in most family photos, but with mom and dad looking their best, photographers want to capture solo portraits of them, too.

08 of 18

Moments With Grandparents

a bride and her grandmother smiling at each other

PHOTO BY JENNINGS KING 

One of Singleton’s favorite photos from her wedding is with her grandma. That’s why she makes sure her couples list out their VIPs ahead of time.

09 of 18

Flower Girls and Ringbearers

a bride sitting on the lawn with three small boys in colored caps

PHOTO BY SIDNEY BENSIMON

Few things are more adorable than children in the bridal party at a wedding. Your photographer will capture every little-kid moment they can, including those tiny bowties, or kids just being kids.

10 of 18

Group Shots

a large group photo of a family in front of trees

PHOTO BY CHRIS AND RUTH PHOTOGRAPHY 

It’s great to get as many family members into one photo as possible if time allows. That way you can print and frame everyone together for grandma or grandpa. You can also opt for a table photo at the reception if you're short on time for staged photos.

11 of 18

Don’t Forget Your Pets

two grooms smiling and posing with a golden retriever and beagle dog

PHOTO BY SARA LOBLA

Pets are just as much part of your family as anyone, so why not bring them along for the fun? It’s best to coordinate this with your photographer ahead of time and have someone else, such as a cousin, taking care of them and transporting them to and from photos.

12 of 18

Religious Traditions

a bride and groom at a ketubah signing with their family members

PHOTO BY PAT FUREY PHOTOGRAPHY 

Whether it’s a specific religious or family tradition, tell your photographer ahead of time so they can capture the memory through images. In this photo, the bride and groom gathered their family for the signing of a colorful ketubah, a Jewish marriage contract.

13 of 18

Pre-Ceremony Butterflies

a candid photo of Pre-Ceremony Butterflies

PHOTO BY SAMM BLAKE

Some of the most meaningful family photos take place before you walk down the aisle. These pictures capture those butterflies and help you relive the memories forever.

14 of 18

Toast Stills

a couple listening to a wedding toast while sitting in chairs photographed from behind

PHOTO BY CHI-CHI ARI PHOTOGRAPHY

Whether it’s the dad’s opening speech or a brother’s toast, photographers will always capture those meaningful reception moments. This is also when a wedding video with speech audio comes in handy, too.

15 of 18

Special Candids

a candid black and white photo of a father hugging two brides

PHOTO BY HENRY + MAC 

One of the best wedding-day family portraits is a shot that symbolizes your family’s bond—especially those bonds in the making. If your partner is close with your family, make sure to tell your photographer so they can capture that meaningful relationship all day.

16 of 18

Cousins Shot

the bride and groom's extended family and friends at a wedding in Tulum

Photo by Chris & Ruth Photography

Next to your sibling, your cousins are the first friends you have in life. If you're a close knit bunch, a cousins photo is a nice group shot to have as a part of your album.

17 of 18

Godparents

If your godmother is your best friend or your new spouse's godfather is like a second father to him, then you should aim to have a shot with these people who hold special meaning in your life.

18 of 18

Your Children

Eva and Bobby, the bride and groom are pictured with their baby daughter, who is wearing a white dress and white headband

Photo by Natalie Bray

What better loving reminder of the day you join your lives together than your children? If you and your significant other have a new little one who won't be at the reception, be sure to take photos with them early on in the day or right after the ceremony. Pro tip: it's best to make sure baby is fed before attempting photos.

more in

The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Photography

Related Stories