To me, family wedding portraits are a must at every wedding. Yes, bridal portraits and pictures of the happy couple are definitely important, but oftentimes, a wedding serves as a family reunion!  That makes family wedding portraits important keepsakes, documenting those rare occasions when everyone is all together—and dressed up! Trust me, you’ll cherish every photo from the big day, but nine times out of 10, these are the most shared (and most printed out!) images, loved and kept by every family member. 

But with multiple people in an image, and multiple generations to boot, family wedding portraits need a little bit of planning to pull off, and pull off well. So without further ado, here are my top tips for stress-free family wedding portraits (even with kids!)

1. Communicate in advance

If portraits are something you’re definitely looking for, and you know there’s a lot of family to capture, talk with your wedding photographer well in advance. They’re likely building out a schedule of the day, and knowing this is something that needs to be prioritized (and could take a while!) will help make sure everything runs smoothly. While you’re chatting, be sure to mention any challenges like sticky family relationships, multiple children, older family members, etc. I’ve been photographing weddings more than 10 years now, and I can tell you there’s no such thing as too much information! Especially when it comes to being prepared. 

It’s also helpful to have a shot list written out and ready to go. That way your family can work with your photographer to keep things moving efficiently! If there are groupings of people you know you want photographed (or some you know you don’t!), communicate those pairings before the big day. Need some help thinking it through? Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling!

• Bride with mom
• Groom with mom
• Bride with dad
• Groom with dad
• Bride with mom and dad
• Groom with mom and dad
• Bride and groom with bride’s parents
• Bride and groom with groom’s parents
• Bride and groom with bride’s parents and siblings
• Bride and groom with groom’s parents and siblings
• Bride and groom with bride’s parents, siblings, and siblings families
• Bride and groom with groom’s parents, singlings, and siblings families
• Bride and groom with bride’s parents, siblings, siblings families, and maternal grandparents
• Bride and groom with groom’s parents, siblings, siblings families, and maternal grandparents
• Bride and groom with bride’s parents, siblings, siblings families, and paternal grandparents
• Bride and groom with groom’s parents, siblings, siblings families, and paternal grandparents
• Bride and Groom with paternal grandparents
• Bride and Groom with maternal grandparents
• Bride and groom with bride’s immediate and extended family
• Bride and groom with groom’s immediate and extended family

2. Have a Designated Time Just For Family Wedding Portraits

Family wedding portraits take time, and you want to make sure they’re done well. So my best advice? Don’t try to squeeze them in somewhere on an already eventful day! Talk it over with your wedding crew, decide on a timeframe, and make sure that schedule is clearly communicated with everyone who is expected for photos. Believe me, nothing breaks the momentum of a wedding schedule like needing to track people down! I recommend checking family wedding portraits off the shot list early, before you start to lose the youngest and oldest generations. Whatever fits best into your day, here are some tried and true times to think about:

• Before the ceremony
  This one only works if you’re doing a “first look,” or if you simply don’t mind seeing each other before that trip down the aisle. Those moments in between getting ready and all the festivities is generally the quietest occasion, and fitting your portraits in before the business can be just the ticket for stress-free images. (Plus no one has teared up and smudged their makeup yet!)
  
• During cocktail hour
  While your friends are all enjoying the atmosphere (and talking about your gorgeous ceremony!), slip your family into a separate location for some family wedding portraits. This is a great alternative for couples who skip the first look, or just want to wait until the knot’s been tied to move onto any photo formalities. 
  
• At the rehearsal dinner
  Feeling stressed trying to fit more into your day-of schedule? Who says you need to take family wedding portraits on your wedding day? Whether you take them at the rehearsal dinner the night before or at brunch the next morning, whenever your family is in town, your wedding photographer can make it work. You’ve got enough going on during your wedding day. Why not add another day of fun to the occasion?

3. Delegate Tasks

Last but not least, make sure you delegate tasks, and communicate expectations clearly! Coordinating family members can be challenging, but putting someone in charge of gathering people, someone in charge of entertaining kids, someone in charge of communication, etc. can go a long way in making sure your family wedding portraits run smoothly. You might even need a buffer person to navigate family dynamics! Planning makes everything easier, even when it comes to wedding portraits. So here are some things you can take off your plate (and give to someone else!):

• The people coordinator. This person will track everyone down and make sure they’re in the right place at the designated time.
  
• The prop collector. This person will make sure you have all the bouquets, sunglasses, sparklers, etc. needed for your perfect family wedding portraits.
  
• The entertainer. This person will be in charge of entertaining any children present for photos, armed with snacks and activities to keep tummies full, outfits clean, and faces smiling. If the entertainer also needs to take photos, have a backup handy to step in and take over when needed. Grandparents are usually great for this!
  
• The touch-up giver. This person will come prepared with hairspray, lip color, etc. to touch up any hair and makeup imperfections, and be in charge of checking each person before they step in front of the lens.
  
• The communicator. This person will loop everyone in on the schedule and plan beforehand, then keep everyone up-to-date on any changes, expectations, etc.

Need some more inspiration? I’ve got you covered! Check out my five steps to stunning bridal portraits, or my five tips for a successful family photo session here.

It’s so tricky to incorporate wedding photo props without getting tacky. You want to encourage your guests to add their own, fun images to your collection, but you don’t want to make an elegant event feel like a birthday or grad party, right? I hear you! Whether you’re looking to add some fun to the classics on your shot list, loading each reception table with disposable cameras, hosting a social “I-Spy” or setting up a Polaroid station with the guest book, you’re in luck. Here are my favorite wedding photo props (that aren’t cheap or cheesy)!

1. Scrabble Tiles

Let your guests spell out their own words of wisdom with these classic tiles. Have members of your wedding party write out “BRIDESMAID,” or “BEST MAN,” have family members write their relation, or simply have guests write out their own personal messages of “LOVE.” You could even pre-set each bar with your wedding date to make things more streamlined. Any way you go, these little letters pack a big dose of fun in an elevated and classic way. (Plus their neutral color and font won’t clash with your decor!)

2. Chalk boards

Want to give your guests more space to share? Using a few personal chalkboards is a great way to make wedding photo props personal. Encourage your guests to share memories, well wishes to the happy couple, quotes, or even doodles of inside jokes. Chalkboard messages in Polaroids could even turn your guestbook into a guest photo album for a fun, elegant and interactive station at your cocktail hour or reception.

3. Sunglasses

I’m not talking about printed paper glasses on a stick. I’m talking about as many dollar store shades as you can manage. Keep things classic with solid black, or add some fun pops of neon with a variety of colors to choose from. Using real (cheap) shades as wedding photo props adds an easy touch of attitude without feeling too much like a novelty or gimmick. 

4. Sentimental Photos

If you’re in need of wedding photo props for bridal party portraits, have some sentimental photo prints handy. There’s a reason they’re standing by your side on your big day, and photos of the special moments in your friendship are the perfect addition to your images. Recreate the poses in each snap, or laugh at the days gone by for joy-filled candids. This idea works for family pictures, bride and groom portraits, too!

5. Empty Photo Frames

Let your guests structure their own images by holding up empty frames. I’m talking real, glassless frames—not the big poster board ones. Keep it chic with black and white options, rustic and natural with woodgrains, modern with metallics, or fun with bright colors. Whatever your theme, be sure to grab a variety of shapes, sizes and designs. Love the look? Hang the frames in your home as a gallery wall to enjoy each one long after you say “I do.”

Wedding photo props are a great way to show a unique side to your style, theme, or love story. They can show off more personality than the simpler images you’ll undoubtedly take. And can even serve as decor for aesthetic purposes when not in use. I’ve been photographing weddings since 2013, and over the years, I genuinely find such beauty in human connection. Check out some more of my work here, and be sure to visit my Wedding Experience page. Props or no props, let’s turn once-in-a-lifetime moments into timeless images.