Wedding party photos are usually one of the most joyful parts of the day. You’ll have all your special people around you and it naturally results in a lot of smiling and laughing. We highly encourage joking and laughter throughout this time – it’s a priority to us that everyone has fun,! After shooting wedding parties for years, we’ve learned that there are a few small things that make a big difference to how this part of the day goes!

 

1. Share the Schedule

You may have a lot of bridesmaids and groomsmen who have been in weddings before, or you might have a ton of first-time wedding party members. Regardless, they will probably start forming expectations about what the day is going to be like for them! When it comes to photos, the more they know in advance, the better. Wedding parties who have been given specific instructions about when to arrive at each location, when to be ready, how long photos will take and where they’ll take place are usually the wedding parties that are happiest and easiest to photograph. Additionally, if wedding party members have kids, make sure they have arranged someone to watch them for the entirity of photos (even if the kids are flower girls or ring bearers – TRUST US on this one!). Communicate the photo schedule several times to your wedding party and confirm everything one last time at your rehearsal the night before. This is a great job for a maid of honor and best man!

2. Avoid Snacks (just for a few minutes!)

One thing to avoid: serving food during photos. You don’t want to worry about food in your teeth, chewing during photos or too much interrupted time to break for food. Many times, caterers will bring hors d’oeuvres right as we begin wedding party photos. While it’s a very kind gesture, it ends up delaying the wedding party from being in the photos and actually going to the cocktail hour. Ask your caterer to hold off on this, or only deliver food to the two of you (after the wedding party is at cocktail hour). This makes for a smoother and faster transition! You won’t regret it, and your wedding party will love how quickly we finish photos!

 

3. Plan for Group Size

The number of people in your wedding party will significantly affect the vibe, atmosphere and look of your wedding photos. A group that just consists of 1 or 2 wedding party members each is very different than 8-10 on each side. With big groups, we always advise our couples that photos will look best if we find a way to vary the height of each person – specifically, using chairs, seating or different elevations (typically steps) so that we don’t just have a very, very long line of people. This takes a little extra planning and is worth considering if you have a total group size of 16 or more people in your wedding party. It’s also wise to plan additional time for group photos when you have a large group. We typically plan 45-60 minutes for wedding party photos (this includes different combinations, groupings, and sometimes, locations) but occasionally add on additional time for very large groups! It’s never a bad thing to plan extra time – and if you do finish early, that’s just more time to relax and spend time with your people!

 

4. Make it comfortable + fun

It shouldn’t be your job to make your wedding party happy on your wedding day, period. But planning for your party to have a really fun day can also make your day way more fun for you! During wedding party portraits, we suggest doing something little that will make them more comfortable or at ease. This could mean bringing along hand warmers or wool wraps if it’s a cold wedding day, finding a nearby place with shade on a hot day, and maybe even bringing some drinks for everyone to enjoy – champagne toast, beer or even hot coffee can be such a nice touch and keep everyone happy!

 

5. Prioritize YOU

Ultimately, the wedding day is about you two! Make choices that work for you and don’t center your decisions around your wedding party’s personal requests. True friends know that the day is all about celebrating you, and your favorite people will support and love you in whatever you choose!