As you prep and plan your day, one specific part of the day tends to be a little chaotic….and that always seems to be family formals! I feel like no matter how hard we try, family formals are always a bit more chaotic than they should be! Today I’m sharing a few tips that should help expedite and smooth out the process!

1. Make. A. List– and be sure your photographer has it the day of! I ask all my couples to provide the names of everyone they want in a photo- then I ask my assistant to call out the names! This expedites the process greatly. Also, to add onto this- designating a specific person (sister, bridesmaid, aunt- anyone who knows your family) to help us assist in the corralling and setting up of the families!

   My suggested list includes:

   1. Bride + Groom at Altar

2. Bride + Bride’s Mom

3. Bride + Bride’s Dad

4. Bride + Bride’s Mom + Bride’s Dad

5. Bride + Groom + Bride’s Parents

6. Bride + Groom + Bride’s Parents + Siblings

7. Bride + Groom + Bride’s Parents + Siblings + Grandparents

8. Bride + Groom + Both Sets of Parents

9. Groom + Groom’s Mom

10. Groom + Groom’s Dad

11. Groom + Groom’s Mom + Groom’s Dad

12. Bride + Groom + Groom’s Parents

13. Bride + Groom + Groom’s Parents + Siblings

Another set of family photos I always try to get is both sets a parents, alone! How often do your parents get dressed up and have a beautiful portrait of them together? So fun!

2. Communicate to everyone at the REHEARSAL DINNER about family portraits. This way the timing is fresh in their mind. Make a point to ask anyone you want in the photos to stay around immediately following the cermony

3. Ask your officiant to make an announcement after the ceremony (and you and bridal party have made your exit) asking all immediate family members to stay put for portraits!

Lastly, knowing things will just naturally take a tad longer than you are expecting. Hiring a professional photographer, one that has lots of experience in weddings, should really ease your mind. We typically build in an additional 20 minutes into family portrait time, to ensure we still get that key photo with Grandpa Bill with the bladder that won’t hold! 🙂