How To Make Your Family Formals Go Quickly and Smoothly

One of the things I hear the most from brides that they are "dreading" or "nervous" about on their wedding day is the Family Formals. I totally hear you. You might have a big family and just thinking about gathering everyone together makes your head spin. I get it! This area of the day can easily become the most stressful part. But why should it be that way? This is the biggest day of your life and having all of your closest family members all together at the same place and the same time to celebrate your MARRIAGE is such an incredible feeling! If anything, this should be one of the happiest parts of the day! It's not very often that you get all of these people together for a photo! These are the images you will cherish forever! I have put together some tips that will help make this portion of the day go as quickly and smoothly as possible!

1 | My NUMBER ONE tip that needs to be at the very top of this list is hands down, be prepared ahead of time. Do not leave this big task for the last minute (while it's finally happening!) to determine who is in the family photos and what combinations you are wanting. This will leave you will a giant head ache. Believe me! And you don't want that on your wedding day! Sit down with your fiancé 1-2 months before the wedding day and determine who you want to be in the formal photos. Make your list of WHO is in the photos first, and then start creating your combinations.

2 | Keep it simple and small. I recommend involving only your immediate family in the Family Formals which can be your parents, siblings+spouses+children, and grandparents. This doesn't mean that you can't have a big group shot with all of your aunts and cousins and family friends that traveled all over the country to be there! We can definitely get those big group shots but I would suggest doing these during the reception where we will have more time!

3 | While you are making your list of combinations, have two pieces of paper handy. Make one list the people/photos that need to happen during Family Formals (usually right after the ceremony!) and the ones that can be done during the reception! Another reason I suggest making a Reception Group Photo list is because once the party is going, the drinks are flowing, and the dance floor is popping, you aren't going to be thinking about all the photos that you haven't gotten and which ones you did get yet! Some combinations could be --

Brides cousins & Grooms cousins
All Aunts and Uncles + cousins
College Friends
Work Friends
Family Friends
A shot with your photographer! ;)

This way your list is on paper, in your photographers hands, and you don't have to worry about a thing and you'll know all your important photos will be taken care of! You just have to focus on enjoying your day!

3 | When making your final list for your photographer, include the first name of every person, for every combination (just for Family Formals). So instead of saying--

" Bride and Groom + Bride's Mom, Bride's Dad, Bride's Sister, Bride's Brother" write --

"Bride and Groom + Bride's Mom (Mary), Bride's Dad (George), Bride's Sister (Kelly) , Bride's Brother (Jack)" . I would rather call out peoples first names rather than what their title is to the couple!

4 | Have a meeting location! I always recommend (if the weather is okay for it!) to have your family formals OUTSIDE! Natural lighting makes photos look softer, the skin tones look beautiful and just overall makes such a difference! I would have all of your family stick around at your ceremony location and then move to the spot that your family formals are happening. This way you know everyone is there and ready to go!

5 | Inform the people that are involved ahead of time! Before the wedding day arrives, tell your important people that they will be in the family photos, they will be at ___ this time, and we are meeting ____ here. So once the ceremony is over, you are MARRIED!, and everyone knows where they need to be so they don't run off to cocktail hour. (which, this happens!!)

6 | Have a photo helper (for both sides) who knows your family! Your photographer might have your list handy with all of the names of people who are involved, but we might not know who these people are and what they look like. So as helpful as we want to be with gathering people together, all we could possibly do is scream and shout everyones names. And this will also lead to us looking like a crazy person, and no one wants to listen to and be around a crazy person, haha!

I hope you found this post to be helpful for when you prepare your family formals shot list! I wanted to include the actual list that I provide for my couples so you can see what different combinations could look like. I know that EVERY family situation is different and this is only a guide. You can customize your list to fit your family! This list takes approximately 30-40 minutes depending on how many people are involved, so keep in mind that the more combinations you add, the more time it will take, and that will take away from your sunset Husband & Wife photos!