A Complete Guide to Taking Family Photos at Your Wedding

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.”

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.

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.