Family pics

This is really going to vary based on family dynamics and if you want to have family photos of just immediate family or also include extended. We included both sets of parents, my grandparents (my husband's are died), both sets of siblings and their significant others, my husbands nieces (flower girls) and nephews (ring bearer and usher). Also, my parents are still married, but my husband's aren't. To further complicate matters, my husband's half-brother and half-sister are estranged from their father (my husband's father as well), but are still close to their former step-mother (my husband's mother) and they asked not to be in photos with him and we respected their wishes. Below is what photos we had taken.

Me (bride) with husband's nieces (flowers)

Me (bride) and my husband (grooms) with my husband's nieces (flower girls) and nephews (ring bearer and usher)

My husband (groom) with his mom helping put his boutonniere on

Me (bride) with my mom and grandmother on my mom's side (she's like a second mom to me) - this was taken prior to the ceremony when my grandmother on my dad's side wasn't around because I didn't want to offend her by not including her

My husband (groom), my dad, and my brother (bridesman) - this one wasn't planned, but my dad and brother got ready with my husband so it was one that was taken before us ladies were ready so my dad and brother couldn't come hang out with us yet

First Look with My Dad and I

Me (bride) with my parents

Me (bride) with my brother and sister

My husband (groom) with his mom

My husband (groom) with his dad

My husband (groom) with his siblings

Me (bride) with my parents and my grandparents on both sides

Me (bride) and my husband with both sets of parents

Me (bride) and my husband (groom) with my parents and siblings

Me (bride) and my husband (groom) with both sets of siblings

Me (bride) and my husband (groom) with his siblings and his mom

Me (bride) and my husband (groom) with his parents

Me (bride) and my husband (groom) with his dad and step-mother - didn't ended up getting this photo because his dad was throwing a fit about being in photos because he doesn't like his photos taken so we were lucky to get the ones we do have of him

Me (bride) and my husband (groom) with his siblings and their significant others

Me (bride) and my husband (groom) with my siblings and their significant others

View Quoted Comment The only family at mine will be mainly my immediate family (mom, siblings, nieces and nephews). Same with the groom except he will have two aunts there as well. So I wanted a lot of small group photos but read that's not a good idea because it takes too long. Ex pic of me with nieces and nephews. Then another pic of me w/nieces alone and one of me n nephews alone.

I don't see why you can't do those photos. You'd just have to plan appropriately. One way to cut down on time during cocktail hour is a first look, but I know not all couples are down for that. If you don't want to do a first look try to do other photos in advance. We did a first look, but we also did some family and bridal party photos prior to the ceremony. For example, I really wanted one of me with my husband's nieces so we had one taken with me and the two girls in our robes while we were getting ready. We also did me with my side of the bridal party and with his side prior so during cocktail hour we just did family photos, full bridal party photos, and a few extra shots of just the two of us. Here are examples of photos from my wedding and all of these that I shared were taken prior to the ceremony after everyone was done getting ready.

View Quoted Comment Beautiful!

I'll probably send my list to photographer and see if she suggested doing some before ceremony.

View Quoted Comment Thanks 😁 I would definitely talk your photographer about a timeline and he/she should be able to help you.

View Quoted Comment Just saw this comment and I would highly recommend talking to her. I would also recommend asking someone who knows the parties involved to help wrangle those who need to be in photos are actually there and don't wonder off. We had issues with both family and the bridal party wondering off to get alcohol from cocktail hour when they were supposed to be getting photos. Our photographer actually had to tell at some of the bridal party to put their drinks down because they weren't paying attention.

We are doing First Look and then doing immediate family pictures after that. I opted not to do big extended family pictures after the ceremony as the consensus was "no one really wants or will display that picture". So instead of group family pictures after the ceremony we will go to cocktail hour and take pictures with people who request of us. This way everyone gets to enjoy cocktail hour!

We're doing a first look and have tons of time set aside for pictures before our ceremony starts, so we're knocking out nearly all "formal" pictures beforehand. If you don't want to do a first look, you could do all the ones that are just "B" and "G" (bride and groom) before the ceremony and the "B&G" ones during cocktail hour. Here's what we sent to our photographer:

• B&G + Bride’s Parents

• B + Bride’s Parents

• B&G + Bride’s Siblings

• B + Bride’s Siblings

• B&G + Bride’s Parents + Siblings

• B + Bride’s Parents + Siblings

• B&G + Bride’s Parents + Siblings + Paternal Uncles + Aunts + Cousins

• B&G + Bride’s Parents + Siblings + Maternal Cousins

• • B&G + Groom’s Parents

  • G + Groom’s Parents

  • B&G + Groom’s Siblings

  • G + Groom’s Siblings

  • B&G + Groom’s Parents + Siblings

  • G + Groom’s Parents + Siblings)

  • B&G + Groom’s Grandparents

  • G + Groom’s Grandparents

  • B&G + Groom’s Grandparents + Parents + Siblings

  • B&G + Groom’s Parents + Siblings + Paternal Grandparents + Uncles + Aunts + Cousins

  • B&G + Groom’s Parents + Siblings + Maternal Grandparents + Aunt + Cousin

  • • B&G + Bride’s Parents + Groom’s Parents

    • B&G + Bride’s Parents + Siblings + Groom’s Parents + Siblings