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Dedicated November 2021

Group Photos

J W, on February 10, 2021 at 12:45 AM Posted in Wedding Reception 1 15

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Has anyone tried to do group photos with different sets of extended family at their wedding? My mom is really set on the idea of having a few group photos as some of our relatives are getting older. I do understand why she wants this and am happy to comply. However, I know my family and I know that trying to corral twenty people for one photo could take FOREVER. This would be at least three large photos with my mom's side of the family, my dad's, and my FMIL's. Does anyone have tips on the best way to do this without it taking eternity and annoying everyone?

I thought about doing a receiving line and just getting them done then, perhaps even passing out a little card to people asking them to organize into large family groups to go through the receiving line. My mom really dislikes this idea and thinks we should take the photos after the receiving line. I think everyone will disperse after this for cocktail hour and that it will be harder to collect everyone, even with emcee announcements. I just want to be able to enjoy my guests and socialize and not spend the whole night waiting for people to get out of the bathroom/pay attention/etc for a few photos.

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15 Comments

Latest activity by Julia, on March 30, 2025 at 5:53 PM

Master May 2019
Cyndy · on February 10, 2021 at 1:31 AM
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The best thing to do would be to make some announcement that you are going to do a quick family photo and ask people to hang around. I would also put someone in charge of gathering the groups so your don’t have to do it. Make a list for each picture and have someone organizing those people.
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Master April 2021
Mrs. Spring · on February 10, 2021 at 3:09 AM
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No way! I dislike some of my in-laws and would pull a crop move after the picture is developed. Like that scene from the 1980s film, Uncle Buck.
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Master 0000
Judith · on February 10, 2021 at 3:40 AM
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We had an area for the photographer to work, and after dinner and the begining of dancing, he or 2nd took pictures of any group, on request from them or us. The other doing candids. We had let it be known we would be. Ushers and GM told people as they passed out of ceremony into the cocktail area. These proved very popular. We started the Ceremony at 7:30, 3/4 hour cocktails that we were present for ( pics earlier except us) 8:30 dinner, and they were set up by 9:45. By then, it was very easy to gather people. They were not yet drinking too much to be helpful, and respond quickly.
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Dedicated May 2021
Maybride · on February 10, 2021 at 4:14 AM
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Wait.. I thought this was standard practice at weddings? 😂 usually at the end of the ceremony the celebrant will make an announcement for close family stay nearby for photos. Tell your photographer before hand that you want these photos and maybe delegate a bridesmaid or family member to make sure everyone is close by and ready. Usually only takes 10 mins or so.
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Legend July 2022
Lisa · on February 10, 2021 at 7:13 AM
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The last two weddings I attended did this! At one of them, the DJ made an announcement during the reception to call people to the dance floor, and the group photo was taken on the dance floor. It worked out pretty well.
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Master April 2021
Michelle · on February 10, 2021 at 7:41 AM
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We’re meeting with our photographer on 3/5- love the responses on this! Thanks for the topic & the info!
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Legend November 2019
Caytlyn · on February 10, 2021 at 8:17 AM
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Tell those who will be in the photos in advance and have them meet you at a designated area after the ceremony. Your photographer should already have a shot list and a list of who will be in those photos. If you’ll have a DOC, they can also help wrangle people up.
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Master January 2022
SLY · on February 10, 2021 at 9:07 AM
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My FH's brothers all did the same thing, which was notify all extended family members (whoever was included in photos), that after the ceremony, large family photos would be taken! The officiant also made an announcement after the ceremony was over. Everything went smoothly each time!
We're doing a first look, so we'll have most of the family photos done before the ceremony, but we plan on doing the same thing if we run out of time to get extended family photos before the ceremony!
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Expert September 2021
Marianne · on February 10, 2021 at 9:15 AM
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For my cousin's wedding, I believe the photographer made an announcement before the ceremony began asking for close family to stick around for pictures. They only did one big group shot per family, though (bride's dad's side, bride's mom's side, groom's dad's side, and groom's mom's side) - I think breaking family groups down any further (i.e. bride's dad's sibling #1's family, bride's dad's sibling #2's family, etc.) would take waaayyy too long. We're planning on doing the same at our wedding!
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Master October 2019
Meghan · on February 10, 2021 at 10:22 AM
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We did family group photos. My wife's family is massive, so we were worried it would be a fiasco. It ended up running very smoothly. After our recessional, our officiant announced for all immediate family to stay around for a photo. Our photographers had every ones name and was able to easily split everyone up for photos.
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Master July 2019
Hannah · on February 10, 2021 at 10:57 AM
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We honestly just gathered groups during the reception.
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VIP June 2019
Hanna · on February 10, 2021 at 12:36 PM
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Group photos with extended family at weddings is pretty normal. We did ours at the beginning of cocktail hour after the ceremony. We emailed the relatives ahead of time to let them know where/when to gather, and the photographer had a detailed shot list as well. It went very smoothly.
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VIP November 2021
Allie · on February 10, 2021 at 2:48 PM
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My best friend did an entire family photo. She had a few of us in her group that have big mouths and loud voices, so we gathered everyone up while she was taking portraits with her husband. I think there were 3 of us gathering? Maybe more. But we told the people she needed to go to the location she wanted and it was pretty successful. She got the picture, anyway!
My FH's sister also did big family photos, but she opted to do them before the ceremony vs. after. So we were all told to show up at a certain time and we took our photos, saw her and said hello, and then went to sit down. I don't know if that's an option for you because a lot of people don't like the first look aspect, but that worked REALLY well because we all arrived early and really had nowhere else to go because nothing was happening yet.
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Champion December 2022
Michelle · on February 10, 2021 at 4:23 PM
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Have your photographer figure this out, logistics and announcements. But it is a great idea if you can.
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Just Said Yes April 2025
Julia · on March 30, 2025 at 5:53 PM
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I'm doing this with groom's family after our first look. I have the time and place. What polite wording did you use to tell people not to be late? lol
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