My parents and grandparents want a formal extended family photo but we dint think we have time. Major stress!!

You could do the family photos during the reception if time is a problem. I don't think the request is unreasonable though since weddings are one of only a few times families are all together in one place. Years from now you'll be glad you took them!

Can you do that picture right after the ceremony in the ceremony space? That seems like the best option there is rather than dragging them to a different location.

Its your wedding and they are your photos. You could let everyone know that plan and get everyone together immediately after the ceremony and take that picture first then leave for the park to take the rest of your pictures. If everyone is aware, knows the meeting spot and goes right to it, it should work. The people who are all hopped up about this needs to be the ones to coordinate and make sure everyone knows the importance of it and you need to make it clear to them that everyone needs to be in that spot no more than 3 or 5 minutes after the ceremony ends to take the pic or you'll take it with whoever is there and leave.

Even without doing a first look you can and should get most of your photos done before the ceremony that don't include you and your spouse together. Then after the ceremony you take the rest of the pics that include the both of you. But their request is pretty standard and that's why you should really allow at least 3 hours for pics: 2 hours before and 1 hour after.

Do you think you could get the extended family photo at the reception venue, not at the park location so that all the extended relatives wouldn’t have to drive to the park? Would your grandparents and parents really care what location this photo was at?

Id say to talk to your photographer about this and ask how plausible it is. Personally, my photographer said the first thing she does after the ceremony is round up EVERYONE who is even slightly related to the bride or groom, first do an extended family photo, then make her way basically through the family tree doing every group of relatives. She said she can do both sides (bride and groom) in about 10 minutes. This seems almost unbelievable to me lol, but she says she does this every weekend and it’s never taken more than 15 max for her, but usually about 10. And I’ve seen her photos... they are really good!

Maybe my photographer is just exceptionally fast but you should definitely ask yours for an opinion on this. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for your family to want a full family photo, and it may not take as long as you think! This is definitely a good question for your photographer.

My future SIL did that and it took 10 minutes top to get all the pictures. Just give everyone a heads up beforehand so they know not to leave until the picture is done. Start with big photo that dismiss everyone and do smaller groups.

I think you should do the photo. It’s such a special day and when else will you ever be together dressed up and happy at the same time like that? Not often anyway.

I did this with my large family (all 52 people attended so it HAD to be done) and it actually was very quick. I did it immediately following the ceremony and I had emailed them all ahead of time so they would know to go to a specific location right outside the ceremony. I also had the officiant give a reminder at the end, after my husband and I walked out. It was very smooth and I just love the picture! I also enlisted a very good friend who is a good "leader" to make sure everyone arranged themselves well, could be seen, etc to help the photographer. I too feared there wouldn't be time but it worked out. I think yours would too!

Do these pics at the reception, so that you don't have to corral everyone into cars and get them to another location. That is the part that will take time.

Put your parents in charge of herding everyone together to take the pic, since they want it done so badly. And also give them a warning that while you're willing to try, you aren't going to let it go so out of hand that it takes up too much of the reception. If it starts turning into a big headache, it will be skipped.

I would do this photo immediately after the ceremony in the ceremony space. Gather everyone, snap the photo, then get on your way to the park to do all your other photos. I do not think that this is a crazy ask of your parents for this. I would put one of them in charge of making sure everyone stays in the space and is ready for the photo.