Wedding family groupings in order, ready to hand to your photographer

Why you should write your family photo list before the wedding

The list exists because on the wedding day, nobody remembers everyone. In the excitement of the ceremony, it's easy for the aunt who traveled from far away or the grandfather who tires early to miss every photo, and that can't be redone.

Every family has people who can't be missed, and your photo team doesn't know who they are. That's why we ask every couple for a list of those people before the wedding: the padrino who stood by you, the grandmother who rarely leaves the house, the cousin who's like a brother. The practice comes from many weddings: a photographer can't guess who matters most to each family.

When and where wedding family photos happen

The ideal moment is right after the ceremony, in the same place or very close by, before guests head to the reception. The family is already together, dressed up and at their best.

Some couples prefer to take them at the reception venue before the grand entrance. That works if the family arrives early, but it's harder to gather everyone once cocktail hour has started. If the ceremony is in a church, ask whether photos at the altar are allowed afterward and how much time you have before the next Mass.

Remember that coverage hours are continuous, and the group photos come out of that time. Our guide to how many hours of wedding photography and video you need explains how to plan your hours so they stretch far enough.

How to use the list and finish in 15 to 20 minutes

The list starts small and builds up on each side, with grandparents early and the wedding party last, for a reason: grandparents tire first, and this way they can rest sooner. These rules make the difference:

1. One relative per side. Choose someone who knows everyone and isn't in many photos, like a cousin or an aunt. That person holds the list and calls each name while the previous photo is being taken.
2. Give people a heads-up. The week of the wedding, tell everyone on the list to stay after the ceremony.
3. Add and remove, don't rebuild. On the list, each photo adds or removes a few people from the one before, so no one walks more than they need to.
4. Elders first. If a grandparent uses a wheelchair or tires easily, their photo goes first and the group gathers around them.
5. No more than 20 groups. When the next group is already waiting, each photo takes about a minute. Photos with friends and coworkers turn out better during the party, when they happen naturally.

Blended families, padrinos and other special cases

Every family is different, and the list adapts to yours. Tell the team about any sensitive situation without explaining why: just say how to group people.

• Divorced parents or parents with new partners. Split the photos: the couple with Mom and her family, then with Dad and his. If they get along, add one photo with everyone.
• Lots of padrinos. Mexican weddings often have padrinos for the velación, the rings, the lazo, the arras and more. A photo for every padrino couple takes a long time, so group the smaller roles together and save individual photos for the main ones.
• Relatives who couldn't come. If someone will follow the wedding from far away, the Online Video Streaming Experience in the Complete and Deluxe Packages lets them watch the video from anywhere.
• A photo with someone who's no longer here. Some families bring a portrait or a keepsake of a loved one. Tell the team, so they can save a place for it in the photo.

What to do with the list before the wedding day

The list only helps if it reaches the right hands in time. One month before the wedding, when you hand over your written timeline, include the family photo list with:

• Each person's name and how they're related to you and your partner.
• The relative helping from each side, with their phone number.
• The people who can't be missed, even if they're not in any group.
• Any family situation we should know about to group people well.

If you change the list later, send it in writing. And if your ceremony and reception are in different places, or you and your partner get ready at different houses, check that your package covers it all: what a wedding photo and video package includes lists the hours and locations in each one, and two getting-ready locations at the same time need two people from the team.