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I was shooting the “formal” group portraits at a wedding on Saturday and as is pretty typical, it proved difficult for many reasons. After the ceremony, people are usually hungry, ready for a beverage, socializing with friends and family they haven’t seen in a while, etc., etc. So when you are trying to wrangle parents, siblings, in-laws, grandparents, nieces, nephews, and everyone else you might want photos of, it can get a bit chaotic and frustrating for everyone involved (except me, of course, because I can handle A LOT!)
The groom’s mother turned to me and said, “You know, we should have gotten these family shots done last night at the rehearsal dinner, ” and I thought, “That’s a great idea!” So I thought I would share this with you. On your wedding day, it’s so important to get photos of you and your new spouse, the wedding party all dressed up and coordinated, your parents and siblings, and other people that are important to you. But as far as all the extended family shots, if you are inviting all of those people to your rehearsal, consider booking your photographer for that event too and get a lot of those out of the way then. Most people are still dressed up pretty nicely and there is a more relaxed air to the rehearsal dinner than the actual wedding day.
Another option that many couples are doing is to take some portraits before the wedding ceremony. This is nice for many reasons including fresh makeup and hair, less rushing, and more time to enjoy your cocktail hour after the ceremony. But some couples prefer the tradition of not seeing each other before the big moment of the bride coming down the aisle (a really special moment I remember vividly from my wedding day.) And some people might want some quiet moments of reflection prior to tying the knot.
So weigh your options and consider these. But whatever you choose, keep an open mind and remember that even though it might seem like work, I promise you’ll cherish having your photos when the dust settles and you begin your life with your new spouse and family.
I adore this photo for all the wonderful expressions and moments going on. Thanks for the great tip, Mrs. Decker!! And I loved that everyone was so pleasant even though there was so much going on.
Thank you Lindsay for the most wonderful comment I’ve ever gotten! I was in fits of laughter and my son kept asking what I was so funny. Hard to translate to a three year old. But I’m excited to say…I’m about to post a “real” blog chock full of photos!
As the bride at said wedding, I have to say that this picture absolutely cracks me up. It is very evocative of the chaos that ensued trying to wrangle my giant, mixed family into “formal” portraits. My mother came up with a giant list of “must have” photos the night before, which I pared in half and tried to put in some logical order. Nonetheless, getting my family to cooperate in accordance with the list was impossible; deep down I knew it would be so but I think I was seduced by the sentiment played out in all those bridal magazines and tv shows. For example, my family were forever slipping off to get drinks and yak. I wanted to bean the servers with my bouquet for distracting and otherwise tempting people away from the photo spot with hors d’œuvres. I remember thinking I needed a) a bullhorn and/or b) a take-a-number system. A whip might have been useful too ala bridezilla style. Anyway, at some point I just stopped caring when I remembered I love my family most when they are drinking, smiling, laughing, stuffing their faces, or giving the dog a pat; I hope Kisa managed to catch them doing these things. She was amazingly gracious–even with a crowd of spectators snapping shots with their own little cameras and gracing her with unsolicited photography advice. C’est la vie!!
Fabulous idea! Wish I’d thought of it.