Planning & Preparation

I absolutely love meeting our couple’s families on the wedding day. Family formals are usually my first interaction with them, so I love to have a game plan for this part of the day. Eight weeks before the wedding, you’ll receive a questionnaire from me that will ask you to list out the family formals you want me to capture. Here is a sample family formal list to help you start preparing what shots you need.

Couple with Side 1 Immediate Family
(Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, Nieces, Nephews)
Couple with Side 1 Parents
Couple with Side 1 Siblings
Partner 1 with Parents
Partner 1 with Parent 1, Partner 1 with Parent 2
Couple with Side 1 Grandparents
Couple with both sets of Parents
Couple with Side 2 Immediate Family
(Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, Nieces, Nephews)
Couple with Side 2 Parents
Couple with Side 2 Siblings
Partner 2 with Parents
Partner 2 with Parent 1, Partner 2 with Parent 2
Couple with Groom’s Grandparents
Couple with all family members if time allows

To ensure plenty of daylight for your romantic portraits, I have to limit the family-formal time. However, any large family group shots that we don’t accomplish during family formals, we can be sure to capture them at the reception!

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Family formals usually happen immediately after the ceremony. That was the standard when I entered the wedding industry, but no one explained why. I am convinced that is because no one has to spend time gathering everyone since they are already there.

Speaking of gathering, if you are using a wedding planner, it is highly recommended that they help collect family members to make the process go smoothly. If you don’t have a planner, it is best to have a wedding party member or another guest who already knows who these people are responsible for gathering family.

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Part of planning means I go in a particular order to get these photos done as quickly and efficiently as possible. I always keep a list on my handy-dandy Apple watch to just read them off. Still, I also have a list for my second shooter so they can call names, and your family members can just step right up to alter, smile, and head to cocktail hour.

When I send the questionnaire, I will ask you to list their names. This step is vital to the organization process. Honestly, it’s challenging to memorize dozens of people’s names the day of. When I have a list already, I can attach a face to that once I meet them and have already memorized their names. Plus, when I am adjusting them to help take the best possible photo, I can address them by name.

Examples:
Bride’s Sibling – Marge
Fathers of the Groom – Rod & Todd
Side 1 Grandmother – Edna

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Another question I ask is about divorces or any problematic relationships. This helps with planning, so I don’t put two people near each other who would otherwise not. This question has been a life-saver because everyone’s family dynamic is different. Two divorced parents had a not-so-friendly past, so I separated their picture time. I had to let one parent and step-parent leave the room before the other set could enter. It happens, so since I was aware, it was no issue, and we moved through photos effortlessly.

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As I mentioned earlier, family formals usually happen after the ceremony. However, I love getting to family formals after a first look. When couples do a first look, it allows ample time to knock out the wedding party, couples portraits, and family formals. It’s another reason I highly suggest the first look. Right after the ceremony, we can do some quick just-married pictures, and it’s on to party time!

-Taliya Michelle