There's nothing more special than being surrounded by your family on your wedding day! Those who have watched you grow and loved you since the day you were born sit in an audience watching the biggest day of your life unfold. Two families join together in prayer and faith as they surround the bride and groom with hugs and well wishes. It's such a blessing to see just how many people you have there supporting you throughout your big day and the rest of your marriage!
However, this can add up to a lot of people... and I mean, A LOT! Grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, in-laws.....it's quite a long list when you piece it all together. This is why the "Family Formal" portion of the day can sometimes seem a little long and, to be honest, chaotic. The wedding is now over, and there's a crowd of relatives all wondering where to go, what to do, and where to stand?
We know that the Family Formal photos are important and special, so what can we do to make this process enjoyable and quick while making sure we don't leave anyone out? PLAN! Create a list of every Family Formal photo you want. I suggest creating this over several days (possibly weeks). This is not something you want to finish and send to your photographer in one sitting, as you may remember another grouping later on. Create your list and let it sit a few days. Come back and check again. Do this a few times until you are comfortable that you have everyone on the list.
Another tip: write out each person's name. This will make it super simple for your photographer to call out the names of the people included in each photo and it will also ensure you are getting the exact photos you want!
It seems a lot to remember, so I've created a guide to help you in the planning process. This is not an exhaustive list, just a great place to start. You may find that you need some additional groupings, and some you may not need at all! Feel free to adjust the categories to fit your own needs and wishes for your photos! I hope it will be a help to you!