Creating Your Family Formals List
Formals are a great way to get amazing captures of you and your family on Wedding Day. Every family is different, so don’t hesitate to deviate from these suggestions or the example list below, let’s just make sure we give ourselves enough time for .
Suggestions:
As much as possible, include both of you in each photo (avoid groom/bride + family and couple + family photos). It might not seem like a lot to add/remove one person, but since you’ll be in the middle of each photo, we’ll need to re-pose/center the group to bring you in. I recommend saving individual bride/groom photos for immediate family only and posing as a couple for the remaining photos.
Consider moving “nice to have” photos to Reception. Ideas for family & friends “informals” are located at the bottom of this article.
Consider additional time if you have very large families or want to include extended families.
Send a draft of your list to me as soon as you can. I can then give a more accurate guess at how much time we’ll need for those photos on Wedding Day.
Here’s an example Family Formals list with common groupings I see and the information I like to have (names and relationships of these individuals to you). For reference, the example below can be completed in about a half hour.
Jamine’s Family
Jasmine + Bill H. (Dad)
Jasmine + Caitlyn + Mudiwa + Tadiwa (Siblings)
J&B + Bill H. + Caitlyn + Judith + Mudiwa + Tadiwa (Immediate Family)
J&B + Bill H. + Zella (Dad + Grandparent)
J&B + Linda (Grandparent)
Both Families
J&B + Bill H. + Bill B. + Sara + Zella + Linda + David + Julie (Parents + Grandparents)
J&B + Caitlyn + John B. + Nick + Beka + Bill H. + Bill B. + Sara (Parents + Siblings)
Ben’s Family
J&B + Bill B. + Sara + David + Julie (Generational Picture)
J&B + John B. + Nick + Beka + Sara + Bill B. (Immediate Family)
J&B + Caitlyn + John B. + Nick + Beka (Siblings)
Ben + John B. + Nick + Beka (Siblings)
Ben + Sara + Bill B. (parents)
Family & Friends Informals
If you find your formals list sprawling or are concerned about how much time we’ll need to capture photos of everyone, consider allocating time at Reception to capture “Informals”. Ways I’ve seen other couples capture these photos:
Table Dash. The goal of a table dash is to get a photo with literally every guest at your wedding, in as little time as possible. Immediately after your entrance, we’ll run to each table and snap a few quick photos. Create some urgency by having your DJ set a time goal to hit every table. The more chaotic, the more fun the photos turn out to be.
Set up a photo wall or a nice spot in your reception hall where the three of us can hang out while guests line up to get a photo with the two of you. I typically see this coordinated with the DJ, who dedicates 2-3 songs for this event (extend/shorten as needed, you mainly want the illusion of a limited time to encourage immediate participation).
Wave me down! And don’t forget to let your guests know that I’m always happy snap a quick photo for them as well.
