If not well organized, family portraits could be the biggest time consumer of the day! In order to avoid that, make sure to provide your photographer with a detailed list of the groupings that you want to be sure are captured in your portraits. Reminding those people the night before where to be and when, as well as asking them not to leave that spot until the photographers are finished, could save you so much time and sanity on the wedding day.

It’s also helpful to have a family member (or even one from each side) on hand to find missing family members. Your photography team isn’t familiar with who people are so they aren’t always the best ones to track down people for family and group photos! Usually, you won’t plan out your exact family formal list until a few weeks out from the big day, below is a sample list of family photos that I send to all of my brides that will keep you on the right track once you start to put your own list together.

Bride + dad
Bride + mom
Bride + mom +dad
Bride + Groom + mom + dad
Bride + Groom + mom + dad + siblings (and spouses)
Bride + Groom + both sets of parents
Groom + Dad
Groom + Mom
Groom + mom + dad
Groom + Bride + mom + dad
Groom + Bride + mom + dad + siblings (and spouses)