Family photos are one of those parts of the wedding day that can either be a breeze or take up way too much time if there’s no plan. The good news? With just a little prep, you can make sure everyone important to you is photographed, without feeling like you spent your whole cocktail hour standing in one spot.
As a wedding photographer, I’ve seen it all, from perfectly organized lists that kept things moving like clockwork, to couples who wing it and end up missing portraits they really want. So today, I’m breaking down how to create a wedding family photo list that’s clear, stress-free, and actually enjoyable.
Why You Need a Family Photo List
I actually create my couples family lists. I do this to take any stress off them in doing this task themselves. But if your photographer does not offer this service, or you really just want to create it yourself – here is a guide on how to create your wedding family photo list.
- Keeps portraits efficient. The list tells everyone where to be and avoids endless “Wait, who else is supposed to be in this one?” moments.
- Ensures no one is forgotten. In the busyness of the day, it’s easy to miss a great-grandparent or sibling’s partner unless it’s written down.
- Helps your photographer stay on schedule. The smoother portraits go, the more time you have for couples’ photos and enjoying your cocktail hour.
Step 1: Start Big, Then Go Small
The easiest way to organize your family portraits is to begin with your largest groupings first (like “Bride & Groom with all immediate family”), and then peel people away for smaller combinations. You could also do the opposite, and instead start off with smaller grouping & add in more and more people as you go. Something else thats important to me is trying to prioritize kids & grandparents first, as they’re the ones that usually need to get out of there the quickest.
For visual planners, Canva has free wedding timeline templates that can help you map out photo time blocks.
Example of my typical wedding family list:
- Couple + Bride’s Immediate Family (parents, siblings/partners, grandparents, nieces & nephews)
- Couple + Bride’s Grandparents
- Couples + Bride’s Nieces & Nephews
- Couple + Bride’s Mom, Dad & Siblings
- Couple + Bride’s parents
- Bride + Bride’s parents
- Bride + Bride’s Mom
- Bride + Bride’s Dad
- Couple + Bride’s Siblings
- Bride + Each sibling
- Combined portrait of Bride & Grooms Parents and Siblings all together
- Combines portrait of the Bride & Grooms Parents
- Couple + Groom’s Immediate Family (parents, siblings/partners, grandparents, nieces & nephews)
- Couple + Groom’s Grandparents
- Couples + Groom’s Nieces & Nephews
- Couple + Groom’s Mom, Dad & Siblings
- Couple + Groom’s parents
- Groom + Groom’s parents
- Groom + Groom’s Dad
- Groom + Groom’s Mom
- Groom + Groom’s Siblings
- Groom + Each Sibling
This way, people aren’t running in and out of frames randomly-they just step out when their combo is done.
Download a pdf copy of my example wedding family list below!
Step 2: Separate by Family Side
It’s usually easiest to keep one partner’s side together, finish those groupings, and then switch to the other side. After that, you can add a few “combined family” photos if you’d like.
Step 3: Use Names, Not Just Titles
Instead of writing “Bride’s Aunt,” write “Aunt Mary.” This makes it faster for me (or whoever your photographer is!) to call people up without confusion.
Step 4: Decide on Partner + Kids Involvement
Do you want siblings’ partners included in the main family shot? What about nieces and nephews? Some couples like them in a few, but not all-it’s totally up to you, just decide ahead of time so it doesn’t turn into a game-time debate.
Step 5: Include Generational Portraits
Multi-generation photos (like “Bride, Mom, Grandma”) are such treasures. If family legacy is important to you, note those combinations specifically on your list. This is a bonus I like to include if I know that my couple will have certain family members there.
Step 6: Keep It Manageable
As a rule of thumb, 20–25 family groupings is the sweet spot. More than that can eat into your timeline (and patience). If you have a big extended family, consider capturing candid moments of them during the reception instead of formal group portraits.
Step 7: Navigating Split Families or Recent Divorces with Grace
This is one of those topics that doesn’t get talked about enough, but it really should. If there’s been a recent divorce, remarriage, or any kind of family tension, your photo list can (and should) reflect that with care. It’s completely okay to create combinations that feel comfortable for you and skip any that don’t.
When building your list, start by asking yourself:
- Who do I truly want to include in these moments?
- Are there any pairings that might feel awkward or painful that should be split up instead?
- Would separate groupings make everyone more at ease?
You can absolutely do a “Bride + Mom + Stepdad” photo and a “Bride + Dad + Stepmom” one. There’s no rulebook that says everyone has to stand in the same frame – what matters is honoring each relationship individually.
If you’re unsure how to phrase these setups, your photographer can help you plan them in a way that keeps things flowing naturally and avoids uncomfortable overlaps. The key is communicating early…either in your questionnaire or during your pre-wedding call, so no one’s caught off guard.
And remember, family portraits can bring up a lot of emotions, especially in blended families, and that’s completely normal.
Psychology Today shares some great insight on how family dynamics can affect big life events like weddings →
Bonus Tips
- Assign a helper. A sibling, cousin, or wedding party member who knows both families can help wrangle people quickly. Having them hold the list, and do a “hey, this then next combo on deck!” can be super helpful, so that the next combo is ready to go.
- Schedule them right after the ceremony or first look. Everyone’s already together, and you can head to cocktail hour stress-free.
- Trust your photographer. We’ll keep things moving and suggest combos you might not have thought of.
Final Thoughts
Your wedding family photo list doesn’t have to be complicated. It just needs to be clear and organized. Taking 30 minutes to create it beforehand saves you stress on the actual day and ensures you get all the meaningful portraits you’ll want in your album.
WeddingWire has some great advice on keeping portraits quick and stress-free.
Helpful Resources for Planning
- What Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer
- How to Plan a Michigan Wedding
- How Much Does Wedding Photography Cost in Michigan?
✨ If you’re in the middle of planning your own wedding and want help creating your custom family list, let’s chat here!
©Cheleana Rowan, with Cheleanamarie Photography, 2015-2025. Unauthorized use and or duplication of this material without express and written consent from Cheleana Rowan is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full clear credit is given to Cheleana Rowan with Cheleanamarie Photography with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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