How to Make Bridal Party Photos Go Quickly

It can be tough with large groups!

Follow these tips to make sure you don’t waste too much time taking photographs, so your day can go smoothly

By Emily Lasnier

bridesmaids-and-groomsmen-at-ceremony-site
Photo: KingenSmith

Your wedding day is not only one of the happiest days of your life, but also one of the busiest. While the vow exchange and subsequent celebration are the most important parts of the occasion, getting ready and finding time for photos is also a key factor that can be difficult to coordinate. This is especially true if – like most couples – you have a bridal party. Should you have a particularly large number of bridesmaids, groomsmen, or attendants of any kind, wrangling everyone together for photos can be an arduous task. There is a lot of pressure to both get the photos you’ve dreamed of and to make sure you either get to the ceremony on time or are able to experience cocktail hour and not delay dinner, depending on when you choose to have these pictures taken.

how to make bridal party photos go quickly

Photo by KingenSmith; Floral Design by HMR Designs

Follow the tips below to make sure you don’t waste too much time so your day can go smoothly:

- Have a list of photos you want. Maybe you don’t have a desire for super serious shots, or pictures with the bride and groomsmen or vice versa. Letting your photographer know what you want ahead of time will save valuable minutes. 

- Provide an itinerary. Don’t just assume everyone will know they need to arrive to the venue early for photos. Give everybody involved a schedule so they know when and where to be. It’s also a good idea to provide buffer time in order to prevent falling behind. 

- Don’t let anyone get drunk. Indulging in mimosas is part of the fun of getting ready for a wedding, but if someone (or multiple people!) imbibes too many adult beverages, it will be quite a challenge to keep everyone in line to have their pictures taken… and even more of a challenge for those photos to turn out well. 

- Use an assistant. If your photographer offers a second shooter, take advantage of it. That way, both sides of the wedding party can be captured at the same time, making things as efficient as possible. 

For more advice, find out what to do with your wedding photos and why you should consider getting your portraits done after you tie the knot.

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