3 Tips for Large Wedding Party Photos

I think the largest wedding party ever to get in front of my camera was 26 people, that included the bride and groom! But generally a large wedding party is anywhere from 12 to 20+ people! If you’ve got a big squad, here are some tips to help you nail your bridal party photos no matter what the size.

I completely understand, it’s really hard to narrow down your tribe because you’ve got some really important people you want to share your day with.

On most occasions, your squad will do their best to make sure they are on point and ready to make the most of your day, but here are some suggestions from a wedding photographer’s perspective to help ensure your photos run smoothly from start to finish with your group.

Make Time for Bridal Party Portraits in your Timeline

In general, it can take wedding photographers 3-4 minutes to set up a photo with several people in it. I usually start with groomsmen on one side and bridesmaids on the other and then switch it up to have each groomsman partnered with a bridesmaid. When photographing these bigger bridal parties, I recommend around 30-40 mins in the wedding timeline to allow enough time to get some formal, fun, and creative photos done with everyone.

Make sure everyone knows where they need to be

Communication is key especially with a large group. Be sure to let your squad know ahead of time where they’ll need to be to get ready to take their photos. When you’ve got a large bridal party photo shoot planned on your wedding day, get everyone on the same page with an email thread or text message group.

Send them a copy of the timeline as well, if you think it will be helpful. Do your best to let them know ahead of time what the expectations are and where they need to be at what time. This will eliminate the chance that someone will be missing when your photos are being taken.

Consider a First Look

If you’ve got a later ceremony in the afternoon or evening, it will help a great deal to have a first look. When you see each other before the ceremony, you’ll open up some time in your schedule. You’ll be able to get most of your bridal party photos done earlier in the day, which leaves more time for family photos plus greeting and partying with all the other guests.

Think about these 3 tips when you’re getting ready for your big day, so that you’ll have some beautiful photos of your squad that you can hang up on your walls! Squad goals take time and some planning, but it’s totally doable with a bit of extra time and communication.

Photography: Samantha Clarke