Hi, I’m Kayce Clary, a wedding photographer based in Biloxi, Mississippi! My husband and I photograph weddings for couples all along the Gulf Coast, from Pascagoula to New Orleans and everywhere in between.

This month, we’ve been sharing a special three-part Wedding Tip Tuesday series all about helping you plan a stress-free wedding day with beautiful, intentional photos. In the first post, we talked about allowing time for your reception details to be photographed before guests arrive. Then, we shared the importance of choosing a bright and spacious getting ready area to set the tone for your day.

Today, we’re wrapping up the series with one of the most important, yet often overlooked parts of your wedding day: family photos.

After the ceremony, emotions are high, guests are celebrating, and everyone’s ready to hug you. It’s such a joyful time, but it can quickly get a little chaotic without a plan in place. That’s where a well-planned family photo list comes in!

Before the wedding, I always encourage my couples to sit down and write out a list of the most important family groupings like parents, siblings, grandparents, and anyone special you want to include. From there, I help organize the list in a way that flows smoothly and keeps things moving efficiently.

Having this list ready not only saves time but also keeps everyone relaxed and happy. It ensures that no one is missed, and you can get back to celebrating with your guests sooner. Most importantly, when everyone knows exactly where they need to be, those family portraits feel effortless and full of genuine smiles.

A little planning goes a long way toward creating timeless, heartfelt family photos you’ll treasure for years to come. Below is a sample of what I would suggest for family photos.

• Partner 1 & 2 with partner 1’s parents
• Partner 1 & 2 with partner 1’s parents, siblings and their families
• Partner 1 & 2 with partner 1’s grandparents (you can also add this to the group above if preferred)

You’ll then do these photos with partner 2’s family the same way. I always suggest 10 groups or less to maximize your time between the ceremony and reception entrance.

But what about extended family? You can definitely do those large groups shots, too, but they do take a little more planning time. I typically suggest making time for 2.5-4.5 minutes per photo. Yes, I said per photo! By the time everyone (except the couple) steps out, walks away, and the next group gathers up front waiting to be told where to go. So if you have a group photo, especially group sizes more than 5 people total, you’ll want to estimate for no less than 30 minutes of photo time.

In closing, I hope this series has been helpful in planning your big day and it’s everything you’ve you want and more!