Wedding Tips Wednesday: Who's In Your Formal Wedding Day Family Pictures + Complete Shot List Template | St. Louis Wedding Photographer

One thing that’s really helped us keep the wedding day organized and flowing, is to have a family shot list included on each couple’s wedding day timeline. About a month before each wedding, I schedule a call with my Bride & Grooms and get the names of all of their family members they want included in their formal family photos. While this shot list looks intimidating, having this organized keeps family photos to only lasting about 20 minutes and no one waiting or wondering what to do next. 

I prefer doing family photos AFTER the ceremony. We have found that doing photos beforehand, there's always have one person that's running late. Everyone has that one aunt or uncle. So, in order to not waste any time, we do family photos immediately following the ceremony, when usually, by that time everyone has arrived. 

One thing I MAKE sure to do before the ceremony is to tell the mother of the Bride and mother of the Groom that'll be doing family pictures immediately following the ceremony (when) right outside the church on the side lawn (where) and to be sure that all of the grandparents and family know to stick around. 

This list of a very traditional family. We have couples whose parents are divorced, separated, or remarried all of the time. Each family dynamic is different. This is just a simple template, we can always add or remove any shots you do not wish to have. 

Bride

Bride + MOB
Bride + MOB & FOB
Bride + MOB & FOB + Bride’s Siblings
Bride + Bride’s Siblings
Bride & Groom + MOB & FOB
Bride & Groom + MOB & FOB + Bride’s Siblings
Bride & Groom + MOB & FOB + Bride’s Siblings + Bride’s Sibling’s Families
Bride & Groom + Bride’s Siblings

Bride & Groom + MOB & FOB + Bride’s Siblings + Bride’s Sibling’s Families + Bride’s Maternal Grandparents
Bride & Groom + MOB & FOB + Bride’s Siblings + Bride’s Sibling’s Families + Bride’s Maternal Grandparents + Bride’s Maternal Aunts & Uncles + Families
Bride & Groom + Bride’s Maternal Grandparents

Bride & Groom + MOB & FOB + Bride’s Siblings + Bride’s Sibling’s Families + Bride’s Paternal Grandparents
Bride & Groom + MOB & FOB + Bride’s Siblings + Bride’s Sibling’s Families + Bride’s Paternal Grandparents + Bride’s Paternal Aunts & Uncles + Families
Bride & Groom + Bride’s Paternal Grandparents


Groom

Groom + MOG
Groom + FOG
Groom + MOG & FOG
Groom + MOG & FOG + Groom’s Siblings
Groom + Groom’s Siblings
Bride & Groom + MOG & FOG + Groom’s Siblings
Bride & Groom + MOG & FOG + Groom’s Siblings + Groom’s Siblings Families
Bride & Groom + Groom’s Siblings


Bride & Groom + MOG & FOG + Groom’s Siblings + Groom’s Siblings Families + Groom’s Maternal Grandparents
Bride & Groom + MOG & FOG + Groom’s Siblings + Groom’s Siblings Families + Groom’s Maternal Grandparents + Groom’s Maternal Aunts & Uncles + Families
Bride & Groom + Groom’s Maternal Grandparents


Bride & Groom + MOG & FOG + Groom’s Siblings + Groom’s Siblings Families + Groom’s Paternal Grandparents
Bride & Groom + MOG & FOG + Groom’s Siblings + Groom’s Siblings Families + Groom’s Paternal Grandparents + Groom’s Maternal Aunts & Uncles + Families
Bride & Groom + Groom’s Paternal Grandparents

Bride & Groom + MOB & FOB + MOG & FOG 

After all of the formal family photos, I do pictures of the Bride and Groom with all of the children in the bridal party. This way, if they need to go take naps or change out of the wedding clothes, their parents can go and do that! 

Below is the list of all the names of family members that I will need:

MOB:
FOG:
Bride’s Siblings:
Bride’s Sibling’s Families:
Bride’s Maternal Grandparents:
Bride’s Maternal Aunts & Uncles + Families
Bride’s Paternal Grandparents
Bride’s Paternal Aunts & Uncles + Families

MOG
FOG
Groom’s Siblings
Groom’s Sibling’s Families
Groom’s Maternal Grandparents:
Groom’s Maternal Aunts & Uncles + Families
Groom’s Paternal Grandparents
Groom’s Paternal Aunts & Uncles + Families

Bri Whitman Photo & Film is a