Formal photos - what are you all having?

We had one of us with all my family, then just my parents, same for his side of family. Then ones with me and my mates, him and his mates and then a couple of everyone. then us with best man and BM. The rest were a few staged ones of us two kissing, cuddling, laughing ( all the usual crap)? and the rest were informal

It's my dad's wife and they've been married for over 10 years, so it's not really about making herself scarce. She's also helped me out with a few wedding bits and pieces. I'm not going to have any shots of just our parents for that reason, but I think she should be in the whole family shot with everyone (aunts uncles, g'parents etc.)

Thanks - anyone else get ideas for formal pics?

Im useless Pen on this subject, as I am not having a photographer. I hate getting my photos taken normally and would just get peeved and all the formal shots. So this time round a cousin is taking the photos at the registry office and back at home before marquee guests arrive we will have a few shots with the folks and on our own outside. In the marquee, we have a friend who is a photographer who has asked as a wedding present can he just bring his camera and follow us around a bit when we are mingling - take some shots of family and friends as well. He will then make it into an album for us. That and the table cameras is about all i can take!

Sx

As a rough guide assume each group will take approx 3-4 mins (this includes set up time, the photo itself should only take seconds!) particularly if you are using a photographer who is not experienced at organising group shots (a skill in itself).

If you want a big group shot of everyone at the wedding try to look for a first storey window that the photographer can shoot down out of as it is the easiest way to get everyones faces. Also, a big group like this generally takes longer to organise just because of the quantity of people so assume 10 mins to sort this groups.

So say you want to spend no more than half an hour on groups I would suggest one big group shot and about 6 other groups.

Also, make sure you prioritise some time for photos of just the two of you (bride and groom) as these will be the ones you will cherish afterwards.

Every situation like this has a difefrent dynamic and its not possible to give a decisive answer as there are many variables in how parents will react to a former partner. Some will be prepared to put aside the history and may stand together for a shot with the biological parents.....others simply will not.

As a suggestion, something I regularly do is to seperate the estranged parents and mix the group up. Normally I keep the relevent parents on the same side as their child, although in the shot of the 4 parents and the couple, mix it up so that the seperated parents are not next to each other. I also suggest that extra shots are done with the new partners. This was tends to work quite well with no major problems....although there are always one or two exceptions.....

Thanks for the advice - especially on the parental front. My intention is to have just one photo with the two of them in it with all our families - so grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins etc. That'll be a big shot with a lot of people so the buffer zone will be huge. I must mention it to the photographer so he knows to make sure they're separated. I wouldn't want to put my mum in the situation where there wasn't a lot of people in between her and my dad's wife.

Both my mum and my dad's wife are very supportive of me although I am by far closer to my mum and she's been far more involved. My dad's wife has just helped out with a couple of bits and pieces which is much appreciated. Both of them have been great in their own ways and I want both of them to enjoy the day. I think my mum's just very nervous because she's never actually met my dad's wife before. I don't think she's met my dad since I graduated in 2002!!!

I can't 100% remember but like you were mainly going for informal type shots. So the definate ones I want are:

B, G and grooms family

B, G and brides family

B, G and both families

B and BMs

B, G and everyone

B and siblings

Groom with various relatives grandparents etc.. will be taken before the ceremony as people arrive

B and Dad

B and parents

B and uni friends

Some of the above shots may be informal they are just the ones I definatley wanted to have!!