Wedding Formals: Why They Are Some of The Most Important Wedding Pictures You’ll Ever Take
My Great Aunt + Uncle’s 1950 Wedding Formals
Ahhhh, Wedding Formals, the one time where you have to get ALL of your family together, try to get photographs of boss babies and active toddlers, and find groomsmen that have disappeared to the bar. It’s never a dull moment when it comes to Wedding Formals, especially with blended families. But in all honesty, it’ll probably be the least favorite part of your wedding day because when it’s not organized (and you will be once you complete this guide), it’s a lot like herding cats.
However, Wedding Formals will be some of the most important pictures you will ever take. Why? Just for those reasons I listed above. Think about it: when was the last time that you got together with your family and closest friends and took professional photos looking absolutely glamorous? I’m sure some of you are thinking back to high school during Prom, or Christmas time when you were kids, and maybe even never for some people, but that’s why they’re so important! Photographs with your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are similar to that of a family reunion, except everyone is dressed in their best and your friends get to partake too. These photographs will last generations, and are awesome for printing!
So how do you control the chaos of Wedding Formals? There are a few ways, and they are listed below!
Wedding Formals are best taken either BEFORE or AFTER the ceremony. I know I know, you’re already wondering how can you take Wedding Formals before the ceremony if NO ONE is supposed to see the bride in her dress. Hear me out. Wedding Formals before the ceremony are best taken right after the First Look. Since the groom has seen his bride, it only makes sense to carve out time in your Wedding Day Event Schedule (30 minutes at the most if I’m taking them lol) to knock Wedding Formals out the way, that way after the ceremony, you can go directly into the reception and party! If you decide you don’t want to do a First Look, the other option is right after the ceremony.
To make the process easier on you and your photographer (and to stay on track with the wedding schedule), I advise creating a very detailed list of immediate family members that you have to have photos of i.e. Bride w/ MOB, Bride w/ FOB, Bride w/ parents, Groom and Grandma, Groom and Sisters, etc. Keep in mind family members that don’t get along to avoid conflict. Share this list with your photographer, and coordinate with your wedding planner and family about the Wedding Formals. They should know exactly where they’re supposed to be at and when. This cuts down time looking for people (every now and then there are stragglers), and it sets the expectation for them to be prepared to take photographs.
Everyone knows where they’re supposed to be at and when - but who goes first? This answer is going to vary and depends solely on if you have elderly family members that need help getting around, and if there are young children. I recommend starting with them first and then moving on down the list and ending with the final wedding party photo.
What about location? This answer is going to vary as well, because Wedding Formals can be taken anywhere. Keep in mind a nice backdrop and how many people are in the photograph. Wedding Parties of 12 or more tend to better in front of buildings or at the church. Sometimes reception halls have rooms specifically for Wedding Party Photos. Smaller wedding parties are great for court yards and inside hotel lobbies. I usually scout locations personally to determine what’s the best place based on the above mentioned, and go from there. You’ll want your backdrop to be beautiful and free of items that will distract from the photograph (cars, trash, power poles, etc).
Something else to be mindful of when it comes to Wedding Formals - they don’t always have to be traditional. I always offer my clients both a regular and a fun photograph that way you have both.