The Timeless Relevance of whole group wedding photos
Allow me to inspire you to embrace the idea of briefly stopping time in your wedding day to allow your photographer to document you, surrounded by your wedding guests in one incredible frame, smiling faces forward and dressed in everyone’s best to honour your love story. Why? Because, how often do you get to enjoy all of these wonderful people from your lifeline, some or many of whom you may never get to see, members of your extended family, young and old, work colleagues, old college mates, many who’ve flown into town especially for you, all together in one single frame? How truly special!
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I’m talking about a photo as ultimately timeless as your elementary school class photo, perhaps less organized in perfect rows, but everyone present. And how magical is it to find that print from all those years ago, because hopefully you'll print this photo, and look at all those faces, lost in time, evoking a slew of nostalgic thoughts and instant recollections of priceless memories with so many of those faces, some of which may be missed in time, only to be forever cherished in this photo. I can attest that once you receive your gallery, you will be so thankful to see this touching photo, and cherish it as the years pass you by.
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Typically, your wedding day is involved, although, hopefully well-managed, but your energy is extended to all your guests, it all passes by in a wedding day flash, and voila it’s become a memory for all who showed up for you, and how much that will be increasingly meaningful to you. The whole group photo is one of those photos where only once you see it, long after the your big day will you realize how much sentimental value it now has for you.
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All it takes is about 15 min. to rally everyone into the frame, and allow your photographer the chance to click a handful of shots, given the challenge of getting as many open eyes as possible!
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So, when should you schedule this short but relevant photo interlude? It could happen following the Ceremony, when emotions are high, or at the end of Cocktail Hour, when everyone’s relaxed a bit and settled in to celebration mode, or even some time during the Reception, but before the wild dancing takes hold! It can be scheduled on your timeline whenever it makes the most sense to your day!
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But above all, it’s ideal for the group to be elevated, and comfortably arranged on steps with a chance to see every face.If the venue can provide your photographer a ladder for elevation, or privy the photographer to a downward viewpoint from a balcony, inviting everyone to look upward, they have the best chance of capturing every single face, which also eliminates double chins, as a bonus!
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Here are some favourite whole group photos from past heartwarming wedding stories:
E&F’s Intimate Restaurant Wedding:
Restaurant Mélisse, Griffintown, Montreal, QC, Canada.
A&B’s Families Travel to meet for the First time:
Ferreira Cafe(Salle Privée), Montreal, QC, Canada.
S&T’s Picturesque Summer Garden Wedding:
Chateau Ramezay(Governor’s Garden), Old Montreal, MTL, QC, Canada.
See more from this beautiful intimate Summer wedding, HERE!
C&W’s Breathtaking Scenic Backdrop:
Arundel Golf Club, Arundel, QC, Canada.
S&A’s Dreamy Group Photo Under the willow Tree:
Parc Jean-Drapeau (Pavillon de la Jamaique), Montreal, QC, Canada.
See more from this beautiful Autumn wedding, HERE.
M&Z’s Guests are all smiles before thE Salad was served:
Cabaret Lion d’Or, Montreal, QC, Canada.
C&K’s DJ Guided Their Guests to Find Me Up In the Balcony!
Carnegie Music Hall Foyer, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
this Post-Ceremony Group was incredibly cooperative with Me & My Widest lens On the Church Steps:
Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal, QC, Canada. (180 guests!)
Thanks to the Best Man & the DJ for Keeping my ladder secured:
Photo: Lucy Baum.
So, I’ll admit that not all of my couples opt to have me document their wedding guests in a whole group photo, but it’s a pleasure for me to capture, at any height, anywhere, but I always offer it, just in case. If you’re considering including a whole group photo on your wedding day, talk with your photographer about the possibilities and work it into the timeline with your planner!
The more people willing to support getting this photo accomplished,the less your wedding day timeline will feel it, and you get to preserve all those amazing faces from your life in one frame, forever. Nonetheless, group photo or not, make your wedding day entirely your own!
Val ♡
