Post-Ceremony Questions Posed to a Wedding Photographer

Right after the ceremony, you have to make some decisions regarding formal portraits and what your guests are supposed to do. For instance, do the guests leave for the reception site immediately so the space is clear out for the formal portraits with close family members? Should there be a receiving line for all the guests upon their departure? How should the events be timed?

QUESTION: Who should I include in these? Do you want a list of shots?

Believe it or not, the best use of a shot list is for you. The shot list provides you a means of planning out who needs to be ready for formal portraits, and allows this part of the day to go faster. BIG TIP: Notify each family member you want formal portraits of, then have a member from each side of the wedding couple be "in charge" of organizing all of the people for formal portraits. This alleviates you having to worry about it during the portraits - you can just stand there with your newly appointed spouse, while family members circle around you.

Do I need a shot list? Not really. I generally ask the person in charge of organizing the family members who is next. Since I do not know Aunt Gertrude, I will have a lot of trouble knowing if Aunt Gertrude is there or not. I try to make these formal portraits as fast and as painless as possible.

QUESTION: When should we plan the formal portraits? How should that timing be organized?

Typically speaking, the formal portraits happen right after the ceremony. In lieu of a formal receiving line, I personally prefer leading the couple out of the church and to a pre-determined place where they can decompress and just be with each other. This is a great time for some intimate, "paparazzi" style photos. These can be some of the most romantic photos from the day, because they are natural, unposed, and most individuals have a just-married glow about them.

QUESTION: We are having a Receiving Line. How much time should we plan for that?

The timing very much dependent on the number of guests you have invited, and can stretch from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Receiving lines are very traditional, and are typically done at traditional weddings as a means of alleviating the couple's stress over getting to say "Hi!" to everyone at the wedding. The receiving line traditionally happens after the ceremony, as everyone is leaving the church. While traditional, this is not necessary. You could do the receiving line as a means of welcoming everyone into the reception hall, after the cocktail hour, just as one alternate example. No matter the timing, just keep in mind one little rule. The number of individuals involved in the receiving line greatly affects the speed of said Receiving Line. Some venue spaces do not want the congestion of a Receiving Line, so make sure your space is OK with it prior to the event.

Standard Order of Receiving Line:

Mother of the Bride
Father of the Bride (optional)
Mother of the Groom
Father of the Groom (optional)
Bride
Groom
Maid/Matron of Honor (optional)
Best Man (optional)
Bridal Party (optional)