Wedding photos right after the ceremony can be a real black hole in your timeline.
You’ve just said “I do,” you’re on a high, and now you need to wrangle 50+ guests into specific groups for photos before they all disappear to the bar.
And trust me, they will disappear to the bar.
Why This Matters
Taking the actual photo doesn’t take long. Your photographer can snap a great group shot in 30 seconds.
What eats up your time? Rounding up the guests.
Every wedding I’ve worked, there’s always that one guest who thinks the call for “Group A” doesn’t apply to them. They’re not important enough. They won’t be missed. Meanwhile, they’re literally standing right next to you, and we’ve been calling their name for five minutes.
What Actually Saves Time
1. Have a Wrangler (or Two)
Your photographer can’t be everywhere at once. They need a wrangler – one or two guests who are familiar with most of the names on the photo list.
Ideally, have two wranglers: one from each side of the family. They know the faces, they know who’s actually important for which photos, and they can work both sides of the group simultaneously.
I’ve been caught out calling for people who were standing in front of me, already next to the couple. A wrangler who knows faces and names is gold.
2. Share the List With EVERYONE
Make sure the MC, videographer, and photographer ALL have the photo list.
Better yet, give everyone a copy. Seriously.
3. Start With the Elderly and VIPs
Always have older guests (Nana, that 103-year-old uncle) photographed first.
Move the other groups around them. Let them stay put while everyone else rotates in and out. They’ve done their bit, they can go sit down.
4. Keep Groups Moving
If you’re doing Group 1, have Group 2 standing by and ready to step in immediately, while Group 3 is being rounded up.
I say “rounded up” because getting things done right after the ceremony really is like herding cats.
The Best Photo Session I’ve Ever Seen
A couple handed out a printed sheet during the ceremony listing all the photo groups.
After the “I do’s,” I (as the MC) simply called out: “Group A!”
I didn’t have to name names. Everyone could see which group they were in.
While Group A lined up and got their photo, I already had Group B standing ready, and I was calling Group C.
It was the smoothest, fastest photo session I’ve ever seen. And nobody felt rushed.
Game-Changer: Use a Microphone
A microphone for group photos really is life-changing.
It allows the MC or photographer to take charge, cut through the social chit-chat and hugs and reunions, and speed things up – without rushing anyone.
People can actually hear what’s happening. No more shouting names across a lawn.
Make It a Game (MC Tip)
If you have a creative MC, they can make the whole thing fun instead of feeling like a chore.
Group photos always take longer than anyone expects. But the right approach can turn that around.
Instead of “hurry up,” make it a challenge:
“Bob the photographer tells me the record for this number of guests is 11 minutes. Can we beat that today?”
Suddenly you’ve got 80 guests engaged and trying to beat a record, instead of wandering off to the bar.
It’s not about rushing. It’s about giving everyone a reason to be present and focused right now.
Stick to the VIPs
Resist the urge to photograph every possible combination of guests.
Stick to the VIP groups: immediate family, wedding party, close friends.
If your photographer is staying for the reception, you can do table shots later with “friends from work” and the like.
The Biggest Trap
The biggest trap is the bride (or groom) changing their mind mid-session.
“Oh, let’s grab the cousins for a quick pic!”
“Just the two of us with the celebrant!”
“Can we do one with the flower girls?”
Sure, it can be done. But it aaaall eats into your reception time.
If you’ve made a photo list, stick to it. Trust that you thought it through when you weren’t standing in front of 80 guests on a sunny lawn.
The Bottom Line
Your photographer doesn’t need long for each group photo.
What eats up your time is getting the groups together.
So plan ahead. Share the list. Use a wrangler. Use a microphone. Start with the elderly. Keep groups moving.
And most importantly, stick to the plan.
Your reception is waiting.
I hope this helps!
Nick Logan
Wedding MC | Event DJ | Nice Guy
