How Do You Get Good Photos During the Wedding Drinks Reception?
Short answer: the drinks reception gives you the most relaxed stretch of the day for photos, as long as the timeline gives the photographer room to work. Plan a short window for family group photos, leave the rest of the time free, and let people mingle.
Why the drinks reception works so well for photos
Guests are relaxed, the light is often still good, and everyone is in one place. That makes it the natural time for candid pictures of your friends and family laughing, hugging and talking to each other. It is also the time when you and your partner tend to loosen up after the ceremony.
Fit the family group photos in early
Family groups are the one thing that can swallow the whole reception. Keep the list short, name someone who knows everyone to gather people, and tell guests in advance that you will be pulled away briefly. Our guide to how many family group photos to have suggests how to keep it quick.
Do not skip your own time
It is easy to spend the whole drinks reception being congratulated and never see your partner. Build in ten or fifteen minutes for the two of you, even if it is just a walk round the garden. Those minutes often produce some of the calmest portraits of the day.
How long should the drinks reception be?
There is no fixed rule, and the right length depends on your venue and how many guests you have. A long gap before the wedding breakfast gives the photographer more room, but guests can get restless without food. Our post on building a wedding day timeline shows how to balance it.
Tell your photographer what matters
If there is a detail you care about, such as a particular guest, the table plan, the cake or a lawn game, say so beforehand. A short shot list works well, as long as it stays short and leaves room for things you cannot plan.
Does coverage need to include the drinks reception?
Yes, if you can. Coverage that ends before this part of the day misses a lot of the atmosphere. Our guide to how many hours of wedding photography you need goes through what each length of coverage usually includes, and two photographers help when family groups and candids happen at the same time: see whether you need a second photographer.
What if it rains?
Ask your venue early where guests will go if the weather turns. A covered terrace or a large room with good window light can work just as well. Read what happens if it rains on your wedding day for a plan.
Full-day collections from Studio Williams start at £3,500 and include two photographers as standard. If you would like to check availability for your date, you can get in touch here.
