How Many Family Group Photos Should You Have at Your Wedding?
Most couples are well served by a short list of around ten family groupings. Group photos take roughly 2 to 3 minutes per grouping when they are planned, so ten groupings is about 20 to 30 minutes. The number of combinations matters far more than the number of guests, and every extra one takes time away from your drinks reception.
How many family group photos do you actually need?
Start with the people you would be sad to have missing from the album, then stop. A sensible short list covers both sets of parents together, each side's immediate family, grandparents, siblings, and one large photo with everyone. Resist near-duplicates. Parents with the couple and parents with the couple plus siblings are two groupings, and each one costs a few minutes.
How long do family group photos take?
Group photos typically run between 15 and 40 minutes, according to UK wedding photographer Tom Stenlake, with around 2 to 3 minutes per grouping when everyone is nearby. The photography itself is quick. Gathering people is what takes the time.
Which family groupings should you prioritise?
Put the formal essentials first: the couple with each set of parents, then with each side of the family, then grandparents, then the whole group. Smaller extras such as godparents or cousins can go lower down, so if time runs short you lose the least important ones rather than the key ones.
How do you stop family photos taking over the day?
Write the list in advance and give a copy to your photographer. Ask one person from each side who knows everyone to gather relatives. Do the photos straight after the ceremony while everyone is in one place, and allow for them in your wedding day timeline. If you are unsure how much time to set aside overall, our guide on how many hours of wedding photography you need explains how coverage maps onto the day.
What if your family situation is complicated?
Tell your photographer before the day rather than on it. Divorced or separated parents, step-families and relatives who would rather not be grouped together are all easy to handle when the list is clear. Groupings can be photographed separately so nobody is put in an uncomfortable spot.
Can your photographer help plan the list?
A good photographer will talk through the list with you and suggest an order that keeps things moving. If you are planning a wedding and want to talk through timings and group photos, you can enquire through the contact page at Studio Williams.
Source: Tom Stenlake, How Long Do Wedding Group Photos Really Take? (tomstenlake.co.uk, July 2026).
