This should be filled out at least a week before. 

This is just a list of everyone your couple would like to take photos with and in the combination of individuals they want in each shot.

Do this to not miss anyone & to speed up the process, you don't have a lot of time between shots.

We recommend no more than 15 combinations.

Have the couple use names, not titles.

An example would be:

Alexis(B), Brock(G), Michelle, Tom, Coleman, Alton, Liam 

Family Formals During Cocktail Hour

Ceremony is over and now is your time to shine! It is also the most hectic part of the day so get ready. These tips will be lifesavers for you as you get a handle on how to run family formals effectively.

Biggest piece of advice. You're in charge, and if your bride, groom, parents of, bridal party, even guests can't see that. Someone else will try to take charge and you don't want that.

As soon as the ceremony is over. Bring all the bridal party, and family to the location of the formals. Usually this is the ceremony location. 

Have everyone take a seat, and say real quick housekeeping instructions!(Make sure you have everyone's attention).

Let them know that the bride and groom have a list of photo combinations they want to make sure they get, but we don't have a lot of time to do them in. 

Tell them everyone is so excited, and that you know everyone wants to congratulate and love on the couple, but if they would save that for the reception, so the bride and groom can get all the photos they want now, and so everyone can eat on time! (this normally gets them going).

Let them know once you call their name to have family units and/or couples stand together so you know who to place next to who. 

LAST POINT to announce.
I will let you know when you can leave, please stay here, don't go to the restroom or go for drinks, we shouldn't be longer than about 10-15 minutes. 

Have your second shooter or assistant hold the family combo list. 

They should manage it during this time, calling out names loudly, making sure everyone is together. 

Meanwhile you pose everyone in the shot, take the photo, multiple times for obvious reasons. Then move on to the next combo.

You should be able to go through 15 combos in 15 minutes.

*One exception to this rule is if the combo has a lot of people 20+. That's a lot of individuals to move and get set quickly. No more than 2 of these or they need to wait until during the reception. 

Nothing makes your palm sweat more than when you see your couple has one family combo with 6910 names. Okay its usually like 42, but it feels the same. 

Chairs. 
They are your friend. 

The rule of thumb we like to use is if we have
30+ in one shot. We are seating 8.
40+ in one shot. We are seating 12.

Seat grandparent, older family members, and parents in that order. 

If there are littles that can sit on laps in this shot. That is where they are going.

Then have everyone else turn in towards each other and slide in as close to the bride and groom as they can get.