{Help!} Portraits?!

Previously, I asked you ladies {and gents!} if you were/are planning to see each other before the ceremony. The tally is currently 18-11 favoring seeing each other. {Feel free to contribute a vote if you haven't!} Nick and I are still leaning toward not seeing each other and taking as many portraits as possible separately before the wedding.

So now I have some questions about the actual portraits: Did you take ALL portraits individually and then together with your families? Let me explain below... I am working on a portrait list. Our fabulous photographers Turtle Pond Photography AND all of the wedding websites/books/magazines say having a list and a designated point person for each family helps things run much more smoothly and quickly. Nick and I both come from divorced families. His mom is remarried, his dad is engaged, my mom is remarried, and my dad is single, so the amount of portraits is already greater than the usual. I don't want the photos to take forever, plus, it isn't like we will be able to display them all in our home.

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For example for my Mom's side of the family we could do this:

Bride with mom
Bride with step-dad
Bride with mom and step-dad
Bride with step-grandparents
Bride with mom, step-dad and sister
Bride with mom, step-dad, sister, niece and nephews
Bride with mom, step-dad, sister, niece, nephews and step-grandparents

Bride & groom with mom
Bride & groom with step-dad
Bride & groom with mom and step-dad
Bride & groom with step-grandparents
Bride & groom with mom, step-dad and sister
Bride & groom with mom, step-dad, sister, niece and nephews
Bride & groom with mom, step-dad, sister, niece, nephews and step-grandparents

OR this:

Bride with mom
Bride with step-dad
Bride with mom and step-dad
Bride with step-grandparents
Bride with mom, step-dad and sister
Bride with mom, step-dad, sister, niece and nephews
Bride with mom, step-dad, sister, niece, nephews and step-grandparents

Bride & groom with mom and step-dad
Bride & groom with step-grandparents
Bride & groom with niece and nephews
Bride & groom with mom, step-dad, sister, niece and nephews
Bride & groom with mom, step-dad, sister, niece, nephews, step-grandparents

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Is it okay to just take a few photos with the bride and groom? I mean, do I really need a portrait of myself with my sister AND one of me and Nick with her, too? I really think just one of my sister and I is necessary. Or will it be okay if there is just one of me, Nick, my sister, niece and nephews good enough? Could we pare the second list down even more and just take one portrait of us with my mom, step-dad, sister, niece, nephews, step-grandparents?

I know this is a silly and super detailed question, but I'm so curious, how did you handle these types of situations? Did you or your parents have any regrets or wish you'd have cut back or added more portraits?

Photo © Turtle Pond Photography.

Comments

[Erin @ Blue-Eyed Bride]

i think the fewer posed shots, the better. take the ones with individuals that you really want, but those shots with everyone included should include as many people as possible. the one of you and your sister is good. nick doesn't need to be in one with you and your sister unless you want it.

our only regret was that we wished we had some candid family photos. the candids look so much better in frames.

[Broke-Ass Bride]

I'm in favor of NOT seeing eachother. I want that moment to have all the build up and excitement possible. It may pose more photo problems in the end, but seeing the look on his face as I come down the aisle will be worth it!

[Stephanie]

I agree with Broke-Ass, but you already know this :) And I also think the strategy of more people in the picture is a better one. Trying to drill down to the individual level AND locate everyone in the time constraints present will be a challenge and the last thing you want to look is stressed out in your pictures, yes?

[Newport Nuptials]

We are more traditional and NOT seeing each other before teh ceremony. I am not doing all of the traditional photos listed. I will make a list of who I really want pictures with, my groom will make his list, then we will make a list of shots we want together with people. We have 2 photographers on the day of the weddign so we will take all the ones that we arent in together before the ceremony and then take the ones we are in together after. I love the look on a grooms face when he sees his bride for the first time walking down the aisle and I can't wait to see my groom's reaction!

[Mariana Maya Photography]

I love when couples see each other before the wedding. Those first few moments seem to capture extra beautifully when the couple sees each other in private and shares a few special moments, before the busy day gets going.

Whatever you choose I'm sure it will be the right choice for you!!

Best wishes!!

Mariana