How Many Group Photos Should You Have At A Wedding? (Real Answer)
- Jono Purday
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
(And why getting this wrong can quietly eat up your entire drinks reception)
You can always tell when it’s about to happen…
Ceremony’s done, everyone’s in a good mood, drinks are flowing… and then someone pulls out a list.
Not just a list either… a list.
Names, combinations, people you haven’t seen in years, “just one more with…”… and before you know it, 40 minutes has disappeared and you’ve barely had a second to actually enjoy the fact you’ve just got married.
And the thing is, this isn’t rare. It happens at nearly every wedding.
How Many Group Photos Should You Have At A Wedding?
Right, let’s not overcomplicate it.
👉 If you’re wondering how many group photos at a wedding you should plan for, the short answer is around 8 to 10.
That’s usually enough to cover:
Immediate family
Close friends
A couple of important combinations
Without turning your drinks reception into a bit of a production line.
Go much beyond that, and it starts to drag. Not slightly… properly.
What Couples Think It’ll Be Like… vs What Actually Happens
On paper, group photos sound quick.
“Just grab a few people, take a couple of photos, done.”
In reality?
Someone’s at the bar
Someone’s gone to the toilet
Someone’s wandered off
Someone doesn’t realise they’re needed
So every photo takes longer than expected.
And it’s not just the time… it’s the stop-start feel of it. You go from just getting married, to suddenly standing in one spot while names are called out like a register.
That’s the bit no one really tells you beforehand.
So Why Does Keeping It To 10 Actually Make Such A Difference?
It’s not just about saving time.
When you keep your group photos tight:
You stay relaxed
Your guests stay engaged
The day keeps flowing naturally
You actually get to enjoy that part of it
And your photos are better for it as well, because you’re not rushing through them thinking about the next 15 combinations still to come.
How To Keep Group Photos Quick And Stress-Free
This is where you make your life easy.
👉 Stick to the essentials - Immediate family, closest people… the ones that really matter.
👉 Nominate someone who knows everyone - Best man, bridesmaid, whoever. Someone who can grab people quickly so you’re not hunting them down.
👉 Have the list ready beforehand - Not on the day, not “we’ll just see how it goes”… have it sorted, and give your photographer a copy too!
👉 Do them straight after the ceremony - Everyone’s already there, which makes everything quicker.
👉 Let your photographer take control of it - This is literally what we’re there for. Keeping things moving without it feeling rushed.
“But What If We Actually Want Loads Of Group Photos?”
Then go for it. Honestly.
It’s your wedding, and if those photos matter to you, you absolutely can have more.
Just go into it knowing the trade-off:
👉 More group photos = less time actually enjoying your day
It’s not about right or wrong… just being aware of what you’re choosing.
Final Thoughts
If there’s one thing couples say after the day, it’s this:
“I wish it didn’t go so fast.”
And your drinks reception is a big part of that.
That’s where you relax, chat, laugh, take it all in… and if you spend most of it working through a long list of group photos, you lose a chunk of that without really realising.
Keep it simple, keep it relaxed, and give yourself the time to actually be there for it.
That’s when everything feels better. And that’s when the best moments happen.
So if you’re still unsure how many group photos at a wedding to include, just remember… less is usually more.
P.s:
If you’re planning a wedding and want it to feel relaxed, natural, and actually enjoyable… you’ll probably get on with me just fine.
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