09/06/2026
After 14 years in the wedding industry, here's my hot take…
You don’t want to spend your cocktail hour taking extended family photos.
Couples, I promise, by the time we get to your partner’s dad’s side of the extended family you are going to be SO over it.
Realistically, organizing and posing extended family photo combinations typically take:
10 people: ~5 minutes
20 people: ~8–10 minutes
30 people: ~10–15 minutes
50+ people: easily 15–20 minutes for one large grouping
..and that's assuming uncle Greg didn't ditch his wife and kids and run off to the bar.
Unless “all the cousins” means, like, three people, I would much rather have you spend cocktail hour actually enjoying your wedding. Grab a drink. Hug your people. Catch up with the loved ones you haven’t seen in forever. Let me photograph the moments happening naturally around you.
Because those photos of your family laughing together over cocktails? Your aunt becoming BFFs your college roommate? You hugging that person you haven't seen in a year?
Those are the photos you’ll want.
We can absolutely get the important family combinations you need and we'll make those a priority! But in my expert opinion, but you do not need to turn your cocktail hour into a family reunion photoshoot 😅
Trust me. Go enjoy time with your guests. I’ve got the candids. 📸🍸
