Your wedding only happens once ever, which is why it’s a good idea to go in armed with your must-take wedding photo checklist. Once your wedding day has come and gone, that’s all you’ll have left, so make sure to jot down a list of YOUR must-take wedding photos.

When it comes to must-take wedding photos, some are more obvious than others, but then there are some really neat things that happen on your wedding day that might totally go uncaptured if you don’t come up with a wedding pictures checklist ahead of time.

Your Wedding Photo Checklist: Don’t Miss These Moments!

Getting ready:

1. Hair and makeup getting done
2. Your wedding gown hanging up, waiting to be worn
3. Bridesmaids helping you into your wedding dress
4. Any prewedding festivities (mimosas, anyone?)
5. Closeups of any special details, like your grandmother’s brooch on your bouquet or your hot wedding shoes
6. Closeups of your “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” (ask your photographer to make a collage of the four items – just precious.
7. Candid shots of the bride with her bridesmaids, parents, etc.
8. Portrait or candid shots of bride with each person (maid of honor, father of the bride, etc.). These make great gifts after the wedding.
9. Flower girl/ring bearer getting ready
10. The ring pillow, the flower petal basket, and any other cute details
11. Candid shots of groom in the morning
12. Groom tying his tie
13. Candid shots of groom with groomsmen, siblings, parents, etc.
14. Portrait shots of groom with each member of his wedding party, as well as parents, etc.
15. Pic of best man looking after the rings
16. Candid shots of whatever is going on: a great photographer will capture the excitement and the nerves as well as any great moments, even if it’s something simple like coffee in curlers or a groomsman and the ring bearer playing Wii before getting dressed (yes, that really happened at my wedding… it wasn’t on my wedding pictures checklist, but I’m sure glad I have it!).

Ceremony pictures:

1. The bride and bridesmaids with their bouquets
2. The bride and groom in the vehicles on the way to the ceremony venue
3. The bride and groom’s arrivals
4. Candid shots of last minute preparations
5. Picture of the father of the bride and others having their boutonnieres and corsages pinned on
6. Candid shots of reactions of loved ones (parents looking on, for example)
7. Shots of the ceremony venue before it begins filling with people, if possible, or just before things start to capture the spirit of the wedding theme
8. Closeups of ceremony details, such as the guest book, pew decorations, sand ceremony items, special candles, etc.
9. Pic of ceremony programs in the basket
10. Pic of the ushers at their stations (candids are fabulous here too)
11. Exterior shots of the ceremony venue (make sure to capture the weather of the day!)
12. Candids of bride/groom interacting with the minister or officiant beforehand
13. Photos of groom and groomsmen walking down the aisle and taking their positions
14. Photos of flower girl and ring bearer as they do last-minute prep, then walking down the aisle.
15. Each bridesmaid walking down the aisle
16. The bride walking down the aisle
17. The bride being given away
18. The groom as the bride is walking towards him
19. Entire wedding party standing together at the front of the venue
20. Photos of any special ceremony elements, like singers or readers
21. The bride and groom speaking their vows
22. The ring exchange
23. Sand ceremony or other unity ritual
24. The kiss!
25. Photos of the guests applauding and any candid looks on their faces, especially of parents
26. Bride and groom signing the legal documents
27. MOH and Best Man co-signing documents
28. Bride and groom exiting the ceremony venue
29. Receiving line candid moments, especially grandparent hugs, little kid hugs, etc.
30. Guests throwing confetti, blowing bubbles, etc.
31. Bride and groom getting in vehicle together
32. Bride and groom inside vehicle, heading to photo session or reception

Photo session wedding pictures checklist ideas:

Note: the following wedding photo checklist is simply to inspire you… what images you’ll want will depend on the location of your photo shoot, your style as a couple, the weather, etc. Be sure to spend some time surfing the web (or looking in our photo gallery) to come up with your dream list of must take wedding photos so that nothing gets left out. It’s worth the investment of time because this day only happens once!

1. Requisite shots with family and wedding party (e.g. bride with mom, bride with dad, bride and groom with both sets of parents… what is right for you will depend on your individual family situation)
2. Closeup of bride and groom holding hands with rings
3. Cute ring shots (e.g. rings nestled in bride’s bouquet, rings on intertwined fingers, bride’s hand on top of groom’s hand…)
4. Wide-angle shot of photoshoot location with bride and groom in distance
5. Bride and bridesmaids lined up with their bouquets (or with bouquets clustered together)
6. Bride and groom with any unique location features: kissing on a bridge, resting under a tree, cozied up by a fireplace…
7. Wedding party lined up on a staircase
8. Candids of wedding party interacting during photo shoot (these pics often turn out to be your most cherished ones)
9. Wedding party scattered in a shot, for example each one leaning against a different tree, or standing in a field, or sitting/standing in different areas of a room – with or without them looking at the bride and groom
10. Back shot of bride to capture detailing of dress
11. Closeup of dress details for bride and bridesmaids
12. Bride with train extended
13. Groom helping bride with dress, eg. carrying her train, fixing her veil, etc
14. Bride with arms around groom (this shot can look awesome from a variety of angles, straight on so you see the groom’s back and the bride’s arms, or vice versa, or even from above.
15. Pic of whole wedding party in a circle looking downward, with photo taken from ground looking up
16. Bride and groom walking off together (pic taken from behind)
17. Closeup of bridal hairstyle
18. Closeup of meaningful details, like cufflinks, cute socks, an heirloom bracelet, etc.
19. Bride and groom kissing while wedding party cheers/gasps/reacts somehow
20. Artful shots of the bride’s bouquet and bridesmaids bouquets
21. Artful shots using depths, such as the bride’s bouquet in the foreground with the couple blurred in the distance
22. Groom and groomsmen goofing around
23. Bridesmaids and bride laughing or adjusting dress
24. The dip kiss! (Gotta have it!)
25. FYI: don’t forget to get a shot of your wedding invitations and other stationery if possible (like your save the dates and thank-you cards)

At the reception:

1. Pictures of venue, both inside and outside
2. Closeups of meaningful details, such as centerpieces, wedding favors, place cards, guest book, seating chart, gift table, card basket, head table, signature drink, hors d’oeuvres, the meal, menu, and other decor
3. Shots of each table of guests if possible
4. Photo of bride and groom entering the room
5. Photos of cocktail hour
6. Candid photos from dinner, such as bride and groom kissing/talking, glass-clinking, servers working
7. Photo of wedding cake
8. Closeup of wedding cake details (cool decorations, cake cutting/serving set, cake topper, cupcake tower)
9. Bride and groom cutting the cake
10. Bride and groom’s first dance
11. Newlyweds dancing with their parents
12. Bridal party dancing
13. DJ/Band at work
14. Children dancing (always so cute!)
15. Cute shots of guest book
16. Funny guest photos (dancing, partying, goofy faces… these work best as candids of course!)
17. People giving toasts and glasses being raised
18. Bouquet toss
19. Garter removal/toss
20. Any fun things, like wedding games that get played…
21. Family and friend shots of bride and groom with special people who were not invited to the photo shoot (cousins, nieces, college pals, etc.)
22. Bride and groom leaving reception
23. Getaway car as it drives away
24. Photos of any getaway car details (like a “Just Married!” sign or car decorations)

Note: Help your photographer out by providing this list (or your own personalized list) to your photographer well in advance. Make sure to add any of your own extra ideas and, if you can, provide an itinerary of the reception especially so the photographers know when each of the must-take wedding photos is happening.