WTW: A Guide To Your Must-Have Wedding Photos

A guide to your must-have wedding photos

Your wedding day will fly by in the most beautiful blur, but the photos will be what you hold onto forever. That’s why having a thoughtful shot list can make all the difference. From the quiet, emotional moments before the ceremony to the wild energy on the dance floor, these must-have wedding photos capture not just how everything looked, but how it felt. Whether you're working with a pro photographer or creating your own list of can't-miss moments, here’s a guide to the essential shots you'll want to remember your day by.

Photos: Laura Wills Photography, Grace T Photography, Rachel Jean Photography, Anna Jones Photography, Brooke Pavel Photography,
Sydney Bliss Photography, Lyndi Mische Photography, Nicole Laing Photography, Jason Thomas Crocker Photography, Alexa Karen Photography

Getting Ready

  • Your attire, shoes & accessories

  • Candid shots of bridal party

  • Groom getting ready (buttoning shirt, adjusting tie)

  • Hair/Makeup Moments

  • Putting on your dress/suit

Photos: Marasco Photography, Rachel Jean Photography, Nicole Laing Photography and Anna Jones Photography

The Details

  • The dress hanging up / laid out

  • Details (shoes, jewelry, invitation suite, perfume, cufflinks, watch)

  • Candid shots with bridesmaids/groomsmen

  • Bride/Groom reading a letter or gift from each other

  • First look with parents (especially father/daughter, mother/son)

Photos: Hinton Studios, Anna Jones Photography, Brooke Pavel Photography and Sydney Bliss Photography

First Look

  • The moment the couple sees each other for the first time

  • Close-ups of reactions and emotion

  • Full-length portraits after the first look

Photos: Sydney Bliss Photography, Jason Thomas Crocker Photography, Anna Jones Photography and Brooke Pavel Photography

Ceremony Moments

  • Venue/ceremony site (before guests arrive)

  • Guests arriving

  • Groom waiting at the altar

  • Processional (everyone walking down the aisle)

  • Bride walking down the aisle

  • Groom’s reaction

  • Vows and ring exchange

  • Wide shot of the ceremony

  • First kiss as a married couple

  • Recessional (couple walking back up the aisle)

Photos: Nicole Laing Photography, Rachel Jean Photography, Sydney Bliss Photography and Jason Thomas Crocker Photography

Couple Portraits

  • Romantic golden hour shots

  • Walking hand-in-hand

  • Close-ups of rings

  • Natural candid moments (laughing, talking, dancing)

Photos: Anna Jones Photography, Brooke Pavel Photography, Sydney Bliss Photography and Nicole Laing Photography

Reception Moments

  • Decor details (centerpieces, cake, table settings)

  • Guestbook or welcome table

  • Grand entrance

  • First dance

  • Parent dances

  • Toasts/speeches

  • Cake cutting

  • Candid dancing shots

  • Bouquet/garter toss (if doing)

  • Couple sneaking away for a private moment

  • Final exit (sparklers, bubbles, confetti, etc.)

Photos: Rachel Jean Photography, Jason Thomas Crocker Photography, Anna Jones Photography & Alexa Karen Photography

Family & Group Shots

  • Couple with immediate families (separately and together)

  • Couple with extended families

  • Couple with bridal party

  • Fun/casual bridal party shots

Photos: Jason Thomas Crocker Photography, Nicole Laing Photography, Anna Jones Photography, and Brooke Pavel Photography

Capturing a wedding day is about more than just snapping pretty pictures — it’s about telling a love story in images that will be cherished for a lifetime. From the quiet, emotional moments to the wild joy on the dance floor, every shot plays a role in preserving the magic of the day. Whether you're behind the lens or making a shot list, keeping these must-have photos in mind will help ensure no special moment goes unnoticed — and that the memories live on long after the last sparkler burns out.

Karla Lewenczuk