Those don’t come from memory. They come from seeing one somewhere first and thinking, oh, we’re doing that.
The day is full of them, if you know where to look. The ten minutes the two of you sneak off alone. The solo shots while everyone fusses over your dress. The groom who needs something to do with his hands, the first look, the one group photo where the wedding party finally goes off-script. The difference between a great version and a flat one is usually specificity. “Do this exact pose” lands. “Make it fun” does not.
So here’s the pile to pull from. We’ve gathered our favorite wedding photography poses from real Love & Lavender weddings, sorted by who’s in the frame so you can grab what you love and skip the rest. Save the ones that stop you, send them to your photographer, and let the day take care of itself. Start with the full weddings in our Real Weddings directory.
The Two of You
Most of your gallery is going to be the two of you, so this is where it pays to walk in with a few ideas ready. These are the poses that handle the awkward part: standing close, finding the right angle, and surviving the first time you see each other on the wedding day.
Wedding Couple Poses
This is the heart of the gallery: just the two of you, figuring out where to put your hands and how to stand close without going stiff. The poses have names you’ll actually remember, like the Almost-Kiss, the Dip, and the Forehead Touch, each with one small cue to make it land instead of a page of complicated instructions. There’s also real help for the stuff that trips couples up: the height difference, the camera-shy partner, and the eternal question of what your fingers are doing (the answer involves pretending to hold a flower stem). Dozens of variations, all from couples who were just as nervous as you.
See our wedding couple poses guide →
First Look Photos
The first look is the moment before the ceremony when you see each other away from the crowd, and it is so much more than one tap on the shoulder. This gallery shows the slow walk across the lawn, the hands flying to his mouth, the version where you hold hands around a corner without peeking, and the reveals saved for a parent or the whole wedding party. Each shot comes with the setup so your photographer can recreate it. And yes, there’s a straight answer to the question everyone asks: no, it does not ruin walking down the aisle. It just gives you two big moments instead of one.
See our first look wedding photos guide →
Flying Solo
At some point the photographer clears everyone else out of the frame and it’s just you. These are the portraits that tend to make people the most self-conscious, so both guides below are built around the same fix: giving you something to do with your hands and your attention.
Bride Solo Poses
Something happens when the photographer says “okay, now just the bride” and everyone steps away: suddenly you’re alone in front of the lens with no idea what to do. This collection fixes that with poses that give your hands a job, from dramatic full-length shots that show off the dress to quiet detail moments with your rings, your shoes, or your bouquet. Every one is pulled from a real Love & Lavender bride, so nothing feels like a stiff studio setup. It’s the gallery to scroll the week before, so you walk into your solo portraits already knowing your three favorites.
See our bride solo poses guide →
Groom Poses
Most grooms would rather do almost anything than pose, which is exactly why this guide hands him something to do instead. Hands in pockets, a lean against a wall, reading her letter, adjusting a watch or cuff links, holding the bouquet for a second: every pose solves the “what do I do with my arms” problem before it starts. There are props that do the heavy lifting too, like a dog, a chair, or a vintage car. The result looks natural because he’s actually doing something, not standing at attention waiting for the shutter.
Group Shots and the Fun Ones
Beyond the couple and solo portraits, there’s everyone else: the family lineup, the bridal party, the guests, and the handful of shots that exist purely to make people laugh. These two guides cover the widest range, whether you want a full reference or just a little comic relief.
Wedding Portrait Poses
If you want one page that covers everyone, this is it. The full portrait reference spans the couple, the bride and groom solo, the family lineup, the bridal party, and the candid guest shots, all organized so you can point at the exact frame you want and copy it. The throughline is simple, and it’s the best posing advice there is: stop posing and start doing. Walk, whisper, laugh at a private joke, look at each other instead of the lens. Click any portrait and it takes you to the real wedding it came from, so you see the full story behind the single frame.
See our wedding portrait poses guide →
Funny Wedding Poses
Not every photo needs to be soft-focus and serious. This gallery is for the couples who want at least a few shots that make everyone laugh in the group chat later, from jump shots and piggyback rides to a groomsmen chase and the occasional fake mustache. The trick that makes them work is a clear action everyone can commit to, not a manufactured smile on the count of three. There’s even guidance on timing: the easiest window is right after the formal family photos, while everyone’s already lined up and slightly bored. Real laughter, real weddings, zero cheese.
See our funny wedding poses guide →
Save the poses that feel like you, send your photographer the shortlist before the day, and then let yourself forget the list completely. The whole point of planning it now is so you don’t have to think about it then. That relaxed, hands-off version of you is the one you’ll actually want in the photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I not look stiff in wedding photos?
Stop holding still. The fastest fix is to keep moving and keep doing something real, like walking, whispering, or laughing at a private joke, instead of freezing and waiting for the shutter. Pick a few poses ahead of time so you’re not inventing them on the spot, and let your photographer guide the rest.
How do I make a wedding photo shot list?
Save the poses you love as you find them, then group them by who’s in each one: the two of you, each of you solo, the family, and the funny ones. Keep it short and realistic, a handful per group, and share it with your photographer a couple of weeks ahead. The list exists so nothing gets forgotten, not so every minute of the day is scheduled.
How many poses should I plan before the wedding?
You don’t need a long list. Three or four favorites you’ve actually saved is plenty, because a good photographer will build on them and improvise once you’re relaxed. The point of planning is to walk in calm, not to choreograph the entire day.
Should we do a first look before the ceremony?
It’s entirely up to you, and it doesn’t ruin the aisle moment the way people worry it will. A first look gives you two big moments instead of one, plus a quiet, private version away from the crowd. It can also steady your nerves before you walk down the aisle.
