Getting married in England & Wales could be about to change - here’s what couples need to know
Confetti photos and wedding group photos are two of the most joyful (and chaotic!) pa rts of your wedding day — and as a colourful, candid South Wales wedding photographer, these moments are some of my absolute favourites to capture.
But they also benefit from a tiny bit of structure. When confetti and group photos are planned well, they run smoothly, your guests stay happy, and you get vibrant, natural photos without sacrificing your precious mingling time.
Here’s exactly how I handle confetti and wedding group photos, step by step.
If your venue allows it, biodegradable paper confetti is always the best choice.
Why?
Metallic/confetti cannons drop fast and don’t give the same floating, magical effect, and the same goes for dried flower petals. If you have a choice, I'd recommend paper all the way.
The moment you walk back down the aisle, guests usually expect a confetti moment. Instead of resisting that energy, I work with it.
I’ll quickly:
This keeps it fun and natural while making sure your confetti photos look amazing.
If a venue or coordinator plans to hand out drinks or canapés immediately after the ceremony, I’ll kindly ask them to hold off just a few minutes.
Why? Because once people have a drink in each hand:
Delaying drinks by just a couple of minutes means the big group photo happens quickly, nobody is missing, and you don’t lose precious time before your wedding breakfast.
Right after confetti, when everyone is still gathered together, I get your big wedding group photo done immediately.
I simply say:
“Everyone - stay where you are! Let’s grab the big group photo of everyone together.”
This ensures:
Then everyone can relax and enjoy themselves.
Once the big group shot is done, I work from large to smaller groups. It’s the fastest, most efficient way to get through wedding group photos without stress.
Here’s how I do it:
This gets the most people done first so they can head off to enjoy drinks, hugs, and canapés.
They should never have to stand around waiting, so I get them photographed first.
Lists help ensure we don’t forget a single combination that matters to you. I ask you for your list before your big day, as well as final timings of the day, and pull it into one spreadsheet that I can refer to through the day on my phone.
These photos often roll nicely into fun, candid moments or couple portraits.
It’s the sweet spot for:
I naturally blast through combinations so you don't need to worry about being prescriptive in your 10 chosen groups. For instance, if you ask for photos of your parents and sibling(s), I'll quickly direct them so that a combination of you all are captured e.g. photo 1 - mum, dad, brother, photo 2 - mum and dad, photo 3 - brother, photo 4 - mum only, photo 5 - dad only, and so on.
Fast group photos = more time for fun and natural, candid moments.
The goal of this whole process is simple:
I try to be firm but fun during this time to make sure things run smoothly, but in a way that makes you and your guests smile. The reason? Once group photos are done, your timeline opens up beautifully. Drinks flow, hugs happen, and you get to enjoy the celebration instead of standing around.
Confetti and wedding group photos don’t have to feel stressful. With the right plan, they’re full of joy, colour, and laughter.
If you’re planning your wedding in South Wales and want colourful, relaxed photos without awkward posing, I’m always happy to help build a timeline that keeps things smooth and fun from start to finish.
Think a creative, animal-loving, story-capturing South Wales photographer is a great fit for your big day? I’d love to chat about your wedding plans and how we can create stunning, candid memories together.
