Wedding family photos with divorced parents
You don’t need to choose between a photo with everyone and a peaceful day. You just need to plan it a little more carefully than other couples do.
6 min read · Updated 7 October 2026
Separated or divorced parents are common, and wedding photographers deal with this every season. The tension usually doesn’t come from the photos themselves. It comes from people being surprised: someone didn’t know they’d be standing next to an ex, or a step-parent wasn’t sure if they were included.
The fix is to decide everything in advance, tell the people involved, and give your photographer a clear list.
Decide which photos you actually want
Start with what matters to you, not what you think is expected. For many couples, that looks something like this (there are more in the family photo list examples):
A common set of shots
- 1Couple with Mum
- 2Couple with Dad
- 3Couple with Mum and her partnerOnly if you want it
- 4Couple with Dad and his partnerOnly if you want it
- 5Couple with both parentsOptional, and only if both are comfortable
- 6Couple with siblings
- 7Couple with the whole familyWith both parents placed on opposite sides of the couple
A photo with both parents together is completely optional. Some couples want it as a record of the people who raised them. Others would rather avoid it. Both are fine.
Order the shots to keep the peace
- Group each parent’s photos together rather than alternating, so each parent only has to be ‘on’ for one stretch.
- Do any shot with both parents early, before anyone has been waiting around.
- In large group photos, put the two parents on opposite sides of the couple. Your photographer will do this automatically if they know.
- Let each parent’s partner know which photos they’re in, so they aren’t left standing at the edge wondering.
What to tell your photographer
Photographers don’t need the history. They need three things: who shouldn’t stand next to whom, who is in which photo, and whether there’s anyone they should keep an eye on. A note like “Mum and Dad are separated, please keep them on opposite sides, Dad’s partner is Karen” is enough.
Use the keep-apart option
In our planner you can mark two people to keep apart. Every shot that includes both gets flagged for your photographer, so they can position people without you having to explain it again on the day.
Build your list and mark anyone who should be kept apart. Your photographer sees it on every shot where it matters.
Make my family photo listWhat to say to your parents
Tell each parent which photos they’re in a week or two before the wedding. It removes the guesswork, and it gives them a chance to raise anything privately rather than on the day. Keep it simple: “We’re doing a photo with you, one with you and Karen, and then the big family one. Our photographer will position everyone.”
If there’s a real risk of conflict, ask a calm friend or relative to stay near the family photos and quietly steer people. It’s a small job that makes a big difference.
Questions people ask
Do divorced parents have to be in a photo together at the wedding?
No. A photo with both parents is optional. Many couples include it, with parents standing on opposite sides of the couple, and many don’t.
Should step-parents be in wedding family photos?
That’s up to you. A common approach is to include step-parents in photos with their partner and in the large family group, and to take separate photos of each parent on their own with the couple.
How do photographers handle divorced parents?
They usually place them on opposite sides of the couple in group photos and group each parent’s photos together. Telling your photographer in advance is the most important step.