7 Ways to Highlight your Grandparents in your Wedding Photography

Be sure to highlight your grandparents in your wedding photography. It’s important!

Sure.. I know… it’s your wedding and it is not all about highlighting  your grandparents in your wedding photography.  It’s all about the bride right? Well yes….but really no. If you stop and think about it your wedding photographs aren’t for you. Say what?? That’s right. They aren’t for you because they are for your children and their children and their children.

Do you have old pictures of your Grandparents Wedding?

How many of you have pictures of your grandparents or great grandparents wedding? So I’m going to guess that a bunch of you do. Now take a moment….stop…slow down… remember that YOU will be grandparents one day. For me, when I hold those old wedding pictures in my hand, everything stops, the world slows down. I am literally holding a memory in my hand.

Old photographs are my most precious possessions

I’m one of those people who never knew ANY of my grandparents – and I’m not gonna lie…. I do get teary eyed about it. What would it have been like to have them in my life? But my mother (and her mother before her) was AMAZING at preserving their life through pictures. (THANK YOU MOM!) You know what I would grab if my house was on fire? You betcha! Those albums.

There is one image that touches my heart beyond belief

For me there is one image of my grandfather holding me. We are at his home in Scotland during a visit when I was super little. He is looking at me with with a huge smile on his face and I swear I can feel the love. (as a side note…my life would be complete if I could photograph a wedding in Scotland! Hit me up if this sounds amazing to you!) I was too young to remember this moment..but man… it is so real to me because I have that photograph. What if he could have been at my wedding? It does make me sad that I never knew him but I’m soooo thankful that I have that photograph. I think another blog post about that single image is in order!

What if I didn’t have any Pictures?

 Oh gosh… it would be hard. That one image makes him real, tangible. I do have oodles of pictures of my grandmother but I don’t have any with her holding me. It makes my perceived memory of her almost detached. I know she is my grandmother but I have no proof that that she would have had a connection with me. Sounds weird to say out loud. But I think it perfectly illustrates the importance of taking pictures with your grandparents…especially on your wedding day. These pictures will be looked at by all future generations to come!

Print your Wedding Photography Pictures!

In this day of digital images I think it is easy to forget how precious each individual photo is. It is a moment, a memory. Think about holding a photo and what you feel. Everything disappears and it’s like you were right back there in the moment. Print your pictures people! Create that keepsake album.

Be sure your photographer captures moments with your grandparents!

One of my favorite set of images to capture at weddings are grandparents. Yes.. all of your guests are important (like super important). But there is just something so special about making sure you have photos with your grandparents. Both posed and candid.

Looking for unique ways to highlight your grandparents in your wedding photography? Here are some ideas!

Get them Dancing!

1. Consider sharing a special dance with them and get them on the dance floor! No better feeling that dancing like no one is watching with your grandparents. After all…they were young once too! Don’t forget that!Flower Girl or Ring Bearer

2.   Consider making your grandmother your flower girl or grandfather your ring bearer. I’m sure you would make their heart happy for including them in such a special way.

See more of this Up the Creek Farms Wedding here.

Make them feel special

3.   Another great way to highlight your grandparents in your wedding photography is to give them a special note or bouquet of flowers on your day. Take a moment to tell them how much you love them and appreciate them. They won’t be here forever so you should shower them with love.

More from this Field Manor Wedding here!

A special Dance just for them

4.  Have a special dance just for your grandparents. Dig up the oldies that they used to love. Perhaps the song that they danced to at their wedding?

Make a Toast

5.  Ask them to make a toast! Who wouldn’t love to hear about you from your biggest fan! Think about how personal and loving that could be. Or.. be sure to honor them in the toast that you make.

Remember them with photographs

6.  If your grandparents aren’t with us. Consider incorporating something  into your wedding. A broach discreetly tied around your bouquet or perhaps you have your grandmothers veil? Or maybe it could even be repurposed.  They will be with you in spirit.

Honor Them

7.  Honor them with a pictures and their own seat during the ceremony even if they aren’t with us and take a moment during your ceremony to acknowledge them.

This reminds me… gotta get out there and take some pictures of my kids with their grandparents immediatly! Life is precious…preserve it for generations to come.

Love these images from Up the Creek Farms Weddings!

Have I indirectly also convinced you about the importance of family photos?