Classic, Tearful, & Crazy Bridesmaid Picture Ideas
A bride and her girls gear up for another round of photos. Photo credit: Joeyy Lee.
Your wedding day will be a whirlwind of excitement, joy, and love. So your wedding day photos will be a priceless memento capturing every facet of your special day.
Since you’re surrounded by your favorite girls, you’ll want to get some special shots to capture your personalities and unique relationships. You can request special bridesmaid poses. That way, your photographer will understand your vision.
Here are some of the best bridesmaid picture ideas you can use on your wedding day to show off your squad and give them gorgeous images they will look back on for years to come.
Why Are Bridesmaid Poses Important?
Your bridesmaids will be all dressed up and full of positive energy on your wedding day. And your wedding photos should reflect this.
Choosing the right bridesmaid poses is the best way to capture everyone’s unique personality, similar to selecting custom bridal party entrance ideas!
Everyone will be looking their best too. These pictures will be shared far and wide on social media, so they need to make a big impression.
When you choose the right bridesmaid poses, you’re ensuring that every photo meets your expectations and gives you an image that you and your gals will love.
Classic Group Shots
While some people may view classic shots as “boring,” they are absolutely essential for any wedding album.
They make for the perfect framed portraits since they allow you to see everyone at their best with no distracting poses or backdrops.
The Traditional Line-Up
A traditional bridesmaids pose in front of a garden. Photo credit: Joeyy Lee.
This classic pose lines up your girls for a shot that’s a classic wedding album staple. You can have them line up on either side of you or with only other bridesmaids.
Request a few different shots with and without the bouquets.
Alternating Heights and Angles
A bride and her bridesmaids outside of a historic building. Photo credit: Katie Dewald-Destination Wedding Photographer.
Typically, the photographer will line up your bridesmaids in height order, either from shortest to tallest or vice versa.
Shake things up by alternating your taller bridesmaids with your vertically challenged ones. This will create a lot of visual interest!
Posing With the Groomsmen
A wedding party poses around the bride and groom on marble steps. Photo credit: Wedding Forward.
Another traditional pose will be lining up your bridesmaid with your groom’s squad. You can have them pose with their partner or arrange the bridesmaids on one side and the groomsmen on the other.
That way, you and your hubby can jump in the middle for a big group photo.
Fun & Playful Poses
Once you have your traditional poses done, it’s time to show some personality! Fun poses will make anyone smile and add playful memories to your wedding day.
Jumping in the Air
A bride and her squad get silly in the get ready room. Photo credit: Bridal Guide Magazine.
Count to three and have your bridesmaids jump in the air! Do a few practice jumps to make sure everyone is coordinated and their dresses don't ride up. That could be embarrassing!
To avoid this, an alternative is jumping on the bed as you get ready to walk down the aisle!
Holding the Bride
Let your bridesmaids give you a lift by holding you out in front of them. Make sure your strongest lady is in the center. This playful pose will surely bring a smile to everyone’s face.
Funny Faces and Laughter
The wedding party strikes a silly pose as the bride and groom share a moment. Photo credit: Euphoria.
Have each of your bridesmaids make a silly face or laugh out loud at the same time. It may feel strange, but these facial movements will make for some unforgettable pics.
You can even have the groomsmen get in on the fun!
Candid Moments
Candid photos are taken without posing. Basically, your photographer will float around the area, snapping shots they feel are important.
It will give your wedding album a magazine quality since none of the photos are necessarily staged.
Getting Ready Together
Bridesmaids enjoy some brunch on the balcony of their hotel room as they get ready to walk down the aisle. Photo credit: Wedding Chicks.
These photos will give a glimpse into the hours before you say “I do.” Ask your photographers to take pictures of your group getting ready.
Be sure to request specific moments, such as your maid of honor buttoning up your dress or bridesmaids having their hair done.
Sharing a Toast or Cheers
Before you leave the get ready space, host a toast to thank your squad for all their hard work and support.
Arrange your bridesmaids around you and ask your photographer to start snapping when you guys begin clinking glasses.
Quiet Moments
Even though wedding days are chaotic, there are tons of small, quiet moments that make for breathtaking photos.
These could include your bridesmaids holding your train, helping your flower girl get situated, or just checking their reflections in the mirror.
Creative & Action Shots
This is where you can add even more personality to your wedding album. You’ll give your bridesmaids the opportunity to show their personalities.
In the end, they’ll have an array of fun photos they can use on social media and keep in their personal albums.
Walking or Running Together
A wedding party takes a stroll in the garden. Photo credit: Joeyy Lee.
If you’re getting married outdoors, have your bridesmaids walk or run through a big space with beautiful natural scenery.
You can join hands and look back to the camera or have everyone photographed from behind. This will put their wedding hair on display!
Dancing and Celebrating
Your reception will be full of opportunities for iconic bridesmaids photos. Ask for candid action shots of you and your girls getting down on the dance floor.
If you already know specific songs that will get everyone in the grove, let your photographer know ahead of time.
Throwing Confetti or Flowers
Whether it’s during the festivities or the post-event send off, pictures of your bridesmaids throwing confetti or rushing to catch the bouquet are a must.
Holding Signs or Props
Bridesmaids hold up signs saying where they met the bride. Photo credit: NOW Weddings Magazine.
Have your bridesmaids hold fun props that match your wedding theme or personal interests. For example, fans of Star Wars can have the bridesmaids hold different colored lightsabers!
For a personal touch, you can have your girls hold up signs with fun quotes or saying how they met the bride!
Matching Accessories
This one takes a little bit of planning. But matching accessories, like sunglasses, flower crowns, or funny hats make for extremely fun and memorable moments that look good on film.
Ceremony Shots
Bridesmaids in pink dresses cheer on the bride and groom during the wedding ceremony. Photo credit: Asdrubal luna.
There will be plenty of opportunities during your ceremony to capture pictures of your bridesmaids. Your photographer can snap them as they walk down the aisle and as they watch your vows.
You may also get lucky and get reaction shots as your bridesmaids watch your first kiss with your new hubby!
Emotional Frames to Capture
The best wedding photographers capture not only the events of your wedding day but the emotions behind it.
Here are some ideas for bridesmaids photos that capture the love and affection you hold for each other.
Hugging the Bride
Joyful bridesmaids hug the bride. Photo credit: Frans Daniels.
Exchange a hug with your bridesmaids. This tender moment will make for a great morale boost AND photo.
Whispering Secrets or Sharing a Joke
You can stage this or ask your photographer to watch for quiet moments you share with your bridesmaids. These photographs will bring you right back to those memories.
Helping With the Dress or Veil
Bridesmaids surround the bride to help secure her veil. Photo credit: Morgan Rovang.
If you have a long train or veil with your wedding dress, arrange for photos to be taken of your bridesmaids lending a helping hand.
Maybe they will need to spread your train out before you walk down the aisle or adjust your veil before getting into the car!
Incorporating Personal Touches
Your wedding photos should reflect your love story. There are lots of ways you can add in elements that will only be found during your special day or that will mark a magical moment in time.
Using Personalized Props
Bridesmaids pose with a custom wedding program as they get ready for the wedding. Photo credit: Maya Lora Photo.
Props add personality and visual interest to your photos. Much like how bridesmaids jewelry completes their wedding day look, props can help a photo feel complete!
Have your bridesmaids hold letters that represent you and your spouse’s initials. You can also DIY a custom sign with a favorite quote or your wedding date on it.
If you’re not sure what props you want to use, consider adding a question for it on your bridesmaid questionnaire and select the majority answer!
Highlighting Special Traditions to the Bride
Wedding traditions are passed down through generations, so if any involve the bridesmaids, you’ll want to get a photo of it!
For example, a German wedding tradition has the bridesmaids steal the bride away to a local pub. This would make for some great photo ops!
Including Pets or Children
A very special dog sits atop the brides train. Photo credit: Oak & the Owl.
Kids and pets always add a cuteness to any photo. If the bride and groom have animals or children, have them pose with the bridesmaids.
How to Capture Perfect Poses for Your Bridesmaids
Photoshoots are incredibly exciting. But they do take some finesse to make sure the photos meet everyone’s expectations.
Here are some tips you can use to help your bridesmaids feel more confident, look their best, and make your album look out of this world!
Focus on Posture - Encourage your girls to practice good posture. It’s easy to slouch as the day wears on and you’re tired, but this could lead to unflattering photos they may not like.
Create Angles - The key to high-quality poses is angles! Have the bridesmaids create angles by bending their arms. In seated poses, have them create angles with their knees. You can also get this effect by having them lean away from each other so the negative space creates angles.
Mix Up the Poses - Remind bridesmaids to vary their poses, even within the same shot. They can tilt their heads, shift their bodies, or rearrange the order they are standing in to vary the shots.
Give Encouragement - Praise your bridesmaids and hype them up as much as you can. Sure, it’s your special day, but everyone appreciates kind words. Find moments to tell them how great they look and thank them for sticking by your side. This will make for genuinely beautiful smiles!
Concluding Your Shoot
Your wedding photos will be the most precious mementos of your big day. They will remind you of your lasting friendships and reflect how your vision came to life.
Since your bridesmaids are such an important part of your day, special poses will make them feel beautiful and enhance your album.
Take the time to communicate what poses you want with your photographer and your bridesmaids. Be clear with your vision. Everyone will rise to the occasion and make your wedding phots even more special.