Proof You Can Have Fun Photos at a Church Wedding, Especially with Kids!
When you picture “church wedding photos,” especially for a Catholic ceremony, do images of strictly serious faces and formal poses come to mind? It’s a common worry for couples (and even photographers!) – the fear that a traditional church setting means stuffy photos lacking personality. And sometimes, let’s be honest, that can happen.
But I’m here to tell you it’s definitely not a hard-and-fast rule! A church wedding, like the wonderful one I photographed for Kristina and Sam, can absolutely be filled with laughter, candid joy, and even hilarious moments, just like any other venue. The secret? It often comes down to a few key ingredients aligning just right.
So, don’t just take my word for it. Let’s dive into Kristina and Sam’s wedding at the charming St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Miesville, MN. They wanted authentic, fun, candid moments captured above all else. Here’s a look at how we made that happen and the ‘conditions’ that helped create such fun photos.
Table of Contents
It Starts with the Couple: Trust, Humor, and Flexibility
The foundation for great candid photos always begins with the couple. When I first met Kristina and Sam in a coffee shop a few months before their wedding, one of the first things they mentioned was loving the candid images in my portfolio. They really wanted their day documented naturally, focusing on them, their guests, and all the little interactions.
When we talked about posed couple photos, I remember them seeming a bit uncomfortable. Sam, the groom, looked me straight in the eye with a perfectly serious face and deadpanned, “So that you know, this is my smiling face.” I immediately got his dry, maybe slightly British-style sense of humor (phew!) and knew we’d be okay. I reassured them that my approach involves unposed techniques and that the main goal during photo time is actually to have fun together. A few weeks later, their engagement session in Rochester confirmed it – we had a blast, even ending up taking photos in one of the most wonderfully random spots in town: the Old Rooster Antique Mall!
That flexible, go-with-the-flow attitude was key, especially when they had to adapt to last-minute changes the week of the wedding. Church activities meant they couldn’t access their reception room until around noon on the day.
Then, just two days before, they decided to skip a ‘first look’ and coverage of the early getting-ready part, reiterating they just wanted me to capture whatever happened, as it happened. That trust is golden for a documentary photographer!
The Right Environment: Light, Location, (and a Little Luck!)
A Bright Place to Get Ready
Let’s talk logistics for a second. To get those beautiful, natural getting-ready shots, photographers dream of big rooms flooded with natural light. Unfortunately, church getting-ready rooms can sometimes be… less than ideal. Think windowless basements or kids’ classrooms covered in colorful drawings that distract from the moment.
So, imagine my happy surprise when Kristina got ready in the charming old house right next to the church! Probably a hundred years old, full of character with wood everywhere, and – jackpot! – blessed with gorgeous natural light pouring through the windows. It was the perfect setup.
A Beautiful and Photogenic Church
Now, St. Joseph’s Church itself. How is this really lovely brick building tucked away in the countryside? Seriously, you wonder how a town of under 200 people supports such a gem!
The church is over 100 years old, with cream brick walls inside and a classic tall steeple, feeling both historic and timeless.
Big bonus: they’ve added a modern space onto the side, making it super convenient to host the reception right there!
Stained glass creates gorgeous, moody light – perfect for atmosphere – but it doesn’t give cameras a ton to work with
Stepping inside as a photographer, you notice two things right away: that lovely warmth from the creamy walls and wood pews, and the light. It’s soft and colorful, mostly filtering through lots of beautiful stained glass windows, including a big rose window over the back balcony. Stained glass creates gorgeous, moody light – perfect for atmosphere – but it doesn’t give cameras a ton to work with.
Getting stunning photos in these conditions really relies on making the most of that gentle light, often pushing camera gear right to its limits to capture the feeling beautifully without it looking dark or muddy. Then you see the altar area, and it’s a genuine ‘wow’ moment with its rich colors – deep reds, golds, that yellish ceiling. It’s visually incredible!
But again, capturing all that ornate detail often means skillfully working with the lower light levels common in such sacred spaces. Honestly, places like St. Joseph’s are fantastic because that soft, atmospheric light, even if challenging, helps create photos with real character and depth.
A Bright Reception Room
The modern extension used for the reception was spacious, with pretty high ceilings and windows all around. With white walls, it was quite luminous as long as the sun was out. While maybe more functional than overtly beautiful itself, it was a great blank canvas. The string lights Kristina and Sam hung added that essential touch, instantly turning a simple room into a warm reception space.
Essential Allies: A Welcoming Priest & A Lively Crowd
Two more ‘conditions’ can make a huge difference at a church wedding:
- A Photo-Friendly Priest: First things first, you need to actually be allowed to take photos! Thankfully, the priest at St. Joseph’s was welcoming and understood the value of photography. Believe it or not, I’ve been asked at some churches (especially certain Catholic ones in the US) to stay glued to the back door during the ceremony, or so far from the altar I practically needed the gear I use for wildlife photography! That doesn’t serve anyone, especially the couple who want their memories captured. So, a huge thank you to the priests who let photographers respectfully do their job!
- A Great Community (aka “Raw Material”): The final ingredient for lively candid photos? Enough “raw material” to work with! In other words, you need guests: friends and family who interact, laugh, and celebrate.
Kristina and Sam had both: lots of young families with adorable kids, and a crowd of fun friends. As you’ll see, kids are often the MVPs of candid wedding photography. They don’t stand still and pose politely; they live, doing all the things adults aren’t supposed to, which creates wonderfully funny and authentic situations to capture.
Capturing the Day: Candid Joy, Controlled Chaos, and Kids!
With all those elements in place, the day unfolded beautifully, providing endless opportunities for the fun, candid photos Kristina and Sam wanted.
A Touch of Reception Room Rush
I arrived an hour early to set up the photobooth and found the bride, groom, friends, and family buzzing around, fixing last-minute reception details. This ‘controlled chaos’ actually led to some hilarious, real moments – like a friend carefully moving a statue while Kristina watched nervously, or the bride sharing a stressed-but-laughing moment with her friend. Slowly, the room took shape, and you could see them start to relax.
Emotional Moments Getting Dressed
While Sam wasn’t keen on photos during his getting-ready time, Kristina kindly let me capture a few moments with her. I’m so glad she did! It resulted in beautiful, emotional shots with her mother and sister, and even a tearful first look with her dad.
Throughout this time, her expressions were fantastic, managing stress with smiles and lots of laughter. These are the moments I live for!
A Ceremony Full of Feeling
Finally, the ceremony began. Since Kristina and Sam hadn’t seen each other beforehand, the emotion when Kristina walked down the aisle was palpable. Throughout the service, her face was a roadmap of feelings – smiles, concentration, misty eyes, surprise. Capturing that range is powerful. Of course, I didn’t only focus on the couple. I always watch the guests too, especially…the kids!
The Stars of the Show: Kids Being Kids!
With plenty of families bringing young kids (around the 4-to-8-year-old range), the opportunities were endless! I absolutely love capturing kids getting visibly bored during long ceremonies, or the priceless interactions when their moms try to gently redirect them while the kids act like nobody’s watching.
Some kids were surprised and excited that I was taking their picture; another tender moment involved a little girl gently stroking her baby sister’s cheek. These moments are pure, authentic slices of life. They contrast beautifully with the sometimes overly austere attitude people think is required in church. Yes, faith and ceremony are serious subjects, but should we forget we’re all human? Should we stifle a child’s natural behavior and authenticity? As a photographer, I’m always extremely careful to be discreet and never disturb the solemnity of the ceremony. And yes, I absolutely capture the traditional, expected moments too! But these candid shots, especially of the kids, are often what make the memories of the day so unique and cherished.
And Parents being… exasperated!
So, why are these candid kid moments often the most hilarious pictures from the day? Here’s my theory: it’s not just the kids’ unpredictable behavior. If it were, playground photos would always be comedy gold, but they’re often just… kids playing. No, the real humor in wedding photos often comes from the parents’ reactions to the kids, especially during moments requiring quiet decorum! Seeing that fleeting look of ‘Oh goodness, please stop that now’ – we’ve all been there!
That shared parental experience, that visible exasperation mixed with love, caught in a place like a quiet church? That’s what makes it priceless and genuinely funny.
If you want to see more funny images of kids during the ceremonies, check my portfolio.
Bride & groom shots in the Church
When you have a gorgeous church, it’s always great to plan enough time to use it in your bride and groom photos.
Those are classical images, but they work all the time.
A Warm, Relaxed Reception
Kristina and Sam designed their reception to be all about people and quality time. No DJ, no grand entrance (dancing wasn’t really their thing). Decorations were stylishly minimalist with amazing flowers (simple but effective!). For food, they kept it easy and delicious with a taco food truck from Rochester. It is a fantastic, casual alternative to a formal sit-down meal. I loved the games they had out: cards, a giant Connect Four, even a ping pong table!
It encouraged mingling and fun. I had a great time wandering around, capturing guest interactions, like the bride sneaking into the kitchen for a canned coffee from the fridge, or the wonderfully silly faces the bride and groom made right before entering the reception room.
A Couple with a Masterclass in Dry Humor: The Cow
Guess what’s coming for the couple photos? A cow
I’ve seen many surprising things at weddings, but I’ve never had a bride casually tell me, “Guess what’s coming for the couple photos? A cow.”
To explain: Kristina and Sam, embracing their quirky humor, wanted to playfully recreate the iconic “American Gothic” painting. They even brought a pitchfork (which explains the hilarious photo of Kristina wielding it in hiking boots inside the reception area!).
To take the joke even further, the day before the wedding, Kristina actually knocked on local farmers’ doors asking if they could borrow a cow for a photo. I was SO excited! Unfortunately, the chosen cow had just given birth, so the farmer understandably asked us to come to them. Under the barn, with a very protective mother cow keeping a close eye on her calf, we couldn’t get quite close enough for the planned shot. The result wasn’t exactly “American Gothic,” but honestly? What an incredibly unique, improbable image, born from a hilarious, maybe even third-degree level of dry wit! It’s one I won’t forget.
One Last Sunset Image
As you can imagine, after the cow adventure, the official ‘couple photos’ time was a bit rushed compared to some weddings, but we still managed to get lovely images for their album. Later, back at the church, most guests had left. I’d already said my goodbyes when I suddenly noticed the clouds breaking just enough to offer a fleeting, dramatic sunset. The exhausted bride and groom kindly agreed to pop out for one last picture. With the help of the groom’s sister, we captured that final, stunning sunset shot. Totally worth it!
So, Can You Have Fun Photos at a Church Wedding? Absolutely!
Kristina and Sam’s wedding is fantastic proof. Not every church wedding might feel this lively, but the potential is always there.
To get the best results, it truly helps to have:
- A couple who, even if camera-shy, want authentic moments captured and trust their photographer.
- Enough guests to create energy and interaction (I recall a tiny church wedding with under 20 very reserved guests; lovely people, but challenging for candid shots!). Lots of kids definitely help, as they tend to act freely. But don’t underestimate longtime friends either – deep friendships often bring out the inner kid in adults!
- A reasonably accommodating venue and clergy.
- And yes, good light always makes things easier! A beautiful church with decent natural light (even the soft, moody kind) allows a photographer to capture moments more discreetly than relying heavily on flash.
As the legendary photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt said:
“It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.”
“Alfred Eisenstaedt”
When you have that connection with a couple like Kristina and Sam, combined with the right conditions, magical, fun, and truly real photos can happen anywhere – even in a traditional church setting.
So, if you’re planning your own wedding (church or otherwise!) and believe your photos should be full of life, laughter, and genuine personality, I’d love to chat!
