LDS Temple Wedding Photography Tips: What to Expect on Your Wedding Day
By Josie Films | Utah Wedding Photographer & Videographer
Your temple wedding day is one of the most sacred, beautiful days of your life, and you want photos that actually capture that. But LDS temple weddings are unlike any other type of wedding, and if your photographer hasn't shot one before, it shows.
As a Utah wedding photographer who has photographed temple weddings across American Fork, Provo, Salt Lake City, Orem, and throughout Utah County, I want to walk you through everything you need to know so you feel prepared, relaxed, and ready to be fully present on your wedding day.
Why Temple Weddings Are Unique for Photography
If you're getting married in the temple, you probably know that there is no photography inside the temple. You are hiring a photographer to capture moments and photos that will happen after the temple sealing. What happens inside is sacred and private, shared only between you, your spouse, and those closest to you. And when you walk out those temple doors together for the first time as a married couple? That exit shot is pure magic. The cheering family and friends makes the wedding photos off on a great start.
The good news is there is so much beauty to be captured after the ceremony that your wedding gallery will be full and stunning.
The Temple Exit: Your First Moment as a Married Couple
This is the shot. This is the moment.
When those doors open and you walk out together for the first time as husband and wife, your photographer should be ready and positioned. The raw joy and the smiles. It all happens in seconds and you cannot recreate it.
How to Make Your Temple Exit Magical
Slow down. I tell every couple this. You're going to want to rush out and hug everyone immediately, and that moment is coming. But take a breath, look at each other, and let the moment land. Those few seconds make for the most breathtaking images.
Coordinate your exit details in advance. Couples walk out of the temple in many different ways. The most common is to walk out, cheer, and do a dip kiss right by the doors. Then the couple makes their way down the row cheering and usually finishes with a kiss at the end of the group of people. Whatever you choose, make sure your family knows the plan so no one is standing in front of the camera or rushing in before your photographer gets the shot. After the temple exit walk down, the couple normally gives a few hugs before jumping into all the group photos.
Have a designated family/detail wrangler. Choose one person (a bridesmaid, a sibling, or a family friend) whose job is to manage the crowd, the bridal party flowers, etc at the temple.
After the temple exit, I always recommend blocking 1 hour and 30 minutes for portraits. This is genuinely the sweet spot. Enough time to capture everything beautifully without feeling rushed, and without your guests waiting so long.
Here's how that time breaks down:
Group photos (20 minutes) Everyone who attended the sealing, gathered together on the temple grounds. Move quickly and have your shot list ready. Large group first, then smaller groups. We will do the large group photo with everyone there and a kissing/cheering one.
Family formals (20 minutes) Immediate family on both sides. If you have divorced parents, blended families, or specific combinations you want captured, feel free to tell your photographer before the wedding day. This one step saves enormous amounts of time. Of course if there's anything you missed, don't hesitate to ask your photographer in the moment!
Bridal party portraits (20 minutes) Your bridesmaids, his groomsmen, and the full group together. Keep the energy light and fun. These are some of the most joyful images of the day.
Couples portraits (30 minutes) Just the two of you. Unhurried. This is where the magic really happens. A great Utah temple wedding photographer will know the best spots on the grounds, how to use the light, and how to make you feel at ease even if you're not a natural in front of a camera.
The number one mistake brides make: Cutting this block short to get to the reception/lunceon faster. Plan for enough time so you can enjoy your wedding day!
Whatever temple you're sealing in, visit the grounds together before your wedding day. Walk the space, notice the light at the time of day your sealing will end, and talk to your photographer about where you want to be.
What to Tell Your Photographer Before a Temple Wedding
Not every photographer has experience with LDS temple weddings, and it makes a real difference. Before you book, ask:
Have you photographed LDS temple weddings before?
How do you handle the exit shot and where do you position yourself?
How do you manage large family formals efficiently?
Can I see galleries from past temple weddings you've shot?
Most LDS temple weddings in Utah have a natural gap between the ceremony and reception, often a few hours. This is actually a gift for photography. It means you can take your time with portraits and arrive at your reception relaxed and present instead of frazzled.
If you're doing bridals beforehand (which I highly recommend), you'll have even more stunning images by the time your wedding day arrives.
A Word About Wedding Films at the Temple
If you're adding videography to your coverage, everything above applies. A skilled wedding videographer will work seamlessly alongside your photographer, capturing the emotion of the exit, the laughter during family formals, and the quiet in-between moments that photos alone can't always tell.
The temple exit on film is one of the most beautiful things I have the privilege of capturing. The sound, the movement, the way you look at each other. It becomes something you can relive every anniversary for the rest of your lives.
Ready to Book Your Utah Temple Wedding Photographer?
If you're planning an LDS temple wedding in Utah and want a photographer and videographer who truly understands how these days work, I would love to be part of yours. I'm based in American Fork and serve couples throughout Utah County, Provo, Salt Lake City, Orem, Lehi, Spanish Fork, and surrounding areas.
Contact me here to check your date. I'd love to hear about your wedding.
Josie Films is a Utah wedding photographer and videographer based in American Fork, UT, specializing in LDS temple weddings and cinematic wedding films across Utah County and the greater Salt Lake area.
