S/o SIL's wedding timeline...

[holly116]

Thanks for all your help! Deleting pertinent info...

[Ashley&Scott]

DO NOT put someone on the spot at the wedding reception to take the pics. No matter how casual the wedding is this is a horrible idea.

Have you asked SIL what the plans are between the ceremony & the reception? Are you, DH or the kids in the wedding party?

Who is typically in the family photos? Just your immediate family or are your MIL & FIL in them too? Do you still have your Sunday appointment booked? Is there a fee to cancel?

[Ashley&Scott]

Do you know what SIL has planned for Sunday? Personally I would push to keep the original appointment on Sunday. Even if there technically aren't plans between the ceremony & reception there are still other things that need to happen during that time - wedding pictures, lunch, prep for reception, etc.

If your SIL is normally very type A is there a chance that there is something planned but it's a surprise? It seems surprises at weddings are all the rage these days.

[soozy87]

Can you see if it works out with your MIL's plan for the wedding photos and if not do your small family photos on another day after you get back from vacation?

[Deleted]

You've already booked the photog for Sunday so I'd keep that plan. Tell the family when and where. Don't get involved in the mess that is SIL's wedding photog problem.

[autumnfire]

Your MIL really should not be asking someone while at the wedding to do the photos. I would not be appreciative to attend a wedding as a guest to then be asked to take photos at a moments notice. I'd feel extremely slighted and honestly mislead. Normally when I attend as a guest I do not bring my assortment of lenses or other gear. I just bring one lens and sometimes I don't even bring my off camera flash. What she's doing is taking advantage of the talents people have. If someone did this to me I don't know what I'd do, to be put on the spot knowing they have no one else would pull at my heart strings. Then there'd be the anger building knowing this was likely their plan all along and could have just asked me. If it was a situation where the photographer backed out the day of I'll make it work, but if it was planned all along I'd consider actually leaving the event. (Dramatic but I'd feel very disrespected)

In terms of your situation book a photographer, if the photographer you have booked isn't just for you and your kiddos. For 2 reasons, everything stated above. Also you want this time with your family to have photos together. You would not want to feel rushed and know that your getting everything you'd like to have with fall photos. You want the focus to be on your photos during this time and know that your photos will be a priority (among their clients of course) to get done. Instead of in the mix with this wedding. More over what happens if this women politely declines? I'd rather have my bases covered and as you said you'll already be dress so bonus! If need be I'd have a scaled back family photo session and have it just be you, your Significant other and children.

[Deleted]

I would just keep the original plan unless SIL is wanting to go on a honeymoon.

[VillainV]

Are the Sunday photos just for your immediate family (you, H, kiddos), or do they include all of your in-laws too (including SIL?). I would just keep the Sunday appointment if it's for your immediate family only...and otherwise, just figure whoever can make it will make it. At this point it's probably too late to cancel that session without losing your deposit anyway.

If you get some family photos on wedding day, then consider it a bonus.

[hermione]

I'd keep the Sunday appointment and let MIL and SIL know. The other options sound terribly tacky.

[vanillacourage]

I would eliminate family photos from that weekend altogether and assume the main family photo isn't happening this year. Take a pic of your family in Hawaii and use it on your cards this year (SIL will probably want to use a wedding pic for hers anyway, and maybe even gift her parents with wedding pics instead of a larger-family pic).

[jennistarr1]

my response is the exact same as vanillacourage...essentially, do your own family photos on vacation or on your own and combine those with whatever you end up getting from wedding photos.,..but don't have the expectation that formal family photos will happen wedding weekend.