Some couples have a signature romantic gesture. Others have a joke that has survived three house moves and several questionable haircuts. Both deserve a place in wedding photographs. A funny portrait can be a surprisingly precise record of how two people enjoy each other.
The trick is to start with your humour. You do not need to be naturally theatrical, and your photographer does not need to become an entertainer. A small exchange you both recognise will usually have more staying power than an elaborate gag you would never choose outside a photoshoot.
Let the object be ordinary
In this HO Stories portrait, magnifying glasses turn a close-up into a playful experiment. The object is simple; the expressions make it work. The photograph has a clear visual joke without requiring a complicated scene.
Think about things you already interact with together: reading glasses, a favourite snack, a familiar game or a small souvenir. If an object immediately starts a conversation, it may earn a place in a few portraits. If it needs a long explanation before either of you smiles, leave it at home.
Make the joke a shared decision
The printed faces held above the couple’s heads make this portrait openly theatrical. It works as a different kind of picture from a quiet embrace. The pleasure is in the deliberate silliness, not in pretending the camera was invisible.
That distinction is helpful when planning. A posed joke is perfectly fine if you both enjoy it. Agree on what feels fun, what feels embarrassing and what you would prefer to keep private. Nobody needs to be surprised with an unwanted prank for the sake of an image.
Keep the small, ridiculous frame
A pair of crisps supplies the joke in the third photograph. There is very little visual machinery around it: two faces, a close crop and an expression that would mean something different without the snack. The image feels specific because the couple have committed to a tiny shared game.
You may discover a similar favourite while looking through your gallery. Do not dismiss it because it is less elegant than the portrait you imagined sending to relatives. Different photographs can have different audiences. The one that makes the two of you laugh may be especially valuable in an album you keep for yourselves.
Give humour room, then get back to the day
A short playful sequence is often plenty. You can try an idea, enjoy it and move on before it becomes work. Let your photographer know that you welcome those pictures, but avoid building a schedule full of compulsory funny moments. A spontaneous laugh is difficult to enjoy while checking whether it has met a brief.
Keep the formal photographs you actually want as well. Humour and elegance can sit next to each other; the contrast can make the gallery feel more complete. Our guide to choosing wedding album photographs is a useful reminder that a memorable selection includes more than one mood.
Explore the HO Stories carousel and save the ideas that resemble your sense of play. The goal is not to become the funniest couple on the internet. It is to recognise yourselves when you open the photographs years later.
