Mike Bender has an Instagram account named "Awkward Family Photos" that is solely dedicated to our most cringe-worthy family photos and they did not disappoint. On AFP there is a community of people who are laughing with the people in these photos, not at the people in these photos.
Creating a safe space where people can share their hilarious family photos that just didn't make the cut is what Mike Bender created AFP for. This Instagram account has tons of photos that were sent in by families who just didn't have the best picture.
We've all been there where we've taken a couple's picture or a family photo and you look back at it just to see that it came out nothing as you anticipated. Whether it's because your eyes are closed, nobody is looking in the right direction, or for some reason, everything is so dark that you can't even see who's in the picture, we've all been there.
Mike Bender has put together 35 of these cringe-worthy couple's photos in honor of Valentine's Day. Here are 35 of the worst couple's photos and the stories behind them that don't need to be viewed on Valentine's Day to have a good laugh about it.
1. This is perfect.
"They encountered a black metal band during their engagement shoot.”awkwardfamilyphotos
2. What a great wedding photo.
"My favorite picture of my parents. Them on their wedding day, 1991."awkwardfamilyphotos
3. This is hilarious.
"Found this version at my grandma’s. If anyone in the family had broken up with a significant other, she had a Sharpie ready to joyfully remove the offending partner."awkwardfamilyphotos
4. Wardrobe fail.
“Dad was sure the church photo would only be taken from the waist up.”awkwardfamilyphotos
5. Yep, this proves it.
“We had the worst wedding photographer in the world. I think this says it all.”awkwardfamilyphotos
6. This is just all around bad.
"I was going through the pictures when I saw I totally blocked my husband out with my big hair. Then a good friend of mine pointed out the bush in the background looks like a demon."awkwardfamilyphotos
7. Four year olds are funny.
“When the preacher said ‘Kiss the bride,’ my four-year-old decided to put a finger in my butt.”awkwardfamilyphotos
8. Absolutely hilarious.
“This is a photo of my Ma and Pop out on a date in the ’80s. My mom must have followed the instructions on my father’s shirt because 9 months later I was born!”awkwardfamilyphotos
9. Photoshop at its finest.
“Here’s my Mom and Dad in September 1970. Credit to the photographer for the special effects pre-photoshop.”awkwardfamilyphotos
10. It's the matching outfits for me.
"My parents leaving their wedding reception for their honeymoon road trip in a VW van. 1971."awkwardfamilyphotos
11. They look like they're having a terrible time.
“I photographed my sister-in-law’s wedding (my husband’s sister). I knew the window overlooked a part of the hotel’s roof, but I didn’t notice the workers until after I snapped a few pictures."awkwardfamilyphotos
13. Oh dogs are just so glorious.
“My husband and I wanted to take a Christmas family photo with our dog Rylee, but he kept wandering off. When we got home our photographer called us and said, ‘I found where Rylee was.”awkwardfamilyphotos
14. I don't blame her though.
"My sister is the one who has wisely chosen not to participate in this smooch-fest.”awkwardfamilyphotos
15. Why do they look so unhappy?
“Despite the doom & gloom depicted in the picture, four kids & 28 years later, we’re still together.”awkwardfamilyphotos
16. Featuring a chainsaw.
“The chainsaw was the neighbor’s Christmas present. It's funny because my mom is smiling even though my dad looks kind of like a potential serial killer.”awkwardfamilyphotos
“My parents' wedding photo taken in the early 60s with my mother wearing pan-stick makeup. My mom just looks SO happy, doesn’t she?"awkwardfamilyphotos
22. This one is a little weird.
“We were doing a newlywed photo shoot. We wanted to take romantic photos but something caught his eye while he was trying to pose."awkwardfamilyphotos
23. I don't want to be in the business they were in.
“The only thing I know about this photo is that my parents were at a business event.”awkwardfamilyphotos
24. Ehhh, I don't know about that.
“I’ve always told my husband that he’s been smitten with me since our first date. It’s easy to understand why when we look back at our engagement pictures.”awkwardfamilyphotos
“My husband and I got married before everything in our area was shut down for COVID-19. Loved this photo of us with my new father-in-law in the background…on a dig.”awkwardfamilyphotos
27. This is scary.
“This is my parents getting hitched in Oatman, Arizona on the gallows in ’88. Yes, legally.”awkwardfamilyphotos
28. Now this is interesting.
“Yes, this is my engagement picture. We thought it would be cute meaning ’til death do us part, but everyone thought it meant our love was already dead.”awkwardfamilyphotos
“My aunt and uncle's family portrait from the early ’90s.”awkwardfamilyphotos
31. What a great way to celebrate.
“My parents going for a ride right after they got married.”awkwardfamilyphotos
32. "Bones" okay then.
“We just got married, and had no kids… just this cat skeleton, “Bones”. We decided to take him with us to our first family portrait.”awkwardfamilyphotos
33. Nailed it!
“The photographer directed us to close our eyes and look relaxed. My fiance nailed it… actually, I think he fell asleep.”awkwardfamilyphotos
34. But why so many leaves?
“Our wedding was held over Thanksgiving at my grandparents' church and they wanted to keep the festive decor in place for our ceremony.”awkwardfamilyphotos
35. This one is for the books.
“My grandmother trying to steal my dad from his new bride!”awkwardfamilyphotos
These photos are absolutely hilarious. The stories behind them are honestly more satisfying than the photos themselves.
Between funny four-year-olds, bad timing, and photobombs from people you'd never expect, there is something sure to make you laugh in this list of 35 family photo fails. This is a great way to celebrate Valentine's Day.