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My name is Mike Bender and I'm the co-founder of an Instagram account "Awkward family photos" dedicated to celebrating our most cringe-worthy photos. At AFP, we laugh with our community, not at them, and let's face it - we all have cringe photos!

In honor of Valentine's Day, I decided to put together some of our greatest couple's photos submissions and the stories behind them to celebrate the inherent awkwardness of amor.

More info: Instagram | awkwardfamilyphotos.com

#1

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“They encountered a black metal band during their engagement shoot.”

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I went home one weekend to see my parents and found my mother hanging up an awkward photo from my childhood. At first, I thought it was so strange that she was memorializing something so cringeworthy, but then I thought about it more and it was kind of genius.

Given that we all have photos like this, I thought what if (along with childhood friend, Doug Chernack) we could create a website where everyone could share their strange family pics and that's how AFP was born. We had no idea it would become as popular as it is today.

#2

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

"My favorite picture of my parents. Them on their wedding day, 1991."

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Nathaniel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He really does not look sure about what he is letting himself in for.

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#3

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

"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."

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glowworm2
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, so this wasn't based off one of those Victorian photos where someone poses with a dead person?

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We receive well over a hundred photos per day and since we began in 2009, have received over 1.5 million photos from around the world.

Personally, I'm a fan of anything from the '70s and '80s... I just love the clothes and the style at the time and it was the golden era of the photo studio, where families would go and embrace the most uncomfortable poses, like piling on top of other family members. Looking back, it was a gloriously awkward time. 

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#4

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“Dad was sure the church photo would only be taken from the waist up.”

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#5

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“We had the worst wedding photographer in the world. I think this says it all.”

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From the time our website and Instagram began, people have really embraced Awkward Family Photos. We have always been about celebrating the awkwardness rather than making fun of people. After all, we all have them and the way we see it - sharing your awkward photo is kind of a badge of honor, something to be proud of! 

School photos and baby photos might be the most popular followed by family portraits and wedding photos.

#6

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

"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."

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HarriMissesScotland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would love to see what the famous photoshop guy would do to this pic! I am sure it would be epic!

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#7

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“When the preacher said ‘Kiss the bride,’ my four-year-old decided to put a finger in my butt.”

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K Witmer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This made me laugh. Kids always make a spectacle at a wedding I don't understand people that don't allow them to attend. At mine my ring bearer was my little 6 yr old cousin he got so nervous he his his head, bent down between the two church doors and wailed. Then his little 3 yr old brother stepped in to save the day and waddled down the aisle. It was hilarious.

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Ms.GB
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me it was a lot more expensive to have kids, I had to cut my list to the bare minimum as it was and my wedding was at night...but for the record I love kids especially when they aren't mine and I can send them home at the end of the day and have a cocktail.

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HarriMissesScotland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the flower girls at a friend's wedding had gone to the loo and the bottom of her dress was caught in the top of her tights. Thankfully I noticed before anyone else and got her sorted.

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is only the second picture, but I know it's going to be my fave on the thread!

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Travis Fox
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then she did it later on the honeymoon. It's been an interesting day.

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We have a new game with all of our greatest photos where players get the chance to caption the pics with famous movie lines. It's really fun for the whole family and a great way to spread the awkwardness! You can purchase the game here.

#8

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“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!”

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#9

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“Here’s my Mom and Dad in September 1970. Credit to the photographer for the special effects pre-photoshop.”

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#10

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“We were having a great time at my wedding.”

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#11

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“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."

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#12

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

"My parents leaving their wedding reception for their honeymoon road trip in a VW van. 1971."

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Tom Bolton
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Proof that what's best is to find someone whose weird, cult-esque vibe matches your own.

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#13

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“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.”

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#14

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

"My sister is the one who has wisely chosen not to participate in this smooch-fest.”

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#15

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“Despite the doom & gloom depicted in the picture, four kids & 28 years later, we’re still together.”

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Julia Atkinson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're both relieved that the bride's headdress, despite being made of toilet paper, survived the rigours of the day

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#16

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“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.”

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glowworm2
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think dad may have gotten a bit too into his new present.

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#17

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

"My parents on their wedding day, Vancouver 1986."

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deathrose
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You ever look at old photo and realize that your parents are probably cooler then you lol

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#18

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“After we had just finished 2 hours of wedding photos.”

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#19

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“My parents in high school… I’m not sure what is going on here.”

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#20

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

"My parents in the late 80s. They loved floral!"

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#21

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“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?"

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#22

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“The only thing I know about this photo is that my parents were at a business event.”

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#23

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“We were doing a newlywed photo shoot. We wanted to take romantic photos but something caught his eye while he was trying to pose."

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#24

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“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.”

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#26

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“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.”

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#27

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“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.”

Photographer: Jack Carey, Edited by Robin Simpson

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#28

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“This is my parents getting hitched in Oatman, Arizona on the gallows in ’88. Yes, legally.”

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glowworm2
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe they just took the terms "Swingers" and "Well hung" a bit too literally.

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#29

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

"Dad takes Mom to meet the in-laws, 1978 NYC."

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#30

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“My aunt and uncle's family portrait from the early ’90s.”

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#31

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“My parents going for a ride right after they got married.”

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#32

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“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.”

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Julia Atkinson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The photographer had warned them that living cats tended to "squirm around a bit"

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#33

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“The photographer directed us to close our eyes and look relaxed. My fiance nailed it… actually, I think he fell asleep.”

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#34

People Submit Their Most Awkward Couple's Pics To My Instagram Account, And Here Are 25 Of The Funniest Ones

“Our wedding was held over Thanksgiving at my grandparents' church and they wanted to keep the festive decor in place for our ceremony.”

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Julia Atkinson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The bride drew the line at wearing a camo wedding dress but allowed pumpkin spice punch to be served at the reception

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