One of my friends is a professional photographer and he is very famous for his professional photography in weddings. Now he takes pictures in wedding reception halls and some of these halls do have fireplaces. Now the question he raised is that what is the best ways to compose a picture of bride and groom or may be only bride or only groom or a group picture with a fireplace.  A professional photographer can make different angles to take the picture.
For example bride and groom can be next to the fireplace but the fireplace should be parallel to the camera. Second option could be that bride and/or groom should be square to the camera with fireplace on an angle, or third option could be that keep the fireplace in the background with the fireplace on one side and couple on the other side. But then question is that if we keep the fireplace in the background should it be square or on an angle. For a group photo the best option would be that if you ask them to block the fireplace. But some people do want that fireplace should come in group photo. How can we keep everyone from blocking the fireplace?  I would wait for your comments about it.