Wedding planning takes months of planning, countless details, vendor decisions and culminates in one epic weekend celebration. Starting with the rehearsal dinner and welcome party, it’s the perfect time to include your photographer to document the full experience.

Here’s what I’ve noticed over the years. You and your guests are often more relaxed… the pressure is off and the party is just beginning. The Rehearsal Dinner is a great time for additional speeches, toasts, group photos, and reunions with long distance friends. Having your wedding photographer included to seamlessly capture the full weekend of events allows you even more time to disconnect and live in the moment!

Below you’ll find my top 5 Rehearsal Dinner Benifits and an inside look at Cassidy and Johns epic welcome party at the Forum Hotel in Charlottesville, VA.

 

1. Tell the full Weekend Story!

Having your photographer photographing your full weekend events gives you and your guests even more reason to be fully present. To put away there phones, share stories in person, and feel comforted in knowing there is a professional documenting the day. It allows for even more detailed memories to show the behind the scenes of the planning and guests that have traveled so far to be part of the celebration.

2.Get comfortable with your Photographer!

Having your photographer at both events allows them to build a rapport with you and your guests, resulting in more natural and candid shots. This is one of my favorite benefits I’ve noticed. Without a doubt family, friends and guests are more likely to interact and feel comfortable around my camera when we’ve had some time together at the rehearsal dinner the night before.

3.Extra Portrait Time:

Even though my couples all do engagement sessions with me prior to their wedding day, I always squeeze in 15 minutes for dedicated couples portraits. To refresh them on posing, document their outfits, and get those giddy pre-wedding nerves out of the way! This isn’t just important for the couple, this is also a great way to knock out photos with extended family and other vip guests. Getting all of those shot lists checked off on your wedding typically feels RUSHED! I know you might only see these family members once a year or decade… so we want to make sure we can document those vip guests ahead of time and leave you room to actually partake in the celebration of your wedding day.

4. Proximity (Eliminate Travel Day Stress)

This is one of my biggest stressors on a wedding day… what happens if I have car trouble, or traffic on 64 shuts down when I’m more than an hour away from the venue. When I’m booked to photograph your rehearsal dinners that means I’m also staying at a hotel close the guests and venue. Within a few minutes drive (or uber in a crisis) so that I’m refreshed and ready to start documenting your jam packed wedding day!

5. Communication (Extra planning time for your vendor team!)

I LOVE getting to connect with the vendor team and couple ahead of their wedding day.. even though we’ve done planning and timeline calls, there is something so comforting about being able to talk in person, to share any last minute photo addition, or specific shots they are dreaming of. I always love listening to them daydream with excitement for the day so I can make sure I’m prioritizing those parts through the imagery! ** Equally as important.. I’m eavesdropping a bit on other conversations where there may be sticky family situations or concerns my couple has so I can make sure I can plan ahead of any potential hurdles the following day!

The most epic welcome party and Rehearsal dinner brought together by these amazing vendors!

Venue & Catering: The Forum

Planning: Amore Events

Florist: Steelcut Florist

Band: Adrian duke jazz

Rentals: BBJ

Rentals: Argent events

Dessert: Sadie Market Cafe Ice cream Cart