PAULINA PERRUCCI
photography
Are you wondering if it is worth having a photographer at your wedding Welcome Event or Rehearsal Dinner? Trust me when I say, it is worth it! Especially if you are hosting a destination wedding, you will want to have an event before (or even a brunch after your wedding).You have more opportunities to explore places, capture more memorable photos, and have more quality time with your wedding guests.
I recently got married in Italy and it made sense to host a Welcome Event the night before my wedding. It’s great for everyone to meet and get to know one another more, especially for family, but because they are all flying far and wide to celebrate you! It’s nice to be respectful and treat them to another night of celebration. One that sets the tone for the weekend and gets the party started!
Respectful for your guests flying far and wide to celebrate you!
If you are hosting a destination wedding, it’s custom to host a little welcome event for your guests. Most people do a cocktail party since people will be slowly rolling in based on when they arrive to your wedding destination. Depending on where you are, you can have bites and cocktails that compliment the local delicacy. Also, you can consider decorating with local themes. As can be seen bellow, the pine cone has an important in Sicily and you see them everywhere. It’s a cute detail to include on your tables.
Consider looking for a rooftop bar or an exotic private beach depending on where you host your destination wedding. This couple who had their wedding in Palermo, Sicily on a rooftop bar. They decided to host their welcome event at a separate location so their guests can see more of Sicily. Plus, to make their wedding venue a surprise.
Check out why they kept their wedding venue a surprise. They go married in this stunning Church in Termini, Sicily and then had their wedding at Castello Lanza Branciforte in Trabia, Sicily.
You Can Do Another Sunset Photo Session!
Secondly, if you hosted a welcome event, you can do an extra couples shoot with your photographer. Plus, you get more options and backdrops if you decided to host your welcome event at a different venue. It’s a perk getting a variety of looks and locations. Check out where this couple did their welcome event couples shoot at in Palermo, Sicily.
Chance to Mingle With More Wedding Guests!
Depending on what your wedding day schedule is, a wedding welcome event might be the only chance you get to have quality time with certain friends and family. The wedding day might have a tight schedule and you won’t be able to say hello. This gives you an opportunity to engaged with many more wedding guests.
Wedding Planner: @esterportoweddingplanner
Wedding Venue: @castellolanzabranciforte
Rehearsal Dinner
If you have scheduled a rehearsal for your bridal party and family at the wedding venue, you might as well invite a few more guests to the dinner. Sure, some guests won’t have that “wow” surprise on your wedding day after already seeing the wedding venue, but thats ok! They will see how you designed the event space on your big day! At least you will get to spend a little more quality time with one group of people, giving you time for the wedding day to mingle with others.
Keep You Wedding Venue A Surprise!
Rehearsal dinners are great because you can create multiple designs for different spaces at the same wedding venue. Take for example this bride who got married at Holman Ranch, she use two different spaces for each event. This gave her guests two different experiences that wedding weekend. As can be seen in the photo galleries below.
See examples from their wedding day at Holman Ranch, Carmel Valley:
More Couples Photos at Different Places at Wedding Venue!
Plus, we were able to do an extra sunset session at Holman Ranch. This time the bride was in a beautiful Zimmermann dress instead of her Reem Acra wedding gown. It was a great way for me, as a destination wedding photographer, to test my light and get family with the location a bit more before the wedding day. Truly, I hate to waste time on the big day so it’s really valuable for me to do a location scout of the wedding venue before the scheduled date.
More Speeches From Important People!
Aside from mingling with more guests, you can do more speeches. Generally, the day of the wedding there are the typical Father of the Bride, Maid of Honor, and Best Man Speeches. Your guests didn’t come to hear speeches, they came to party with you! So on your wedding day only do the traditional speeches, and use your Welcome Event to have more people give a speech! Since the grooms family technically throws the welcome event, this would be a wonderful time to hear something from the parents of the groom.
All in all, there are so many benefits to doing either a wedding welcome event of rehearsal dinner. So when you start planning your wedding, be sure to include that into your wedding budget. You know it’s worth it when it’s something you and your wedding guests will never forget!
Holman Ranch Wedding Day Vendors:
Planning: @paletteeventsco
Venue: @holmanranch
Videographer: @sharkpigweddings
Floral Design: @busybeesfloral
Catering: @paradisecatering
Entertainment: @goldenbellmusic
Bar: @a_twist_of_lime
Paper & Painting: @pigmentandparchment
Beauty: @thehairandmakeupco
Wedding Dress: @reemacrawedding
Bridal Salon: @loho_bride
Tux: @theblacktux
Rentals: @chiceventrentals
Linens: @bbjlatavola
Holman Ranch Rehearsal Dinner Vendors:
Venue: @holmanranch
Catering: @paradisecatering
Bar: @a_twist_of_lime
Florals: Fleurs Du Soleil
Linens: @bbjlatavola
Rehearsal dress: @Zimmermann
Rehearsal suit: @suitsupply
Want to capture beautiful memories just like these images for your own wedding? Fill out my questionnaire to learn more about my destination wedding photography packages and that way we can create together!
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