Why You Should Invite Your Photographer to Your Rehearsal Dinner

~ For Brides ~

#WeddingTipWednesday | This year I started offering 1 hour of coverage at Rehearsal Dinners to each of my brides booking in 2022, and so far, ALL of them want it. It started as an experiment for my own business research. And now it’s an official optional add on to ALL of my Wedding packages. Here are a few reasons why you SHOULD invite your wedding photographer to your Rehearsal/Rehearsal Dinner:

#1 – Getting Aquatinted – Unless a photographer attends a vendor meeting or has photographed at the venue before, getting acquainted with the space, lighting, property, and other present day-of vendors is a plus. But, even if we are familiar with the space, every wedding is different and are set up and flow differently. It also helps get the photographer acquainted with your family and bridal party. It will help on the wedding to already know names, faces and roles prior to the wedding. If you are like me, names and faces take a moment to click!

#2 – In Person Last Minute Touch-base – I am usually in contact with my brides the day before their wedding anyway to get a final Vendor List, final Timeline, and ask/answer any questions/concerns we have for each other. I am always a fan of face to face communication over phone/text/email.

#3 – Champagne – As a gift to the couple I bring a bottle of champagne, but it’s not actually for drinking….at least not all of it. This is where you get these ICONIC champagne POP photos! And of course, you can drink what is left!

#4 – Additional Images – I steal the bride & groom for about 10-15 min, we do the champagne pop, and then a few more sweetheart photos, it’s your last photos before you are married. The bliss and the energy is magnetic!

#4 – Additional Images (Continued) – But, this is also a great time to squeeze in family photos! This is great especially if your wedding day is already on a tight schedule with little to no wiggle room. If God Forbid something happens and we don’t have time or the weather is too bad for Family Formals OR someone suddenly is unable to make the wedding – at least you have a photo with them from the light before.

A great example of this was Jess & Brett’s wedding! I took a bunch of Family photos at their rehearsal dinner and thank goodness I did because even though it was 60 degrees at their rehearsal, it was 30 and SNOWING the next day at their wedding and there was some family members whom I photographed at the rehearsal but did not at the wedding simply because it was too cold and wet. But, they still got formal family photos from the rehearsal dinner.

Another good examples of this is Colleen & Chris’ rehearsal dinner! Chris had a lot of out of town guests, that aren’t all together often. A wedding is always a great family reunion!! So, instead of wrangling everyone together the day of the wedding they opted for the family photo to be done at the rehearsal dinner so during the wedding we could focus on Colleen & Chris on their wedding day!!

#5 – Documenting the Event – Some rehearsal dinners are low key and mostly just a get together before the big party the next day; and some rehearsal dinners are very lavish or just as thought through and detailed as the wedding day with specialized menus, floral arrangements, fancy desserts, open bars, cigar lounges and sometimes even a DJ! . Either way, capturing the fun memories the night before you get married is always a blast. I love capturing the excitement the entire evening. Here’s a few examples of both a low key Rehearsal Dinner and a more “event” feeling rehearsal dinner.

Credit to all the vendors involved:
Jess & Brett:
Catering – Olive Garden
Champagne – Cook’s
Photography – Kristin Lorraine Photography, LLC

Colleen & Chris:
Portrait Venue: Oakdale RVA
Dinner Venue: Hannover Vegetable Farm
Catering: Homemade by Suzanne
Champagne – Cook’s
Photography – Kristin Lorraine Photography, LLC