One of the important decisions you’ll have to make when hiring a wedding photographer is what parts of the day you will want to have photography coverage for. Oftentimes, this may end up being 8 hours or more. Usually, I’ve found that many couples often only think about coverage on the day of their celebration, but you can also choose to have your rehearsal dinner, welcome party, or both photographed.
I’ve always found the extra coverage is invaluable because it captures the story of the entire wedding weekend as a whole. For instance, the heartfelt rehearsal dinner speeches, the roaring laughter, the special toasts, the intimate conversations, the quiet glances, the affectionate touches, etc.
Your wedding will have so many different chapters, each telling a different part of you and your partner’s story, and I believe they all deserve to be captured.
Keep reading to discover if adding extra wedding coverage to your day is the right decision for you.
Why Extra Coverage for Your Wedding is Worth It: Rehearsal Dinner and Welcome Party Photography
Here are some additional reasons to consider adding extra coverage to your celebration:
Preserve the full story of your wedding weekend
Adding in rehearsal dinner or welcome party coverage means that you’ll preserve the full story of your weekend beyond the ceremony. You also won’t have to worry about asking someone else to take pictures on their phone for you, and you can be fully present with your partner, knowing that no special moment is going undocumented.
Also, the night before your wedding, at your rehearsal dinner, everything is a bit calmer and slower. On the day of your celebration, everything goes by in the blink of an eye. Having photography at your rehearsal dinner will perfectly capture the energy of the night before and the whirlwind of beautiful emotions leading up to your wedding day.
Feel more comfortable in front of the camera
Another reason I suggest extra coverage is to help you and your partner feel more comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day. Plus, you’ll get to spend more time with your photographer. The more relaxed you feel with your photographer and in front of the camera, the more unguarded you will be, and your images will be more authentic and emotional..
Additionally, your guests will build trust and feel more comfortable with your photographer, making them feel less like a stranger.
More photos of your guests
Adding extra coverage on multi-day celebrations allows out-of-town guests to be documented meaningfully, and it’s a way to remember your loved ones in attendance. You’ll also be able to have photos with all of your rehearsal dinner guests! Sometimes, on the day of a wedding, dependent on your guest count, it’s simply not possible to photograph a portrait of every single guest in attendance.
Also, many of your guests who speak at your rehearsal dinner won’t typically give speeches on the day of your wedding. Documenting these speeches might be missed with day-of coverage alone.
More variety to your wedding photos
Adding extra coverage means your rehearsal dinner outfits won’t go undocumented, nor will the rehearsal dinner details. You’ll also have more photos of you and your partner showing your casual side, rather than just formal wedding photos.
Document your family reunion
It’s likely been a while since your entire family has been together all in the same place at the same time, and the extra coverage means that this special moment is documented.
How to Get the Best Rehearsal Picture Photos
Here are my best tips on how to get stunning rehearsal photos:
Have a mix of candid and posed photos
Not every photo at your rehearsal dinner has to be posed – especially if you want to capture the moment authentically. Aim for a combination of both! Some photo ideas you could add include guest interactions, family moments, couple portraits, and reaction photos.
Don’t forget detail photos
You will spend so much time choosing the special items, florals, lighting, elements, etc, that make up your rehearsal dinner and wedding day. These elements are all part of your story, and they are absolutely worth documenting.
Be flexible and let things unfold naturally
I promise the best pictures will come when you take a step back and just let things happen – the laughter, the secret smiles, the teary-eyed hug. Remember, not everything has to follow a strict schedule or be posed.
How to Make a Decision on Whether You Should Include Extra Coverage or Not
If you’re still on the fence about whether or not to include extra coverage, here are some questions I encourage you to ask yourself that will hopefully guide you to an answer:
- Do we have someone we trust who can take photos of our rehearsal dinner or welcome party?
- When you picture looking back on your wedding photos years from now, what do you see? Is anything missing from the picture?
- What are the must-have moments that we want documented?
- Does extra coverage fit within our wedding vision and budget?
Ready to Book Your Wedding Photographer?
I hope you found all this information on choosing to include extra coverage for your wedding weekend helpful. Remember, there’s no right or wrong decision; it all depends on whether extended coverage aligns with your wedding priorities… or not.
And…if you are still looking for the perfect New York or destination wedding photographer for your celebration, I’d love to connect. Your story is one-of-a-kind, and my mission is to preserve it with care, authenticity, and intention. You can click the link here to check out my wedding photography services or get in touch here!
Read these next:
How to Pick a Wedding Photographer: Finding the Right Fit for You and Your Day
Wedding Vendor Checklist: Which Wedding Vendors Should You Book for Your Celebration?
First Look vs No First Look: Which Is Right for Your Wedding Day?
