I’ve been seeing more wedding welcome parties recently and I am HERE.FOR.IT. What is a wedding welcome party? The welcome party is a fun pre-wedding celebration to kick off your wedding weekend. Many couples have been adapting the welcome party as a great way to allow family and guests to meet and get to know each other in a casual setting before the big day, get reacquainted with new and old friends and literally, welcome your guests for the wedding celebration to follow. Your friends and family have all made the trip to celebrate you - why not make a whole weekend out of it if your time and budget allows?
I personally love the welcome party because it gives you a chance to catch up and talk to your guests, especially the ones you haven’t seen in a while. Your actual wedding day is usually a jam packed agenda and all happens so fast, so it’s often hard to get a catch-up conversation in without time pressure. The welcome dinner is a great chance to do just that. The welcome dinner can also be whatever you make it - you can make it as formal or casual as you’d like and it can also be a great opportunity to allow your guests to experience some of your favorite local spots or activities, especially if many are from out of town. I’ve seen anything from a cocktail reception at your favorite bar, to pool parties, to a dessert gathering, to a backyard barbecue. It is also another chance to allow for more of your loved ones to make toasts who won’t be able to on the wedding day.
How is the Welcome Party different from the Rehearsal Dinner?
The Welcome Dinner typically is open to all of your wedding guests whereas the Rehearsal Dinner is more traditionally focused on the wedding party, immediate family or a small, intimate group that is involved with the actual wedding. Some couples use the Welcome Party to replace the traditional rehearsal dinner, while some make it an add-on to or make it a completely separate event. For example, if you know you want to do a rehearsal dinner with only your wedding party but want to find a way to welcome your guests as well, you can have the welcome party be a cocktail/drinks event afterwards with all of your guests.
Should I hire a photographer for the Welcome Party (or Rehearsal Dinner)?
I know I’m a little biased but…yes! Having your photographer at the welcome party will allow your photographer to get to know your friends and family and their vibe and will allow them to get used to being in front of your camera (since you will be with them all day on wedding day). It will also allow more of your guests to be captured in your photos - especially the more introverted guests who may not be crushing the wedding dance floor or making toasts on your wedding day. Lastly, it's a great way to capture so many candids - so much emotion comes with seeing your guests for the first time, especially ones you haven’t seen in so long so that means there will be so many heartfelt hugs, big laughs, or a couple happy tears. Having your photographer there will make sure you don’t miss any of these moments and will allow you to hold on to these memories forever.
Check out this Sonoma Wedding Welcome Party
I recently photographed Amir and Rachel’s Sonoma Wedding Welcome party at Sonoma Community Center to kick off their weekend Sonoma Wedding and it was the best time. Here are some photos of the celebration!
