Having photographed weddings for 7 years now, my favorite evolution in the wedding industry has become the concept of including photography in the entire wedding weekend. A lot of my couples are investing in extending their coverage to include the rehearsal dinner the night before, and I am here 👏 for 👏 it! If you’re new here, I’m Sarah Van Hecke, a wedding photographer serving couples in Alabama, the southeast, and world wide. Find out more about my services here! Today I’m highlighting a recent rehearsal dinner, and telling you the pros of why you should have your rehearsal dinner photographed!

Vibes are high

The night before your wedding is THE most exciting time! Everyone you love will be gathering together, and the anticipation is tangible. I have had past clients that have downplayed their rehearsal dinner, only to look back and realize it was one of their favorite parts of the weekend. The party is amping up, everyone is dressed to the nines, it’s time to party!

Family Reunions

This is usually the moment where everyone is coming together for the first time. Think about the last time your extended family was all in the same place at the same time. It’s probably been a while! Having your rehearsal dinner photographed allows for those first interactions to be captured and preserved, documenting those emotional reunions.

VIPS

Your rehearsal dinner includes all of your most important people, the people you grew up with, your family, your closest friends. Having your rehearsal dinner photographed gives you more opportunities for photos with these people who mean so much. It’s also a chance for your family and wedding party to get comfortable with me and my camera, so that when I show up again in the morning, it already feels like we are old friends. The more comfy people are, the more genuine they will be in front of the camera!

Your Outfits 🔥

Rehearsal dinner outfits are always 10/10. You spend a lot of time on your night before look, which is why I always make sure to have 5-10 minutes for portraits of just the two of you! It is always so fun to see the fashion guests bring to the night before too.

I absolutely love photographing rehearsal dinners to round out the experience of the wedding weekend. Below I am showcasing Lily Ann & Connor’s rehearsal dinner in Auburn at The Depot! If you are a 2025 or 2026 couple, reach out so we can get in touch about your wedding! Click here to inquire about your date!