If you’re planning a full wedding weekend, a welcome party is often the perfect way to kick things off and give your guests more time to connect, catch up, and start making memories together. And if you’re putting time, thought, or some special intention into this part of the weekend, having your photographer there to capture it can absolutely be worth it.

Wondering if photography coverage for your welcome party makes sense for your plans? Here are five reasons you might want to consider it. And as you scroll, take a peek at this super fun welcome party at The Gutter—the retro bowling alley inside the Lafayette Hotel!

1. Out of Town Guests

If you have a lot of guests traveling in, or if there are a few VIPs you don’t get to see often (like your great-grandmother or your old college friend group), the welcome party is the perfect opportunity to capture some meaningful moments with them. It’s a more relaxed environment than the wedding day and a great time to snag photos with people you love!

2. Special Events

Planning to include a few toasts during dinner or other personal moments from your guests? If so, I highly recommend adding photography coverage to your welcome party! These kinds of memorable moments from your most loved people are the ones you’ll want to remember for years to come. Toasts are often full of unexpected stories, inside jokes, and the kind of laughter that makes your cheeks hurt—and having photos of those memories is something you won’t regret. And on a side note, if you’re not planning to do formal toasts during the wedding itself, the welcome party is the perfect time to include them and make sure they’re documented.

3. The Location Is Meaningful

Whether it’s your parents’ backyard, the restaurant you grew up going to, or just a spot that feels like YOU, a meaningful location deserves to be documented. Having photos of that space filled with your favorite people laughing, connecting, and celebrating can be such a powerful way to remember this part of your story.

4. You Know The Vibe Is Going To Be 10/10

If you’ve spent time curating a VIBE—whether that means a dress code, an immersive theme, or special surprises for your guests—you’re absolutely going to want those moments documented. When the energy is high and the details are thoughtful, having photos to look back on makes it all feel that much more special.

5. You’ve Invested in the Decor

If you’ve put time, thought, and money into the signage, florals, themed cocktails, tablescapes—anything to create a thoughtful atmosphere for your guests—then having photo coverage is what will help it live on. The night will fly by, but photos will let you remember all those intentional details long after the party’s over.

Now, if your welcome party is a super casual dinner with no big plans, no decor, and no major moments—that’s totally fine too. In those cases, cell phone photos might be all you need. But if you’re adding any extra magic or meaning to the evening, it’s worth considering adding it to your overall photography coverage.

Want to see what the rest of this Lafayette Hotel wedding weekend looked like? Check out the full blog post here for all the fun from their wedding day—and keep scrolling below for more photos from this amazing welcome party!