Destination Wedding Weekends – A Trend Worth Celebrating

Why Full Wedding Weekends are A Trend Worth Celebrating: Your Photographer’s Perspective on Rehearsal Dinners, Welcome Parties, and the East Coast’s Finest Wedding Celebrations

When couples plan their wedding, most of the attention is placed on the wedding day itself. In the world of elevated celebrations, however, one trend has risen above the rest in recent years: The destination wedding weekend.

As a destination wedding photographer based in Washington, DC, I’ve witnessed how these weekends unfold with heart and elegance. Personally, I am a huge fan of them, whether they’re destination or local. From intimate rehearsal dinners to stylish welcome parties around the pool and post-wedding brunches, these experiences aren’t just add-ons. They’re essential chapters in your story, filled with moments brimming with emotion, beauty, and intention.

Let’s explore what makes a full destination wedding weekend worth photographing—and why your rehearsal dinner deserves the same attention to detail as your wedding day.

A Slow Unfolding: The Magic of a Multi-Day Wedding Experience

A full wedding weekend allows your story to unfold at a slower, more luxurious pace. You’re not just racing through hair and makeup to make it to your ceremony. Instead, you’re arriving, settling in, and savoring every step alongside your favorite people.

From the first clink of champagne at the welcome party to the final goodbyes at Sunday brunch, a multi-day wedding feels immersive, effortless, and intentional. For couples choosing a destination wedding—whether it’s at a private inn on Maine’s rugged coastline or at a Spanish moss covered resort in the Lowcountry,—a full weekend gives guests a chance to truly experience the location you’ve chosen with love for your nuptials.

And for you? It means more candids, more real connections, and a gallery that breathes with life beyond the wedding day.

The Rehearsal Dinner: Intimate, Stylish, and So Often Overlooked

With planning stress left behind and anticipation for the big day in full swing, the rehearsal dinner sets the tone: Gracious hospitality, soulful storytelling, and the first toast of many to come. Rehearsal dinners are one of the most emotionally charged parts of your weekend, yet they are often elusive from wedding galleries. Here, grandparents share stories, your closest friends gather under candlelight, and style meets sentiment in a softer, more personal way.

Unlike the grandeur of your wedding day, the rehearsal dinner is an opportunity to capture quieter moments of joy—laughs over wine, hands being held across the table, proud glances from your parents. And the fashion? It’s a chance to wear something different, bold, or deeply personal. From silk slip dresses and tailored suits to heirloom jewelry passed down for the occasion, rehearsal dinners often show a side of the couple that’s more editorial and relaxed.

When photographed with the same level of care and artistry as the wedding itself, these moments add dimension to your wedding story. They are not behind-the-scenes—they are the story.

Welcome Parties, Cocktail Hours, and the Power of People-Centered Photography

Beyond the ceremony and reception, welcome parties and cocktail hours are an essential part of the weekend’s rhythm. They offer organic moments of guests reuniting after years, carefully crafted signature drinks served by the pool, and interactive touches that turn the evening into an experience worth remembering. Welcome parties and cocktail hours are the first reveal of your thoughtfully planned weekend celebration.

Whether you’re choosing to greet your guests at a Beatles-inspired art gallery located in the middle of a lush vineyard, or you’re gathering around a beach bonfire on the Eastern Shore serving crab cake canapés – let your personalities shine with each detail.

These are the moments that transport you back to the feeling of it all. From my perspective, they provide the opportunity for lifestyle-inspired images that feel relaxed yet editorial. Think: Artful candids, joyful groupings, portraits with motion and texture—captured with the golden tones of a setting sun.

Why Full-Weekend Coverage Is an Investment in Emotion and Memory

As a destination wedding photographer, I photograph each aspect of your celebration with the utmost care and attention to detail. The goal is to capture emotion-filled images that evoke how how your event felt. And that’s where full-weekend coverage becomes invaluable.

On your wedding day, there’s a timeline to follow and a natural sense of momentum. But during the days leading up to and following your main event, my couples and their guests tend to relax and let their guard down. The pace softens. And that’s where the most heartfelt interactions bloom.

It’s in the quiet prayer with your father before dinner. The moment your college roommates surprise you with a toast. The spontaneous dip in the pool at midnight, or the deep belly laugh from your partner when they try the chicken and waffles at your welcome party.

How to Style and Plan a Cohesive Destination Wedding Weekend (That Photographs Beautifully)

Luxury doesn’t mean overdone. It means intentional. Here’s how to create a wedding weekend that’s rich with beauty, meaning, and aesthetic cohesion:

1. Create a visual thread. Use a shared color palette, texture, or motif across each event. Whether it’s linen menus, hand-lettered signage, or floral touches, these details photograph best when they’re thoughtfully linked.
2. Prioritize lighting. Opt for natural light when possible. Host dinners during golden hour or early evening, and use candles, lanterns, or string lights to add warmth and romance after dark.
3. Build in breathing room. Don’t over-schedule. Leave time for real interactions, relaxed portraits, and spontaneous moments.
4. Include wardrobe changes. A weekend allows for a variety of looks—playful, classic, fashion-forward. This creates editorial variety in your gallery and gives you the chance to express different facets of your style.
5. Choose meaningful locations. Whether it’s a family property, a place you vacation often, or a dream venue you’ve admired for years, your setting matters. It becomes a character in your story.

An Ode to the East Coast: Charm, Coastline, and Timeless Backdrops

From the cobblestone streets of Charleston to the windswept beaches of Nantucket, the East Coast offers an unparalleled canvas for weekend-long destination celebrations. The architecture, history, and natural beauty lend a sense of place to your story—whether you’re dancing under a sailcloth tent or saying your “I Do’s” on top of a mountain.

Each region brings its own charm:

• The Lowcountry offers sweeping oaks, coastal breezes, and storied Southern hospitality.
• New England brings rocky coastlines, crisp linen details, and elevated preppy style.
• Washington, D.C. provides marble monuments, lush gardens, and sophisticated city style.
• Virginia and Maryland’s countryside mix classic Americana with pastoral elegance.

And when photographed on film, each frame becomes magical.

In Closing: Don’t Just Document a Day—Tell the Full Story

Your destination wedding weekend isn’t just an event. It’s a chapter in your life that deserves to be held, revisited, and remembered. If you’re planning a multi-day celebration, give yourself the gift of remembering it fully. These moments, both big and small, deserve to be captured with the same artistry, heart, and intentionality as your vows.

If you’re looking for a photographer who offers full destination wedding weekend coverage, look no further! Let’s connect and chat about where your dreams and vision take you for your celebration. For more inspiration, check out these blog posts for a beautiful destination engagement and one of my favorite Eastern Shore wedding venues perfect for hosting your guests for a weekend! 

• Experience the Charm of Montage Palmetto Bluff
• A Picture-Perfect Day at The Inn at Perry Cabin Wedding Venue

The Team

Wedding Venue: Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley | Planning: Cole Drake Events | Photography: Svenja Bauer Photography | Drone: Nathan Bauer | Catering: Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley | Florist: Flowers by Edgar | DJ: JAM Entertainment, Jerrod Arreguini | Strings: Eloquence Strings, Peggy Brady | Cake: Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley | Stationary: Watercolor Design Co, Clover & Lamb | Hair & Makeup: Artists By Sherrie | Gown: Elegance By Roya, Martina Liana | Bridal Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Tux: Hive & Colony | Cufflinks & Watch: Cartier | Rings: Tiffany & Co | Linens: BBJ @bbjtavola

Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Cliff Lede Vineyards | Photography: Svenja Bauer Photography | Drone: Nathan Bauer | Stationary: Clover & Lamb