Weekend-long weddings have become more popular over the last few years, and I’ll be honest: I’m all in.
They slow everything down.
I know this personally, because my own wedding was a full weekend celebration. We were married in Cape Cod, and spent the entire weekend with our people. We hosted a welcome party, rehearsal dinner and a brunch the morning after our wedding.
Everyone was together the whole time. And that completely changed how the weekend felt.
Pictured Above: Our Weekend Photos By Emily Battles Photography
The Wedding Has Room to Breathe
One of the biggest gifts of a weekend-long wedding is space.
Space to connect.
Space to settle in.
Space for moments to unfold naturally instead of being squeezed into an afternoon.
By the time our wedding day arrived, the pressure was already gone. We had hugged everyone. We’d laughed. We’d shared meals. We didn’t feel like hosts trying to greet 100 people in six hours. We felt present.
As a photographer, I see the difference immediately when a wedding has that kind of breathing room. Couples are calm. Guests are relaxed. The energy is unforced.
And the photos reflect that.
Some of my favorite images from weekend weddings aren’t the “big moments”, they’re the subtle ones. A conversation at the welcome party. Coffee on the porch the morning after. Guests already feeling like old friends by the time the ceremony begins.
Guests Are Obsessed
When everyone stays together for the weekend, something really special happens: your guest list stops feeling like a list.
It becomes a shared experience.
People who might never have met end up spending hours together. Conversations deepen. The wedding feels less like an event and more like a gathering.
At our Cape Cod wedding, by the time brunch rolled around the next morning, it felt natural to linger. No one was rushing out. No one felt like the celebration was “over.” It felt complete, not abrupt.
That’s something guests remember long after the wedding weekend ends.
Destination & Coastal Weddings
Weekend-long celebrations work anywhere, but they pair perfectly with destination settings. Especially along the coast.
The ocean air, walkable towns, shared houses and long meals make all the difference.
Whether it’s Jekyll Island, St. Simons or Hilton Head, coastal weddings shine when you let them unfold over time.
From One Couple (and Photographer) to Another
Choosing a weekend-long wedding was one of the best decisions we made, not just for the photos, but for the memories.
You don’t have to do everything, but even adding a welcome party or a casual brunch can completely change how your wedding feels.
If you’re planning a wedding in North Atlanta or along Georgia’s coast and are drawn to celebrations that feel intentional, relaxed and deeply connected, I’d love to photograph it.
