Bishop Station Rehearsal Dinner | Atlanta, GA

McKinley and Jake‘s rehearsal dinner at Bishop Station set the scene for their wedding the following day at Callanwolde! I really love this couple and their joy about everything was infectious. It’s so easy to celebrate people this kind and excited!

When it comes to a theme, McKinley loves lemon. So they leaned in hard and I think it’s just absolutely adorable. I loved the wedges everywhere and how the themed cocktails played along with it.

One of my favorite parts of this job is getting to experience new venues, and Bishop Station was such a fun first for me. Sometimes it honestly feels rare that I get to photograph somewhere I haven’t been before (just ask my blogger about how many SEO keywords he has for Piedmont Park). What immediately stood out to me is how incredibly versatile the space is. With its open layout, exposed brick, and industrial character. Any couple could truly make it their own. Whether you’re dreaming of a modern, minimalist celebration or a romantic evening filled with lush florals and candlelight, I’m pretty sure this venue can transform to fit just about any vision.

My favorite surprise, though, was the courtyard and garden. Tucked away in the middle of Atlanta, it feels like a hidden oasis. It creates the perfect contrast to the industrial interior and offers some truly beautiful, romantic backdrops for portraits.

My clients often ask me about a time line for rehearsal dinner/welcome party coverage. Personally, I prefer to arrive half an hour prior to guest arrival to take detail photos. Then, as guests begin arriving, I like to pull the bride and groom outside for portraits. This allows for one last inhale-exhale before the plunge and for the bride and groom to get their first big entrance of the weekend. Then I mingle during the cocktail hour for candids, family photos, friend group reunions, and everything in-between. Then, after dinner, when the speeches and tears start flowing, I’m getting it all.

Check back next week for their wedding photos!

a rehearsal dinner at bishop station in atlanta, georgia

Why You Should Add-On Coverage of The Night Before

One of my favorite add-ons is rehearsal dinner and welcome party coverage—and honestly, I always get excited when couples choose it.

By the time your wedding day arrives, I don’t want to be walking into a room full of strangers trying to figure out who means the most to you. Spending time with you and your favorite people the night before lets me naturally learn your family dynamics, meet your closest friends, and recognize the faces you’ll want photographed over and over throughout your wedding day.

It also gives everyone a chance to get comfortable with me before the cameras are out all day. By the wedding morning, I’m no longer “the photographer”—I’m a familiar face, which helps everyone relax and leads to more genuine, natural photos.

Another reason I love this coverage is that the rehearsal dinner has such a different feel than the wedding itself. The heartfelt toasts, happy tears, hugs from out-of-town family, childhood friends reconnecting, grandparents laughing together—these are moments that often don’t happen on the wedding day because the schedule moves so quickly. They’re an irreplaceable part of your wedding weekend story.

Your wedding isn’t just one day—it’s a celebration that begins the moment your favorite people come together. Capturing your welcome party or rehearsal dinner allows me to tell the complete story of your weekend, not just the biggest day of it.

I’d love to hear from you and get you on my calendar!