Chapel Athens Welcome Party | Athens, GA

Weddings

September 14, 2026

Chapel Athens Welcome Party | Athens, GA

Frances and William’s welcome party at The Chapel Athens was a gorgeous celebration bursting with amazing details. BOLD Catering & Design absolutely set a new standard for rehearsal dinner decor and vibes with this one. Every choice made seemed to enhance the story and set the mood for the weekend we were about to have.

I had the pleasure of meeting France and William for the first time at the welcome party. There’s always a part of you that will wonder how that will go, stepping in right at the eleventh hour. Thankfully, with them it was effortless. I instantly saw why so many gathered to celebrate and toast their future together.

One thing I always love about Chapel Athens is the combination of old charm and historic architecture seamlessly blended with modern finishes and an inspired design. Mix that with how the venue transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, while being perfectly located in downtown Athens, and you’ve got an absolutely stellar place for any portion of your wedding weekend. And don’t get me started on how good the food Cater Athens provides is. A truly elite vendor/venue choice that I’m always happy to see when a new bride approaches me.

Check back next week to see a sneak peak of my favorites from their wedding at the Taylor-Grady House!

a wedding night before welcome party at chapel athens

Why You Should Add-On Coverage of The Night Before

One of my favorite add-ons is rehearsal dinner 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!