The key to kicking off your wedding planning is to decide on a location. Maybe you’re looking at someplace local, maybe you want to host a destination wedding out of town or maybe you’ve got your mind set on a backyard wedding. Once you’ve got this piece nailed down, you’ll be on your way to making the other major decisions, and choosing the team, that will help the day come together exactly as you’re picturing it in your mind.
What is a “destination wedding” exactly? Destination weddings can mean so many things- A day on the beach in Hawaii, that old family barn in your home town, the lake where you two first hiked to together, the theater where you saw your first show… Oftentimes when people are talking about “destination weddings,” they’re referring to a location that will require some travel for themselves and/or their guests to get to. These kinds of weddings are an excellent way to whisk your people away to enjoy a really special event in a new and meaningful location without the distractions of their everyday lives. Each wedding venue is unique and deciding on an all-inclusive location or committing to finding vendors, accommodations and transportation yourself are all things to consider when deciding to book a destination wedding.
I’ve had the opportunity to photograph many destination weddings over the year which has given me a lot of practice and perspective about all the things that go into traveling for work and giving my client the best experience and results. In my opinion, choosing a photographer that you connect with and appreciate their approach and artistic style are the most important things to consider, not necessarily where they’ll be coming from to be a part of your day. It’s important that you feel a level of trust, ease and relaxation with your photographer and sometimes that means bringing your photographer with you!
There is a significant amount of pre-planning and coordination that goes into destination weddings to secure travel and accommodations, to ensure I have the proper gear and access to equipment I may need onsite, scheduling a pre-wedding day site visit with the couple and being sure the typical details like shot lists and timelines are taken care of well in advance. It’s always my goal to create the most stress-free experience for my couples, so this attention to detail prior to the wedding day makes a significant impact!
Your wedding photographer is one of the people you will spend the MOST time with on your wedding day. They’ll be there when you’re getting ready and practicing your vows, when you’re doing your first look, when you’re having those sweet moments with your parents before you walk down the aisle, when you’re smooching for the first time as a married couple, when you’re bustling your dress, tearing up over Dad’s speech and when your dancing your booty off a the end of the night. You want your photographer to feel like a friend who came along for the ride, cheering you on throughout it all.
Sound like what you’re looking for? I would love to chat!
