Hello, and WELCOME BACK to another Tuesday Tip blog post!  I’m soooo not ready for summer to end, and my heart is longing to be back in the Outer Banks where my family was vacationing just a couple of weeks ago.  We just LOVE it there, and as a child, I always dreamt of getting married with my toes in the sand and the ocean breeze in my hair…standing on the shores of the OBX.  And now, as an adult AND an international wedding photographer, I have found that I truly LOVE destination weddings, both personally and professionally.

I’ve photographed destination weddings in Long Island, New York, Nags Head, North Carolina, Manasota Key, Florida, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, and Natchitoches, Louisiana, among others.  Some of these destinations are a few hours away and others required a trip across the ocean.  The one thing they all had in common is that they were AMAZING!  That being said, there are things to consider when deciding whether or not a destination wedding is right for you.  So, I’ve put together a list of 5 Reasons a Destination May Be Right For You!  

1. You prefer a small, intimate gathering over a large number of wedding guests.  Do you have a handful of very close, special friends and family whom you want to share your special day?  And do you want to have the time to speak in-depth to each of them?  If so, a destination wedding is a PERFECT option for you!  Often times during a traditional, local wedding where there are a LOT of guests, couples struggle to engage with everyone present.  And if they do, it sometimes means missing out on eating dinner or enjoying the dancing portion of the evening.  It’s just HARD sometimes to really talk to all of your guests. But a destination wedding means that your guests will probably be on site with you for more than one day (or several hours).  It means multiple dinners together. It means being able to look each of them in the eye and tell them why you are glad they are there. It means being able to truly enjoy the moments together and the company of those people who mean the most to you.  If you are ALL about relationships and quality time, considering a destination wedding is a great idea!
2. You are comfortable making wedding decisions from a distance.  If you have a vision and trust others to put it into action, then consider a destination wedding!  Because you won’t be able to run into the local florist’s shop or actually taste a cake at the nearby bakery, you’ll need to be able to trust those you’ve hired to put your plan into action.  For some couples, this is hard.  But the benefit is that you can enjoy your engagement and know that your wedding day planning is well taken care of and left to the professionals.
3. You value the wedding EXPERIENCE.  In my opinion, this is, for sure, one of the best reasons to consider a destination wedding.  By having a destination wedding, you are certain to provide your loved ones with an experience they won’t forget.  At EVERY. SINGLE. destination wedding I’ve photographed, I’ve experienced things unique to that location…to that couple…to their love story. For example, I’ll never forget the crawfish pies I ate in the courtyard of small-town Louisiana…or the groom’s armadillo cake.  And what can be better than a Turks and Caicos wedding where guests change into their swim gear and head for the reception on a catamaran cruise to Iquana Island, complete with snorkling a reef, visiting with the local lizards, and watching a nurse shark swim close to the shore.  There is truly NOTHING ordinary or uneventful about destination weddings!  If you want your wedding to be remembered and talked about for years to come, a destination wedding is for you.
4. Your destination wedding venue is a large part of your love story.  Did you meet while you were on a college trip to Cancun?  Or during a ski trip to Aspen?  Or are you marrying your childhood friend and your families spent summers together in the Poconos?  If you and your fiancé have a love that has grown out of spending time together somewhere or you share a love for a certain small town, large city, or remote island, consider getting married there.  This is YOUR story, so being able to tell that story in ALL aspects of your wedding day is something special.
5. You can save money on the decor.  There’s NO need to invest thousands of dollars on decor when the location provides a beautiful backdrop.  A destination wedding allows you to invest in other areas of your wedding while the ocean, skyline, and maybe a palm tree or two provide your stunning landscape.

So, if any or ALL of this applies to you, a destination wedding may be just your speed!  One note, regarding photography, specifically at resorts…

Most resorts have their own wedding photography included in their wedding packages and say that they don’t allow guest photographers to be hired.  However, this is not always completely true.  When I photographed my sweet couple’s wedding in Turks and Caicos last May, they were able to re-write the contract with Beaches to allow me to come and photograph their wedding.  So, if this is one hesitation, which I can understand, ask the resort to make an exception and see if they will help you come up with a plan for photography that you are happy with.  Most places will be reasonable and accommodating.  And speaking specifically to the staff at Beaches, that holds true. They were SO nice and kind and helpful.  NEVER did I feel as though I wasn’t wanted or was an outsider.  Their hospitality all the way around was outstanding!

Ok, friends!  That’s it for today!  Thanks for stopping by and feel free to SUBSCRIBE to get the goods directly to your inbox.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

M xoxo