Top tips for planning your wedding abroad

A couple exchange their vows in the dolomites on the mountain transported via helicopter photographed by emma jane photography

Top tips for planning your wedding abroad

International Destination Wedding Photographer of the Year UKWHA

Having been a dEStination Weding photographer for over 10 years. I know the best way to capture your day.

Destination Wedding Photographer: Having been able to be with couples for their most special day over the years of being a wedding photographer has been so magical- and another level of magic is being their destination wedding photographer. Getting to travel, see the culture of the location they have chosen, work with amazing golden hour and always the challenges of the heat!

For this blog I wanted to talk over some of the main posit from a destination wedding photographers point of view that are important to consider.

See how I can capture your wedding abroad
maldives wedding photographer capturing destination weddinga cross the world. Couple walk hand in hand along the beach.
dolomites wedding photographer. Couple are taken by helicopter for their destination wedding on the mountain
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bride and groom listens to speeches during their wedding in the south of france

Ceremony Time

Often when getting married about there is a much great chance of a sunny day compared to the UK! Like… MUCH! There are still risks of the odd shower or potential thunder storm so it is always best to still look at a back up plan if you are looking at a French outdoor ceremony or a Tuscan outdoor wedding breakfast to have options at your chosen venues for sections that might be under cover.

But one of the main points with destination weddings is with the heat. So it is worth deciding the best ceremony time. Often in the UK we would have ceremony times between 12-2pm as the most commonly chosen ‘sweet spot’ in terms of timings. However if your getting married in peak season abroad- then the temperatures are really rising! So often planners and venues advise on a later ceremony to allow you both as a couple and your guests not to melt and enjoy the ceremony.

HOWEVER it is a fine line… try not to have your ceremony too close to sunset as it will not leave you long for any group and couple photographs. As it is lovely to be able to have a ceremony where it is a little cooler rather than sweating down the isle! But with enough time to not rush through your photographs and have enough time to potentially pop to the best spot for golden hour and sunset photographs. So think about allowing at least 1.5 hours minimum from your ceremony end time to when sunset would be. As a wedding photographer I research heavily when your best times of day for photos are for the location, venue position and time of year. So I can work with you, your wedding planner and venue to help with the best ceremony time, dinner time etc for your photos and for the day itself.

Golden Hour

You might hear photographers talk a lot about golden hour and the ‘perfect light’ for couple photos. This is basically up to an hour before sunset depending what the weather has been like for the day and if you have any tree coverage blocking the sunset etc. So its often best to factor in enough time so that is is not rushed and you get the best photographs you can in a relaxed manner.


The golden hour light can be the most romantic light, bright warm and passionate! Shooting into the sun and getting the right angles can be tricky- so make sure you put enough trust in me to get the right shots for you.

groom dips bride for a kiss in the sahara desert
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Sunset

Sunset is where you can push the boundaries with a destination wedding. This can be more moody where the sun changes from bright, to warm, then the rich oranges of the sunset and then more of the dusk pinks and purple which are truly lovely. Depending on the backdrop it should give you some really atmospheric shots and it can be really exciting to photograph.

pinks dinner room with pastel florals in lake como villa

Wedding Breakfast

and your first dance

The wedding breakfast and first dance during destination weddings can be really lovely. Often venues are set up for some amazing outdoor set ups. With string fairy lighting, potentially for fireworks and amazing cake cuttings with the most exquisite light! No dark cramped spaces thank you! Make sure you fully enjoy these aspects- as warmer climates means enjoying the outdoor spaces for longer, as well as potentially 4 or 5 mini courses of delicious local food

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Check my availability

A wedding abroad can mean choosing your nearest and dearest, with no added stresses and being whisked off to an amazing setting to say your vows! And as I have blogged before- taking your wedding photographer abroad for your destination wedding doesn’t have to be expensive. I work with all my couples to make the trip the most cost effective as possible. So what are you waiting for? Pop me an email to find out more 🙂 See my other blog post Why you should take a UK photographer to your destination wedding

Destination Wedding Day FAQ?

Here are some common questions I get asked about the logistics of planning a wedding abroad and the schedule of the day

Often destination weddings are later by default. Due to the heat, so often they are a shorter day. But I often have couples disheartened if a venue is recommending a 6pm ceremony and you only have the venue to midnight. BUT this is not something you have to do.

Think about the location options at the venue where you can hold your ceremony. Is there any options out of direct sunlight? Can you order parasols for the ceremony itself? There are options to make guests more comfortable. Having welcome drinks in the shade so guests are hydrated and only seated at the last second can mean you have your ceremony location in the location you had your heart set on. so you could do a 3 or 4pm ceremony. Every option is open to you.

Alfresco dining really can be one of the highlights of a destination wedding. It really brings such a different atmosphere seeing the locations go from daylight, to sunset and then into the stillness of a nighttime- with the chirping of the crickets reminding you where you are. It really is bliss.

The atmosphere is also part of the photos. I will not lie, it can be tricky lighting wise. As adding flash is an option to create a fun and fashionable vibe. But it is nothing something I will use constantly. Think about your natural light in the area. Opt for festoon lighting strung across the tables or chandeliers to help illuminate the space. As well as candles and storm jars on the talbe to uplight faces and create that warm glow. making photographs timeless and romantic.

Following on from the above question, if you have stunning chandeliers and festoon lighting then ask your venue if you can hold this outdoors. This will carry on that romantic vibe for your photos and still set the scene of where you are. Some venues will have a limit on what noise can be outside after a certain time. so you might need to move the rest of the party into the indoor space they offer.

That is ok! I do extensive research on locations. The best locations to take photographs at your destination venue as well as how the light will move around the venue. I will know to do certain areas earlier in the day and certain locations later in the day for the best sunset. Having a Lake Como wedding or Amalfi coast? Often the sun moves around the mountain so I can tell you where this will be at different parts of the day and what to expect as the sun sets.

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  • San Galgano Italian Wedding Couple outside of the abbey

 

CONTACT

Ready to talk about your day?

Drop me an email to check your date and lets plan an amazing wedding together.

ej@emma-janephotography.co.uk

Destination Wedding Photographer Son Marriog. Couple stand together reading their vows

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