Thinking of having a destination wedding?

Getting married abroad is an excellent choice for couples who want to have a destination wedding. It’s also a great option for those who are looking to save money on their big day, while still having the same luxury experience that they would get from an average hotel wedding. If you’ve been thinking about getting married in another country but aren’t sure where to start, here are some of the benefits and things you should consider when planning your destination wedding

There’s nothing more glamorous than choosing to jet off somewhere exotic to get married!  Whether that’s a tropical beach or a mountain top!  As a wedding photographer, nothing excites me more than a destination wedding enquiry landing in my inbox.  I have been fortunate enough to photograph weddings in Bali, Tuscany, and Switzerland to name a few and it’s such an adventure!

So let’s dive into some reasons why destination weddings are such a fantastic idea for modern couples!

The weather

Let’s be real, there are few things more unpredictable than English weather - I got married in July and it rained - you’re never quite guaranteed sunny weather in the summer so why not remove the risk of a rainy/windy/less than perfect day by choosing somewhere you know to have gorgeous weather!  

At this beautiful wedding I photographed at Villa Cetinale in Siena - the couple gave out sunhat and parasols as wedding favours to keep the Italian sunshine out of their eyes for the ceremony!  So gorgeous!

An extended wedding

I always hear my couples talk about how they wish they could re-live their wedding day, it’s one of the best days of your entire life so you’ll want it to last as long as possible and as any married couple knows - it flies by! 

By having a destination wedding, you get to stretch it out for as many days as you like!  Normally there will be a rehearsal dinner/gathering the night before (you could even have a beach bbq or wine tasting), followed by the wedding day itself and then perhaps a brunch the following day or a pool party if your venue allows!  Your wedding is the only time you’ll have all of the people you value most in one place - so why not make the most of it over a few days!  Destination weddings generally require you to be in the country for a few days prior to the wedding so it makes so much sense to spread the celebrations out and make the most of all of your loved ones being together! 

It’s Cost-Effective

Nearly every resort worth its salt has a package for weddings, often they include options like a planner to make up and hair - meaning fewer suppliers for you to source yourself and less stress!  Obviously, if you’re going off terrain and getting married next to a waterfall or at the top of a mountain then it’s going to cost you even less!  By getting married abroad you also don’t need to spend even more money on a honeymoon as you’re already there!  Destination weddings might also mean that you invite only your nearest and dearest, meaning that instead of spending a crazy amount of money, you can put your budget to uses that you might not have been able to do by getting married at home with hundreds of guests!

The beauty of a destination wedding is that you can do everything your way - you don’t have to decide whose home town or family church (if that’s your thing) to get married in, so it makes things simpler and drama-free when it comes to family influences!  You can choose somewhere meaningful to you as a couple, perhaps you had your first holiday together in Mykonos or your fiancee proposed to you in Italy.  It’s a beautiful way to honour your story.

It can also allow you more freedom over your wedding day as countries like Scotland allow you to get married anywhere you like - whereas in England the venue must be licensed and (weirdly) under a roof!

You may also find that you are able to source your suppliers cheaper - I always offer my destination couples a fee that is competitive with hiring someone local to their venue as I love to travel - another win for couples choosing to marry somewhere far-flung!

You love to travel

As someone who loves to explore the world and experience new cultures and places, couples that choose to get married abroad are already on my wavelength!  If you are an adventurous couple then choosing to host your wedding somewhere abroad is a fantastic way to showcase this aspect of your personalities and your love!  Your wedding should be a reflection of who you are as a couple right?  So bringing in your passion for travelling by hosting a destination wedding will ensure you have a wedding that shows your true colours and perhaps explore some family cultures.

Things to consider

There are definitely considerations to consider for destination weddings such as licenses/how long you have to be in the country beforehand etc.  This is something that your wedding planner will know all about but isn’t something to fret about - after all  - countries/resorts actively encourage couples to host their wedding with them so they will try to make it as simple as possible!

who is Jordan Fox?

Professional wedding photographer, lover of Paris, beautiful home decor, boujie candles and Macdonald’s fries!

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