I am a destination wedding photographer. I feel very blessed to have photographed weddings in Ibiza, Spain, France, Cape Town, Ireland and Scotland, and this year I am the wedding photographer or videographer for destination weddings in Belgium, Ibiza, Santorini, Tuscany Italy, and France.

Nothing can be more appealing than having a destination wedding surrounded by your closest friends and family, but there are many things to consider if your dream day is to go according to plan.

As experts in destination weddings across the world, we thought that you would find it invaluable to hear our top tips on what you should know when planning that all-important special day abroad.

Ibiza Wedding Photographer

Choose your location wisely

It sounds like an obvious thing to say, but thinking about what kind of wedding you both want in advance can save a lot of problems further down the line. Is the venue suitable for all of your guests, and what is the weather likely to be doing at that time of year? Is there a contingency in case it does rain, and how organised does the venue seem to be around organising visits, responding to any questions you have etc. Has the venue also hosted other destination weddings and is there at least one fluent English speaking member of staff on board?

Make sure you have been to the location at least once beforehand

This is a biggie in terms of knowing what to expect and how everything could look on your special day. It will also give you a feel for what your location/venue will look like at any given time of the year. The more you have seen, the easier it will be for you to make an informed decision.

Italy wedding photographer

Take a photographer who speaks the same language as you and you have met beforehand

Yes we were bound to say this, but it is so important. Your photographs are the only real record that you will have of your wedding day. If you were getting married in the UK, you would want to meet or at the very least want to speak to your photographer beforehand, so it should be no different if you’re getting married abroad. Having someone who also speaks the same language as you, means that there are no misunderstandings and you’re able to let them know what you’re after.

Be aware of any local marriage requirements

This can be where a lot of couples run into difficulties. The legal side of getting married in a different country can be complicated. Did you know for instance that if you’re planning a wedding in France, you have to arrive in the country at least 40 days before you get married?

Cape Town Wedding Photographer

Local time

Please bear in mind how things are different from country to country so don’t keep a constant eye on the clock. Many tropical islands for instance run on “island time” – with things happening when they happen. Avoid the temptation to micro-manage from afar and instead just schedule in regular check-ins with each of your suppliers.

Get Help!

We’d always recommend having a planner who can oversee the whole wedding for you. It’s also well worth choosing a venue that is used to hosting weddings for foreign brides and grooms. It will act as a reassurance on the day that someone else is worrying about where the flowers are or how the tables are being dressed.

Santorini wedding photographer

Above all else, congratulations and happy planning!

Beautiful, calm, love-infused, nature-inspired – welcome to the Liberty Pearl Photo & Film Collective!

We are a team of 6 female photographers & Videographers. We cover weddings nationally and internationally. We cover everything from 2 hour elopements to  full day weddings to 3 day Asian weddings. 

We’ve been fortunate to capture several destination weddings and have many more planned for this year. So if you would like to talk about your photography requirements, do please get in touch.