Most people don’t know this, but you can take local vendors with you for your destination wedding. I don’t think it’s that common for vendors like florists and caterers, but it’s definitely a trend with photographers. From what I’ve heard and come to understand, couples have a hard time finding quality and options they like when it comes to finding a photographer that’s local to their destination location. So why not take a photographer that you know will deliver the goods? If you have your heart set on a photographer, but they aren’t close to your destination, no worries! I’m sure they’ll charge you some travel fees, but I can almost guarantee they’ll be flattered and excited to shoot your destination wedding!

It’s a neat concept, right? Travel to a unique and beautiful destination for your wedding and bring your fave photog with you, no matter where they are! It happened for me with Rachel and David’s wedding. I shot their wedding in Portland, Maine at the end of last month. Rachel and David are from the Pittsburgh, PA area, moved to Maine and decided to have a destination-ish wedding. It wasn’t completely destination for them, but for about 90% of their guests, and of course me! I was honored and flattered that they wanted to bring me up from WV and because I had such a WONDERFUL time with them in Maine, I’m hoping to do more destination weddings in the near future.

So here I am, declaring myself as a destination wedding photographer. With my trip to Maine and a recent booking for a Nags Head, NC destination wedding, I think it’s safe to say that side of JFP is officially open for business! I love to travel and hope to see as much of the world as I can, so shooting weddings while doing just that would be a dream come true. Are you having a destination wedding!?! I’d love to be a part of it!

Brian and I attended a destination-ish wedding a few years ago. It was destination-ish because the couple wasn’t from Nags Head, NC, but moved there and decided to have all their family and friends down for their celebration. It was the closest thing to a destination wedding for me at the time and it included the beach, which is what I picture when I think “destination wedding” (of course not every destination has to include a beach!). Here are some of my shots from a guest’s point of view (I actually took these before my first ever JFP wedding, so they aren’t up to my standards now, but still fun to look at!)…

Hey honey!!!

I was so proud of Brian…he wore his sandals with pants! This is the only time he’s seen it as an appropriate combination, even though I tell him otherwise.

I was in love with the colors! The blue sky, darker blue ocean and golden sunshine certainly made for a beautiful beach ceremony.

I was so excited to have free reign over the sand. I could go almost anywhere during the ceremony to capture different angles. It was great practice for my first wedding!

Me and my honey about three years ago, only a year and a few months into our marriage. We look pretty much the same!

Little did I know that details would turn into one of my favorite things to shoot at weddings…

So there ya go! Don’t stress about trying to find a photographer at your destination. Take your photographer to the destination!