Especially in challenging economic times, Destination Weddings become that much more attractive. But it’s advisable to make yourself aware of potential pitfalls.
The Benefits
- Overall, it is cheaper. Usually, manage their own flight and hotel bills, which also affords them the opportunity for a nice vacation, especially during the chilly season.
- You’re getting hitched in a magical sopt with stunning landscapes that make the wedding photography even more unforgettable.
- There is an enchanting quality to getting married in a far off land that’s relaxing and lush. It certainly won’t be like the usual weddings back in the city.
- The hotel usually handles all the specifics including setting you up with a local wedding photographer (more on this ahead).
- By having your wedding far afield likely only those folks you really want to come will attend because of the scheduling and financial commitments. This is a good way to get around a potentially controversial guest list for a home affair.
Possible Drawbacks
- You may in fact make it tough or unworkable for some of your favorite people to come because of restrictions in their lives, which you may not even know about (ie) financial, having young children, inability to take a vacation because of work, etc. Ironically, you may end up having a challenging time comprehending why a loved one won’t come - though they may have very good reasons.
- Did you have a chance to visit the resort before the big day? If not, you may arrive a couple of days before the allotted show and see things not to your liking. Happily, big problems rarely materialize. Nevertheless, it’s essential to have clear communication with the Event Planner to mitigate any issues that may arise.
- Often, destination weddings occur in the winter season. In planning the wedding keep in mind that if the wedding is in the late autumn, winter or early spring, diminishing light will be an issue after about 5 o’clock. As a result, if the ceremony is 3:30 or later you might not get in all the pictures (family, wedding party, couple). The sun will vanish and before you know it it will be dark. The heavenly background will become all but invisible and it’ll be like photographing a wedding in Baltimore – which kind of defeats one of the main purposes of holding a destination wedding (ie) the glorious scenery and the accompanying photos. Remember, all you have left afterwards is your wedding photography.
- If you decide on a local photographer, firstly, you will most likely be disappointed with the results. Secondly, not only are you are usually not paying less, you might also end up paying more than if you flew in your own photographer. Thirdly, once you return home, if you have any issues with the pictures you are a few thousand miles away. What if they are not calling you back? What if you don’t receive your pictures? That is a nightmare situation. On the other hand, you can hire a photographer from your own city who does destination weddings. In this set-up you actually meet your photographer way ahead of time . In short, you establish a connection with the person who is going to be capturing your wedding. Most siginicantly, God forbid there are any issues, they are easy to track down and you have many more options at your disposal.
- Now, there is something you must take note of if you decide to hire a destination wedding photography company from your own backyard. Foreign photographers require permits to “formally” ply their trade in most destination spots. For the Bahamas, the permit costs $300. Now, your photographer can journey incognito and pretend they are one of your guests. This can be risky. What if they don’t believe you, especially after they’ve rifled through your bags and seen all your equipment? They may not let you photograph the wedding – which would be disastrous. If your photographer is going to fly under the radar they should bring as little gear as possible to not attract scrutiny. Or, it might be best to play it safe and get the permit.
There is much to appreciate about having a destination wedding. It can be and almost always is a magical experience. Just take heed of the aforementioned issues that may put a damper on the proceedings.