Jacqui and Alfredo’s wedding was spectacular! They are a lovely couple and so cute together. I had a wonderful time shooting their Texas Farm wedding. The two were married on March 15, 2008 at their family’s farm. The night was filled with good weather, great food, music, and lots of dancing. Alfredo’s family came all the way from Peru for the celebration and they were so fun to be around. While I am on the topic of this wedding I want to talk about destination weddings… I wrote a bit on destination weddings and why I like them. Here are a few points on why I love destination weddings and why you should consider a destination wedding:

1. What drew you to destination photography? I love being connected to the bride and groom on a deeper level than in town weddings. I feel that when I travel to the location of the wedding I am entering into their environment and their lives on a deeper level than in town weddings. What makes this special is that the bride and groom are most likely connected with this location on some level so their pictures are unique and say a lot about who they are. It is one of my favorite things to capture… the bride and groom sharing their love and the love of their chosen destination. Destination weddings also drew me in because most likely I have never shot at that particular place and that is very inspirational to me. They are new and fresh and really exciting.

2. Where have you traveled? I have been shooting destination weddings for 5 years now. I have traveled all over the United States to shoot. Some of the locations have included Seattle WA, Ann Arbor, MI, Santa Fe, NM, Big Sky, Montana, and this year we are heading to many more in Texas.

3. Have you had any nightmares when traveling? I have not.. Thank God! I am well equipped when traveling and carry all of my luggage on the plane with me! I never let it leave my side!

4. Are Destination Weddings a growing trend? I do think that destination weddings are a growing trend and hope that more people decide that it is right for them! Couples that I have shot want to have an intimate affair with family and friends. I feel that Destination weddings allow the guests to get to know the bride and groom on a deeper level. Some friends might only know the bride more and these weddings allow for guests to bond more with the couple. I think that makes it special and more exciting for the guests. Bringing everyone together for a weekend away to focus on the marriage of the bride and groom is priceless.

5. Most popular places that couples get married are places that they may have met, or fallen in love at, or even places that they just love! Some couples have choices when choosing a destination but they choose one that has a great location and shows what the couple love most. For example, one client chose to marry in Big Sky Montana because they moved there together and fell in love with the place. They met in San Francisco but felt that their relationship had grown more in Big Sky. It also was a perfect backdrop for a mountain wedding and allowed all of the guests to experience a part of Montana that they might not have ever seen. The couple helped connect their guests to their favorite place through their wedding weekend. Rehearsal dinner by the river, fly fishing trips, hiking trips, and more! All the guests had a blast!

6. I would suggest to couples who would like a destination wedding to find a photographer that will travel with them. Remote wedding destinations don’t usually have photographers near by. Choosing the right photographer for the job is key! Expect to pay plane tickets for photographer and assistant, accommodations and other traveling expenses. Choosing the right photographer for your wedding weekend is priceless. It will cost more but it is worth it because you will be confident that you will have wonderful memories. Don’t get stuck with the hotel photographer because it is a good deal! You will kick yourself later.