Destination Weddings

Destination Weddings are becoming much more popular and much more desirable than in years past. In fact Conde Nast Bridal Group's American Wedding Study (2006) reported that 16 percent of couples are now choosing to have a destination wedding. If you’re one of those math people, that’s about 400% more destination weddings over the numbers 10 years ago.

More and more couples are choosing to go out of town to make their dream wedding. South Carolina has a variety of places that are considered destination weddings. Whether it’s Hilton Head Island (my home town), Charleston, Palmetto Bluff, or out of state like Disney, or the Bahamas, a destination wedding has it’s own set of complications, etiquette and best practices.

There are lots of websites that can help you answer all of those questions, however, I’m going out on a limb here and guessing that since you are here on Brodiefoto.com, you’re questions are about the wedding photography and more specifically about whether to hire a local photographer or to bring your own photographer to the wedding.

In a traditional wedding the bride and groom usually find a local photographer by asking friends, family, and even venues for referrals. Finding a destination wedding photographer requires you to either find a photographer who works in your area that you like and bringing them with you to the wedding location, or finding a photographer that works at the destination.

Depending on where your destination wedding is, you may might have an “all included” type package that includes the venue, planner, food, drinks, DJ and even a photographer. All of this is designed to help you cut cost, while maximizing revenue to the venue.

On the other hand bringing your own photographer will naturally be more expensive as you will usually have to pay for the photographers travel, as well as the photographer's fees.

The question your now asking is, "Which is better?" Do I save some money and go with the photographer provided by the resort, or bring my own?.

I could just say bring your own and be done with it, but you really need to know why to bring your own.

One of the most important things about hiring a wedding photographer, whether it’s a wedding at your local church, or a resort on Hawaii is to spend time with that photographer. Making sure your personalities gel and you are comfortable with them. If you hire the package photographer, at best you’ll get to meet them the day before the wedding and if you don’t like them… well it’s too late isn’t it. It’s much easier to spend time with a photographer you hire and travel with.

According to theknot.com there are two vendors you should bring with you regardless of where you're getting married, no questions asked -- your consultant and your photographer.

Let’s look at this a different way. The long term. A package wedding photographer, while they may be nice, talented and less expensive has no real interest in you as a client. You’re paying their fee, it’s too late for you to change to a different photographer. They may take months to get your images. If they don’t, can you really follow up with them? What if you were in another country? You certainly can’t do anything about it.

A photographer you bring with you on the other hand as a very big interest in you as a client. Not only are you local for them and could potentially be a lasting client, but you are also more likely to recommend their services to others. If you need to meet with your photographer after the wedding to go over an issue, product, or even to have baby portraits done a year later, it’s going to be a lot harder on you if you have to fly back to Fiji.

The short answer to all of this is that only you can decide what is best, but remember you get what you pay for and your wedding photography will be your lasting memories of the best day of your life. Don’t risk it to someone you don’t know, can’t meet with and who doesn’t have a real interest in you.

Don’t take my word for it, checkout weddingquestions.net and read what others are saying about bring a destination wedding photographer with you.

The last piece of the puzzle is to make sure the wedding photographer you hire to travel with you has some experience traveling. As a photographer who's traveled the world photographing all kinds of things, including weddings, I know the tricks of the trade when it comes to airport travel with expensive camera gear. You have to travel light, but have everything you need for that amazing destination. You have to have cameras, lenses, flashes, memory cards and a whole host of other gizmos and gadgets to get the job done. Then you have to have backups of all of it. Then you have to be able to fit all of that gear on the plane with you, meeting size and weight restrictions. A good photographer won't check their gear.. EVER! We know it's too easily broken, lost or stolen. What would be worse than bringing your photographer along for your destination wedding only to find out they didn't know what to pack or had to check a bunch of equipment that didn't make it to the destination? There is nothing like experience!

If you are planning a destination wedding, I'd love to talk with you about it. Whether your destination is Columbia, Hilton Head, Lake Lure, Disney, the Bahamas or Greece Brodiefoto can provide you with images to make you, your style, and your destination. To schedule a free consultation contact me today!