Did you just decide to get married at a destination vs in your hometown? Maybe you said to hell with the big party planning and decided to do something smaller overseas. If that’s the case and you are planning a destination wedding, then I am here to help! I live and breathe photography, traveling and capturing beautiful couples along the way – aka destination weddings are my bread and butter! I made this comprehensive destination wedding planning checklist with you in mind! Hopefully it takes a little bit of stress off your shoulders and gives you some peace of mind when it comes to planning so you can enjoy your engagement!
Table of Contents
- 5 Key things to Plan for your Destination Wedding
- The Ultimate Destination wedding planning checklist
- Your Destination Wedding Photographer
5 Key Things to Plan for Your Destination Wedding
Everything you need to plan for your destination wedding can be separated into 5 categories. Now, those 5 categories can get pretty thiccc with a few c’s but have no fear – I break them all down for you into simplistic details!
Destination
Obviously, one of the first things we have to plan is the destination! I say “one of the first” because it depends on which one you care about more – destination or date. If you care more about the season or month, then pick a destination that is suitable for that month (i.e. if you want a February wedding, maybe you opt in for beaches instead of the snowstorm covered mountains or vice versa!)
When I say there are a million options for where you can get married, I’m being so serious. Literally spin the globe and throw a dart! But it’s all about your wedding vision and what you two want for your big day! You cannot choose wrong in my eyes.
Here’s one of the major things to consider:
Landscapes
There are obviously a ton of different landscapes in the world, but here are a few generic ideas to get your wheels turning
- Beaches
- Snowy Mountaintops
- European Villas
- Countryside Hills
- Boats Lakeside
- National Parks
- Sandy Deserts
- Enchanted Forests
- Gardens
- Vineyards
- Urban Rooftop
Popular Destination Wedding Locations Inside the United States
“Destination Wedding” doesn’t always mean overseas or super far away! Destination weddings could be a state over or maybe just across the country. Here are some popular destination wedding locations inside the United States
Hawaii
Of course this has to be first on the list because going off to Hawaii to get married is a tradition as old as my parents! Although, I do believe they’ve begun to do it in more style than they did when it was super popular in the 2000s 🙂 The most popular islands in Hawaii to get married on are Maui, Oahu & Kauai!
California
California offers a variety of landscapes to choose from all in one state! You have the picturesque vineyards and wineries in Napa Valley, the gorgeous coastal town of Santa Barbara, a classic Lake Tahoe wedding, the deserts of Joshua Tree National Park, saying I do under the towering redwoods in Redwood National and State Park and of course the ever so elegant and intimate Catalina Island.
Check out my complete guide to eloping in Joshua Tree National Park for more information!
Florida
Beaches, Beaches and Beaches!! You have so many options! You can go small with little beaches like the ones in 30A and Destin. Or you can go to the southernmost point of the United States and get married in Key West. No matter where you choose, you can be sure you’ll have white sandy beaches and a gorgeous blue ocean as your backdrop!
New York
Obsessed with the city? Maybe you want to re-enact Chuck and Blair’s rapid fire wedding at Bethesda Terrace in Central Park (XOXO). Maybe you’re a bougie bestie and wanna get married in the Hamptons! Either way, New York is a great place for your urban, cityscape wedding, intimate brownstone ceremony, or hustling and bustling rooftop party.
Colorado
Colorful Colorado is nothing short of a beautiful place to get married. From the Rocky Mountains to suburb towns with the mountains as a backdrop, this state has a lot to offer. Typically, a year round destination offering Summer lake house destinations, beautiful wildflower fields on the side of mountains or snowy Ski Resort weddings, just pick a city! Aspen, Breckenridge, Dever, Boulder, Vail, Telluride, Estes Park, Colorado Springs, Crested Butte – you literally can’t go wrong!
Check out this wedding at Villa Parker in Parker, Colorado outside of Denver.
Arizona
Sedona, the Grand Canyon and Scottsdale are some of the many beautiful places to get married in Arizona. Surrounded by cacti, cliffs, horses, and tumbleweeds, Arizona offers a unique scenery to any destination wedding. Although limited by its outrageous heat waves in the Summer, Arizona offers a variety of options in different cities year round!
Utah
Moab brings a lot of destination weddings to the state of Utah. Throughout the multiple national parks located within the state, you can have beautiful canyons, arches and rock formations to backdrop your wedding ceremony.
Check out this elopement at the Salt Flats in Utah.
Alaska
Talk about breathtaking and remote. Although your guest list might be smaller, some of the places Alaska has to offer are landscapes out of a dream! Denali National Park offers gorgeous wilderness and lakefront options. There’s Kenai Fjords National Park where you can surround yourself with glaciers and fjords. The main cities such as Juneau, Anchorage, and Homer offer the most dramatic landscapes and rugged beauty, both city and coastline.
There are obviously 42 other magnificent states to choose from, these are just a few of the more popular destinations for your wedding ceremony to get your planning started!
Popular Destination Wedding Locations Outside the United States
You wanna go big or go home? This is the place to be! Here is a small list of the most popular wedding destinations outside of the United States. Again, this isn’t everything, but it’s enough to give you some amazing ideas!
Paris, France
This is probably the most iconic and popular place to have a destination wedding! There are some of the most stunning and serene places to get married all in one city! With some of the most stunning Cathedrals, Museums and Château’s around the city to host your wedding. You could even take a private boat ride down the Seine for your wedding, reception or even night before dinner!
Amalfi Coast, Italy
I think this is the second most popular place to get married in, and for good reason! Whether you take a private boat ride along the coast, stay at one of the beautiful hotels in Sorrento or Positano, or choose a fabulous villa for your wedding destination – you can’t go wrong getting married on the Amalfi Coast in Italy!
Santorini, Greece
If you want to get married outdoors, Santorini is your place! Full of luxury hotels, private villas, and beachfront locations, Greece is one of the most stunning and remote places for your destination wedding. This is a great place if you want to bring just a few people – or even no people at all!
Iceland
Iceland is definitely closer to an elopement location where you can hike to waterfalls, camp on a mountain and wake up near beautiful ice caves. However, you can totally have a bigger destination wedding in Iceland as well!
Venice or Florence, Italy
Pick a Palazzo and call it a day! Italy’s enchanting canals and romantic atmosphere offer a beautiful place for your destination wedding. The seasons offer hot summers and cool winters without any extremes making it a great place for year round weddings! Not to mention, you can finish out your wedding day with a private gondola ride!!
French Alps
Talk about breathtaking. The French alps cover a vast range of unique venues from Châteaus in Chamonix to hotels, chalets, private villas and ski lodges! Pick your season and get ready for some of the most magical landscapes and backdrops to your perfect wedding day!
Sayulita, Mexico
Want more of a bohemian vibe? Sayulita, Mexico is a gorgeous and popular destination wedding location. Located on the west coast of Mexico, Sayulita offers beachfront venues, private villas, a vibrant atmosphere and culture and many outdoor wedding locations!
Barcelona, Spain
Talk about a vibrant and romantic city – Barcelona, Spain is FULL of culture and stunning beaches along with gorgeous architecture! There’s castles, museums, parks, beachfront and beautiful hotels to choose from when planning your destination wedding in Barcelona, Spain! You really can’t go wrong!!
Are you getting married in one of these 8 jaw dropping locations? I’ll give you $1500 off any wedding package if you book me as your photographer! Mention this blog post when you inquire and I’ll be sure to capture your romance in these stunning locations.
Date
Now that you have your dream destination figured out, it’s time to talk when?!?! When is this celebration happening!?
Think about the main factors when it comes to choosing your perfect wedding date: Climate, Season, and holiday events!
Climate
When picking your date, think about the climate and what YOU would prefer to get married in. If you hate the cold and want to wear a sleeveless dress, picking the winter might not be ideal. However, there are exceptions! For instance, it’s Summer in Australia at Christmastime, the beaches typically never get colder than 60 degrees in the winter and most tropical islands stay warm year round! This is why it’s important to research and make sure you are comfortable with your location and its climate!
Climate also means thinking about fog, rainstorms, hurricanes, dust storms, snowstorms, the list goes on. Do you want to verify that the sun will be out on your wedding day? I wouldn’t pick the Oregon Coast, Scotland, or Ireland.
Research your location and make sure you are aware of ALL the possible weather outcomes for the specific date you picked your wedding to be on.
Guest List
Who are we inviting? Now that can get sticky but let me simplify it for you!
Start with your venue! How many people can it hold? How many people are in your budget for food + drink?
Now start with family members! Who are your MUST HAVES? The people you can’t imagine not being there. Think about people who can travel. Think about people who will drop everything to make sure they can celebrate your wedding day with you.
Head on over to friends now! I’m sure you have a fat list of friends and people who would love to come. However, this is *sometimes* where you have to pare down and cut people. Start with people you talk to every single day. The people who will be there for your child’s birth. The people who make you smile everyday!
I can’t tell you who and how many people to invite but I do know this part can be the most emotionally and mentally draining part of planning your destination wedding. Take some deep breaths and remember the main important fact is the two of you getting married. That’s what we’re here to celebrate!
Vendors
This might be the second hardest part of destination wedding planning. But it truly doesn’t have to be! Obviously some vendors you will find in the local area of your destination and some you can bring with you from the United States! The main ones to splurge on in my opinion are the photographer and venue. Those are the two vendors who you’ll have the most opinions on and that’s why they should be chosen first! To make sure they fit your style + needs! Have I pitched myself yet 🙂
Another vendor I would highly recommend hiring for your destination wedding is a wedding planner who is local to the area. You want someone to do site visits, double check things, and someone who knows the area. Someone to be your liaison throughout the planning process!
Other vendors you may or may not want are: Baker, Florist, Caterer, DJ/Band, Officiant, Videographer, Hair/Makeup Artists, Chair Rentals, Travel Agent, etc!
Pro tip: Check Facebook groups for your destination for vendor recs! (i.e. search “Paris Wedding Vendors” or “Paris Destination Wedding” and I’m sure a couple of groups will pop up!)
Travel Arrangements
Travel arrangements include but are certainly not limited to: Planes, trains, taxis, airbnb’s, villas, Hotels, Ubers, rental cars, shuttles, gondolas, ski lifts, snow mobiles, exit cars, and maybe some other obscure transportation not listed!
Now that list probably sounds super overwhelming but no worries – you have plenty of time to do it! I would book your plane/flights approximately 4 months before your wedding date. Guarantee you have all the available options and when prices are surging! As far as rental cars and hotels go – book those once you book your flights! I will say for hotel rooms, if you have a specific place in mind or you are using it as part of your wedding day, book it as soon as you know! You want to make sure you get the exact places you want!
If you are getting a rental car – make sure you don’t need an international driver’s permit for another country! If you are planning on driving around in Italy, France, and Spain for instance, it’s required! However, for Germany, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa – it’s recommended but not required! This is at the time of this blog post (August 2024).
Always always always verify with the country’s website page to determine the correct documents you may need to bring or have! This includes but not limited to: Passports, Birth Certificate, Certificate of Freedom to Marry, Visas, and marriage certificates.
The Ultimate Destination Wedding Planning Checklist
This is a checklist I have compiled to help you in the planning process of your destination wedding! If you would like to have the printable version to actually check things off, click here!
Where are we going?
- Pick a country
- Pick a City/State
- Pick a Venue(s)
- Pick the type of wedding
- Villa
- Boat
- Church
- Beach
- Outdoor
- Indoor
- National Park
- Elopement
- Full Wedding
- etc.
When is all of this happening?
- Research weather for your destination throughout the year
- Pick a time of year
- Is it a 1 day, 2 day or multi-day extravaganza
- Pick the specific Date range
- Research if there’s a better time of day for the specific location (sunset vs sunrise)
- Book the venue and confirm date
What do you need to travel?
- Passport
- Travel Visa
- Real ID
- Vaccines/Shots/Medication (for specific countries)
- International Driver’s Permit
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage License
Who all is invited?
- Research how many people the venue/destination holds
- Make a guest list
- Send save the dates
- Send the real invitations
- Make a wedding website so you can enter all the necessary travel information
Who are your destination vendors?
- Photographer
- Venue
- Caterer
- Baker/Cake/Dessert
- Videographer
- Florist
- Officiant
- DJ/Band
- Chair/Table Rentals
- Linen Rentals
- Hair Stylist
- Makeup Artist
- Wedding Planner
- Travel Agent
Wedding Attire
- Dress(es)/Suit(s)
- Wedding Rings + bands
- Veil/Hair Accessories
- Shoes
- Other party outfits – welcome party, night before, brunch day after, etc.
Here’s how to pack your wedding dress for the plane & other travel! NEVER CHECK YOUR WEDDING DRESS! It can get lost and it can take weeks to get back to you! ALWAYS carry it on! Put it in a nice garment bag that is large enough to hold your dress without crumpling it! If your dress has delicate beadwork or things that can easily be ripped off then you can wrap it with bubble wrap or tissue paper as an added layer of protection. When you walk onto the plane, kindly inform the flight attendant this is your wedding dress and ask if there’s anywhere you can hang it up at. Sometimes they have space and are more than happy to accommodate you! If there is nowhere to hang it up, you can lay in the bins above the seat AFTER everyone has put their suitcase in. Lay them on top so nothing gets crushed. If all else fails, it can lay across you and your boo’s lap for the flight like a nice blanket! 🙂
Specific travel arrangements
*not all travel will be applicable*
- Flights
- Trains
- Ubers/car service
- Place for you to stay – airbnb, villa, hotel, château, etc
- Places for other people to stay – Airbnb options, hotel block, villas, etc.
- Itinerary
- Permits/National Park Pass
Your Destination Wedding & Elopement Photographer
Hey everyone! My name is Whitney Stark and I’m a destination wedding and elopement photographer! I wrote this blog post for you because I have a passion for capturing authentic and butterfly-stomach inducing moments of your wedding day and I want your wedding day to be as seamless as possible! There’s a lot of planning that goes into Destination wedding planning and I am more than happy to lend any and all expertise I have to help plan! Having [photographed at many stunning locations around the world, I love sharing this experience with you! I would truly be honored to photograph your destination wedding and I’d love to chat more about your vision, plans and your love story *cue Taylor Swift*. To learn more about my destination wedding packages you can head to my website and peruse! My packages start at $3,700!
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