I can’t start with this blog without mentioning how absolutely floored I am that this is my job. Just know that while writing this post, I cried several times. I’m so incredibly freaking grateful to have couples who trust me enough to fly me out to be their destination wedding photographer. Being able to put my two passions together is something I could only have dreamed of!
Should you have a destination wedding?
Destination weddings are not for everyone, BUT they are absolutely incredible for those that can handle the unique stresses that come with. Destination weddings mean having to organize flights for several people, track down vendors abroad or find people locally who are willing to travel, and ultimately putting a lot of faith into the universe that everything will work out. Just to be very clear, I am always willing to travel to photograph your wedding.
If it’s something you’re really considering but you want to enlist some help, I highly suggest hiring a travel planner to take a lot of the stress off of your plate!
How they did it
Emma + Jason are an adventurous duo, and when Jason suggested getting married in Italy as a joke, Emma took it VERY seriously. They were supposed to venture off to Italy for the first time in 2020, so we all know that the world had other ideas and that didn’t work out (Thanks Rona). Now here they were debating on what to do with their flight credits.
After Jason made the Italy joke, Emma started searching on AirBnB to see if it was possible. Sure enough, they found an incredible villa in Tuscany that would fit all of their closest friends and family. The plans were quickly set into motion, and let me tell you, I straight up bawled when they asked me to come and shoot the wedding. I had done destination weddings at resorts, but this was my first European elopement. Emma organized every detail. She sent out invites a year in advance, tracked everyone’s flights, and brought all of her key vendors with her. When all was said and done, they had 22 friends and family joining them for a week in Bucine, Tuscany!
Saying “I do” under the Tuscan sun
Emma + Jason decided to hold the ceremony and reception at the villa. We moved things around to create a ceremony and reception space.They split the villa in half that day, with the girls getting ready on the balcony upstairs, and the boys playing foosball downstairs until it was time for them to get ready. Their getting ready views were unbelievable, you’ll see in the photos below, but it is without a doubt the best view I’ve seen for getting ready!
Elopements are intimate in nature, but by having all of their favourite people also spend a week together, this one felt even more so. Their ceremony was performed by Jason’s dad, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room when they exchanged handwritten vows. After the ceremony, we went right into formal portraits and newlywed shots. The views were just….. Unreal. I’m still not over it, if we’re being perfectly honest. The sky even decided to give us the most incredible sunset to end off the photos. Dinner was supplied by a local restaurant that Emma found, and the food was incredible. After enjoying (maybe too much) Italian wine, the party began!
Do you want to hear more about how Emma planned this Tuscan elopement? I’ll absolutely be making a few more posts about this wedding (because I’m not over it), but I can also reach out and get more details on her planning process!
