Destination Wedding Tips You Haven’t Heard Before

Photo by: Marcella Laine

There’s something magnetic about a destination wedding — the adventure, the anticipation, the feeling of stepping into a story that’s entirely your own. But beyond the travel logistics and Pinterest boards, there’s a side to destination weddings that only comes with experience — the quiet lessons you learn between flights, light tests, and fleeting moments that never repeat themselves.

Here are a few destination wedding tips that go beyond the obvious — the ones I’ve learned from being behind the lens, watching love stories unfold across oceans and mountaintops.

Plan the Day Around Light, Not Just a Timeline

The most underrated part of destination planning is light. The way it filters through the cliffs of Positano or dances off the stone in San Miguel de Allende — it changes everything.

Instead of building your day strictly around the dinner or ceremony time, ask your photographer or filmmaker when the light will be at its best. Whether it’s a sunrise ceremony in the Dolomites or a sunset vow exchange on the shores of Lake Como, the light sets the tone for your film and photos more than any other detail.

Pro tip: If you’re working with a filmmaker, tell them your vision early on — cinematic and moody? Airy and warm? They’ll help you plan timing and angles to match that energy.

Choose a Location That Reflects Your Energy, Not Just Your Pinterest Board

It’s tempting to pick a destination that photographs well — but the magic happens when the place actually feels like you.

If you love adventure and movement, the rugged trails of Colorado or the Dolomites might suit you better than a manicured resort. If you lean toward timeless elegance, maybe it’s the cobblestone charm of Lake Como or a romantic villa in Tuscany.

A wedding film doesn’t just show where you were — it reflects who you were there. When the location aligns with your energy, the story tells itself.

Hire Vendors Who Travel for the Story, Not the Stamp

There’s a difference between vendors who travel for weddings and those who tell stories wherever they go.

Seek out creatives — filmmakers, planners, florists — who understand that every destination has a heartbeat. The best ones will want to immerse themselves in your environment, learn the light, the rhythm, the culture.

It’s not about just showing up with a passport — it’s about showing up with intention.

Give Yourselves One Day With No Plans

This is the secret no one talks about.Between travel, rehearsals, and the wedding itself, couples often forget to actually be in the destination.

Build in at least one full day where nothing is scheduled. No hair trials, no group dinners — just space. Explore the town, get lost, have a drink at a random café. Those small, unplanned moments often become the most cherished.

You can also research a few experiences and pick on the day before or the day of!

Prioritize Connection Over Perfection

The truth about destination weddings? Something will go “wrong.” A train might be late, a suitcase might not arrive, the weather might change. But that’s where the beauty is.

Perfection is forgettable. Connection is not.The laughter when your friends improvise, the look you share under a shared umbrella — that’s what makes your film timeless.

When you let go of control and lean into the experience, your day becomes more real, more emotional, and infinitely more you.