How far in advance should we plan a destination wedding?

Around 12 to 18 months. Book the venue first, then your photographer, most couples do so 8 to 12 months ahead, and send save-the-dates early so guests can plan their travel.

Should our photographer cover the whole wedding weekend?

If you have a welcome dinner and other events, yes if you can: they are often the most relaxed and emotional moments, and guests have travelled far to be there. Multi-day collections are made for this.

Can we get legally married abroad?

Often yes, but requirements differ by country and nationality and can take months. Many couples marry legally at home and hold the ceremony abroad as a symbolic celebration.

Do you travel for destination weddings?

Yes. I am based in Vienna and the Dolomites and photograph weddings across Europe and beyond, from Sweden to Morocco. Travel details are part of your personal offer.

Destination Wedding in Europe: Planning Guide

How to plan a multi-day destination wedding in Europe: timeline, legal steps, guests, weather and photography across a whole wedding weekend.

A destination wedding is more than a wedding day. It is a few days with the people you love most, somewhere that means something to you: a castle an hour from Vienna, a countryside house in Sweden, a palace in Marrakech. I photograph weddings like these across Europe and beyond, and the best ones have one thing in common: good planning that leaves room for the unplanned moments. This guide shares what I have learned.

12 to 18 months ahead: the foundations

Choose the country and the venue. Visit if you can. Think about travel for your guests: airports, trains and how long the journey takes.
Set the dates and the shape of the weekend. Most destination weddings last two or three days: a welcome evening, the wedding day and a relaxed brunch or excursion afterwards.
Check the legal side. Marrying legally abroad is often possible, but the paperwork depends on the country and your nationalities, and can take months. Many couples marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony at their destination.
Consider a local planner. Someone who speaks the language, knows the vendors and handles permits is worth a lot, especially for larger weddings.

8 to 12 months ahead: your team

Book your photographer and other key vendors. For photography, think about which moments matter to you across the whole weekend, not only the ceremony. The welcome dinner is often where the most relaxed, emotional photos happen: guests arriving, reunions, speeches without pressure. At Leonie and Yassine’s two-day wedding in Marrakech, the moonlit welcome dinner set the tone for everything that followed.

Photography across a wedding weekend

Welcome evening: reunions, candlelight, the first toasts.
Getting ready: calm moments with family and friends, details, letters.
Ceremony and portraits: planned around the best light of the day.
Traditions: if your families bring different cultures, tell me about the rituals. At Kyo and Benedikt’s castle wedding, a Korean ceremony and a hanbok change were among the most beautiful moments.
The party and the morning after: relaxed portraits in the destination, when all the pressure is gone.

My Ultimate 3 Day collection is designed for weddings like these, and 35mm film and Super 8 add a nostalgic layer to the whole weekend.

4 to 6 months ahead: guests and details

Send invitations with clear travel information, a small website helps.
Plan transport between the venues, especially on the wedding day.
Think about the climate: shade and water in the south in summer, warm layers in the north and in the mountains.
Plan a weather backup for every outdoor moment.

The weeks before

Share a timeline with all vendors, including sunset time and a rain plan. A short call with your photographer a few weeks before the wedding, to go through the timeline, the family photo list and any traditions, means that on the day you can simply be present.

Why I love destination weddings

Every destination wedding brings people together from far away. At Araya and Christoffer’s countryside wedding near Falun, family and friends came together from far away to celebrate a love that bridged worlds. Those reunions, the new place and the days together make destination weddings especially emotional to photograph.

Planning a wedding abroad, or in Austria or the Dolomites? Read about getting married in Vienna or eloping in the Dolomites, or tell me about your plans.