Romantic and Colourful Destination Wedding Inspiration

Destination weddings continue to become increasingly popular as couples continue to move away from traditional expectations and focus on making their weddings a very meaningful experience for themselves and their guests. An intimate celebration in an unforgettable location is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that a couple and their guests will never forget!

Many couples are surprised to hear that destination weddings can actually be more affordable and less stressful than traditional weddings. According to Canadian travel company, Transat, destination weddings can cost up to 30% less than weddings at home, depending on the location and the number of guests.

Very often, destination wedding venues include all the services a couple needs for their wedding day, including the event space, AV, food, drinks and accommodations for their guests. They also can refer couples to a professional destination wedding planner who can handle all the details, from booking the venue and vendors to arranging legal paperwork and travel documents.

Another huge advantage to destination weddings is the amount of time a couple can spend with their loved ones as the wedding celebrations usually stretch over several days as opposed to just one! Welcome parties, rehearsal dinners and excursions can all part of the experience-making the time with their friends and families incredibly memorable.

We couldn’t have been more honoured to be a part of this beautiful day with some of North America’s most well-known wedding vendors! Showcasing the incredible beach of Amelia Island, Florida, we spent the afternoon photographing this intimate affair, inspired by the senses and a love for the coast!

Please reach out to inquire about our bespoke destination wedding collections. We cannot wait to hear about your destination wedding plans!

Host: Manda Weaver & The Hybrid Co | Designer & Wedding Planning: Pamela Barefoot Events & Design | Photographer: Ugo Photography | Venue: Omni Amelia Island Resort | Florist: Iron & Clay Flowers | Hair & Makeup: Emma Collins Beauty | Dress: Oscar de la Renta at Carine’s Bridal Atelier | Suit: Tuxedos by Sarno | Plates, glassware & flatware: Case de Perrin | Chairs & tables: Beach View | Linens: Stradley Davidson | Flatware, napkins & napkin rings: Something Vintage

Wedding Photography Advice for Couples Planning an Intimate Wedding Celebration

It’s no surprise that intimate weddings are trending! With a general shift to more personalized ‘wedding experiences’ for couples and their guests and the high cost of living here in Toronto, intimate weddings are on the rise. We personally love the unique, modern and stylish ways couples are choosing to celebrate their weddings!

First things first, what do we mean when we talk about ‘intimate’ weddings? Although there are a few different opinions among wedding professionals, as a general rule, an intimate wedding is a celebration with any where from 20 to 75 guests. The day can include the all important wedding ceremony and a sit-down dinner or the ceremony and a cocktail reception…there are a ton of different ways to plan an intimate celebration! Due to the smaller guest count, the sky is literally the limit as to the venues and spaces couples can use; from restaurants and cocktail bars to stylish rooftop terraces and backyards! Whatever the space or location, intimate weddings are very memorable and personalized experiences.

As with all weddings, intimate events require advanced thought and planning. What wedding photography advice we would give to couples planning their intimate wedding day?

LIVE IN THE MOMENT

One of the biggest advantages of intimate celebrations is that couples have more time with each other and their guests; therefore, we wholeheartedly recommend to soak it all in and enjoy the moments with the people closest to you! The photos will reflect all the natural and authentic interactions and moments together.

SPLURGE ON WHAT’S IMPORTANT

Having a smaller guest count allows couples to use their budget for other aspects of the day that are important to them. Some choose to budget for a food experience that will blow their minds, floral installations that they’ve dreamed of, wedding day signage and/or stationery that really personalize the event, etc! Whatever it is, it’s important to communicate to your photographer that you would love to have photos of all the details so that you can remember what made the day truly ‘you’.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME TOGETHER

As mentioned above, a smaller event naturally allows couples more time on the wedding day. Take advantage of the time to connect, celebrate together and have more couple photographs taken! It might not surprise you to hear that we think a couple can never have enough photographs together on their wedding day ;)

COMMUNICATE ANY PHOTOGRAPH REQUESTS WITH THE VENUE & YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

Many intimate weddings here in Toronto take place in busy establishments that have both private dining options (for weddings and events) as well as dining areas for patrons. If you haven’t planned for a full venue buy-out, it is important to speak to the venue beforehand to find out if there are any areas where photographs are not permitted. Privacy laws could restrict a couple from where they can have their photos taken if the establishment has paying patrons. We always recommend to couples just to check with the venue before the wedding day and to confirm any wedding photo requests.

It makes us so happy to see and photograph the very personal ways couple celebrate such a huge milestone in their lives! If you have any questions about intimate weddings or you’d like to book us for your wedding day, click below. We can’t wait to hear from you!