Archive for the ‘destination weddings’ Category

who loves the ocean? (i do!)

February 26, 2010

destination wedding photography search

last night i was on a call discussing a wedding day time line with a bride and groom. during our conversation, i was looking out the window and saw all the snow and it made me wish that summer would hurry up and get here. not long after the call, my heat went out. i wanted to be warm! it made me start thinking about the upcoming destination weddings. below is an early morning photo i took simply because i enjoyed how the rustic boat provided visual contrast to the idyllic turquoise caribbean sea.

destination wedding resorts

below is a photo of a destination wedding ceremony that i took while i was in the water. i didn’t actually mean to get in the water, it just sort of happened but once i got wet, i decided it was okay to be knee deep to get the shot.having a destination wedding at an ocean location

this wedding was also on the ocean however to get the same angle, there was more sand to walk on and i didn’t have to go swimming for the photo. the couple used a chuppah but even for non jewish beach wedding ceremonies, brides often will use a wedding canopy or arch, made out of things borrowed from nature. in addition to bamboo trunks, i have seen four potted plants in the place of a chuppah. for fabric to create the canopy, some of the more interesting ones i have seen have incorporated simple solid colors or color combinations including aqua, celery, citrus themed with yellow, green and orange, navy and celery, and navy and pink.

if you are thinking about having a wedding, one thing to note is that not all beaches are private beaches. some of my favorite beaches to have wedding ceremonies on are jetties beach in nantucket and seven mile beach in jamaica. when dealing with public beaches, you can sometimes have an unannounced guest at your wedding :)

on of my brides put these DIY decorations together which work perfectly for destination weddings. Sand, beach glass, shells, and river rocks along with candles work great for this type of decor.

many wedding resorts are now creating signature cocktails for their brides and grooms.

the only thing i know about the sport of football is that it is a bunch of beefy men in shiny spandex rolling around getting grass stains. with that being said, this is my congratulatory post to new orleans saints for winning the super bowl. new orleans is a such a vibrant city which i admire so much. if you ever have a chance to visit, you’ve got to. even in a short visit, a trip down to NOLA leaves you feeling like you have left the country.

yellow mustang and bunny mask!

they know how to party, during mardi gras and year round, constantly.okay sometimes they need to take a break.they’ve got cute water meter covers, seriously!NOLA uses mules instead of horses for tourist carriage rides since they tolerate heat better.cafe du monde is bustling 24 hours a day. this shot was taken past your bedtime.restoration is ongoing. the transformation is incredible.and because new orleans is for loversmany brides and grooms choose to have their wedding in the Big Easy, like this wedding in jackson square right out front of st. louis cathedralthe second line parades for weddings and the second line umbrella / parasol along with the handkerchiefs are a tradition popular in NOLA there are so many unique details everywhere you look. i loved the wrought iron fences throughout the city.every time i visit new orleans i make it a point to take the free ferry over to algiers to catch a glimpse of the skyline

happy groundhog day! they’re saying six more weeks of winter. am i going to be able to stand it? i was catching up with laura sangster the other day who is one of the most popular destination wedding planners for the caribbean and we corresponded about the nature of wedding photography and destination weddings. “what is the trend in destination wedding photography?” i wondered. coming from an experienced planner laura noted, “the hotel photographers can not compare to a private photographer. period. i think the trend is towards budgeting more for a photographer than ever before.” she always has great advice ranging from featuring resorts on her blog to even compiling and shifting through the mis-information that abounds online in regards to international marriage license requirements. i have already pointed my destination wedding couples to her blog because it really is a go-to resource. i decided that it would be a good idea to introduce Laura to my readers. in these cold winter months, destination wedding requests couldn’t be more plentiful. Laura has helped over a hundred happy brides and grooms plan their dream weddings acting as a liaison between the foreign cultural traditions and customs in relation to weddings and the United States based brides.

Introduce yourself:
Laura Sangster | www.CaribbeanJourney.com | 866-236-1924
Destination Wedding Blog

Twitter @CaribbeanTrips
Caribbean Weddings on Facebook

How did you get started selling Destination Weddings?

When I decided to become a travel consultant, I knew I wanted to specialize in the Caribbean. I am very passionate about the region… about the stress free feeling one has when in paradise, so it was an easy choice for me. The Caribbean is synonymous with romance and soon my engaged clients began asking me to help arrange the travel for their destination weddings. Over the years, my involvement has swelled from simply booking airfare + hotel for wedding guests to helping brides find the perfect location for their dream wedding and being a full time sounding board for my brides on everything from local customs, reception menus, goodie bags and more.

What did you learn from planning your own Destination Wedding?

So much! The knowledge I gained from planning and hosting my own destination wedding at The Rockhouse Hotel in Negril, Jamaica for 120 guests, is invaluable. The most difficult part is finding the perfect location. I seriously considered 11 places and it took a few excruciating months to finalize our decision. I also learned how important it is to book your destination wedding photographer for the morning after your wedding too, put the dress back on and take advantage of the a.m. lighting for a few more photos. This is a growing trend!

What is the single most important piece of advice you share with your Brides?

To relax!!! It is important to remember that most suppliers a Bride will come in contact with when planning a Caribbean Wedding are based in the islands and they work on “island time”. This translates to longer than desired turn arounds on rate quotes and questions. I try to convince my Brides to see the beauty in their more relaxed way of doing business because there really is nothing we can do to speed up the process. As a travel consultant, it is my job to stay on top of the process and make sure none of the delays cause us to lose reservation space.

What is the biggest trend you are seeing for 2010 Destination Weddings?

For 2010 I am seeing the trend away from seashell themed weddings and the move towards simple, chic, and elegant. One of the more frustrating aspects of planning my own wedding was the difficulty I had in finding favors and décor that met my taste. Everything available at that time (2004/2005) seemed to be “made in china” with a hot glue gun. I didn’t know about Etsy.com and being a business owner, I had limited time to tap my own creative resources. For 2010, I am seeing more resorts offering a wider variety of wedding package themes. One big change for 2010 is the newly formed partnership of Martha Stewart Weddings and Sandals Resorts. Their joint wedding packages are very impressive.

so many people have heard of the tourist destination of martha’s vineyard, but i’m going to tell you all about one of my favorite places: nantucket. a short ferry trip and an even shorter cessna ride from the continent lies a sand bar called nantucket. long ago, the little island was the world’s leading whaling port but when that industry came to a halt, many left the island. local historic district commission ensures architectural preservation and development is done with the strictest care to preserve the history and character of the island. what makes they “grey lady” extra special is that most of the homes and buildings on island date back from before the civil war. total time warp! cobblestone streets and dirt roads dotted with white cedar shingle cottages… a picturesque harbor, shell-paved walks, lighthouses and expansive nature preserves and golf courses…. oh i almost forgot: dolphins in the sunset at madaket beach…  all this makes “ACK” one of the most desirable places to live, vacation, and have a destination wedding.

as with many island towns, nantucket’s population soars in the summertime and has become a very popular location for destination weddings.

nantucket isn’t as hectic as martha’s vineyard is in the summer, and is far less saturated with tourists. there’s no traffic lights on island and year round, its quite peaceful. if you get seasick from ferries and you can’t stomach the idea of hopping on a 10 passenger prop plane (and telling them your weight), you might be out of luck. if you do happen to make it on island, you can rent a car or bicycle easily. if you rent a scooter (not really a moped) do be careful because inexperienced riders on winding dirt roads not only annoy the locals but can be an unsafe combo.

as far as resources for nantucket weddings, there are quite a lot, whether you choose to use island resources or bring your own from the mainland. as far as theme and decorating goes, there are blogs and wedding planners to help. some popular elements nantucket lightship baskets, sailor knots, star fish and seashells, hydrangeas, and a nautical / navy color theme are all very popular design ideas to add to a nantucket event. when planning your island wedding, give yourself extra time and book far in advance since warm months on the island give way to wedding venues and accommodations, inns, and hotels booking up fast for your out of town guests. since weather is unpredictable on nantucket, always have a backup plan in store in case of inclement weather. one thing to note though is that so many mornings on nantucket start out very grey just due to the fog rolling over the island and the clouds often pass for a sunny day.

on island there are a few popular areas for weddings including looking right in town and east over in siasconset (also known simply as ’sconset). below you will find my not so big list of resources for nantucket weddings

ceremony venues and nantucket beach information

First Congregational Church 62 Center Street (508) 228-0950
St Paul’s Episcopal Church 20 Fair Street (508) 228-0916‎ (stone church famed for its Tiffany & Co. stained glass windows, somewhat strict rules for marriage)
South Chruch / Unitarian Universalist Church 11 Orange Street (508) 228-7597
Shirat Ha Yam Jewish services at the Unitarian Church
United Methodist Church 3 Liberty Street (508) 228-1882
St Mary’s Our Lady of the Isle 3 Federal Street (508) 228-0100‎ (i believe you have to be a member)
First Baptist Church 1 Summer Street (508) 228-4930
Union Chapel 18 New Street (508) 257-6616‎ (over in ‘Sconset)
Beach Wedding Ceremonies – while beaches are public property you still need to contact the Board Of Selectmen, i love Jetties Beach
Brant Point light is a very popular location for wedding ceremonies as well
Altar Rock is the second highest point on the island and also a favorite location
Catherine Stover is the Town Clerk and a Justice of the Peace
Wedding venues and rehearsal dinner locations
Nantucket Whaling Museum check out the rooftop observation deck!
Brotherhood of Theves about 50 seated or 100 for passed h’orderves
Catering
A Taste of Nantucket Kimberly Reed (offers planning services as well)
Flowers
Flowers on Chestnut (508-228-6007) Michael Molinar
Wedding Photographer
Wedding Planners, Consultant and misc. resources
Caroline Sallee of ACKtivities
Dress Pressing/Ironing on ACK Roni Roberts Pressed for Time
Music
Gifts, Favors, and Decor
Blue Beetle Nantucket on Main for monogrammed bags and other personalized goodies
Beach Glass on straight wharf, lots of glass and jewelry
Aunt Leah’s Fudge opens back up in april i think
Salons on Nantucket
R.J. Miller Salons 508-228-4672
Andrea Marie Salon for bridal styling 508-228-0042
Tresses & The Day Spa 508-228-0024 (hair, makeup, spray tanning)
The Calming Room (makeup and spray tanning) 508-325-8920
Darya Salon & Spa 508-228-0550
if anyone has any questions about nantucket i can try to help. email me directly through the contact section on my website, or simply post a comment.

after lea and mark hired me to photograph their new england barn wedding, i met with them for some engagement photos in downtown chicago around springtime on the lakefront. they brought their black lab to include in some of the shots and we had a blast. since meeting them and working with them, lea has passed my name on to several brides. i am always so appreciative when clients pass my name along to others. word of mouth is where i get most of my work. before i share some of lea and mark’s wedding photos, here are a handful of their engagement photos:

it was really so fun working with them during the engagement shoot, and i couldn’t wait for the wedding. after previously photographing a wedding at the barn at gibbet hill, i found that i really enjoyed non-traditional wedding venues. while i wasn’t contracted to bring a second shooter, i could tell lea was planning a very cool wedding that was going to be taking place at a historic church and a barn, so i decided to bring along another photographer to assist. i had a few phone conversations with lea before her wedding and could tell already that many well thought out details were being put into action for this wedding.  when we arrived, lea showed us that barack obama declined her wedding invitation. bummer it would have been cool to get some shots of lea dancing with the president!

during our communication over phone and email before the wedding, lea informed me that she would be wearing the groom’s grandmother’s necklace.

we talked about the couple’s wedding day time line and realized that with a church ceremony running from 4 o’clock until almost 5 o’clock, there would not be much time for any outdoor photos after the ceremony with the sun setting so early in the winter. lea and mark had a “first look” before heading a few blocks down the road to the sea for some creative photos.

its worth being a trooper and making time for outdoor photos even in the winter. this gave the bride and groom some time together during their wedding day before splitting time with all their friends and family.

while the bride and groom live in the chicago area, they brought the groom’s pastor in from nebraska to their new england wedding. while not all churches are flexible to allow use of their space with another officiant, the couple found a great church willing to allow an out of town pastor to perform the ceremony. congregational churches in this area have the sanctuary on the second floor.

when i think of new england, quaint white steepled churches are some of the first things that come to mind.

after the ceremony, everyone headed over to the historic red lion inn for the wedding reception. in a picturesque seaside town, a combination of country french and new england colonial styles provided perfect ambience in a wedding reception venue.

the barn at the red lion inn had an upstairs lofted wrap-around balcony that was used for cocktail hour.

a consistent, navy blue nautical theme was used for wedding. paper goods such as table numbers, menus, and escort cards were designed by the Etsy seller BuddyandBean.

after cocktail hour, the newlyweds descended upon the grand staircase of the barn and immediately began their scheduled first dance.

the cake was from the famed konditor meister bakery

toasts and parent dances followed.

Reception Venue: The Red Lion Inn Cohasset, MA
Church: Second Congregational Church, Cohassett, MA
Ceremony Musicians: Brian Pierce, Organ and Piano
Jeff Marani and Jennifer Fearnley, Vocalists
Pat Stout, Trumpet
Cocktail Hour Musicians: Derek Van Slyck Jazz Combo
DJ: Aaron Topfer
Photographer: Heather Parker Photography
Flowers: The Candy Jar Pembroke, MA
Hair and Makeup: Charlotte Phinney
Bridesmaid Gowns: Watters & Watters via Netbride.com
Bridal Gown and Alterations: Eva’s Bridal Orland Park, Illinois
Custom Garter: Sew Unique Garters
Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister Bakery
Limousine: Brewster Coach Quincy, MA
Invitations: Paper Elegance
Bridal Earrings, Bracelet, and Brooch: The White Aisle

when i mention i shoot destination wedding photography, a lot of people assume . as fun as it is, and as glamorous as it sounds, shooting destination weddings is quite challenging to be honest! while many wedding photographers rely on a hotel or other wedding reception venue’s ceiling to bounce a flash off for additional lighting, there is not that option outdoors. with a fast arsenal of lenses and creative use of flash, magic can happen. while moon dance villas and moon dance cliffs resorts currently let their brides and grooms bring their own photographer, some of the big chain resorts build photography into their package and charge high fees to bring a photographer of your choice to your wedding. one of the more popular hotel chains in the caribbean offers photography packages with less than 45 digital negatives, so i can see why bringing your own photographer makes sense!

more often than not, hiring a photographer to fly to your destination wedding is the best option for when you aim for quality and want peace of mind both during and after your big day. photographs need to be edited after the wedding and having a photographer in your own country doing this makes a lot of sense opposed to trying to reach a photographer by phone in another country. while i think most photographers will jump at the chance to shoot a destination wedding, there are some important things to consider when selecting your photographer. i have made over 25 trips in 2009 for photo shoots. not all photographers are used to traveling with expensive equipment. one of the tiring aspects of doing destination wedding photograph for me is that in a foreign country, i don’t leave my equipment anywhere out of sight. i bring everything with me, everywhere. it is important to hire a photographer that takes the job seriously and one that knows the pitfalls of leaving any photographic equipment unattended. when i travel for shoots, i arrive early to make sure that if there are any airport or weather delays, i will still have time to make it to the shoot. i regularly follow the TSA website for updates on traveling and baggage restrictions, and know the importance of what types of photographic accessories should be hand checked by security agents. i also have insurance that covers me on international shoots. while it is inevitable that you will have some wedding vendors from another country, it makes sense to have at least one vendor who is from your home country who is familiar with destination weddings.

when i asked laura sangster, a travel consultant who is a destination wedding planner “what is the single most important piece of advice you share with your brides?” she said “to relax!!! it is important to remember that most suppliers a bride will come in contact with when planning a caribbean wedding are based in the islands and they work on ‘island time.” this translates to longer than desired turn arounds on rate quotes and questions. i try to convince my brides to see the beauty in their more relaxed way of doing business because there really is nothing we can do to speed up the process. as a travel consultant, it is my job to stay on top of the process and make sure none of the delays cause us to lose reservation space.”

this wedding below was taken at moondance villas resort in negril jamaica. it was during the same week i was hired to do architectural resort photography for moondance cliffs, their sister resort.

the couple was from chicago and incorporated many tropical elements to their wedding day. they also incorporated a few jewish traditions during their wedding ceremony on the beach such as standing under a chuppah and the breaking of the glass.

the florist that moondance resorts had available was familiar with what species of flowers not only looked good, but also could stay looking fresh and withstand several hours of a wedding. certain cut flowers wilt faster than others and an experienced tropical wedding florist has the right knowledge.

after the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds were congratulated by their guests and signed their jamaica marriage license.

the sun was setting quickly so i informed the newlyweds that it would be great to utilize the last few moments before the sunset to get some great wedding photos on the beach.

red stripe is jamaica’s famous beer and each guest had a bottle with their table number on it. cute idea!

the bride and groom were named melissa and mark and had monogrammed boxes at each place setting with candy inside for their favors. can you guess what type of candy they used? :)

i have seen moondance villas and moondance cliffs set up for events and they do a great job always.

aside from tasting great, moon dance did an excellent job with food display and presentation.

colorful paper lanterns and strings of lights illuminated the dancefloor. because the west end part of negril is away from city lights, the sky was dark and clear for stargazing.

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