We knew pretty much right away that we’d be planning a destination wedding. I wanted to elope on a cliff somewhere along the Pacific Coast Highway or run off to the Moroccan desert with just us and our photographers. But Seth wanted something a little more traditional, closer to home. A destination wedding ended up being the perfect middle ground.

Why We Chose a Destination Wedding

The main reason? We wanted to spend more than just a couple of hours with our guests. I’ve photographed, attended, and been in so many weddings—and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the day flies by. A destination wedding gave us the chance to stretch out the celebration. It felt like planning a three-week honeymoon that just happened to include our wedding. And honestly? That’s kind of the dream.

We originally started looking within the U.S.—California, specifically—but quickly realized it was actually more expensive than going international. Hotel prices, airfares, and vendor costs weren’t giving us that “wow” experience. Italy wasn’t even at the top of my list at first (don’t judge me), but Seth had always wanted to visit. Spoiler alert: Italy is absolute magic, and I was very wrong to ever doubt it.

All-Inclusive Resorts vs. Custom Experiences

Planning tip #1: Those all-inclusive beach resort weddings may look inexpensive on paper, but every single add-on costs extra. And I didn’t want to spend our entire budget on things I didn’t care about. My priorities were photography and videography. And the real kicker? Many of these resorts don’t allow you to bring your own photo or video team.

I actually photographed a wedding where the couple skipped the resort’s in-house team and brought me instead—it ended up giving them way more photos and a totally customized experience. Most destination photographers will also cover rehearsal dinners and extra events, so you get a lot more coverage.

Finding Our Dream Location (With a Little Help)

Eventually, we narrowed it down to Mexico and Italy. One night, we were seated at dinner with a Delta flight attendant who had a friend back home that specialized in Italian travel. Enter Ashley from
L’Esperta. She completely changed the game. I thought late December wouldn’t be ideal for an Italian wedding, but Ashley gave us tons of amazing ideas and helped us find our dream venue.

Planning tip #2: Find someone who really knows the area—ideally a travel agent or even a local wedding planner. And if you can swing it, try visiting the location ahead of time. (Bonus if you can bring your photographer for an engagement session!)

Be Patient With Vendors (Really)

Planning tip #3: Emails abroad work differently. Don’t panic if no one responds right away. Most of the vendors I contacted took weeks to reply. It’s not personal; the wedding industry just works differently in other parts of the world. Deep breaths. It’s not a red flag.

After a whole lot of Pinterest scrolling, late-night research, and Google translating, we landed on
Masseria Potenti, in Manduria, Puglia. The mother-daughter team—Maria and Chiara—were incredible. They handled the florals, décor, and catering, and they were so kind to speak with me in English throughout the process.

Bring the Vendors You Love

Planning tip #4: If you love a vendor, bring them with you. Especially your photographer or videographer. It’s worth covering their travel to have someone you trust capturing your day.

Our dream team included Amii + Andy Kauth of Sunshine & Reign Photography and Elizabeth Caron of
Elizabeth Eve Productions. I met Amii and Andy at a photography convention and immediately knew they were my people. Elizabeth? She was a no-brainer. Talented, vibrant, and such a calming presence. She brought in Valerio Magliano as her second shooter, and he was just as amazing.

Do I Regret Not Hiring a Planner? Maybe a Little.

Planning tip #5: Hire a planner, especially if you don’t speak the language. I thought I could handle it all on my own—and I did—but it took a LOT of time. Most major wedding directories didn’t have vendors in our region, so I had to dig through Italian websites and translate every listing. That’s how I found our amazing DJ and hair + makeup team, and even stumbled across Scazzicapietti, a traditional pizzica band we brought in as a surprise during the reception.

Budgeting for a Destination Wedding

Planning tip #6: You might save in some areas, but you’ll still spend money. Just because the guest list is smaller doesn’t mean the overall cost will be. But to us, it was worth it. We covered a few events—like a welcome dinner, wine tasting, and rehearsal dinner—because we knew our guests were taking time off work, paying for childcare, and traveling across the world for us.

We also gave everyone a “free” night to explore on their own and scheduled our wedding right before New Year’s Eve so our guests could stay and enjoy the party at the venue. It was a perfect way to keep the celebration going.

Bonus tip: Open a credit card with solid travel rewards. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Business Credit Card or American Express Gold Charge Card can rack up serious points when you’re spending on a wedding. Just be smart about it—don’t go into debt for this.

Don’t Lose Sight of the Bigger Picture

Planning tip #7: A wedding is just a day. A marriage is forever.

Things might not go as planned. But at the end of the day, you’re marrying your person. That’s what matters. Whether you’re on a beach, in the Italian countryside, or your own backyard—it’s about the love and the people you choose to share it with.

If you’re planning a destination wedding and have questions or want to chat more, leave a comment or shoot me a message. I’d love to hear from you. And now—scroll down to see some of my favorite images from our wedding week, plus our highlight video HERE!!

All photos: Sunshine & Reign