What’s the #1 question couples ask you?
 
Honestly, it is a tie between two questions…
 
Q1: How many hours/pictures will you photograph and how many will we get back?
 
A1: I take pictures the day before by the pool and before the groom’s dinner & the entire wedding day. I give back between 500-700 edited images in the gallery and the couple have all the printing rights. 
 
Q2: How much time do we need for pictures?
 
A2: To figure out your timeline, we work backwards from your ceremony time. 
 
Generally, it has been the most efficient to time things in 30 minute increments. It builds in good buffers in case a few  things take longer than expected. I take pride in adjusting and making things work out on the fly. Every resort and day is different, so I try to utilize parts of the resort that are shaded during group pictures. I look for places that are beautiful but will also keep everyone semi cool and fresh for the ceremony. Again, it’s a go with the flow decision making process but I always have options ready to go and make the most of every situation. 
 
The timeline below is where the main wedding photos start if you want all the good stuff! I usually show up or go back and forth from the girls’ room to the guys’ room and get a few getting ready candids of each.
 
12:30: Bride Detail shots / Getting in Dress
1:30: First Look
2:00: Bride / Bridesmaids
2:30: Groom / Groomsmen
3:00: Entire Wedding Party
3:30: Family 
4:00: Chill Cool Down
4:30: Ceremony
5:00: Group Picture of Everyone by Beach/Ceremony site.
 
5:15: Usually the best lighting by the beach also less wind. I prioritize a few more group wedding party photos and then send everyone off to enjoy the cocktail hour with the other guests.
 
6:00: Just the Bride and Groom. Best sunset glow and a fun time to be alone with the couple at the beach. It’s fun showing up to the cocktail hour with them and snapping candids with the newly married couple and all of the guests before the dinner.
 
If a bride really loves pictures and likes a strict timeline, I suggest starting all of this an hour before what’s above! So instead of chill time 30 minutes before, allow an hour of chill time. Occasionally resorts run behind and if you’re a planner and want to stay on track without being stressed, start earlier. That way if you’ll have more time before the ceremony where you can hangout, have a cocktail with your friends and be super relaxed! It’s also generally very warm so a longer cool down before you walk down the aisle is always amazing. You can touch up your hair and makeup too. 
 
Q3: When do you fly in and depart?
 
A3: I fly in two days before the wedding and leave the day after. In my package I charge $2,600 + 3 nights stay. The flight is already factored into the $2,600, along with the two days of shooting and edited images. The reason I charge separately for the 3 nights stay is because each resort has different pricing. I like to fly in two days before the wedding to ensure I’m there the day before to scout out the resort, plan where to take the best photos and assess lighting. I’m taking photos from the minute I show up and until I leave to return home. 
 
Q4: Where are the best places to take pictures?
 
A4: Circling back to the above question, typically during the day the beach and ocean are windy and very sunny areas. These spots are best during twilight and sunset! Carve out an hour after your ceremony to use the beach and the pictures are always stunning! During the day after getting ready I like using the shadier parts of the resort where the flowers are lush and landscaping is generally pristine. These are perfect areas to keep us cool and avoiding squinting. 
 
Q5: Do you see any trends with destination weddings happening?
 
A5: Oh yes!
  
- Boho Aesthetic 
- Lighter Blush Neutral Tones
- Hairstyles: Low fishtails brides, beachy wavy hair
- Groom/Groomsmen Linen suits
- Fun pool wear / funny suits / matching
 
Q6: What are your top 3 pieces of advice about choosing to have a destination wedding?
 
A6: First, do what you want as a couple and stand your ground. Family can get really get weird about their opinions right away and that can be sad and discouraging. Talk about your plan together first, be excited about what you really want and let comments slide if people need to express their “not so nice” opinions. Remember that this is your wedding and keep what you both love as your #1 priority when deciding things. 
 
Next, use communication apps! Whats App is amazing. Make different chat groups for your guests in addition to one big chat group for the entire guest list. This is fun so everyone can meet up during the day either at the same pool or bar. It’s a great tool to see if anyone wants to make a dinner reservation or meet up anywhere at night if something fun is going on. Make another chat for the wedding day. I like being in chat groups with the Bride/ Bridesmaids - Grooms / Groomsmen / & entire Wedding Party / Family. This way we can communicate where to be for pictures and if anything is running behind. Make these chat groups before you fly out. It’s also a nice communication tool for anyone flying alone. You can meet people at the airport or possibly know if they are on your shuttle to the resort.
 
Lastly, kind of a loaded answer in general about the resort. When you’re picking a resort think about the size of the resort. Are you ok with a big resort? Do you like the idea of everyone being closer together? Do you like nightlife and entertainment. These were big factors when we chose our spot. We wanted fun entertainment and atmosphere at night and liked the idea of the resort not being super massive so we could gather together easier. Your travel agent will be a huge help with all this!
 
Q7: Are there things couples can do to help make the most of their time with their photographer?
 
A7: Talk and plan as much as you can before getting to the resort! Once you arrive at the resort you will be busy! You’ll be checking in with your wedding coordinator, finding your way around and greeting your guests for a day or two. The last thing you want to worry about is your photographer. Trust that when I arrive my first mission is to check out the resort and plan where pictures will be taking place. The day before I will have the details ready for you and a plan sent to the wedding chat groups.
 
Q8: Do you have a signature shot or pose?
 
A8: I have my go-to candid shots that I love doing with my couples and wedding party! Right away I like to be a jokester and joyful. I love keeping things exciting and try not to do any “posey” stuff right away. If you get people laughing and genuinely having fun, it’s easier to keep the morale of the group going. Spirits are usually up especially for the guys if you can incorporate some drinks, cigars, cheers and fun stuff like that. Transitioning into the more typical poses towards the end is a breeze if things start out fun and not so ordinary. If a bride has a veil I love being creative with that. A destination wedding is unlike any other. People are honestly having such a fun time it’s hard not to love every minute of it. The mood of the wedding party is typically cheery and the best kind of relaxed, at least with all of the awesome people I’ve met so far. 
 
Q9: What is the best time of day for a ceremony? 

A9: I would say an hour or hour and a half before sunset. We need good natural lighting!
 
Q10: Why do you love shooting destination weddings?

A10: I love traveling, the outdoors, and variety. I feel most creative in new spaces and environments. It’s the most refreshing burst of creativity walking into a resort and thinking “how can I show off this beauty”. I want to capture the candid moments from everyone engulfed in it. I love meeting new people and can call a handful of them my friends after each wedding. When the couple looks at their wedding album, I want them to instantly remember how fun it was and let the flood of emotions bring them back to one of the best vacations ever.

How do destination wedding vendors work?
 
Typically, your destination wedding resort will provide you with all the vendors you’ll need. However, this isn’t set in stone! If you have a preferred wedding vendor back at home that you’d like to bring in for the big day, it’s totally doable!
 
Is there a vendor cost?
 
As long as the vendor you’re bringing in is staying at the resort for three nights, you will not have to pay extra to use them. However, if you hire a vendor that is local to the resort and they are not on the resort’s vendor list, be prepared to pay hefty “outside vendor fees” that can range anywhere from $500 to $2000 each!
 
What types of vendors do couples bring in?
 
While this can vary, most couples bring in a  hair stylist, make-up artist, photographer, videographer, or DJ (minus all the equipment!)
 
How should I plan my outside vendor’s travel arrangements?
 
Typically, the bride and groom will cover all travel expenses for their outside vendors. But be sure to ask them if they will negotiate travel costs for their services. Consider asking "if we cover your travel expenses, will you take all the photos of our destination wedding?" 
 
How will my vendors plan for the big day?
Not to worry! Your onsite wedding coordinator will make sure your outside vendors are connected with her team and appropriate staff, so they know exactly what to expect.
 
Have additional questions for us? Then, click here to get in touch with a destination wedding specialist, today!

We’ve gotten to know some pretty talented wedding photographers over the years. So, now it’s your turn! Keep reading to explore some of our favorites – we promise you won’t be disappointed!

Currently residing in the Twin Cities, Andrea Dobbs and her husband love the great outdoors and hanging out at the lake with her family. Her love for photography started when she was just a kid and began to take off in college when she took her first film class. Her joy was to capture people in their raw element and discovering their most genuine emotions. She began developing a freelance business centered around photographing commercial and residential properties, which later developed into the wedding photography business she has today. Andrea thrives on those “go-with-the-flow-moments” and enjoys working closely with the bride and groom throughout the entire wedding process. She also prides herself for hand-editing each and every one of her photos to ensure the best quality possible. Interested in checking her out? Then, click here to find out more! 

​As a self-proclaimed Northerner and Southerner, Jenna Ryan grew up in the Midwest and spent a majority of her life there. Balancing both roles as ‘Mom’ and photographer, Jenna finds herself traveling often, with her camera not far from her side. With a large appreciation for art and design, she got her start in the business back in college, where she began posting photos from her photography class assignments on social media. Jenna began doing weddings for friends, which soon became a full-time photography business. She describes her photography style as a “natural space for couples to have some fun together” and loves the light and airy style of photos. Think Jenna could be your girl? Then, click here to learn more about her today! 

​Now in Central Florida, Paige Nicole is a true Disney and beach-lover and is happy to call Florida her home. Having been involved in each and every stage of the wedding photography business, Paige has acquired a deep understanding for the industry and has proven herself an excellent resource for couples. After graduating college, Paige began working at a local wedding chapel coordinating and second shooting for her father. When the time came for doing weddings on her own, she dove right in. Paige considers herself a “documentary style wedding photographer that loves bold colors,” as well as a capturer of natural interactions as they come. She also works closely with the couple well before the wedding, so they feel completely relaxed the day of their event. “Because I work with the wedding planners on your day, I also work to keep you on track to make sure you get the most out of your day.” Want to learn more about Paige? Then, click here to get the scoop!

Born in Cape Cod, Katie considers the beach her “second home.” With nearly 10 years of photography experience, she has developed a photography style that evokes fun, authentic, and honest emotions from her couples. Starting off photographing friends and taking headshots, Pietrowski landed an internship her senior in college with a phenomenal photographer. She learned the ins and outs of shooting and editing weddings and started her own business shortly after graduating. Today, Katie focuses on documenting the entire wedding day from behind-the-scenes and watching everything unravel as it naturally would –from the emotional first look to group photos with grandma and grandpa. “I think clients would say I am outgoing, funny, reliable & creative. Fortunately, a lot of my couples end up becoming friends of my fiancé and me due to how much fun we have working together!” Want to meet Katie? Then, click here to get in touch!

We hope you consider checking out one of these talented photographers to capture your special day! For more information on the destination wedding planning process, feel free to reach out at hello@romancetravelgroup.com today! 

Tell us a little about you?
My name is Paige, I am from Dexter, Michigan and a graduate of Albion College who absolutely loves to capture the moment.  I live in Central Florida now. I love Disney and the beach so living in Florida is true perfection for me.  I have been lucky to have been a part of over 100 weddings from coordinating to photographing to being an assistant, I feel that I truly understand weddings and how to keep your day on track and keep everyone having a great time.  Your wedding photographer is a big part of your life on your wedding day so it is important to me that we have a connection, and that you are comfortable with me.  The moments captured will be the photo on the wall that your family will see for a lifetime. My goal is to truly capture every moment for you as if they were my own.  
 
How did you get into photography?
From as far back as I can remember I have always had a camera in my hand.  I really started though my junior year of college when I was with my team at horse shows.  When I graduated college, I began to work at The Little Wedding Chapel, coordinating and second shooting for my dad. When the opportunity presented itself for me to photograph weddings on my own, I dove right in.  
 
Why weddings?
 There are so many reasons why I became a wedding photographer but the main one is this; Wedding days are stressful. You have everyone in your family with you, some you haven’t seen in quite some time and everyone wants a piece of your time.  I want to be that person who captures your time, your emotions, your moments.  The moments you become a family.
 
What is your favorite part of a wedding day?
My favorite part of the wedding day is such a hard question to answer!  But, I would have to say the moment when the bride and groom come back up the aisle right after they are married.  The joy for their new life together is just incredible.  
 
Can you share a moment during a wedding that took your breath away?
There is always a moment from every wedding but the one that made me cry was at Valerie & Nate's wedding.  Valerie did a "first look" with her dad and her brother.  She had a hand-written letter for her father that was just absolutely beautiful.  Later that same morning she had me deliver a letter to her brother, and it was just as beautiful then as it was with her father.  Very touching moments. You could say I love "Love."  Valerie's love for her family was shining so brightly on her wedding day!
 
How would you describe your photography style?
I am a documentary style wedding photographer that loves bold colors.  While I do your portrait style setups, I also love to simply capture your interactions as your own and how you are comfortable. 
 
What would your past wedding couples tell us about you?
Everyone that I have worked with has been so relaxed on their wedding day.  When I work with a bride and a groom for their wedding day we talk about the things that they want well in advance so that nothing is missed and there is no stress about forgetting something.  They have also told me that they don't feel rushed.  Because I work with the wedding planners on your day, I also work to keep you on track to make sure you get the most out of your day. 
 
Any advice for our future destination wedding couples?
When traveling make sure that you don't get lost in the planning, HAVE FUN.  Many people get suck in the stress of planning your wedding to perfection.  No matter how the day turns out, it will be perfect, it's the start of your new beginning. ​

Romance Travel Group is excited to announce a new partnership with destination wedding photographer, Jenna Ryan!

Tell us a little about you?
I consider myself equally a Northerner and a Southerner – I grew up in the Midwest and spent the vast majority of my years there. I loved life there and all the people in it, but always felt a pull toward the South. For the last few years, I’ve felt so fortunate to do life in South Carolina. I love my job as ‘Mom’, and I love to travel. Wherever life finds me at any given moment, you’ll usually find me with some sort of camera in my hand. There is beauty to be found in every situation, and I’m constantly channeling C.S. Lewis’ idea that “We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words – to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.” I’ve found photography to be an invaluable tool in this way.
 
How did you get into photography?
I’ve always appreciated how art and design can evoke such emotion or sense of peacefulness in a person. In college, I began posting photos of my photography class assignments on social media, and before I knew It a few friends had asked me to photograph their weddings. That led to more weddings, and it wasn’t long before I found myself doing photography full-time.
 
Why weddings?
I think for me, so much of what I do is about the *moment*. That look between a bride and her groom, a bride and her dad, the laugh a groom shares with is best friend. These moments happen so quickly and then they are gone. When I look back at a wedding I’ve photographed and see all those priceless moments that are now preserved forever for that couple, it’s extremely fulfilling.
 
What is your favorite part of a wedding day?
I love the couples’ portrait portion of a wedding day. Whether it’s before or after their ceremony, that sweet time I get to just laugh a little with a bride and her groom is so fun. And, because I know that these are the photos that will likely hang in frames for decades to come, I find that my creative adrenaline kicks into overdrive during this time!
 
Can you share a moment during a wedding that took your breath away?
I was recently photographing a bride in the bridal room, and as she was looking in the mirror, she began to cry happy tears. I think even she was caught off guard by how excited she was to marry her groom. It was delightful to hear her talk about how beautiful she felt, and when her 6-year-old son walked in all handsome and dressed up, I thought she might lose it completely in the best way. They were becoming a family that day, and it was beautiful. My aim is to always learn my couple’s story, because when you learn their story, suddenly the moments that need to be captured become very clear.
 
How would you describe your photography style?
My goal is to create natural space for couples to have some fun together. If they can even forget I’m there for a moment while photographing them, I’ve done my job well. Photography is a hugely important part of your wedding day, but it should not overtake the day. I gravitate toward a light & airy style of photography, but also don’t like to place myself or my clients in a box of one style. Sometimes the moment calls for more of a dark and moody feel. Overall, I like to consider myself a purveyor of beautiful moments, and each moment deserves special consideration as to how it should be captured.
 
What would your past wedding couples tell us about you?
They would tell you that I have a healthy respect for the wedding day and all that it entails. I am always available, but never obtrusive. I’m equal parts adaptable and prudent when it comes to keeping the schedule of your day. Fun during a photo shoot is a priority, and it makes me do a little happy dance every time grooms tell me how much fun it was to have their photos taken!
 
Any advice for our future destination wedding couples?
Consider that your photographer is one of the people you will spend the most time with on your wedding day. She will likely be with you while you’re getting ready, during your first look, and all throughout the day and night. Be sure to choose someone that you can enjoy spending that time with, as well as someone who cares enough to learn your unique story. If a photographer has done her job well, the candid, unforeseeable photos you receive from throughout your wedding day may just become some of your favorites.
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