Photos play a huge role in any wedding, but destination weddings are typically even more photography focused. If you are planning a destination wedding, you’ll want to map out all your major shots before you even get to the venue. We planned our shot list with Cristen and the team from Move Mountains. Let’s check out our destination wedding photography from Rome and the top 10 photos you’ll want to take wherever you are having your destination wedding!
1) Engagement Photos
You may be thinking, but we’re about to get married why would we do “engagement photos”? The answer is, you’re going to want some pictures of you both in “normal clothes” in your amazing destination, how many pictures of you in a tux or a wedding gown can you really post on Instagram? So be sure to schedule an hour or two for a little “engagement session” before or after your wedding day.
We may take pictures all the time, but we rarely have the chance to do a full couples shoot, so one of the things on our wish list was to do a full engagement session all around Rome. On the Friday before our wedding we got up early and started on the rooftop of the Hotel de la Ville for a sunrise engagement session.
After the Hotel de la Ville we went down the street to the Trevi Fountain and then moved on to Piazza Navona and the Pantheon.
While Rome has so many amazing landmarks, it also has endless cobblestone streets to explore as well. So if you are planning to get some engagement photos in Rome, keep an eye out for a picturesque street or two as well.
2) Welcome Party Photos
Next up are the welcome party photos. Most destination weddings include some sort of casual cocktail party before the actual wedding day so guests can have a chance to mingle as people are likely flying in from all over. At the welcome party it’s important to capture everyone in their more casual cocktail-attire, if your wedding will be formal.
That evening our first big wedding event was happening, the welcome party. With guests flying in from all over the world we wanted to have everyone get together for a fun cocktail party before the big day. We held our welcome party at the Sofitel Rome, which overlooks the Borghese Gardens.
We held the party right at sunset and our guests enjoyed prosecco and lots of bites while enjoying the view. We just wanted lots of groups shots and candids from the welcome party so we could cherish this time with all our friends and family.
3) Bride and Groom Details
Detail shots may not be top of mind, but photographers will insist on shooting them and you’ll be glad you have them afterwards. Think about it, you spent all that time choosing jewelry, shoes, ties, cufflinks, etc, don’t you want to capture all of it? And if you are having a destination wedding, chances are there will be some funky spots to shoot all the little details.
Our photographers were so amazing in capturing our details and really captured the mood of the venues as well.
I love these cool shots of my gowns hanging in the famous Hotel de Russie courtyard.
4) Destination Wedding ‘Getting Ready Shots’
On the wedding day, the photos start when you are getting ready. If you have a large bridal party, this can turn into a full blown photoshoot, so plan out your shots, do you want some with your MOH and the full bridesmaid crew, just you, etc. For a destination wedding, think about the views from your hotel windows, you’d be surprised how something like a hotel window can look so magical!
For the big day we had all our major shots planned out ahead of time. First up were the getting ready photos. Since we were staying at the beautiful Hotel de Russie, our suite was the perfect place to get ready. The view of the Piazza del Populo was just amazing.
After getting some really cool shots of me getting my makeup done by Haley and Federico putting the finishing touches on my hair, it was time to start shooting Firas’ amazing gown.
We got lots of detail shots, wide shots and candids, it was such a blast! And the view down the street was just beautiful, we had to capture it.
5) Destination Wedding Ceremony Photography
Now we’re getting into the big ones. Whether you are having your wedding ceremony at a church, on the beach or in a hotel, these are probably the photos you have thought about the most, so take plenty of time to plan them out and to practice if you can. Think about, walking down the aisle, the big kiss and anything else of personal or religious significance that you want to capture.
Next, was the actual wedding ceremony at Chiesa Santa Maria in Portico.
From shots of us walking down the aisle to portraits afterwards, the church was a classically Roman backdrop for a wedding and Noosheens florals transformed it into our very own unique space. The installations at the entrance were just magnificent!
6) Post Wedding Ceremony Photos
The time between the ceremony and the reception is usually when the wedding party goes off to do the formal portraits, group shots and anything else that the bride and groom want to capture. In a destination wedding, this is also the time to take advantage of the setting around you and to shoot in front of any famous landmarks while everyone is all dressed up.
After the wedding ceremony, our guests had time to head back to their hotels and change for the reception while we went all around Rome to shoot our bridal portraits.
In addition to getting lots of group shots walking through the streets of Rome we planned a few spots for some epic portraits, like these:
7) Destination Wedding Cocktail Hour
Once it is time to head to your cocktail hour, be sure to have some fun spots for guests to take their own pictures as well. Whether that means installing a floral wall, a neon sign or something else, why not create something that is unique to your wedding?
Finally, after a few hours of shooting around Rome it was time to head to the reception at the Hotel Hassler on top of the Spanish Steps.
Our reception started with a cocktail hour in the Palm Courtyard, where Noosheen had installed some amazing photo-worthy floral displays.
Here we just wanted formal portraits in front of the amazing floral displays and lots of candids of our guests enjoying themselves.
8) Wedding Dinner on the Rooftop
After plenty of champagne at the cocktail hour, you’ll find yourself at dinner! This is the main event of the evening, so you’ll want to design your table and venue with photos in mind. For a destination wedding, be sure to take advantage of any views you may have access to.
And finally, time for the big reveal for our guests, dinner on the rooftop! This was what we were all looking forward to, dinner on the rooftop of the Hassler overlooking Rome, just at sunset.
We wanted lots of photos of the whole space untouched before any guests got up there and then of course lots of candids throughout the night.
9) After Dinner
Depending on the plan for your wedding, you may have dancing, another cocktail hour or another activity planned for after dinner, but be sure to include some night portraits as they will have a completely different look than the ones you took during the day.
And finally, after dinner we got a few more portraits of Drew and I on the Spanish Steps and then it was time to head to the to dance the night away.
10) Destination Wedding Photography at the After Party
If you are having an after party be sure to keep snapping as you’ll want some fun shots of you and your guests having a great time!
Since our wedding was so intimate, we just went to one of our favorite clubs in Rome to dance the night away!
If you loved this breakdown of our destination wedding photography, you’ll love our blog post on designing the entire wedding as well! For the rest of our wedding coverage head to the Wedding section.
