Destination Weddings: Top 10 reasons to jet-set for your 'I Do'"

Picture this: You, your significant other, a pristine beach, the sound of the ocean waves crashing in the background, and a tropical breeze ruffling your wedding attire. If that sounds like a dream come true, you're in the right place.

Destination weddings aren't just a trend; they're a passport to an stress-free, exotic, and unforgettable wedding experience. While they might not be for everyone, if you've got a sense of adventure and a taste for the extraordinary, getting married abroad could be the perfect choice for your special day. So pack your bags, say your "I do's" in paradise, and toast to a lifetime of adventure, love, and laughter!

In this article, we're about to embark on a whirlwind adventure through the wonderful world of destination weddings. Why should you choose to jet-off for your special day? Let me count the ways!

1. Unique location makes for unique memories

When you opt for a destination wedding, you're not just choosing a venue; you're selecting a backdrop that will forever be etched into your love story. Whether it's a pristine beach, a historic European castle, or a lush rainforest, your destination will set the scene for your magical day.

2. Quality time with your loved ones

A hometown wedding often leaves you scrambling to meet and greet all your guests. With a destination wedding, you're more likely to have quality time with a smaller, select group of friends and family. It's like a mini-vacation, but with the people you cherish most.

3. Honeymoon and Wedding in One

You can have your wedding cake and eat it too—literally! When you choose a destination wedding, your honeymoon destination is conveniently built-in. After the ceremony, why not kick off your honeymoon with a celebratory splash in the same turquoise waters where you said, "I do"?

4. Guest experience

For your guests, a destination wedding is a thrilling adventure. They get to explore a new place, enjoy local cuisine, and experience a vacation they won't soon forget. It's like a wedding and vacation rolled into one for them as well!

5. Picture perfect backdrop

There's no denying that destination weddings offer stunning natural backdrops for your wedding photos. Whether you choose a château in France, a beach in the Spain, or a vineyard in Tuscany, you'll have Instagram-worthy shots for days. Your wedding film will be nothing short of spectacular.

6. International love story

Lastly, a destination wedding is a symbolic start to your journey as a married couple. You're making your union official in a place that's foreign to both of you, emphasizing the adventure that awaits in your life together.

7. Easy elopement

Who said you had to invite anyone at all? A destination wedding allows you to elope without hurting anyone's feelings. Just grab your significant other and go! Your wedding can be as intimate as you desire.

8. Theme options galore

Destination weddings offer incredible thematic possibilities. You can choose a theme that matches the location, such as a beach-themed wedding by the sea or a rustic wedding in a countryside vineyard. The options are diverse.

9. Pure intimacy

For some, a destination wedding is an opportunity get away from life, and focus on your relationship. An international celebration of your love, in a different country, can lend itsel well to a much smaller ceremonies. It could even be just the two of you.

10. Because getting married at home is overrated

Now, I get it, a destination wedding isn’t for everybody. Whilst there are many reasons you’d want to travel to Italy, Spain or France to tie the knot, I’m sure it will fill some couples with anxiety thinking about planning a wedding in a foreign country. But, equally, I don’t think you’ll ever plan something as rewarding as a destination wedding. Destination weddings are more than just a trend; they're an experience that combines love, adventure, and, of course, a tropical breeze.

From unique locations to less stress, more fun, and picture-perfect photos, destination weddings offer an unforgettable experience that's hard to replicate with a hometown ceremony. So, pack your bags, grab your loved one's hand, and embark on the destination wedding of your dreams. It's time to make your "I do's" an adventure to remember!

Instagram Reels vs. Films for Wedding Videography

For wedding videographers, the opportunities for content creation have become endless these days. The choices for capturing, and more importantly, for presenting the magical moments of a couple’s special day have expanded significantly.

 Over the past 5 years, social media has taken such a huge part in our lives, that new formats like YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels have emerged as additional formats to consider, alongside your typical wedding film. 

When considering what platform and format to use, I always ask myself: what story am I trying to tell. These are some of my findings and learnings.

Instagram Reels: The Essence of Brevity

For an Instagram Reel to be effective, it needs to be under 1 minute. That is, by and large, the amount of time Instagram’s algorithm gives you, as a content creator, to deliver an engaging video to your audience. A single minute goes really quickly, so it’s hard to fully visualise the experience you had on a wedding day in less than 60 seconds.

My work is all about sequencing. I setup a shot, as a way to lead the audience into the next frame, which works really well in a wedding film, but I don’t have that luxury on Instagram, as it needs to be a lot more fast paced.

Reels are awesome to present the best clips of the day. With their concise format, Reels excel at delivering bite-sized snippets that encapsulate the most significant moments in a visually appealing way. Think of it as a portfolio: you’re showing the 20-25 best clips that you’ve recorded of your couple, their venue, and their guests. But it’s also harder to convey emotions, because a Reel mainly uses music, and there’s little to no sound design (which, as I’ve discussed on my cinematic wedding videography page, is a key element to a good wedding film).

And finally, Reels are hard to put together because, as a wedding videographer, we shoot landscape mode all day. The Instagram Reel format works really well in a portrait mode, so some of the shots you’ve framed nicely to work in your final edit, might not land themselves well to being cropped.

Here are 4 reasons I use Instagram Reels (or YouTube Shorts):

1. Quick and Shareable: Their short duration makes them easy to watch, and quickly put together. You can share some of the best clips from the day with your couples the day after their wedding.

2. Experiment to find your nice: To me, Reels allow videographers to experiment with new video editing techniques, or music that you may not want to use ina film. This can result in captivating and attention-grabbing content that resonates with younger audiences.

3. Emphasis on your best work: Reels are ideal for showcasing the best part of the wedding. You can create a Reel from any wedding, because you don’t need the speeches or ceremony to support the narrative. The main ambition is to create something engaging, without investing too much time.

4. Interaction and Engagement: Social media platforms foster interaction through likes, comments, and shares. Reels generate engagement, and engagement generate exposure. Reels are a great way to increase your profile online.

Wedding films: Unfolding the epic narrative

On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have your wedding film (whether highlight or feature). That’s really where the magic happens. The actual length of your wedding film is something you’ll want to experiment with, and I find that what works for other videographers might not necessarily be a good fit for me. I like to tell a story, and I find that a highlight film of around 5mn is perfect. It’s the ultimate blend of perfect shots, captivating story-telling, and a good length to keep the audience engaged.

With a wedding film, you’ll focus a lot more on the story of the day, than you will on selecting on the best clips. This may mean, sometimes, that you will include particular frames that are there to setup a part of the story, even if it’s not a shot that you’re in love with. It needs to work as part of a whole sequence.

The great thing about using Instagram Reels is that you already have a series of shots you can use in your wedding film. Think of your Reel as the early stages of culling your footage. It allows you to quickly remember what clips you have to play with, and elevate the emotion by building a strong narrative around it.

Choosing the right format

I think both Instagram Reels (or YouTube Shorts) and your wedding film compliment each other. I don’t think you need to pick one over the other. You just need to be mindful of your primary audience, and what aspects of the wedding are most important to you and the couple.

If you’re looking at your Instagram account as a portfolio, then Reels are perfect as you only select the best bits. If you’re active on social media, and enjoy sharing content online, then Reels are the best way to engage with couples.

If you focus on the story-telling, however, the format is likely too short. And I also believe that Instagram may become intimidating to couples. They might think you’re “out of their league”, because the way you portray yourself on social media is not attainable, or not something they can afford (just a thought!).

Whichever platform you choose, both formats have the power to immortalise the couple’s special day, and I think they complement each other when used well.

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Why you should consider a City Centre wedding

A city centre is more than just a backdrop; it's a pulsating hub of life, energy, and inspiration. When it comes to wedding videography, capturing the essence of a couple's love story amidst the bustling streets and iconic landmarks of a city centre adds an extra layer of magic to the film.

When planning their wedding, the majority of couples will consider the countryside, or a destination wedding. All valid options, and places I love to film, as well!

But, there’s also undeniable appeal to saying "I do" in the heart of a bustling city centre. I think my cinematic style of wedding filmmaking comes to life in a city. Here’s why.

Urban romance

There's something completely captivating about the vibrant energy of a city centre. Each frame tells its own story, and the city's charm adds an extra layer of enchantment to your wedding memories. In my view, choosing a city centre as the backdrop for your wedding is a decision that will deliver an unforgettable celebration filled with elegance, romance, and excitement.

It offers such a unique backdrop for your wedding, and I think it should be considered by more couples. Whether it's the enchanting architecture, the vibrant atmosphere, or the endless creative possibilities, a city centre wedding always transform your special day into an unforgettable cinematic experience.

Endless creativity

In a city centre, creativity knows no bounds. The combination of old and new, traditional and contemporary, provides endless possibilities for capturing striking visuals and unique perspectives. And as a cinematic wedding videographer, I absolutely love it. From hidden alleys and charming cobblestone streets, to urban landscapes and modern street art, the city centre becomes a playground for my wedding videographer's artistic vision. By exploring the nooks and crannies of the city with my couple, I can uncover hidden gems that add depth and character to the film, resulting in a wedding video that is as unique as the couple themselves.

Endless venue options

One of the major advantages of choosing a city centre for your wedding is the abundance of venue options available. From luxurious hotels and art galleries, to historic buildings and industrial lofts, city centres offer a diverse range of spaces to suit every couple's taste and vision. Whether you prefer a grand affair or an intimate gathering, you'll find a venue that perfectly aligns with your style. The versatility of city centre venues allows you to curate a unique wedding experience that reflects your personalities and creates lasting memories for both you and your guests.

Convenience and access

So this point may not resonate with all of my couples. If you’re planning a destination wedding, your friends and family will all fly over to Spain, Italy, or France (did I tell you I was a French wedding videographer?), and everyone is likely to stay with you at the venue. But hear me out. Hosting your wedding in a city centre offers unparalleled convenience and accessibility for both you and your guests. City centres are typically well-served by transportation networks, making it easier for everyone to reach the venue. This accessibility is especially beneficial if you have guests traveling from different locations. So getting to the venue is easy.

The other convenience benefit is that city centres often offer plenty of accommodation options, so your guests won’t have to worry to much about where to stay on the night of your wedding, and can make the most of the evening celebrations.

The Art of Crafting a Memorable Wedding Speech

Your wedding is a special occasion to bring together family, friends, and loved ones to celebrate your relationship. There will be so much love around you, but also a few nerves as you prepare to deliver your speech. Whether you’re the father of the bride, the groom, the best man, the maid of honour, or a friend of the couple’s, your speech is the perfect moment to deliver powerful words.

As a cinematic wedding videographer, I love the speeches. They are arguably my favourite part of the wedding day. My story-telling approach is all about the spoken words on the day, and a memorable speech can leave a lasting impression to all the guests, and turn the wedding film into a magical and inspiration piece. No pressure! 

So, with the above in mind, here are 5 tips for you to prepare your wedding speech.

Think about the end-result.

Think about what you want guests at your wedding to remember from your speech:

• As the Father Of The Bride: it’s a perfect opportunity to deliver a meaningful speech about the bride, stories about her growing up and the bond you have together.

• As the Groom: It’s about the emotions you want to evoke. You don’t want your speech to just be a series of ‘thank yous’ to everyone that contributed to the wedding day. It’s also your chance to share how much everyone means to you. And always remember to address your bride (trust me, I’ve seen speeches where the groom forgot!).

• As the Best Man: it’s always tempting to want to gather facts and stories about the groom, and unleash dirt on your favourite person. As best man, you definitely want to inject a bit if humour. Just be mindful of avoiding jokes that may excluded some guests. But remember, you don’t need to always be funny. This is also your chance to share stories about the couple, well wishes, and how much they mean to each other, and to you.

Ultimately, think about what it is you want your guests, and the couple, to remember from your speech. And speak from the heart.

Make it genuine

The last thing you want for your wedding speech is for it to be from Google. You can look up a few jokes, of course, but make it as personal as you can, and express genuine emotion; whether it's love, happiness, gratitude, or even a touch of nostalgia, allow your words to convey the depth of your feelings.

Include personal experiences and memories you have shared with the couple, or their family. This adds a heartfelt touch and makes the speech more relatable. Authenticity and sincerity are key when delivering a heartfelt speech that resonates with the couple and the guests.

Plan your speech

I’ve seen speeches done multiple ways, but the best ones are clearly the ones that have been planned, written down, and prepared in advance. You can go off the cuff if you’re a confident speaker, but I’d recommend preparing a few bullet points for clarity, to make sure you’re not forgetting anything, and to keep the audience engaged. 

Having a planned structure for your speech will also help if you’re not comfortable talking in front of a crowd.

If you’re a nervous speaker, see it as a strength as it’ll convey emotions that you didn’t know were possible. Remember that the bride, groom, and guests are all rooting for you.

When should I do my speech?

I always recommend the speeches be done before dinner. If you’re not a natural speak, and you’re feeling nervous, you won’t enjoy your wedding breakfast. All you’ll think about is your speech, and ‘get it out of the way’.

Your speech is a special occasion, so I recommend you do it before the meal is served, where the audience is the most engaged. This also properly kicks off the festivity.

How long should my speech be?

I’ve seen and filmed a lot of speeches over the years and trust me: You do not want your speech to drag on. A well-planned speech should be no longer than 10mn per speaker. Remember, delivery and practice is key. If you rehearse your speech in advance, you’ll familiarise yourself with the timing and pace.

If you’re unsure about hiring a wedding videographer, and would like a chat to help with your decisions, then get in touch and I’d love to have a chat with you.