Travel and photography…two of my favorite things to do, so it would only make sense that I would offer my services as a destination wedding photographer. I am very happy to travel to just about anywhere, and I will customize a photography package for your destination wedding location to your specific needs, whether it is as distant as the romantic hills of Tuscany, in an exclusive mountain resort in Pennsylvania, or as close as San Francisco or Santa Barbara.

Couples have different reasons for doing destination weddings these days, not the least of which is destination weddings are usually more cost-effective than traditional weddings. And in recent years destination weddings have become accessible to more couples looking to add an exotic twist to their special ceremony.  In the past, marrying away from home usually meant eloping. The couple would steal away into the night to flee and tie the knot on their own terms. Today, the idea has shed its stigma, and a growing number of couples are hightailing it away from the traditional formal affair to a casual, intimate occasion in their dream honeymoon spot.

For whatever reasons you have and regardless of where it takes place, it is still your wedding day, and the photographer you hire will only have this one chance to capture those moments, so why not fly in your own talent…B.Y.O.P. (Bring Your Own Photographer).  Don’t leave the critical aspect of photography to chance.

Here are a few images from a couple of destination weddings I have done.

This first couple is Thalia and Rob, the couple I photographed in Sarteano, Tuscany*, Italy.  In the early days of their wedding planning they came to the realization that they just didn’t want the big party with 150 of “their closest friends”. They just weren’t into it. They wanted something different…something that spoke to their hearts.

The bride had traveled to this part of Tuscany in her college years and had fallen in love with the area and the people. She was also taken in by the beauty of the area, which is totally understandable. And the groom had also been to Italy but never to Tuscany and was very anxious to go. So the two of them and twenty of their closest friends and family members set off to the Tuscan hills, to the small town of Sarteano.

We took the medieval center of the city by storm and a good time was had by all…

It might interest you to know that the images you are viewing of this wedding are from my uniquely custom Designer Storybook wedding albums.

This next series of images are from the destination wedding of Erin and Scott and it couldn’t have been more different than the previously mentioned couple. Erin and Scott’s destination was the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort** which is a 5 star luxury resort nestled in the mountains at Farmington, PA.  Both the bride and groom are originally from the East coast and this resort was the bride’s “fantasy wedding location” growing up. And instead of 20 guests, they had about 350. In this regard, I would really have to call this a destination/traditional wedding. Whatever I call it, it was a great day.

This would be an appropriate time for me to mention, the equipment I take to a destination wedding is based on what is needed. For the wedding in Tuscany, all of my gear was in one large carry-on bag. For this event at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, in a grand ballroom with 350 guests, requests for a lot of portrait work and featuring a large and extremely lively reception, I found it necessary to take considerably more.

Erin and Scott originally hired me to do their engagement session only, thinking they would use a photographer referred by the resort. However, after seeing my work and  the fact that we worked so well together, they decided to fly me in instead. A decision they have never regretted.

This first image is one I created for the opening, two-page-spread of their album.

Erin was determined to not cry before the ceremony and she was doing an exceptional job at it, at least until I mentioned that Scott was…

An unexpected thunderstorm blew in. The outdoor ceremony had to be moved indoors which certainly didn’t dampen anyone’s mood. And fortunately, it stopped during the ceremony which gave me access to the sculpture garden for photography.

It was an emotional and lively affair. Here is a small sampling of their events.

The grand finale of the reception was a traditional Lithuanian bridal dance. Everyone who danced with the bride was given a shot of vodka. I don’t know how she did it, but the bride was dancing non-stop for just over 45 minutes…then the groom enters the circle, sweeps his bride up into his arms and carries her off into the night.

To see more of my work, please visit www.deremus.com.

Pasadena based David DeRemus is a full time professional wedding, portrait and fine art photographer and offers destination wedding service to just about anywhere.

(All images are copyright David DeRemus Photography and may not be used without prior express written consent.)

*Tuscany (Italian: Toscana) is a region in Italy. It has an area of 22,990 square kilometres (8,880 sq mi) and a population of about 3.6 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence.

Tuscany is known for its landscapes and its artistic legacy. Six Tuscan localities have been UNESCO protected sites: the historical center of Florence (1982), the historical center of Siena (1995), the square of the Cathedral of Pisa (1987), the historical center of San Gimignano (1990), the historical center of Pienza (1996) and the Val d’Orcia (2004).

(I will feature some fine art photography from this region in a future post.)

**The Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is a resort in Farmington, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The resort is currently owned by Maggie Hardy Magerko, president of the 84 Lumber Company, and was founded by Joseph Hardy.

The resort is named for Chief Nemacolin, a native Delaware Indian who in 1740 trailblazed a route through the rugged Laurel Highlands Mountains between what is now Cumberland, Maryland and Brownsville, Pennsylvania.

In November 2006, Falling Rock hotel at Nemacolin received AAA Five Diamond status. Falling Rock is the only hotel in Western Pennsylvania to receive AAA’s highest honor, and retained five diamond status for 2008 in November 2007.