Multi-Day Destination Weddings: Wedding Weekend Photography

Caroline and Will’s Norfolk, Connecticut, wedding is one of my favorite examples of multi-day destination weddings. This couple intentionally planned a fun, connection, romance, and celebration-filled weekend. With activities for guests spanning three days, this wedding will remain forever in the memories of Will, Caroline, and their loved ones. Anyone planning a destination wedding shouldn’t miss this gallery!

Kicking Off the Wedding Weekend with Fun – A Golf Scramble

One of the best ways to start multi-day destination weddings is to host a fun activity that gets your guests engaged and mingling right away. Caroline and Will did this by planning a golf scramble for the first day of their wedding weekend. This lovely, casual start to the festivities served as a kind of icebreaker. All the guests quickly began interacting, having fun, and bonding over friendly competition.

Since Will and Caroline love golfing whenever they visit his family in Norfolk, it felt right to start the wedding weekend at the golf club. It also gives your photographer (me, in Caroline and Will’s case) a chance to capture some candid shots of guests interacting and having fun. I had such a great time documenting the festivities!

A Must for Multi-Day Destination Weddings – Rehearsal Dinner & Welcome Party

After the golf scramble, everyone cleaned up and gathered for an intimate rehearsal dinner at the wedding venue, Will’s family home in Norfolk, Connecticut. The dinner was a lovely, intimate gathering with only family and close friends. I love how smaller rehearsal dinners allow couples to spend time with and express gratitude toward their parents, wedding party, and special guests. Later, more guests arrived for the welcome party, which Caroline and Will had planned for after the dinner.

A welcome party or welcome dinner before the wedding day is essential to any destination wedding. No matter how far your guests have traveled, this gathering allows you to greet them and introduce them to one another. Plus, the environment fosters conversation and connections that will only enhance the rest of your celebration. All in all, this mix of formal and more relaxed events created a fantastic variety of photo opportunities before their wedding day ever arrived.

The Main Event – A Magical Wedding Ceremony & Reception

The next morning, a beautiful day dawned, and it was time to start getting the bride and groom ready for their wedding. I began by capturing some photos of Caroline and Will getting ready at the house. Then, out by the lake, I documented the couple’s first look before we moved on to bridal portraits. We spent some time in the woods beside the lake, where Caroline loves to go running. Finally, we finished the session with romantic shots of the couple with Caroline’s family’s vintage car.

Obviously, the wedding day is the main event of all multi-day destination weddings. All the guests come together to celebrate the love and union of the bride and groom. As a photographer, this is the day I provide the most extensive photo coverage. From formal portraits to candid moments and everything in between, I’m there to capture it all.

After spending time together at the golf scramble, rehearsal dinner, and welcome party, the guests at Caroline and Will’s wedding seemed so relaxed and engaged with the celebration and each other. Together, we watched Will and Caroline say, “I do,” in a stunning ceremony. Then, an absolutely fun and delightful reception followed, complete with cocktails, fantastic food, and a live band. They also booked an amazing DJ for the late-night party. Everything about it felt so authentic to this couple and their unique relationship!

Ending an Unforgettable Wedding Weekend – Post-Wedding Brunch

Finally, Will and Caroline were officially married, and it was time to say goodbye to their fabulous guests. So, the morning after their wedding, they hosted one last event to cap off their wedding weekend: a post-wedding brunch. This gave me another fantastic opportunity to capture candid, casual photos as the guests reminisced about the weekend.

I love it when couples planning multi-day destination weddings include a farewell activity. It provides a relaxed setting where the newlyweds can say goodbye to their guests before heading off on their honeymoon. I also love how it gives couples and guests a chance to decompress and reflect on the celebration. It’s especially enjoyable when this event includes just the very closest people to the bride and groom, allowing them to relax and enjoy a few more moments together before the weekend ends.

Why I Love Multi-Day Destination Weddings

Whether you’re planning a destination wedding in the next state or across the globe, it’s essential to think about more than just the wedding day. If you want to create a truly unforgettable experience for yourselves and your guests, plan a wedding with events across multiple days. Ultimately, a multi-day wedding is perfect for couples who want to:

• Build connections. With more activities, your guests will have more time to build stronger connections and create lasting memories!
• Create a fun environment. A multi-day destination wedding allows you to plan a variety of events. So, there will be something for all your guests to enjoy! Plus, spending more time together helps everyone get comfortable with each other, creating a more relaxed, festive atmosphere.
• Capture candid and casual photos. An extended wedding weekend timeline allows photographers more opportunities to capture genuine, heartfelt moments. Instead of cramming all your photography coverage into the wedding day itself, plan pre- and post-wedding events. That way, your photographer can create a whole treasure trove of candid shots you might not have gotten otherwise.

Caroline and Will’s beautiful multi-day wedding gallery showcases all the best reasons to extend your wedding timeline to include the entire weekend. I especially recommend multi-day destination weddings to couples planning for an international destination (like in Italy!). If you’re planning a multi-day wedding, contact me to capture the connection, fun and romance!