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Discover why you’re not booking destination weddings and what you can do to change it
Are you a wedding photographer or vendor dreaming of booking destination weddings? While challenging and exhausting in many ways, working on destination weddings can also be a rewarding experience. Traveling to beautiful destinations is exciting and inspiring! However, breaking into this niche can be tough. Along the journey to get there, you may be doing things that are actually preventing you from booking those dream weddings abroad.
Here are five reasons you’re not booking destination weddings and exactly what you can do instead:
01. You’re not already traveling
First and foremost, if you want to work destination weddings, you need to travel. Before couples can book with confidence, they need to see that you love to travel and that you have the necessary travel skills. Destination weddings are challenging—travel delays, cross-cultural difficulties, and language barriers make them extra-stressful. So demonstrating you’re a travel expert will communicate that you’re up for whatever may come!
02. You’re not clearly speaking to the unique needs of destination couples
Couples getting married abroad have unique needs that are different from couples opting for local weddings. Destination couples want an experience. They want to get lost in the beauty of a place. And they want a truly memorable time with their friends and families. Clearly speaking to these needs will set you apart from other photographers and vendors. Prospective couples will be attracted to you as a vendor because they’ll feel you understand their needs—and that’s what’s key!
03. You’re not targeting a specific destination
Next up, you’re probably not booking destination weddings if you market yourself as being “available worldwide.” For example, saying you’re available in “Chicago & Worldwide” doesn’t aid in booking those dream weddings. Couples want to hire experts. They want to know you’re familiar with their chosen location. Instead, market yourself to a specific destination. Pick one location (to start with). Invest the time, energy, and money it takes to become familiar with that location. Only then can you start marketing yourself there and attracting couples who are planning weddings in that location.
04. You’re not including travel in your pricing
To make it super easy for your couples, I recommend including travel costs in your pricing. Do the research and figure out how much it will cost you to travel to a given destination. Then add that cost on top of your existing pricing. This package will now be your “destination wedding” offering. On the backend, you’ll know your numbers. But on the front end, couples can book with confidence knowing they won’t have to deal with reimbursements or surprise expenses down the road.
05. You’re not communicating your expertise
Lastly, in all your means of communication, you should be demonstrating your expertise. Show how you travel, how you navigate cross-cultural experiences, how well you know a given location. Build your expertise and then showcase it. When you work this knowledge into your marketing, social media posts, blog posts, etc, prospective couples will immediately know they can trust you! They’ll be eager to reach out and book, knowing they’re hiring an expert.
With these five problems solved, you’ll be well on your way to booking your first dream destination wedding.
Bon voyage, beauties!
Kristin xo
Ready to make your destination dreams come true?
Discover more educational resources:
3 Ways to Build a Destination Wedding Portfolio
