Packing Tips for Your Destination Wedding (Photographer-Approved)
Planning a destination wedding is the adventure of a lifetime — but let’s be real: it also comes with a lot of logistics. Between flights, time zones, customs, outfits, and vendor communication, it’s easy to forget one of the most important parts of the entire experience… what you pack.
As a destination wedding photographer based in Virginia and traveling worldwide, I’ve been lucky enough to document love stories in unforgettable locations — from the cliffs of Mallorca to the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. And I’ve seen firsthand what couples wish they’d brought (and what they didn’t actually need).
So here it is: the ultimate, photographer-approved destination wedding packing guide — designed to help you arrive confident, calm, and completely prepared to live out your best wedding weekend ever.
✈️ First Things First: Carry It On, Always
Let me say this louder for the people in the back: do not check your wedding attire.
Your wedding dress, suit, rings, marriage license, and anything irreplaceable must come with you in your carry-on luggage or garment bag.
Checked bags get delayed or lost more often than you think — especially with international travel. Don’t take the risk. Your future self will thank you.
Photographer Tip:
Most airlines will store a garment bag in a closet or overhead bin if you board early and ask kindly. Call ahead to confirm the airline's policy!
📸 Photography-Friendly Items You Shouldn’t Forget
As someone who documents weddings on film, digital, and Super 8, I notice the little details that really elevate your photos. Here’s what I recommend packing specifically to help you look and feel your best on camera:
✔️ A Steamer or Travel Iron
Wrinkled clothing is the enemy of dreamy detail shots and elegant portraits. If your Airbnb or hotel doesn’t have one, bring a mini version.
✔️ Neutral or Textured Hangers
Most dresses and suits look amazing hanging up — but not on a plastic hanger. A wooden or velvet hanger (or even a beautiful vintage one) levels up your detail shots.
✔️ An Invitation Suite
Even just one copy of your wedding invite and any special paper goods (menus, vow books, letters) can be styled beautifully for flat lays.
✔️ Extra Film/Polaroids/Disposables
If you’re a nostalgic soul like me and want to capture behind-the-scenes moments with your own camera, pack a few rolls of 35mm film or a disposable camera for fun.
✔️ Clear Umbrella
If you're headed somewhere rainy (like Scotland or the Pacific Northwest), a clear umbrella photographs so much better than black or colorful ones.
👰 For the Wedding Day Itself
Here’s a checklist of essentials for your actual wedding day — many of which destination couples forget in the chaos of packing.
✧ For Brides:
Wedding dress (in carry-on!)
Veil or hair accessories
Undergarments, shapewear, or double-sided tape
Shoes (both ceremony and backup flats!)
Vow book
Jewelry + backup earrings
Touch-up kit (blotting papers, lipstick, bobby pins, deodorant)
Mini perfume
Safety pins, sewing kit
Comfortable getting-ready outfit
Waterproof mascara (especially if you're reading vows outdoors!)
✧ For Grooms:
Suit or tuxedo
Tie, cufflinks, belt or suspenders
Dress shoes + socks
Watch or sentimental accessories
Hair styling products
Button-down shirt (pack an extra, trust me!)
Vow book
Travel steamer for touch-ups
Flask (optional but fun!)
🧳 Destination-Specific Essentials
Whether you’re getting married in Europe, the Caribbean, or a U.S. National Park, these extras will come in handy:
Travel adapter or voltage converter (for Europe)
Lightweight but formal outerwear (especially for mountaintop ceremonies)
Sunscreen + bug spray (for beach and tropical weddings)
Hiking boots or walking shoes (for adventure elopements)
A mini first aid kit
Dramamine or motion-sickness bands (for boats or winding roads)
Reusable water bottle
Snacks or energy bars for wedding morning fuel
Portable speaker for getting ready or your ceremony playlist
💍 Don’t Forget the Legal Stuff
Every country (and some states!) have their own rules when it comes to marriage licenses, waiting periods, and document requirements. Research this early and pack:
Your marriage license (or proof of symbolic ceremony paperwork)
Valid passports + photo copies
IDs or birth certificates, if required
Wedding vendor contracts + backup contact info
Travel insurance and receipts for large purchases (like your dress)
🧘♀️ And Lastly, Don’t Forget the Little Luxuries
This is your wedding week, not a work trip. Bring things that help you stay grounded and present:
A journal or memory book
Favorite skincare (sheet masks, yes please!)
A playlist that calms your nerves or hypes you up
A Polaroid camera for candid behind-the-scenes moments
Essential oils or a travel candle to make your hotel/Airbnb feel cozy
Something sentimental — a letter from your partner, a family heirloom, or a book you love
Bonus: A Packing Timeline
2 Weeks Before Travel:
✔ Finalize your wedding day outfit + accessories
✔ Pack film or camera gear
✔ Order travel-size toiletries
✔ Double-check passport validity
✔ Confirm airline carry-on/garment bag policy
1 Week Before Travel:
✔ Begin packing
✔ Print backup vendor list + timeline
✔ Confirm marriage license details
✔ Steam outfits and pre-pack delicate items
Night Before Travel:
✔ Pack your carry-on with all irreplaceables
✔ Back up your phone and documents
✔ Rest — you’ve got a big, beautiful journey ahead
Final Thoughts from Your Photographer
As a destination wedding and elopement photographer based in Virginia but traveling worldwide, I’ve seen it all — suitcase zippers splitting, vows left behind, and dress trains caught in airport escalators (yes, really!).
But with a little prep and some intentional packing, you’ll set yourself up for a day that feels as stress-free and dreamy as it should. And when you're fully present and relaxed, it shows in your photos and film.
I bring a calm, supportive energy to every wedding I photograph — whether it’s on a cliff in Spain or the hills of Virginia — and I’m always ready with extra bobby pins, tissues, or a spare pair of comfortable shoes if needed. Because your experience matters. And I’m here for all of it.
Ready to book your dream destination wedding or elopement?
📍 I’m Brittany — a film photographer + Super 8 filmmaker based in Virginia and traveling worldwide.
🎞️ Offering emotional, documentary-style storytelling for couples who want to remember not just how it looked — but how it felt.
