How Far in Advance Should You Book a Photographer for a Destination Wedding in Europe?

Planning a wedding in Italy, France, Portugal or Spain? Here’s when to book your photographer to make sure you don’t miss out on your dream team.

When it comes to destination weddings, timing is important — and that includes booking your photographer. Unlike a local wedding, where vendors might be more flexible or available at shorter notice, destination weddings require a bit more planning and coordination, especially when you're getting married in popular European locations.

So how far in advance should you book your destination wedding photographer? Let’s break it down.

The Short Answer: As soon as you’ve booked your venue

For most weddings in Europe — especially in high-demand regions like Lake Como, Mallorca, Provence, or the Amalfi Coast — I recommend booking your photographer as soon as you’ve booked your venue and secured your date. The ideal timeframe is 10 to 14 months before your wedding date, with most of my couples securing their date no later than 8 months I advance.

This ensures:

• Your ideal photographer is available

• You have time to plan a thoughtful timeline

• You can build a real relationship with the person documenting your day

• There's time to schedule pre-wedding sessions, if desired

• Travel and accommodations can be arranged early

Why So Early? A Few Reasons:

1. Destination Photographers Tend to Book Fast

Many destination wedding photographers only take on a limited number of weddings per year to ensure personalized service while balancing a busy travel schedule.

If you're getting married during peak season (May to October), weekends can book out over a year in advance, especially in high-demand destinations.

2. You’ll Get Support Beyond Just Photography

Booking early means you get access to timeline guidance, location scouting, and planning support — not just photography on the day.

When you book me, I help to:

• Build your photo timeline

• Recommend the best time for your ceremony (based on light)

• Suggest pre-wedding shoot locations

• Coordinate with your planner and vendors

The earlier you book, the more time we have to plan these details together, ensuring a stress-free wedding day.

3. Destination Weddings Involve Extra Logistics

Whether you're marrying at a cliffside villa in Spain or a château in France, destination weddings often involve:

• Travel coordination

• Scouting photo locations

• Multi-day coverage

• Venue-specific timelines

Booking early gives us time to design your experience with intention and excitement.

Ideal Booking Timelines by Wedding Type

The type and size of your destination wedding will also play a role in deciding when to Book Your Destination Photographer.

For Large weddings of 80+ guests, I recommend booking 12–18 months in advance. More Intimate destination weddings of around 30-60 guests can be booked around 8–12 months in advance. Elopements and Intimate weddings can be booked on much shorter notice as they often allow for flexibility and coordination with your photographer and can take place on weekdays or during off season. For these types of weddings booking 4-6 months in advance is completely doable, but the general rule of thumb is to book your vendors as soon as you have secured your date and venue.

When Do Most Couples Reach Out to Me?

Most of my destination couples reach out 8–16 months before their wedding date, especially if they’re planning on getting married in:

• Peak season (May to October)

• Iconic locations (like Lake Como, Amalfi Coast, Mallorca, Provence, or Ibiza)

• Multi-day celebrations (welcome dinner, wedding day, post-wedding shoot)

What If You’re Planning Last-Minute?

If your wedding is in less than 6 months, don’t panic — but reach out ASAP. I occasionally have openings due to schedule shifts or off-season dates. If I’m not available, I’ll always try to recommend someone amazing in my network.

Ready to Secure Your Date?

If you’re planning a destination wedding in Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, or anywhere in Europe, I’d love to photograph your celebration!

Reach out here to check availability or take a look at our destination wedding photography packages here.