Pros, Costs, and Emotional Differences

Planning to say “I do” in Europe? Whether you're imagining a lavish weekend with your closest friends or an intimate escape with just the two of you, it all starts with one question: destination wedding or elopement?

Both options offer unforgettable experiences, but they lead to very different kinds of days and films. As international wedding videographers, we’ve captured both types of celebrations across Italy, Denmark, Spain, France, and more. Here's what we’ve learned.

✨ What Is a Destination Wedding?

A destination wedding is a full-scale wedding celebration held in a country or city other than where you live. Most couples invite between 10 and 100 guests, book a venue, and plan a full wedding weekend: welcome dinner, ceremony, reception, and sometimes even a farewell brunch.

You’ll likely need a planner (especially for legal paperwork), but in return, you get:

A rich, multi-day experience

Cultural details (food, music, location)

Celebration with family and friends in a dream setting

It’s ideal for couples who love to host, travel, and make it memorable for everyone, not just themselves.

📦 See what’s included in our full wedding video packages → Packages

💍 What Is an Elopement?

An elopement is an intentionally small, personal ceremony — often just the couple, or the couple plus one or two guests. It’s about freedom, emotion, and focusing on what matters most: the commitment between two people.

Elopements can be legal or symbolic, and they usually take place:

Outdoors (mountains, beaches, historic streets)

With minimal logistics

Often filmed with just a videographer and photographer present

Most couples choose to elope because they want a stress-free, intimate, and authentic wedding experience, without timelines, speeches, or expectations.

🎥 Watch some of our favorite elopement films → Portfolio

💡 Which One Fits You Best?

Still unsure whether you’re more of a destination wedding couple or elopement soulmates? Let’s break it down in real terms — from what we’ve seen filming both types across Europe.

If you dream of celebrating surrounded by your family and closest friends, laughing over wine in a Tuscan villa, dancing under the stars, and sharing speeches that make everyone cry, then a destination wedding is for you. It’s a celebration not just of your love, but of your community, your history, your people. Yes, it requires more planning, more budget, and more coordination — but in return, you get a full experience that everyone will remember.

On the other hand, if the thought of crowds, timelines, and expectations makes you uneasy — and you’d rather exchange vows barefoot on a cliff, wander the streets of Copenhagen at dawn, or say “I do” by the sea with just the two of you — then eloping might be exactly what you need. Elopements are about intimacy, spontaneity, and stripping everything back to what matters: you two, and the promise you’re making.

There’s no wrong answer. We’ve filmed couples who began planning a 100-guest wedding and ended up eloping in secret. And others who started with the idea of an elopement and ended up with a 4-day wedding retreat for 30 friends. It’s your story — you get to write the shape of it.

Whatever you choose, we’ll be there to help you capture it with honesty, beauty, and soul.

If you crave stillness, intimacy, and flexibility, elopement might be your path.

🎬 What About the Wedding Video?

From a videographer’s perspective, both formats are incredibly rewarding, but for different reasons.

Destination weddings give us multiple scenes, characters, and speeches to weave into a powerful, multi-layered film.

Elopements, on the other hand, offer depth. The silence between vows, the wind through your hair, the spontaneous hug after signing the papers — that’s the story.

In both cases, we focus on storytelling, not just aesthetics.
📩 Let’s talk about what kind of film fits you best → Contact Us

🌍 Where We Film

We specialize in both destination weddings and elopements throughout Europe:
🇮🇹 Italy – Tuscany, Amalfi, Dolomites
🇩🇰 Denmark – Copenhagen, Ærø
🇪🇸 Spain – Barcelona, Seville
🇨🇭 Switzerland – Alps, lakeside towns
🇫🇷 France – Paris, Provence

Need help choosing your location? We’re happy to advise based on season, lighting, and your story.