What to do if your wedding venue isn't photogenic
This video is for couples who love their venue for every reason except how it photographs. We walk through the two options we use most: a nice hotel nearby, or a short, planned trip somewhere better.
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Two ways to get better photos from a plain venue
This is a common question. A lot of the time the place we get married is not exactly photogenic, or at least that is what you think when you look at it. It does not have to limit your photographs. We have a few options for you, and two that we use most often.
The first is to go to a hotel that is really nice. A lot of hotels allow you to photograph on their property. The Biltmore and other hotels like it do not mind if you take some photographs in the hotel in a wedding gown. They are not going to stop you unless other weddings are happening at the same time.
The second is to travel to a different location. That may require some kind of permit, and it means planning ahead of time. Make sure the location is within your route and does not take too much of your time getting there. That is how we resolve it when a ceremony or reception location is not super attractive.
Borrowing a nearby hotel
Grand hotels are built to be looked at: marble lobbies, staircases, long corridors, courtyards, and lighting designed to flatter people. A couple in a gown and a suit walking through the lobby reads as a guest, which is why most properties do not mind.
The caveat is other weddings. If a hotel has its own event that afternoon, the staff may steer you away from the lobby or courtyard. It is worth a call the week before, and we keep the visit short so it feels like passing through.
Traveling to a second location
If nothing nearby works, a short trip to a scenic spot can give you the backdrop you want. In Los Angeles that often means a park, a beach, a garden, or an overlook, and many of those require a photography permit. Some are cheap, some are not, and all take time to arrange.
Plan it on the route. A location between your ceremony and reception costs you a few minutes; one across town costs you cocktail hour. Usually the time comes from the gap between ceremony and reception, so tell us early and we will build it into the timeline.
What our team does about this on the day
Suggesting a nearby hotel
When a venue does not photograph well, we look at what is nearby. A nice hotel within a few minutes is usually our first suggestion, and we plan a short visit to its lobby or grounds, a few minutes rather than a production.
Checking for another wedding
Hotels do not mind a couple in a gown taking photographs unless another wedding is happening on the property. So we check on the day, and if a ballroom is turning over, we move to a different corner or a different plan.
Keeping travel on the route
We look at the route first. If the spot sits between ceremony and reception and the permit is handled ahead of time, we go. If it would eat too much of your time traveling, we say so and find something closer.
Couples usually ask
Can we take wedding photos at a hotel we are not staying at?
Often, yes. A lot of nice hotels allow you to photograph on their property, and they are not going to stop a couple in a wedding gown from taking some photographs unless other weddings are happening. A quick call ahead removes the guesswork.
Do we need a permit to take photos at another location?
Sometimes. Traveling to a different location may require some kind of permit, depending on whether it is a public park, a beach, a landmark, or private property. Plan for it ahead of time, since permits cannot be sorted out on the morning of the wedding.
How far is too far to travel for photos?
Far enough that it takes away too much of your time. We want any second location within the route between your ceremony and reception, so the detour costs minutes rather than an hour. If it means cutting cocktail hour, choose somewhere closer.
Will our photos at the venue itself still look good?
Yes. Good light and a considered angle do a lot for a plain room, and much of your day is about people rather than backdrops. The hotel or the second location is for the portraits you will print, not the whole gallery.
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