Wedding photography in the United States
From a New York rooftop to a Wyoming valley: one country and a dozen different climates.
We photograph weddings and elopements across the United States — in New York and the Hamptons, Newport and Nantucket, Napa Valley, Big Sur and Santa Barbara, Aspen and Jackson Hole, and Charleston, Savannah and Palm Beach.
The single most useful thing to know is that each region has its own season: New England peaks in summer and early autumn, the South and Florida in spring and late autumn, and the mountains in summer and winter, so the date and the place should be chosen together.
United States
Where we photograph in the United States
Marrying in the United States
What a United States wedding is like
The United States is several wedding countries at once. The New England coast is shingled houses, harbours, lighthouses and soft sea light, often with fog in the morning. New York is rooftops, lofts, grand hotels and the steps of City Hall. In California, Napa Valley is vineyards and warm evening light, Big Sur is cliffs above the Pacific, where the marine layer can hide the coast and then lift in minutes, and Santa Barbara is Spanish-style architecture between the mountains and the sea.
Inland, Aspen and Jackson Hole are altitude and big skies, with mountain light that is clear and fast-changing and a winter season of their own. In the South, Charleston and Savannah are live oaks, Spanish moss, historic squares and humid summers, while Palm Beach is Mediterranean-revival architecture, palms and the Atlantic.
An American wedding weekend usually has a rehearsal dinner the night before, a ceremony, a cocktail hour that is the natural window for portraits, and a reception with toasts, a first dance and a firm venue end time. For American couples it is often the first destination wedding their guests have travelled for; for couples coming from abroad, it is a chance to marry somewhere entirely unlike home. We plan the day with both in mind.
Practicalities
Before you plan
The season depends on the region. New England, the Hamptons and Nantucket are at their most comfortable from June to early October. California wine country is lovely from spring through the autumn harvest, while the Big Sur coast is often clearest in late summer and autumn. Charleston, Savannah and Palm Beach are most comfortable in spring and late autumn, when the heat and humidity ease. The mountains have a summer season and a winter one. Popular dates in every region book well ahead, and earlier is better for peak weekends.
Marriage licences in the United States are issued at state or county level, and the rules on waiting periods, validity and who may officiate vary from place to place. Most states allow non-residents to marry, so couples travelling from abroad can generally marry legally here, though they should check how the marriage will be recognised at home. Your planner or the county clerk will confirm what applies to you.
Distances are continental, so most couples fly to the region and drive from there. Nantucket is reached by ferry or small plane, both of which depend on the weather. Big Sur is a long, beautiful drive with few services along the way, and the mountain airports serving Aspen and Jackson Hole can be affected by winter conditions. A day’s margin before the wedding is worth having anywhere remote.
We quote the United States in US dollars, including for couples travelling from abroad. Half Day coverage starts at $1,650 for one photographer and up to five hours; Full Day coverage at $2,550 for up to ten hours; Destination Wedding at $3,350 for the full day; and Elopement at $950. These are starting figures: travel and accommodation are quoted separately, itemised and at cost, and the exact price comes in reply to your inquiry.
Pricing · USD
Wedding photography prices in the United States
Starting prices. Every wedding is quoted individually, with travel itemised at cost.
01
Elopement
The two of you, a place that matters, and an unhurried hour or two.
FromUS$950
Preview in 7 days · complete set in 4 weeks
02
Half Day
The ceremony, the portraits and the heart of the celebration.
FromUS$1,650
Preview in 7 days · complete set in 8 weeks
03
Full Day
From the quiet of the morning to the last dance.
FromUS$2,550
Preview in 7 days · complete set in 8 weeks
04
Destination Wedding
Full coverage of a wedding away from home, planned around the place.
FromUS$3,350
Preview in 7 days · complete set in 8 weeks
FAQ
Getting married in the United States
How much does a wedding photographer cost in the United States?
Our US weddings start at $1,650 for Half Day coverage of up to five hours with one photographer, $2,550 for Full Day coverage of up to ten hours, and $3,350 for a Destination Wedding covering the full day. Elopements start at $950. Travel and accommodation are quoted separately, itemised and at cost, and every wedding is quoted individually: exact pricing is on request.
We live outside the US. Can we marry legally there?
Generally yes. Licences are issued by the state or county, and most allow non-residents to marry, though waiting periods and paperwork vary. It is worth checking with your own country how the marriage will be recognised at home. Your planner or the county clerk will confirm the details.
Do we need a permit for an elopement in a national park?
National parks and many other public lands generally require a permit for ceremonies and for professional photography, and the rules differ from park to park. Our Elopement commission, from $950 for two hours, includes help with permits and with choosing the place and the hour. The park or land manager will confirm what is needed.
When is the best time of year for a wedding in Charleston or Savannah?
Spring and late autumn, for most couples. Summer is hot and humid, with afternoon storms, and the evening light under the live oaks is at its softest when the heat has eased. We plan portraits for the last hour of the day in any season.
How far ahead should we book for a US destination wedding?
Popular weekends in New England, Napa Valley and the mountains book well ahead, often a year or more for peak dates. Weekdays and quieter months are more flexible, so it is always worth asking at shorter notice.
Do you also photograph American couples marrying in Europe?
Yes. We photograph weddings in the United States and across Europe, so American couples can book one studio for either. Weddings in Europe are quoted in euros and weddings in the US in dollars, with travel itemised at cost in both.
Check availability
Planning a wedding in the United States?
We reply personally to every inquiry, usually within 24 hours, with availability, the photographer who would be with you and a clear quote.