Planning a destination wedding from the Midwest? So did Sammie and Jake! This was actually the second destination wedding I’ve been lucky enough to photograph for this amazing group of friends. The first was Shannon and Jake’s wedding in Mexico (different Jake!), and I was over the moon when Sammie reached out and told me they were getting married at Sandals Jamaica. My The Office-loving heart just about exploded!

If you’re considering planning a destination wedding from our landlocked part of the world, here’s a glimpse at what that could look like for your wedding photos. Most resorts have their own in-house media teams you can hire, but (and I know I’m biased!) Sammie and Jake’s wedding is a great example of why bringing a photographer you love is so worth it.

As with any wedding, it’s incredibly important that you like your photographer as a person. On the big day, you’ll actually spend more time with your photographer than with your partner—wild, but true. So for the sake of your time, here’s my not-so-comprehensive list of why bringing your own photographer can make all the difference:

• You get to meet beforehand—maybe even do an engagement session.
• A photographer who knows you will catch the little details and moments that someone who just met you might miss.
• Resort photographers are often formulaic because they have to meet company-wide standards. That means they mold you to fit their checklist. A photographer you know and trust will mold to you—to your vibe, your story, your day.
• You know yourself best. Will you feel more comfortable and able to be fully present with a stranger holding a camera, or with someone who feels like a friend behind the lens?

Sammie and Jake chose to bring me to Jamaica because of the experience we all shared at Shannon and Jake’s wedding (again—different Jake!). They knew they wanted someone personally invested in their story, someone who could make them feel completely at ease. They didn’t want to be molded into someone else’s idea of a wedding couple—they wanted someone who would capture them as they are.

And that’s exactly what we did.

Jake had gifts to hand out to his groomsmen. His keeping an eye on his best friend and best man opening his gift is so sweet.

Sammie and the girls all loved the chance to get photos with The King of Sandals South Coast, as I’ve dubbed him. We walked through as quietly as possible and he stayed on his perch, showing off his colors and observing his kingdom.

As we waited for the ceremony, the clouds overhead became rain clouds. For safety, Sandals doesn’t allow ceremonies to start until rain passes. In a tropical environment, these storms usually pass within 20 minutes but this storm hung around longer. But as Sammie said, the rain couldn’t stop us baby!

After the rain moved out, we got the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen. The photos could never do it justice but it comes close enough.

The Jamaicans have a wedding tradition to eat the cake out of your partner’s mouth. Sammie and Jake had the cutest reaction to learning that fact.

Sammie, Jake, and their wedding party ended the night by running through the resort to jump into the pool.

Destination weddings at resorts can be the most laid back and relaxed weddings. The resort will run it smoothly, all you have to do is be there. When you put value in your other vendors as well, you set yourself up for your wedding day to truly be the best day of your life so far. If you’re planning a destination wedding from the Midwest and are looking into photographers, hit a girl up! I’m arguably too affordable when I get to go somewhere cool.