Dreaming of a Destination Wedding? Stay in Texas Instead (Trust Me)

When people hear "destination wedding," they usually picture boarding passes, passports, and a suitcase that somehow weighs 48 pounds before you've even packed your shoes. Well, I’ve got news for you. Texas makes a pretty convincing argument for staying put.

One of my favorite things about photographing weddings here is that you can drive a few hours in almost any direction and end up somewhere that feels completely different. Beaches, mountains, sand dunes, tiny artist towns, vineyards — you don't have to leave the state to have a wedding that feels like an adventure.

So if you're dreaming about a destination wedding in Texas, here are a few places I think deserve way more attention.

Marfa Is for the Couples Who Want Something Different

If you've never been to Marfa, it's hard to explain, but I’m taking a crack at it.

It's quiet. It's quirky. It's full of incredible art. And somehow, all of that exists right in the middle of the West Texas desert. I'll admit I'm a little biased here. I went to art school, so any excuse to combine incredible architecture, modern art, and gorgeous landscapes is an immediate yes from me.

Between the colorful installations, minimalist buildings, and endless desert roads, a Marfa wedding has this editorial feel that's hard to recreate anywhere else. You can spend part of the day exploring galleries and public art before heading into the desert for sunset portraits that look like they're straight out of a magazine.

It's creative without trying too hard, and that's probably my favorite thing about it.

If Big Views Are Your Thing, Head to Big Bend

Big Bend is one of those places that reminds you just how small you are in the best possible way.

The mountains seem to go on forever. The desert changes color as the sun moves across the sky. Even the silence feels different out there.

A Big Bend wedding isn't just about having beautiful photos (although you'll definitely get those, especially if I’m involved). It's about choosing a place that feels like an experience from beginning to end.

If your ideal wedding day includes watching the sunrise together, exploring scenic overlooks, or ending the evening under some of the darkest skies in the country, Big Bend delivers. Just don't ask me to convince you to hike ten miles in wedding attire.

Monahans Sandhills Feels Like It Shouldn't Exist

Here's a fun fact that surprises almost everyone: Texas has sand dunes. Real ones.

Monahans Sandhills State Park feels like someone picked up a piece of another country and dropped it in West Texas. The soft, rolling dunes create one of the cleanest, most minimal backdrops you could ask for, especially at sunset when the light starts catching every ridge in the sand.

A Monahans Sandhills wedding is perfect if you love simple, timeless photos that let the landscape do all the talking. It's dramatic without being over-the-top, and somehow still feels like one of Texas' best-kept secrets.

Galveston Proves Beach Weddings Don't Require a Flight

Not every adventurous wedding has to happen in the desert. Maybe your version of the perfect day involves salt air instead of cactus…cactuses…cacti?

Galveston has such an easygoing energy that I love. You can exchange vows with the Gulf behind you, wander the historic streets afterward, and end the evening watching the sun disappear over the water. It's relaxed in all the right ways.

A Texas outdoor elopement on the coast has a completely different feel than one in West Texas, but that's exactly what makes this state so much fun to photograph. No two locations ever feel the same.

Don't Sleep on Fredericksburg

I couldn't write this list without mentioning Fredericksburg.

If you’re looking for a wedding that includes vineyard views, incredible wine, and a weekend that feels equal parts elegant and laid-back, this is such a fun option.

I've photographed at wineries around Fredericksburg before, and they're some of my favorite venues because they give you so much variety. You get rolling Hill Country views, beautiful architecture, and the kind of golden-hour light photographers are constantly chasing.

It's the perfect middle ground if you want a destination wedding without feeling like you've disappeared into the wilderness.

Confession: I'm More "Outsidey" Than Outdoorsy

I'll let you in on something. People sometimes assume that because I photograph outdoor weddings, I'm spending every weekend backpacking through national parks.

Not exactly.

I'm definitely more outsidey than outdoorsy. I love traveling. I love finding places that feel unique. I love beautiful light and incredible scenery. I also really love a good cup of coffee, wandering through an art museum, and taking an air-conditioning break when Texas decides it's going to be 103 degrees.

So if you're dreaming about an outdoor wedding but aren't looking to summit a mountain before your ceremony, I completely get it.

Adventure doesn't have to mean exhausting yourself. Sometimes it just means choosing a place that feels a little unexpected.

Let's Go Somewhere Fun

One of my favorite parts of this job is getting to see Texas through other people's eyes.

For one couple, that's saying their vows surrounded by mountains in Big Bend. For another, it's running barefoot through the surf in Galveston or wandering the streets of Marfa before disappearing into the desert for sunset.

Every place tells a different story, and that's what makes destination weddings so much fun to photograph.

Travel within about two hours of me is included, and if your dream location is a little farther away, I'm always happy to pack my camera and hit the road.

And if a lakeside celebration is more your style, check out my post on A Waterfront Airbnb Elopement at Lake Travis for another Texas wedding location that's absolutely worth the drive.

No passport required.