The squeals of excitement that happened on my Instagram when I shared I was purchasing a drone to document Alexa & Jimmy’s vow renewal in Ireland were truly wild… and honestly, it kicked off a really fun, creative way for me to document wedding days from a completely different POV.
So I figured it was time to break it down — what drone wedding photography actually is, what it isn’t, who it’s for (and who it’s not), and why you might want to consider adding it to your wedding day.
TL;DR: Why couples love drone wedding photography:
- It creates 1–2 standout, “wow” images
- Shows the full atmosphere and landscape
- Highlights your venue/location in a meaningful way
- Adds a real sense of scale to your day
- Gives your gallery that cinematic feel
What Is Drone Wedding Photography?
Drones… in the sky… on my wedding day?
Yep. That’s exactly how my 6-year-old describes my job.
But in all seriousness — it’s one of the coolest ways to add a completely different perspective to your wedding gallery.
When you Google drone wedding photography, you’ll see a lot of opinions about what it is, how it’s best used, etc. But to me, drone photography isn’t about replacing your wedding photos. It’s about enhancing them. It gives you a view of your day that you physically cannot get from the ground.
I also believe drone wedding photography can work outside of big, extravagant destination weddings (even though, yes… epic scenery definitely helps). It’s really about how the space is used.
In my opinion, drone photography works best when the surroundings matter just as much — or more — than the subject.
For example:
When I photographed Alexa & Jimmy’s vow renewal in Ireland, I captured both ground-level portraits and aerial views in the same location.
From the ground? Beautiful, but fairly standard.
From the air? Completely different story. Unreal.
Why Couples Are Adding Drone Wedding Photography
One of the misconceptions about drone wedding photography that I see online is that drone photos are the focus of your wedding day and that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, it’s actually quite the opposite. Drone photos are not the main focus of your wedding gallery. And they’re not supposed to be.
They’re the supporting character that steals the show in a few key moments.
Most couples don’t realize this until after their wedding, but… you only get a handful of images that truly show the full story of your day from a wider perspective and that’s where drone photography comes in.
There’s actually a huge parallel here to destination weddings. When couples choose a location like Ireland, Tulum, or a mountain venue, they’re choosing it because of the setting.
Drone photography is what actually has the capabilities to capture that.
And beyond location, there’s something else it does really well:
Scale.
No ground-level photo can fully show how big, open, or immersive your wedding day felt the way an aerial shot can.
And that’s what creates that cinematic, storytelling feel in your gallery in literally just a few images.
Things to Consider with Drone Wedding Photography
While I’ve been sharing all of the fun and exciting parts of drone wedding photography, there are a few limitations that are important to keep in mind when considering adding drone photography to your celebration.
1. Weather Conditions
Weather is one of the biggest factors. Wind, rain, or heavy cloud cover can impact whether we can safely fly. That said, it can work year-round, which is a huge plus.
2. Venue/Airspace Restrictions
Some locations simply don’t allow drones. 🙁
This can include:
- Certain wedding venues
- Cities with restricted airspace
- National or state parks (often due to wildlife protection)
If that happens, we can usually pivot to a nearby location with fewer restrictions but it’s something to keep in mind early when planning.
3. Second Shooter Support
If you’re adding drone coverage and want full documentation of your day, I highly recommend a second shooter.
This allows for:
- Ground moments to still be captured
- No awkward pauses while setting up drone shots
- And a smoother overall experience
4. Timeline Coordination
Because drone coverage is a unique POV, I always recommend strong coordination with your wedding vendors so that we can plan the best time to set up the drone footage to be taken so that it doesn;t disrupt the rest of your timeline throughout the day. If you’re looking for support with timeline preparation for your wedding day, I share my tips and tricks in this blog. I also share support regarding how to decide how long of photography coverage you need for your special day here.
Drone Wedding Shots That Are Must Haves
I’ll be honest… I do have favorites. But I’ll always tailor this to what matters most to you.
1. Ceremony Site
This is an obvious one, but worth noting for the sake of couples who may not feel like their ceremony site needs to be captured aerially. Even if it feels simple, this is one of the most powerful aerial shots. It’s less about “how grand it is” and more about: does this location tell the story of your day? (The answer is always YES!).
2. Multiple Perspectives Of YOU
- Laying down (very Perks of Being a Wallflower energy)
- Standing portraits with a wide landscape around you
- Just… existing together post-ceremony, soaking it all in
3. Wedding Party, Guests, and Cocktail Hour
If you’re having a bigger wedding, this is SUCH a good way to capture everyone together in one frame.
4. An Eventful Moment
This could be:
- A welcome party
- A golf outing
- A yoga morning
- Fireworks
- A reception moment
Basically anything that feels like a core memory from your celebration.
Why Drone Photography Matters Even More for Destination Weddings
If you’re planning a destination wedding or elopement, this is where drone photography really hits. Because when you’ve chosen a place for its:
- geography
- atmosphere
- culture
- landscape
…you deserve photos that actually show that beauty. And aerial views are often the images that end up being the most memorable.
If you’ve made it this far and you’re thinking, “okay wait… I kind of love this idea,” just know I can absolutely talk through whether drone photography makes sense for your day or not. Go ahead and fill out my contact form to share what you’re planning!
