destination wedding

  • Travel

    Travel Photography | Santorini, Greece

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    The craziest part about my visit to Santorini is that I only stayed there for two days and I accomplished more in those two days than maybe I did during the entirety of my trip to Greece. I swam at black sand beaches, I ate my first authentic spinach pie, I watched the sunset on a dinner cruise underneath the gorgeous town of Oía, I pet like 10 dogs, I climbed an active volcano and then swam in hot springs. I got ready for dinner in 10 minutes after climbing the volcano and then went to a wine tasting on a cliff, overlooking the Aegean. I wandered the streets of Oía and took in the sunset from a castle above all the buildings, while drinking Rosé, and also got kissed on the cheek by two Greek men (I think that’s an important part to this story). Our amazing tour director kept asking us which town was our favorite as we went along. I couldn’t decide until writing this blog post, and I think Santorini might take the cake on that one. We did so many amazing things in Santorini and Oía, and the towns were just as picturesque as you imagine they’re going to be. It’s almost surreal to stand there and realize you’re ACTUALLY there and ACTUALLY doing this.

    I still have two more towns to share images of, so check back again next week if you want to see my adventures in Páros and in Mykonos! I’m so thankful to this crazy life that lets me take these trips and change my world every time. I was so excited about travel that I actually just booked a trip to Budapest, Vienna, and Prague for next summer. :)

    – Allison

    Donkeys just strolling through Oia.
    These girls made this trip even better.
    After climbing the volcano, our boat took us around to an area only accessible from the water, where we jumped in and swam into the hot springs!
    Climbing up an active Volcano in Santorini was one of the highlights of my trip.
  • Travel

    Travel Photography | Athens, Greece

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    The world is a much bigger place than the city you live in.

    Nothing makes me happier than packing up my essentials in a carry-on sized suitcase and heading to a new and incredible destination. I want to go everywhere. I want to experience every culture. I made a goal to visit a new country every year, and I’ve been making that happen for the last 4 years, now. My latest adventure took me to Greece, and it was perfect.

    I started my trip in Athens. It is the capital city in Greece, as well as the most populated, and one of the world’s oldest cities. I traveled for 20 hours in a row, I am still terrible at sleeping on planes, my body hurt from sitting for so long, and I was so purely exhausted I’m not sure how I was still standing. But when I got there, I met about 38 new friends in the Athens airport. We went straight to our hotel and then took the metro into the city center of Plaka, where a welcome dinner was ready and waiting for us in a beautiful open air rooftop garden, with the most gorgeous night time view of the Acropolis. We ate our first real Greek meal including falafel, tabouli, hummus, pita bread, and for us vegetarians, the biggest and chunkiest greek salad I had ever encountered. I think it’s safe to say I ate more feta cheese on this trip than I’ve ever eaten in my life. And I’m completely okay with that.

    The next morning, we woke up refreshed, and headed back to the city center to take a walking tour of Athens and make our way up to the Acropolis – which is the highest point in the city. It’s where the Parthenon is located and where you can get the most incredible views from above. We heard fun greek mythology tales, took plenty of tourist photos, walked up like 100 marble steps, and took in the views. After touring the Acropolis, we wandered on our own. Shopping, gelato, and our first try at ordering coffee in Greece. Just so you know, the Fredo Espresso is the way to go. They really know how to do iced coffee and I ended up drinking at least one of these every day.

    Around dinner time, a lot of our tour group opted to head to a traditional Greek dinner including dancing and multiple courses. My friends and I chose to head off on our own and I’m so glad we did. We ate the most delicious gyros – which, by the way, in Greece they always stuff your gyros with “fried potatoes” aka french fries – and then headed to this bar called Six Dogs. They had some of the most creative craft cocktails, including adding garnishes like caramelized pineapple (which the bartender lit with a flame right in front of us) and even cotton candy. I got my fix of Italy here too by ordering my favorite, Aperol Spritz.

    Two nights is all we got in Athens before packing up the next morning and making our way to Santorini. I honestly didn’t expect to fall so in love with Athens, I got there feeling excited to head to the islands in two nights, but I ended up so happy to be there. It has such a city vibe, and it reminded me of Rome, but honestly a little less crowded. Which I also didn’t expect. Athens is full of beautiful history, fantastic shopping, and gorgeous buildings. I’m glad we got to start and finish the trip here. More posts on the other stops of my trip soon :)

    – Allison

    Plaka at night.
    The Parthenon
    Athens street art
    Fredo espresso – BEST DRINK EVER
    Gelato in every country
    The wonderful thing about their gyros in Greece is that they put “fried potatoes” in every one.
    Six Dogs is an open air bar with tons of greenery and a great vibe.
    Some of the most creative craft cocktails I’ve ever had.
    Some of the ladies I traveled with, it wouldn’t have been the same without them!
  • Weddings

    Brooklyn Arts Center Wedding Photography | Jordan & Bo

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    Sometimes you get lucky and you move to a new state and you don’t know a single person and you end up making friends with your photography clients. Sometimes you REALLY luck out and they turn into some of your best friends. That’s what happened with Jordan and Bo. These two are so fun and lighthearted and just an absolute blast to be around. Their love story is sweet, their relationship is so calm and trusting and comfortable, and I really believe they were meant to find each other in this crazy world.

    We spent the day laughing and singing and, okay, maybe sweating a little. Their wedding was held at the Brooklyn Arts Center in downtown Wilmington, in the big beautiful brick building with the tallest ceilings and the most gorgeous architecture. They decorated it and made it their own space, with sweet pops of summer colors. I really love photographing weddings for your close friends, because it doesn’t feel like I’m working at all. I had strict instructions to put my camera away at one point, and I even remember snapping a few after I was done (because I can’t help it and I’m addicted to my camera) and Jordan yelling at me to go get a drink instead. If that doesn’t make you feel right at home, then I don’t know what does! Thank you to both of you for having me capture these memories for years and years to come, I can’t wait to watch you two grow together.

    Life is ever changing but I will always
    find a constant and comfort in your love
    With your heart my soul is bound
    And as we dance I know that heaven can be found

    Swept Away – Avett Brothers

    Photographers: Allison Eding & Diana Yntema
    Venue: Brooklyn Arts Center
    Makeup: Beauty Crew

  • Destination Wedding

    Why You Should Hire a US Photographer for your Elopement Abroad

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    As a human who is OBSESSED with adventure, exploring new countries, and gaining new experiences in foreign places, I’ve done my research on wedding photographers abroad. If I could change one thing about my business, it would be that I’d like to do some more weddings out of the country each year. There are definitely reasons to look for a photographer in the destination of your choice, but there are infinitely more reasons to bring someone you trust from the U.S. with you.


    At least in Europe, a lot of wedding photographers start at $5k for quality work. Trust me, I’ve checked. The ones in the $2k range are not people that I would want to work for me.

    Many photographers – especially those emerging into the elopement scene – are willing to trade travel for pay. Destination weddings aren’t often as big of an ordeal as a regular wedding day back in the states with all your family and friends. Often times you only need the photographer for a couple hours, unlike the whole-day-coverage of a wedding in front of everyone you’ve ever met… ever. It’s much easier to charge a little less to get to such a cool place.


    If you find the right person, they’d rather take less money just to gain the experience. The photos themselves are worth it, in my opinion. Elopements are sweet, romantic, and calm. They give you the time to really appreciate each other, instead of feeling the pressure to walk around your reception and greet every single guest at a 200+ person wedding. Another huge bonus? You can meet them in person beforehand instead of discussing every single detail over the phone or through email!


    While a local photographer would know the surrounding areas better, a U.S. photographer would be new to the country. But in my opinion, photographers do what they do for a reason. We’re able to go to a place that’s completely foreign to us, and find the beauty in all the right places. We have an “eye” for that kind of thing, and every place will be new to both the couple and the photographer, and they can share that together.


    Now for maybe the biggest perk. There isn’t a language barrier! I know that many photographers in other countries consider themselves bilingual, but sometimes it’s more conversational English instead of being capable of giving directional cues while posing their couples.


    Photography is the very best possible investment you can make for your elopement. You’ll have the memories forever, but your whole family won’t. Investing in your wedding photography will be the one thing that you can share with your family and friends, and yourselves, for years to come.

    Now take me somewhere pretty!

  • Destination Wedding, Weddings

    Ocean Isle Beach House Wedding Photography | Alison & Matt

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    Matt and Alison are one of those couples who make you feel right at home. I knew when I met them for the first time (in a bar in downtown Pittsburg, filling our glasses with bottomless mimosas before their engagement session) that we would turn out to be friends. They made me feel like more of a guest than just one of the vendors at their beautiful beachside wedding. They invited me to come hang out with them at the beach house the day before the wedding too, specifically asking me to leave my camera at home. Nothing quite makes you feel like part of the family after spending an evening with everyone before the big day.

    Alison and Matt had their ceremony on the beach in front of their giant beach house on Ocean Isle Beach, NC. This place was gorgeous. The perfect weather anyone could ever ask for in October, just two short weeks after Hurricane Matthew came through… talk about good timing. The reception that followed took place on the pool deck of the beach house, which provided for some of the most incredible first dance photos as the sun set over the water. Spending the day with them is nothing short of magical, the way these two just BEAM at each other, I swear I hardly even posed them for their photos, they’re just naturally so good together. I’m thankful to know Alison and Matt, and I think everyone who attended their wedding feels the exact same way. You guys deserve a lifetime of days as magical as this one.

    – Allison