Language Barriers When Eloping | Destination Elopement Photography
For those contemplating hopping the pond for a beautiful destination elopement, unique hurdles come up often as we prepare for your wedding day. Navigating language barriers is just one of them! Not speaking the language of the place you’re visiting is stressful enough on vacation, but adding in the stress of a wedding on top of that? It’s enough to give anyone the shakes!
Luckily, like any trip, all it takes is some extra planning. Don’t let the added pressure of it being your wedding make you nervous when there’s no need to be! Knowing ahead of time how English-friendly our destination is (this includes the country, city, and venue/vendors) takes off a ton of stress, too, since MANY Europeans speak English without issue. If you’re not sure, just ask!
It also helps a ton to know where we are going and how we’re getting there. If we’re in a city with public transportation, we’ll study routes beforehand and have a solid game plan for getting to the venue and other hot spots where we want to take photos. In future blogs, I’ll dive in further on things to plan for so keep an eye out there!
If you’re a super planner and like to be prepared to the max, hop on one of those trusty language learning apps and put your spare time to work. If you have no time to spare, knowing even basic phrases in the native language helps in a pinch (“Hello! Do you speak English?” “Where’s the bathroom?” “How do I get to this place?”) but if all else fails, be prepared with a solid grasp on how to use your favorite translation app.
If you’re thinking of a French wedding or elopement, it’s your lucky day! I am conversationally fluent in French and have never had an issue during my travels or elopements. I love every part of travelling internationally especially for destination elopements and photoshoots, so if you’re feeling nervous about yours, know that I’ve been there and done that and I’ve got your back!
Amber is a Las Vegas Elopement Photographer who is available for travel for elopements and weddings. Send in a contact form through the link above to schedule your free consultation.
As a travel elopement photographer, I have a trove of helpful international travel tips—especially when it comes to adding a photo session in the mix. Read these great tips for a great trip!