What Is the Difference Between the Adventure Elopement Contract & the Destination Wedding Contract?

If you’re a photographer who hikes miles with clients to get epic backgrounds for their wedding photos or deals in other thrill-seeking (helicopter rides, skydiving, base jumping, etc.) and/or you fly to beautiful destinations to photograph your client’s elopement/wedding you might be wondering what contract you need to best protect you in The Legal Paige Shop: the Adventure Elopement Contract or the Destination Wedding Contract?! While they both cover somewhat similar topics, you are going to want to understand the key differences to make sure you choose the right contract for the activities you engage in with your clients.

We suggest you only purchase one of these contracts depending on your business structure. The biggest differences to watch out for between the contracts are outlined below.

The Destination Wedding Contract

The Destination Wedding Contract is more of an "adventure-lite" contract. Your clients may still have a smaller or more intimate style of wedding with a reception and guests, but they also want a little adventure added (often with an additional session the day before or after the ceremony). 

• For wedding/ceremony/reception purposes the Destination Wedding Contract has features that reflect a traditional wedding contract, such as meals/breaks clauses, poses and delivery of specific images, inclement weather, wedding party/family members, etc.

• This contract has added information in the Coverage Clause surrounding your coverage day-of and then the additional session with their package.

• The Destination Wedding Contract also has a an additional Assumption of Risk clause that is not included in our regular wedding photography contract but is not as intense of a clause that is in the Adventure Elopement Contract because the risks are lower.

The Adventure Elopement Contract

The Adventure Elopement Contract covers more strenuous and risky activities (such as large intensive hikes), and is written with the assumption of no guests (just you and your clients), and includes clauses that will cover you for being a quasi-elopement planner.

• The Adventure Elopement Contract has clauses such as location scouting services, third-party vendor liability and duties, leave no trace, a much more lengthy assumption of risk and liability clause, etc. that cover you when you’re taking on more risky wedding day activities (such as lengthy hiking, cliffs, snow, high altitude, etc.).

•  Additionally, for photography coverage purposes, the Adventure Elopement Contract is based on continuous service for say 6-10 hours during a day with hiking involved while the Destination Wedding Contract splits coverage into a session (sunrise/day after/bridal session) and the wedding coverage.

• This contract is written as an “all-inclusive” contract with basic travel fees included in the package price.

• The Adventure Elopement Contract also includes information related to third-party liability for when your clients hire out helicopter rides, driving companies, etc.

TLP's Take

If you are dealing with a more traditional wedding day with a little adventure added in (such as an extra session or more adventurous couples portraits) you are most likely going to want to purchase the Destination Wedding Photographer Contract.

If you are instead engaging in more risky or strenuous activities, planning & location scouting, or dealing with dangerous natural terrain with your clients, you are going to want to ensure you have the Adventure Elopement Contract to fit the type of wedding/elopement activities taking place.

At TLP we want to make sure that we have contracts to cover unique wedding and elopement situations, adapt to the changing needs of the wedding industry, and ensure photographers are covered which is why we created both these contracts! Make sure to choose the one that fits what you offer your clients best!

THIS BLOG POST IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL ADVICE. EVERY SITUATION IS DIFFERENT & IS FACT-SPECIFIC. A proper legal analysis is necessary based on your location and contract. Consult an attorney in your home state for advice regarding your contract or specific legal situation.

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