Memorable Wedding, Under $10,000?

Last Tuesday, one of our local newspapers ran an article entitled “Memorable Wedding, Under $10,000.” While most advice columns usually are trying to push some sort of agenda, I found that this particular article had some very good advice to those that are trying to plan a full wedding in today’s uncertain economic environment.

The article was copyrighted so I cannot quote any of the content to this blog-entry, but I can offer that most of what they were saying was common sense. Some of which included getting married on odd days (Friday and Sunday), asking for discounts from vendors, borrowing certain items like a cake-knife or toast goblets, and sharing expenses as much as possible with another wedding party using the same facilities that same weekend. For the most part, the advice was sensible in as much as it is possible to do so.

There was one item that I did take issue with, however, and that was the advice of asking friends to photograph and videotape the wedding.

Have you heard the radio commercial that says “friends don’t ask friends to __________ (you fill-in-the-blank)” or seen the television commercial that says essentially the same? Well the same goes here. Friends do not ask friends to photograph their wedding and they certainly shouldn’t ask them to videotape it either.

Why? A number of reasons come to mind.

First, if your friend is following you with a camera how can they possibly be expected to fully engage and enjoy in your special day. They can’t! Take it from someone who has done this for friends-it is impossible to videotape or photograph a wedding and enjoy watching your friends tie the knot. While one would be very happy for their friends, they cannot take in the moment and be happy for them if they are concerned with camera angles, film speed, flash, lighting, etc.

Second, friends may not have professional experience. Seasoned professionals know what they are doing and will get you the best images possible. Non-professional friends don’t. And professional friends, when distracted, may not get the best either. However, this is a judgment call on your part. Just make sure that if you use professional friends, they understand that you expect their best!

And what about money? If a professional photographer normally charges $1,000 for a wedding, and you ask them to photograph you for free, you are essentially asking for a $1,000 wedding gift. And remember that this is their job. Don’t take away their right to make a living and discount the profession by not paying. And, let’s face, any time money is involved between friends and family, it is uncomfortable to talk about, to say the least.

Equipment is not the least of concerns either. Most professionals have tens of thousands of dollars invested in equipment and training for that equipment. Do you think that your friends’ $300 camera is going to provide an image just as sharp as one that cost $2000?

A final issue that I’ll mention is that of boundaries. Where is it appropriate to stand and photograph or videotape during a ceremony and where is it not? Who do you ask? Where can you move to and when? As a professional, there is nothing worse than my industry having a bad reputation for something an amateur did during a ceremony. Non-professionals generally don’t respect boundaries.

Over the course of the last few years, we have had many discussions with wedding professionals including other photographers and videographers, clergy and church staff, wedding planners and coordinators and many of them share the same opinion: it is better to sacrifice on the flowers, the party favors, the horse-drawn carriage, the full sit-down meal complete with alcoholic beverages and the like, than to scrimp on professional photography and videography.

And let’s face it, the only thing that really survives the day are those professional photographs and video.

God’s blessings as you continue with your planning.

Chris.