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AIBU?

To not be surprised that no one used a photo booth at a wedding at £2 a time

118 replies

Bearbehind · 26/05/2013 20:25

I went to an evening reception last night and have heard today that the bride has had a major strop as hardly any of the guests used the photo booth they booked .

It was £2 a time and you got a photo and the couple got one for their book.

I hate having my photo taken so I sure as hell wasn't going to pay for it.

AIBU to think if you want wedding photos you pay for them or you don't sulk if others don't want to spend £2 a pop on a shitty passport photo.

OP posts:

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jessjessjess · 27/05/2013 01:13

We had one and it was very popular - we had lots of props (hats, wigs, signs, etc) and cards for people to write messages and hold them up in the photos. I can't believe anyone would charge for it, that's just so rude! Ours didn't print on the night - we got a CD after and sent prints to people with their thank you cards (got the prints free using various offers on Snapfish etc).

ifancyashandy · 27/05/2013 05:34

Oh for gods sake, it was only two quid! Nice idea. I'd happily pay it.

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 27/05/2013 08:40

Surely the point of those would be that you don't just take one photo, you take loads with different props, hence it wouldn't be just £2?

LastButOneSplash · 27/05/2013 10:31

I assumed the couple were upset they didn't have pictures from it of people rather than all the individual props being used, so I would have assumed one use was plenty. Unless of course people enjoyed doing it and then could certainly spend more if that was their thing.

Snazzywaitingforsummer · 27/05/2013 13:51

Compos that sounds terrible. I really don't understand this lack of seats thing which seems to be getting more common. Surely you check there is enough room for the people you've invited?

ComposHat · 27/05/2013 13:59

You'd think so wouldn't you? The whole day smacked of trying to do too much on too little money.

That doesn't bother me but the money was spent on showy things for the pictures at the expense of the enjoyment of the guests.

I got the impression that the guests were there only as a backdrop for the bride's big day.

Bearbehind · 27/05/2013 14:25

Things like this photo booth and the wedding without enough seats do seem to be more common place now. It really pisses me off.

You should have the wedding you can afford, whatever that may entail and you should ensure your guests feelings/ comfort are very high on your lst of priorities.

The guests are generally not absolutely honoured to attend your wedding and are not absolutely over the moon at having to give up their day and spend a lot of money to attend your wedding, you should be honoured that they have chosen to do so, and should look after them accordingly.

You should not have things you can't afford then expect the guests to meet the costs for you. I know in this instance it was only £2 but everyone there had a camera or a camera phone so had no need to pay to have a photo taken. And it was £2 per photo on top of paying for the cash bar, the cash wedding gift, the taxi home etc.

OP posts:

Snazzywaitingforsummer · 27/05/2013 15:14

Wasn't there a thread fairly recently where the venue had only about 20 seats (think was a very small registry office or something) and one of the siblings was told there wouldn't be space for them? I don't understand why people book really inconvenient venues like this. I knew someone who booked a pub/restaurant for their reception that was a special place for them - fair enough perhaps, but it was miles from anywhere and had no accommodation on site or nearby, so everyone would've had to arrange long taxi journeys back to the nearest town or find a non-drinker to drive. Your 'specialness' translates into everyone else's hefty taxi fare.

amandine07 · 27/05/2013 15:18

YANBU!
That's pretty tight of the couple to charge per photo- honestly what else did they expect?!

Recently went to a friend's wedding, there was a photo booth and it was great fun going in as a group and posing for all sorts of ridiculous shots.

Certainly made the B&G laugh when looking through them all after the wedding.
And yes- there was some nakedness from a few guests after they'd had a few too many

All part of the great memories of the wedding day I say!

amandine07 · 27/05/2013 15:20

And no we weren't charged per photo, it was completely free.

TotallyBursar · 27/05/2013 16:50

I have no problem with the booth, or whatever thing you particularly want, but if you can't afford it it's tough tits.
More and more stories are spreading about, as pp said, guests being used to finance the couple's ideal wedding.

That is just greed. Self centred entitlement, I don't think that's a good look on anyone really & certainly don't want to have anything to do with it.
I know of one couple that threw a bitch fit (to they extent of phoning & berating guests) that their guests had not provided sufficient funds for their honeymoon to be paid for. This was a basket that guests were expected to fill on top of providing the requested cash gifts.

The couple's bridal party were taking baskets around the tables asking for cash. The couple then sat at the top table and counted it, announced to all there was x amount & they were sure we could give more than that, then proceeded to open their wedding gifts with such delightful running commentary as 'Oh, £100 from Uncle Jim, obviously still recovering from your divorce then'. At the end of the night it was all counted again - the total was not sufficient, bride made a teary announcement that left the DJ crimson with mortification and the couple left in a huff. Only heard from when they called to express their displeasure.
As if it was somehow my fault that they didn't want to wait to be wed so they could save, didn't want a small wedding and booked a honeymoon they had absolutely no way to afford.
I cancelled our cheque and told them a home truth or two.
I did not stoop however to passing a single comment about their divorce 2 years later.

YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar · 27/05/2013 16:52

I'd pay! Be even better if it was for a local charity. Sounds fun.

YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar · 27/05/2013 16:57

Totally! Oh my fucking god. i'd have left. I hate weddings as it is. When me and dh married we asked for nothing. Didn't mention it in the invites or anything. We just wanted people to show and celebrate with us. We received a random selection of stuff. Glasses, a posh blender, some gift cards for random shops and the grand total of £65 in cash.

dontsqueezetheteabag · 27/05/2013 16:58

Bloody stupid idea - Grow up!

If the bride was so touchy about it she should have made it free for her guests to use. Bum hole!

catgirl1976 · 27/05/2013 17:05

I have seen these at weddings but never pay-to-use

They seem very popular when free

Bananapickle · 27/05/2013 17:15

I, like others, think that these things should only be present when the bride and groom can afford to pay for it.
We were at a wedding recently which had one and it was fun and free!! Did it add hugely to the day, probably not but they got a pretty cool guest book as a result. I wouldn't have done it if I'd had to pay as I'm not very confident. I did it as it was obviously important to the couple as they had made it part of their day. If that makes sense!!
It is getting really silly how people think they need to have a crazy extravagant day they can't afford and a shame as I think some things are distracting from what the whole thing should be about, the start of a marriage.
Anyways that sums up to a YANBU!!

Bearbehind · 27/05/2013 17:17

I can totally see the attraction if it was free but, to me, it was the principle of being charged for the couples choices that annoyed me. I mean, where will it stop? What's next- charging for favours, wedding cake or to request a song from the DJ?

totally words fail me with the wedding you have described

OP posts:

SarahAndFuck · 27/05/2013 18:12

If you can't afford to pay for a hired photo booth, why not just set up a table with a few borrowed props and ask a reliable friend to take photos?

You could even ask people to bring something to put on the props table, or gather them up a few days before if you are worried they might be forgotten on the day, and easily make a few cut out smiles and moustaches on sticks. Everyone must have an old hat or shawl or fancy dress wig knocking about the house somewhere.

Totally 'your' wedding must win some sort of MN award for entitlement.

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