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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To spend nearly half of my wedding budget on a photographer?

92 replies

HotCupOfNo · 21/04/2021 21:28

OH and I are having a small wedding in June, it will be just 8 of us and very relaxing and low key.

I have found a photographer who will do me a great micro package deal - her photos are nice, but not AMAZING.

I have found another photographer who's photos are just gorgeous, but will cost me £750 for 3 hours and my budget is £2000. I could possibly stretch the budget using our overdraft.

So yay or nay - do we go with the 'perfectly fine' (and quite boring) photographer and save myself £400, or do we say fuck it and go with the amazing photographer who's photo's are arty and lovely? WWYD?

TIA

OP posts:

ThornAmongstRoses · 22/04/2021 07:52

Agree with everyone’s comment about getting a videographer!!

I had one and he was amazing - the video he produced was over two hours long and was of such a wonderful quality!!!!

Although I never look at my wedding photos me and DH watch our wedding DVD together about once a month and we love it. The video captures so much more of the essence and joy of our wedding than our staged photos do. The laughter, the speeches, the humour, the fun, the reality of the guests pottering around, the first dance etc.

I cry every time I watch my DVD whereas my photos don’t evoke any kind of emotional reaction. My videographer captured so much more than my photographer did in terms of producing something that was a true reflection of my wedding day.

Based on my own experiences....I would recommend getting a videographer over a photographer any day.

Fedup1223 · 22/04/2021 07:53

Oh and it’s been 6 years and it still grates, so if photos are important to you - spend the extra.

anxietyanonymous · 22/04/2021 07:55

I knew so many people that had one photo out in a frame and then the rest in a dusty formal Album wrapped in tissue at the back of a drawer that i opted out.

We had friends and family take photos and we have got plenty. And had some lovely ones in a frame:

Id go with with the micro package if photos are important to you. That means you are guaranteed some nice formal ones.

I'd be brutal and say you just don't have the budget for the expensive one and shouldn't get into debt over it.

Pottedpalm · 22/04/2021 07:57

I’m with the ‘never looked at the big expensive album in decades’ brigade. Who really needs endless photos? One of the whole group and a few beautiful photos of the couple is plenty. At recent weddings, people have asked if anyone who has a good photo would send it on.
Another nice idea; at one wedding a couple of bridesmaids/ushers went round taking polaroids of couples and small groups. They immediately stuck these in an album and people were given pens to write greetings and comments and sign their names.

minniemomo · 22/04/2021 08:02

I would see if any students from the local art college are available, you will barely look at them - I had a student do mine on condition they could use me as a reference

Newmumatlast · 22/04/2021 08:06

Mine were crap but I have enough decent to display if I wanted and that's all you really need. But then I'm not a photos all over my wall kind of person and I do know others are. I know one person who gets their album out every anniversary, watches their wedding video and has on occasion put on the dress. They did spend an awful lot of money though whereas I didn't and I have never thought of weddings as the best day of anyone's life given there's a whole lot of life after :) ultimately, do what you want rather than what strangers on the internet say as I'd have advised the person I know not to spend loads on their wedding and photos and dress and clearly it would've made them unhappy as they are not me and have a different view x

Floweree · 22/04/2021 08:11

It depends really, if you want candid shots but at a high quality or if you want some staged 'creative' ones. We put disposables at the entrance and then people dumped them in a bag at the end, we had them developed and have some amazing ones and it's really nice to see them from the perspective of family and friends. We didn't bother spending too much on a professional, but they did set up a cam so the ceremony was recorded as well as having some shots taken.

VanCleefArpels · 22/04/2021 08:15

Don’t be ridiculous. You will look at all the photos perhaps twice, pick 2 or 3 to have framed and then put them away in the attic. I’ve been married 25 years and have probably looked at the formal photos twice. It’s such a waste of money especially as your guests will all be able to take great photos on their phones to share with you

eatyourcake · 22/04/2021 08:16

It depends on how important photos are to you, I feel that they are important to you, otherwise you wouldn't even consider the more expensive option. We had an artsy photographer who delivered exactly what we wanted. No I don't look at the photos every other day, but when I do, they bring the biggest smile on my face and all the memories come rushing back, such a warm and fuzzy feeling. We also had a venue-provided ceremony photographer, and those photos just make me cringe!

Riverskye · 22/04/2021 08:19

Our photographer was the most expensive thing for the wedding, 0 regrets - I love my photos! My family took some but there's really no comparison to the ones he took.

MaryIsA · 22/04/2021 08:50

Really I’d spend the money on booze and food.

Pedalpushers · 22/04/2021 08:54

I think you should spend the money on your guests rather than some slightly more posh photos.

Aprilx · 22/04/2021 08:59

I’m not against spending money on photography, I like photographs. But spending half your budget on photos when you only have eight people there to take photos of, seems OTT. I think it would be politer to spend more of your budget on your guests and in generally adding to the nice day.

OooPourUsACupLove · 22/04/2021 22:50

We had a very good photographer doing the casual "blend in and take reportage shots of the guests" thing and the photos are really special. There's no way I could have seen all those moments in person on the day. Every now and then I find them in my phone (I saved them all in my google photos) and still love looking through them. Some of the older guests have died since our wedding and I'm very glad to have these pictures of them being so natural and happy.

firstimemamma · 22/04/2021 22:58

£750 for 3 hours seems like an awful lot. Our photographer is absolutely brilliant and has an incredible reputation. He's photographed over 1,500 weddings in 25 years and the work on his website is amazing. We are having him for 2 hours at £300. Could you maybe shop around and find something similar? You don't necessarily need to spend £750 to get really special professional photos.

LaceyBetty · 22/04/2021 23:01

Omg no. You will not look at the photos again for years and then a few will be fine. Think about looking back at your parents' photos. A few is fine. I regret spending money on photos.

WouldBeGood · 22/04/2021 23:04

Just ask everyone to take photos and send them to you.

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