To not have a wedding photographer?

[xela21]

We are having a wedding weekend away with just 10 guests.
Photographer prices are astronomical as soon as you mention 'wedding' but equally don't want to be dishonest - it is still a wedding although very small. Also because of the tiny scale, wonder what really will the photographer have to photograph - not doing the traditional first dance, no bridesmaids/groomsmen etc. All very simple. Instead doing different activities over a number of days. Also, the wedding is very soon (doubt will find a photographer so quickly).

Will I regret not having a photographer?

We didn't have an official photographer, like others we decided it wasn't a priority as there were other things we'd rather put the money towards. However in the end two friends who are keen amateurs suggested a few posed shots of us with our immediate family and they shared all their pics of the wedding with us and they are really lovely photos. I think in hindsight a photographer should be something you should budget for - we were just extremely lucky in the end, without even realising.

My mum and dad got married in 60's and the photographers photographs were lost/ruined. All they had photo wise of their wedding were a few old Polaroids from a friend and one snapshot from a box brownie! It was one of the things that always upset her a bit.

I struggled with photos at my own wedding (going back to 2003) as I loathe having my photo taken.

In the end we booked a reportage style photographer. It was an expense. Around £800. I was so frightened of the photos that I didn't open them for a week!

I can honestly say that of all the things I've done in my life I will never regret these photos. Probably the only time I've genuinely looked at photos of myself and been really pleased. The intimate and often humorous photos he got of my guests that were engaged in conversations and little actions I was unaware of was priceless. He really captured every moment from the emotion to laughter.

17 years on, the flowers have died, the cake is gone, the dress no longer fits....even my mum and dad are no longer here. These photos are enduring.

I do have a few friends who cut the photographer as an expense and got friends to take photos. They were pretty average and badly lit. They wish they'd had less flowers, cake etc and pushed the boat out even for a couple of hours of professional pics.

If it were me, I would ask about an hourly rate from a professional. I wouldn't not have my photos for anything.

We had a smallish wedding 20 years ago. We didn't have a professional photographer just a close friend who took a few traditional group shots, all the others were from friends and family. No regrets at all.
We did also ask another friend to 'video' some of the key moments, for example of us coming out of the church which is fantastic, of people standing around chatting, cutting the cake, speeches and parts of the evening do. I absolutely love watching it, seeing family that are no longer with us, watching my mum dancing and laughing. Seeing how young me and my husband look and how skinny I was! Definitely recommend doing this.
The photo I gave on display was taken by a friend from work who was just watching as we came out the church, absolutely beautiful as neither of us knew it was being taken. You certainly don't need a professional photographer if you don't want one.

Thanks wise world of mumsnet - we have decided to go for it afterall.

Actually, I’ve changed my mind having just seen the sneak preview of our daughter’s wedding photographs. They are lovely and incomparable to family snapshots.
I think you've made the right choice. Hope they are beautiful.

I have two albums one is the official one by the photographer and thebother ones by my bil which I love. You could buy some of those disposable cameras to give guests with instructions of what photos you want and then you get them developed.