Well, Hello!
Welcome to the world of marriage! Where, like everywhere else, you have so many options it's overwhelming and often confusing. And also like everywhere else, you can choose how much to spend on everything you do. There are no rules when it comes to a wedding so don't be mislead by the leading magazines and reality TV.
The last paragraph of this column was especially disturbing to me: "In the past few months, though, I've been learning to say no – which can lead to some heart-wrenching decisions. No to the photography package. No to the fancy hors d’oeuvres. No to the poufy dress. And no to the DJ (sigh)."
Huh??
Have you ever been to a wedding with no music? Do you want your guests to have fun, or have you and your fiance worked out a skit to keep them entertained? Because, even though they all love and adore you, things will get pretty stale pretty fast. DJ's can be hired anywhere from $500 and up, especially if your wedding is on an "off-day" like a Friday or Sunday, or during the less-than-peak season. Of course I suppose you could always hook up your home stereo....
Now, I must admit, I'm a little biased when it comes to photography because, in case you haven't guessed, I'm a wedding photographer. But to say no to photography is one of the BIGGEST mistakes you will ever make. Trust me on that.
Next to a venue and some kind of food item, photography is the most important aspect of your wedding. After all, this is the best day of your life. All that planning, all those guests, the beautiful decorations and even that second-hand wedding gown that fits you so perfectly will be forgotten in a year without photos. Student photographers are literally a dime a dozen and you usually get what you ask for. I was a student once, and I never, even for a second, was arrogant enough to put someone's memories into my inexperienced hands. I assisted on almost 50 weddings before I offered to shoot a friend's, which I messed up due to improper exposures. That was embarrassing for me, but luckily they liked the photos anyway. That was before digital...Today, even a family member can pick up their DSLR and shoot some decent images for you. I guess that is why many photographers have actually raised their prices. To keep our industry alive, and the professionals that have worked so hard to build it employed.
Which brings me to another sensitive subject; Quantity versus Quality
I am now over 200 weddings into my career. I still shoot with a "film" mentality which keeps my finger off the shutter button until the time is right. I DO NOT use my camera like a machine gun and spend hours in front of my computer looking at ten identical images trying to determine which one looks better. That's a waste of my time and a waste of your money. Realistically, as a bride and/or groom, do you want to spend hours going through 1500 similar images, or would you be happier looking at 400 to 600 great photos, all of which are album-worthy. Most of you would wisely choose the latter.
This is not an advertisement for my services, but a reminder to anyone planning a wedding. Be fun, be creative, use your imagination, and think wisely about what is really important on your wedding day. You'll find yourself saying "No" a lot less.
