It’s awkward. It doesn’t matter if we have it or we don’t, no one likes talking about money. I read last week that the average wedding is now a whopping $35000, or the price of a new SUV. For many people, this is unattainable for obvious reasons (ummmmmm well a new car is more practical…. or a down payment for a house….). So how on earth can you stretch your budget, especially when it comes to wedding photography?
To preface, I am going to flat out admit that I am biased and believe that wedding photography should not be skimped on. It is one of the only tangible goods from your wedding day that will last a lifetime. The flowers wilt, the cake is eaten, and the dress either yellows or magically becomes too small (and this is in no way a knock to any vendors in the wedding industry. I love and respect their talents). You are left with your spouse and your photos…. and a bill. How you prioritize your wedding budget is key. Pick two or three main factors and stick to them. Everything else will have to take second place.
Alright, so now the nitty-gritty—- how can you stretch your wedding photography budget? Here are my tips.
- First and foremost, you are getting what you pay for. The difference of $1000 could be the difference between a photographer who shoots on auto and drinks with the guests and a photographer who goes above and beyond to make sure your wedding is one of the best days of your life. I was going to buy a pair of shoes last year and sent a photo to my friend. They were pricey and not a necessity. I wrote her that they were on sale for $179 down from $250. She responded that I wasn’t saving 70 bucks, I was wasting $179. I had never thought of it that way. If the only attraction to a photographer is their price, think of it this way— You could be throwing away $2000 for what seemed like a great deal but resulted in a horrible experience. Or you could be investing $3000 into a lifetime of happiness.
- Purchase in stages. I offer packages and an a la carte menu to my clients. My packages range from just time and talent to a treasure trove including albums and digital files. I do this to ensure that my clients are able to customize in a way that fits their budget and their time frame. The end goal might be to have an album and digital files, but it might not be feasible before the wedding. Is there an option to buy a smaller package and then add on goods post-wedding? It is for me and I feel it should be. Heaven knows I would break up large purchases to better suit my needs.
- Guests- I have written about this before, but making a wedding registry and adding wedding photography items is one of the best uses of technology. So many of my couples already have a house and pots and pans. The traditional “straight out of college” wedding registry doesn’t reflect societal needs as much today, so catering your wedding registry to include items like albums or digital files can be incredibly helpful! And it is always something guests enjoy gifting knowing how much it will be valued.
- Embrace DIY weddings. In the era of Pinterest and Etsy, so many weddings are taking on a DIY flair that amazes me. I am currently helping my sister by making all of the centerpieces, and while it’s going to be a lot of work, we plan on spending about $75 for every centerpiece total (and trust me they are going to look amazing). DIY is a great way to make your wedding more unique and more meaningful. Invite your friends to contribute. If you have a friend who is skilled with wood, have them make a wooden ring box. The craft lovers can whip decorations out of thin air. One of my favorite weddings ever had pies instead of cake and all of the pies were made by the grandma’s and aunts. Again, this goes back to knowing what is top on your list, but there are always ways in which you can invest time and not as much money.
In a perfect world, I would shoot weddings every weekend just for fun. But like I said, money is an uncomfortable reality that we all have to deal with. If you walk away with two suggestions from this post, they are to be honest (with yourself, your fiance, your photographer) and always focus on quality over quantity (especially for the top 3 things on your wedding list).
