Happy 1st Anniversary, Sara & Kurtis!

Kamden

We had a great time at our session with Kamden in the park. We looked at the ducks, played on the playground, drove a fire truck, played a little basketball, and made some new friends. Enjoy!

How should we prioritize our wedding spending?

Close your eyes. Wait, that won’t work; you’re reading. OK, just imagine your wedding. What do you see? Hear? Smell? Taste? Take notes. Are you at the beach? In a church? At the Justice of the Peace? Are there many people there? Just close friends and family? Just you and your love? Roses? Tulips? Orchids? Daisies? Do you hear a string quartet? An acoustic guitar? An accordion? A rock band? Do you imagine a delicious brunch? Hors D’oeuvres?  BBQ? How do you want to preserve your wedding day memories? Would you like wall art? Album? Signature mat? Guest book? Slideshow? DVD?

Which elements are most important to you? Where are you willing to compromise? If you have strong feelings about a certain element of your wedding, you should prioritize your spending accordingly.

Be upfront with your wedding vendors. They know how to stretch a dollar, and they know what the bottom line is. However, don’t always just go with the cheapest option. Taste test, talk to their references, and look at pictures from their most recent weddings. Also, listen to your gut. Discomfort often indicates possible problems, even if you can’t explain why.

As photographers, we have very specific ideas about wedding spending. The images from your wedding will last longer than just about anything else. Your dress will go into a box, the flowers will wither, the food will be eaten, but the photographs can transport you back to that very important day with your favorite people. You can get out your album and share it with your grandchildren decades after you begin your life together.

In the end, though, you should decide what is most important to YOU. Consider hiring a wedding planner to help you find the best deals on everything; a planner knows not only the most trustworthy and skilled vendors, but how to stretch your budget to make your wedding exactly what you want at a price you can afford.