Investing In Your Wedding
When people find out I'm a wedding photographer, one of the more common questions I get is "Why does wedding stuff cost so much, especially the photography?" For all of you out there asking yourself this question, this blog is for you!
Once In A Lifetime...
A wedding is a once in a lifetime event (hopefully), and it's an event that can't be recreated. If something goes wrong on the wedding day you don't get another chance to get it right. A vendor can't call up the bride and groom the day after and say "So sorry about that, how about we re-do it today?" Besides the fact that you're off honeymooning, you're not about to pay all the other vendors to come back out, and lord knows you probably couldn't survive the stress of having to do it all over again!
Trusting The Pros To Get It Right The First Time
So, you have to trust whoever you hire that they know what they're doing, they've expereinced just about everything that can go wrong, can predict it, and help make your day go flawlessly - and most importantly - they'll get the job done right the first time! Finding a pro who can do this is an investment in your wedding and in your memories. You know the sayings "You pay for what you get" and "Cheap comes out expensive in the end"? There's a reason they're popular sayings! Granted, everyone starts out as a rookie, and charges less because of that lack of experience, but you need to decide how much do you want to gamble on your wedding day. Your decision will literally last you a lifetime.
There are only a few items that have any tangible lasting value after your wedding day: wedding rings, photos and video. That's it folks! For all the work and money you're going to put into it, how much of it has a tangible value the morning after your wedding? Notice these three things are also some of the more expensive on your wedding day. These items are designed to last you a lifetime. They are meant to still be there on your 50th anniversary, for your grandchildren and great grandchildren to cherish and enjoy. These three things are an investment to commemorate a lifetime. Breakdown the cost of this investment over 50 years, and it's seems like an incredible deal, doesn't it? Your photography, videography and rings are an investment. They do matter, and will serve as your memory as the years go by. The investment you pay for a great photographer or videographer is well worth it, because you know they will get it right on your wedding day, you know they'll be calm, cool, collected and able to adjust to any chaos that arises.
So, how do I find the right person?
When you're researching vendors (not just photographers, but all of your vendors), make sure you find the person to be truly intersted in your wedding. It can be easy for some vendors to forget how serious this day is. You start doing the same thing over and over, and you can forget that this is one of the more important days in a person's life. I've seen vendors show up to formal weddings in jeans and windbreakers, and not understand why this is inappropriate. I've seen photographers purposely make brides cry, and some just not care to really keep on their toes the whole day and tell this couple's story. Find vendors that LOVE to do weddings, LOVE to get to know their clients and care what you have to say. Photographers and DJ's that really love what they do know how to keep the couple calm and focused on what the day is really about - the bride and groom!
In the end, as with anything in life, you get what you give, and this is just as true when it comes to your wedding planning. You don't put much into it, you're not going to get much of anything out.
Tags: Wedding Photography Wedding Planning