Saw this interesting article about how to do a 10k wedding.
While it's Slightly dismaying for photographers with a real passion for wedding photography, though my point in researching these type of blogs was to understand from the consumer's point of view what they want, what they look for, what they're searching for. Maybe I'm weird. Anyone else do this? Instead of photographer's blogs I'm scouring for wedding planners, brides', etc.
http://www.alosangeleslove.com …dding-in-los-angeles.html
There's a break down on costs..catering is about 4 grand, that's reasonable. Though I find it interesting how they value the photographer. From the article:
THIS one is tricky, because that's about 1/3 of what a photographer usually costs.
- Start by finding a photographer you REALLY like, and asking them if they have an assistant, or know anyone who is just breaking into the business, who would be willing to shoot your wedding for the pics, referral and experience. These days, every photographer has an assistant.
- Think about cutting down your photography time - nix the getting ready shots, get the group shots, shove the big reception stuff (toasts, cake cutting, first dance) to the front of the evening.
- My next-last recommendation is that old standby craigslist, but see if you can find a shooter that matches your style, and comes with referrals. There's the whole argument in wedding world that craigslist makes it harder for all of us, including craigslist vendors, to get paid what the work is worth, but a 10k wedding is a 10k wedding. Try an avoid the hacky shooters - you'll know them when you see them.
- My last recommendation? Set up a flickr account for your wedding and put disposable cameras on the tables. Between the two of them, you'll get a ton of great shots.
- If you REALLY want pro pics of you in your wedding dress, schedule a day-after or before shoot, which will cost you tons less.
- Between/in a combination of all those, you'll make your $1,000 photography budget.
Ironically flowers are bracketed and valued as the same price as the photographer. Flowers last what, a week? If that, if they are not dried or even kept...yet they budget to skimp on a photographer who's images and prints last...lifetime. You're not going to remember what those flowers looked like when you're both 89 and trying to remember what you even looked like back then.
It's priorities. Some people have different ones than pictures (though, again, I LOVE my wedding pics, taken by my Mom's cousin with a Rebel). My priority was eating so I had a $3,000 wedding.
