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Not at all, I think they are a great icebreaker at receptions, and at least one way to document everyone there, because sometimes it is hard for a photographer to get pics of all of your guests. That price is about the same as I found here, which sadly, is way over my own budget. But thanks to a wonderful Bee, who put together a tutorial, my soon-to-be hubby and I are making our own photobooth. I am lucky, my nephew has most of this stuff already, and has a booth he can rig up, so all I am paying for is the Sparkbooth program, the printer paper and ink and props. You might take a look at this tutorial
I also love the photobooth idea! Its a great chance to get some fun pictures of you and your guest! I considered having one however decided against it mainly because it didn't fit into our budget. But some things you may want to consider before taking the plunge
This was actually brought to my attention by my younger sister who attented a graduation party where there was a photobooth. She said it was flooded with kids! All they wanted to do the entire time was dress up an use the props to take funny pictures. At a graduation party, that may be ok. However do you really want people lining up to have pictures taken while you're cutting the cake, or during your first dance? If you decide to go ahead with it, maybe close it down during the traditional wedding events - cake, dances, bouquet toss, gater, etc. (This may not necessarily be an issue if you're not inviting kids to the reception!)
Also, while its, unlimited pictures you may get stuck with multiple pictures of the same group of people (kinda like I mentioned above about the kids constantly jumping in.)
If you do decide to use it, make sure you have room for it at your venue! you don't want it to be crammed into some corner surrounded by tables with guest trying to eat. Both parties - those in line and at the table - may get annoyed with the other if it's placed in close quarters.
Another, cheaper option, is if you have the room at your venue set up an area with a black or whatever color background and some random props - silly glasses, hats, boas, etc and let you're guest take their own pictures. You could place cards at each seat to let them know that it's there. Create a snapfish.com account and on those cards, provide the login information where your guests could just upload their picturebooth photos to your account. You won't have the instant transmission of pictures or in the traditional 3 pic strip but if you're more worried about the fun pictures, it's an option!
Personally, I LOVE the idea and agree that every time I see photobooth pictures I wish I was able to do it! Just wanted to make you aware of the things I considered before realizing it was out of our budget! Good Luck!
@muzikfreek13: Well that was an eye opener....now I don't think I want one anymore haha dang it!
I'm not trying to deter you from using one because it is a really fun idea! I just want you to be aware of some "issues" you may run into if you decide to do it! If you're not having kids at the reception it may not be an issue! Or you could always do the formalities (cake, dances, bouquet toss, garter, speeches, etc) at the very beginning of the reception and leave the booth closed, then open the booth afterward. Didn't you say it was only 3 hours? most receptions are 4 hours long, so that could be your 1 hour of down time. Honestly, I also think it's crap that you may have to pay for a hotel room too! I've heard of charging fees outside of a certain radius but never the hotel room! I would check into that!
Seriously though, consider setting up an area with fun props and a solid color backdrop and let your guest take their own pictures! It'd be a lot easier on your pocket and if they upload them to snapfish, all of your guests will have access to all of the pictures, so they can "steal" any other pictures that are uploaded by other guests! (And you don't get stuck with a bunch of stupid pictures or pics of the same people!)
Sorry for busting your bubble just thought you should know ahead of time! Good luck! :)
@muzikfreek13: no I completely appreciate your heads up! My reception area is pretty tight.
I've never actually been to a wedding where they had one, but as a guest I think I would love it. I've never thought of them as cheesy. Maybe it depends on the particular crowd, but I think it would be fun for most people. There are definitely some practical considerations like muzikfreek mentioned - I think I have read other threads where Bees who had photobooths said lots of people would disappear for periods of time waiting for the photobooth, and that the photobooth can sometimes compete with the dance floor. But overall it seems the consensus is that they're really fun and worth it if you have some extra room in your budget. $899 for 3 hours and double prints seems like a pretty normal rate, I think.
We had a photobooth at our wedding and everybody loved it! We have some awesome photos from it! The people who ran the photobooth put together a scrapbook for us and had our guests write a message to us in it! We did have a handful of kids at our wedding, and of course they loved using the photobooth but it wasn't a problem at all. And if an adult came up while the kids were having their fun, they were just asked to wait so someone else could have a turn, no problems at all. As for speeches, cake cutting, dances and other special moments, they just shut the booth down. They had an open and closed sign they used to let people know. And they actually added the time they were closed on to how long they were there so we didn't get charged for unused time. Such an awesome experience! I don't know if all places are like that, but it's definitely worth looking into!
We're having a photobooth! We found a great deal on one for $475 for 3 hours. We get unlimited prints, and we get two copies of each strip, so that one goes into our scrapbook and the other the guests can keep.
We aren't opening the photobooth until after dinner though, around when dancing/dessert starts. So that those who don't want to dance, or want to take a break from dancing still have something to do. :)
Also, we are putting ours in the lobby of the venue, and not in the hall itself so it wont cause too much traffic.
@muzikfreek13: You brought up some great points. Photobooths are great, and you end up with some hilarious photos and it's definitely something for your guests to do. However, from a photographer's perspective, most of the weddings I've shot that had a photobooth left me with less to shoot at the reception. This is a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your crowd, but at all times 1/3 to 1/2 the guests are in line for the photobooth rather than interacting with each other, watching the bride and groom dance, etc. There are only so many photos I can take of folks standing in line outside the booth, but at the same time you'll still end up with photos of those guests from the photobooth (though they won't be big, high quality photos). I think it really depends on what your guests are like but there are definitely some things to consider.
@ashleyyyg: Oh and Ashley, knowing who your photographer is, I would definitely want more of his photos over photobooth photos, but that's just me. You're going to have two photogs right? Plus a photobooth?
I think they add more fun to the wedding actually! Im definetely doing that for my bridal shower (not wedding as im having it in another country and they dont have photobooths,,,:( )
and people can always just go take their pix in the photobooth on their way out (you can put it near the guestbook or so so people can sign on their way out and snap a couple of pictures!!)
Depends on who you ask, so there isn't really one right answer.
IMO I love them and they provide a great source of entertainment for your guests besides the typical dancing routine. We will be having one and I look forward to seeing all the photos.
Yes! LOL, there is actually a company called "Cheesy Photobooths" out here in SoCal that I came across at a bridal expo in Anaheim a couple of months back. They actually had a pretty nice set up and looked like a ton of fun. I would love to have one at my wedding, just not sure I can fit it into the budget! As I guest, I would totally love it!
I loved it at my wedding, but that does sound like a bit of a bad deal to me... I got 4 hours with a cd, online images, etc, and no hotel cost or anything in expensive Ann Arbor for $700. (unless your wedding is somewhere in the boonies in Michigan?)
We had a photobooth and it was a HUGE hit. We didn't have a problem with lines or it interfering with cake cutting, toasts etc. we had TONS of kids at our wedding too and that didn't pose any issues either. Honestly I think it was one of the best decisions at our wedding. Between the photobooth and being catered by Chipotle it was a hit. I definitly would recommend a photobooth. Just do some shopping around to find the best deal.
Yes! But that is the fun of it!
I had one at my wedding and everyone loved it.
@joy2011: Well it's $1099 now and they are out of Lansing. They have to drive a little over 5 hours AND take a 30 minute ferry there and back, AND rent a horse drawn taxi since our wedding is on Mackinac Island and there are no cars allowed on the island.
This is much too steep for me so we are not having a photobooth anymore :/ Oh well!
Never been to wedding with one but I would totally love it. I plan on doing one as well when we have our larger celebration.
A minority vote: I hate the ones with props... If you wanna be funny, pose funny. You don't need a moustache, or a fugly hat to do so.
I'm having one and it's point a shoot, no props, no weird backdrops- nothing.
@vmec: "fugly hat"... your posts always make me giggle. :) We're doing pretty much the same thing.
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I love the idea of a photobooth. I'm not sure why, but whenever I see them at weddings I get so envious. I found one thats $899 for 3 hours of unlimited photos. Because I am using their DJ services I get the images on a flash drive and an interactive guestbook. Two pictures are printed out. One for them and one for you. I may have to also pay for travel fee and a hotel room.
Is that a bad deal? Are photobooths cheesy for a wedding?