Weddingbee boards

I hear a lot of brides say they regret spending too much on some things and not enough on photography, but has anyone every regret splurging on an expensive photographer and feel like it wasn’t worth the big bucks?

About a month back I posted a thread debating if I should go with my favorite photographer who would cost me and arm and a leg to fly her to my DW, or a local photographer who is the best in the area and close to my family. The price difference was a huge $5000. The dilemma was our parents were paying for the whole wedding and originally had the local photog picked out for a very good deal, so the extra would have to come from me. Also that I and my SO are going back to school next year and will need our parents support for a couple more years.

I got tons of great advice and in the end decided I should be financially responsible and since I had no way of coming up with the extra cash I decided to forget my dream photog.

So I shopped around and the second best (I liked the style and was still free on my wedding date) was still a far second from my favorite but twice the price of the local photog. Both the local photog and my second best are great but I don’t “love” every photo and album they do as much as my favorite one.

Out of the blue I get a second job (on top of my freelancing job that I’m currently doing) at a school for summer and fall semesters that will pay me an extra $5000- just enough to pay for my favorite photog without interfering with my rent and living budget.

I’m now tempting to revisit my decision and am getting seconds thoughts. Part of me knows that extra money should be kept for 6 months rent when I go back to school instead of asking more from my parents. Another part of me just wants to book my favorite photog. But I’m wondering since she’s going to cost me this much will I regret this splurge later along the line? Will I love the photos so much I will think it’s worth it? Even if I love the photos will they be worth all that money? Is expensive photography ever worth it at all?

@jackie-o: Thank you for sharing your story! Since my dream photog is so expensive I'm sure I'm going to have super high expectations. I would have already decided until this extra job came up and gave me hope...

@nmsoonerbride: Thank you for replying to both threads:) It does seem like fate. After my last thread I told her I'd have to pass now if I contact her and she's still free I will probably convince myself it's meant to be...and no turning back!

I just wonder has anyone felt like expensive wedding photos weren't worth the high price tag...I just never heard anyone mention it before:)

@Mrs. DG: Very persuasive:)

I think you should save the money.  What's going to be more rewarding... independence from your parents for 6 months or a picture that is just a tiny bit better?

I do think you should so things for your wedding if you really love them, but I truly think you will regret it if you pay the extra $5000.

You're the one who wanted Angelica Glass right?

Two words:

DO. IT.

You won't regret it.  You can always save more money for rent/house/etc. later.  You'll never be able to go back and re-do your wedding day.

@babyboo: I agree I'm sure I'm going to regret it until I graduate I hope eventually on commencement I'll say "It was worth it!"

@Schatzie821: I totally go through cycles of "It's what I want!" and "$5000 is too much!"

@QueenBecca037: Thanks for commenting on both threads:) Yes I'm the one that wanted Glass. At that point it was a hard decision and I thought I had it nailed but when some extra money came in I reopened the pandora box. It's really hard to imagine how much different I will love the pictures.

@dance: maybe I'll just stall a bit and contact her and leave it up to fate. I already said I'd have to pass last month so she might have booked another event by now.

I feel like I want to call Suze Orman:)

@Sulli301: Thank you for sharing! I'm glad to hear you were really satisfied!

My SO said "Our wedding doesn't have fancy details, what will the photgrapher capture? It's not worth it!"

The fancy detail at your wedding is you and your fiance!

Weddings aren't about the centerpieces, the shoes, or even a big diamond ring.

They are about two people who have promised to love each other forever and vowing to spend the rest of their lives together in front of family and friends.

THAT is pretty fancy :)

@QueenBecca037: Totally agree! I really want some nice portraits of me, SO and my family which for some reason we never had any good photos of. I don't mind not having pics of any other detail:)

Especially being a part of a community like WB it's so easy to get caught up in inspiration boards, polls, and all the other stuff that you start to forget there's a marriage that goes along with a wedding.  

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE WB and think it's a fabulous place, but if you want great pictures of you, your Fiance and your family, have Angelica Glass take them.

That being said, please, please, PLEASE don't make a list of seven zillion groupings of family members to photograph.  Just let everyone interact normally and lovingly, and the pictures will be great.

Oh, and if you guys are open to the idea of a first look, DEFINITELY do it.

@QueenBecca037: Thanks for the advice:) I have a huge family, and they don't really get the idea "not posing for the camera" but I love the energy of great candids! I just have to find a way out of the long lists of singles of me + every family member!

You're welcome :) How many people are you expecting?  Isn't the wedding really far away?

You don't have to do away with the list completely, but your Aunt Bea will love a picture of the two of you hugging after the ceremony way more than a picture of you two stiffly standing in front of [insert scenery here].

You don't have to listen to me...Haha, just things to think about :)

@QueenBecca037: Haha I love how you put it. If we're all going to stiffly stand then it would be a waste of Glass:) We're having 400 guests it would be so boring to stiffly stand with all of them..

I hear a lot about first look, I'm not sure what it is but for me the more pictures the better so I'd be all for it!

Holy cow!  400 guests!! I was not expecting that...

A first look is where you see your fiance in some predetermined place (falling back on the good old [insert scenery here]) and you two see each other for the first time with no one else around but the photographer.

It's a very intimate and romantic moment.  We did it on our wedding day and it was hands down my favorite part of the day.  Everyone i know who has done it has said the same thing.

Good luck with the decision of whether to have a first look or not and whether or not to have Angelica Glass.

P.S. Is your date even still available with her?  I know most photographers won't hold a date without a deposit.

@QueenBecca037: Thanks for explaining first look! I love the sound of it:) It's hard to imagine no one being around though (haha with all the family and guests walking around!).

Glass's availability might just be fate now. She's not holding my date since the last time we spoke so if I go back to her again I have to be 100% sure and ready to pay the deposit! Yikes~

Thanks everyone! It's so helpful to hear opinions from both sides (dream VS finance).

@Mrs. Louboutin: Thank you for the reassurance:)

I agree with QueenBecca.

I saw if this is the photographer you want and now you have extra money, go for it!  We are paying a good amount for our photographer and recently got our engagement photos back - it's well worth the money!

I havent had our wedding yet, but from the engagement session, we had so much fun - the photographer captured this and now everyone is telling us...how fun our session was.  So, I can't wait for the wedding.

Like someone said above, a talented photographer makes all the difference and at the end of the day, you can't redo the wedding...all you have left are photos.

i understand your love of photog and wanting her for your day and all and it's great that you found the money but do you have a savings acct what will you do when you or your hubby get sick or the car breaks down...

you gotta think all this thru bc yes you're getting married but your parents are still pretty much helping you out for the next few years or so...then spending $5000 on a photographer seems like a waste...I mean really is she that much better than the others...also do you know this job is guranteed...i mean what if you got laid off 2 months in already put a huge deposit on this photog and then couldn't afford it and lost your deposit.

sorry not trying to be a kill joy or anything but i'd have to consider saving it if i were you

@bells: I totally hear you. It's like buying brand name doesn't mean it's always better than no name. My nightmare is I end up paying a fortune and get disappointed.