WHO PAYS YOUR WEDDING PHOTOS?
Photography and video expenses are traditionally the responsibility of the
bride's family. These days, of course, couples are just as apt to foot the bill
for their own weddings, although they may accept help from parents and other
family members.
Wedding videographers usually charge a set fee for the method and style of
video you've selected. This may include editing, a couple of baby pictures,
favorite music, the master and a few extra high-quality copies to share with
friends and family. Extra costs are almost always limited to when a videographer
stays for an extra hour or two of overtime.
Photography, on the other hand, is an aspect of your budget that can easily
snowball. But you can help keep the situation under control by being realistic
about what you'll need. Decide on the amount of prints, albums and enlargements
you think you'll want, along with the length of time you think you'll need your
photographer, and ask your parents to guesstimate what they think they'll want
to order. Factoring in requests for parents' albums and prints now may save
money in the long run. And it may give you an opportunity to ask if and what
your parents wish to contribute to your overall cost.
If you're lucky and your parents have offered to pay for part of or your entire
wedding, be sensitive when discussing your choices. Wedding videos and albums
are expensive, so be ready to back up your decisions. Remind everyone that the
wedding lasts one day, but the photographs will last a lifetime. If you've selected
a $4,000 photography package and a videographer who charges $1,500 -- and your
folks think $3,000 is more than enough for both -- don't burst into tears. Instead,
consider scaling back your package, or kicking in the difference yourself. We've
never met anyone who regrets spending too much on wedding pictures or on the
additional cost of having a video shot. Sadly, however, the reverse is often
true. |
