In part 1 of “How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget,” we discussed the tasks that need to be done first when you start planning your wedding on a budget.  In this second installment of our budget wedding how-to, we will help you pick the wedding photographer and wedding videographer that are right for your budget. We've got tons of photo advice to share: "Plan for Intimate and Unique Wedding Photos" "Get the Best Wedding Reception Photos" "Creative Wedding Photo Ideas You Will Love"

Wedding On a Budget: Picking the right photographer.

We want you to capture all of those precious moments throughout your wedding day, no matter what your budget is. Planning a budget wedding is a challenging task but can be one of the most rewarding experiences.  You don’t have to spend tons of money to have the most beautiful and romantic wedding of your dreams—all you need is a little creativity.  My Wedding Chat is here to help!

Budgeting.

Finding the right photographer and  videographer is a big task.  After all, there are truly only three things that will come out of your wedding day: your marriage, memories and pictures and videos.  Your memories will live on through the photos you have from your big day; you want them to be preserved in a way that reflects your style but also falls into your budget.  As a general rule of thumb, you should allocate about 15% of your budget to photography.  Depending on your needs, you may have to omit the videographer and appoint a family member or friend to take care of the video footage.

Pick packages.

Professional photographers and videographers usually have a variety of packages to choose from when booking with them.  Ranging from shooting basic photographs the day of the wedding to an engagement shoot, day of and day after wedding shoot, the different photography packages are endless.  To save some money from the start, choose a basic wedding package from a skilled pro.  By paying for the expertise, you will have wonderful keepsakes that you can put into albums later on.

Ask for the proofs.

Another tip to keep in mind when booking, is to find someone that will let you keep the proofs.  If you have the rights to the proofs, you can print them in any way that you want to—either professionally or not.  This also means that you don’t have to get them printed right away; you can save up some money and print them after all of the wedding madness has subsided.

Think about the hours.

Cutting the amount of time the photographer is present at your event will also save you some money in your wedding budget.  Many photographers charge based on the number of hours they spend with you. So to cut back on some of the costs, hire them only during the crucial moments.  This would include some pre-wedding shots, the ceremony and the beginning of the reception.  Before the event, meet with your photographer and review which critical moments you want photographed.  That way, even if they aren't there from the beginning to the end, you can savor the moments you really want to see over and over again.

Do your homework.

Last but not least, do your research on different wedding photographers in your area.  This may seem like an obvious task but it’s worth emphasizing.  Many wedding photographers have similar abilities but huge differences in pricing.  The price isn’t necessarily attributed to their skills, so comparisons of their work, packages and skill levels are key to booking the right one for you. Your photographs and videos are the best way you can preserve your memories, and although this is not a very budget friendly aspect of planning, it is one you should definitely not overlook.  Many vendors will negotiate with you regarding their pricing and packages so don’t let a price quote completely scare you away from a photographer or videographer you love.  Remember, the wedding pictures and wedding videos are the memories you take away from your wedding and you should love everything about them. More information on the wonderful photographers we have featured here in this post can be found online through our Wedding Shoppe, Inc. Vendor Locator.

Keep checking back with My Wedding Chat for more budget wedding advice.  Make planning your budget wedding a snap with My Wedding Chat.