Costs of Photographers

What is the average cost of a photographer for the bridal portrait and the wedding? Are you allowed to keep the proofs? Does the price quoted include the cost of the pictures or just their time for photographing the wedding?

We've seen photography packages as low as about $400 and as high as about $6,000 and everything in-between. It depends on what part of the country you are in and how many hours you want the photographer to be there (4 hours or 8 hours, etc.) An average package that would suit lots of brides would be somewhere around $1000-$2000. Some let you keep the proofs and some do not, it seems to be an individual photographers policy. Many will post your pictures on a website for viewing and ordering by your guests. Some include proofs for an additional fee and many will put them on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. Usually the prices quoted include lots of pictures in an album as well as their time (and often discounts on additional pictures ordered for family and friends for a certain time frame after the wedding). Many photographers also have videography packages available too, w hich will be an additional cost.

When you find a photographer you like, ask all these questions. The most important thing is that you like their style of photos and that you are comfortable with them.

You can go to Plan/Great Ideas for more detailed photography info.

Paying for the Expenses

PAYING FOR THE EXPENSES

Who Pays For What

There aren't any absolute rules as to who pays for what. Traditionally, wedding expenses have been taken care of by the bride's family, with the groom responsible for the rings and the honeymoon.

While tradition is still an honored part of our heritage, financial obligations must often give way to everyday realities and compromise.

At the time of the wedding planning, both sets of parents, along with the engaged couple, should meet to discuss the financial arrangements. It is wise for each party to make any financial limits absolutely clear–to prevent misunderstandings or hard feelings at a later date after definite plans have been made.

If the parents of the groom are financially willing and able, they may offer at any time to pay part, half, or all of the wedding expenses. This is especially true if the groom's side has many more guests coming and/or if the bride's family and guests must incur travel expenses for a wedding held where the groom's family lives.

Costs should be allocated in order of priority of what is most important to the bride and groom. As a loose rule of thumb, reception food/drink is 50% of the total budget. Then photography 10%, flowers 10%, music 10%, dress, headpiece and veil 10%, misc (gifts, favors, fees, transportation, tips, etc.) 6%, and finally invitations 4%. These numbers can be adjusted based on your priorities.

Below is a traditional list of who pays for what, but the final decision really depends on who is most willing and able to pay.

The Bride

1. Wedding ring for the groom (if it's a double ring ceremony).
2. A wedding gift for the groom.
3. Presents for the bridal attendants.
4. Personal stationery.
5. Accommodations for her out-of-town attendants.
6. Physical examination and blood test.

The Groom

1. The bride's rings.
2. Wedding gift for the bride.
3. The marriage license.
4. Gifts for the best man and ushers.
5. Flowers – bride's bouquet and going-away corsage; corsages for mothers; boutonnieres for men in wedding party.
6. Accommodations for out-of-town users or best man.
7. His blood test.
8. Gloves, ties, or ascots for the men in the wedding party.
9. Fee for the clergyperson/judge.
10. The honeymoon.
11. Bachelor dinner (optional).

The Bride's Family

1. The entire cost of the reception: rental of hall, if reception is not held at home; caterer; food (including wedding cake); beverages; gratuities for bartenders, waiters; decorations; music; flowers.
2. A wedding gift for the newlyweds.
3. The bride's wedding attire/trousseau.
4. The wedding invitations, announcements, thank yous, napkins, etc., and mailing costs.
5. The fee for engagement and wedding photographs.
6. Ceremony – rental of sanctuary; fees for organist, soloist, or choir, etc.; aisle carpets; and any other costs for decorations.
7. Bridesmaids' bouquets.
8. Gratuities for policeman directing traffic and/or parking.
9. Transportation for bridal party from the bride's house to the wedding ceremony and from ceremony to the reception.
10. Bridesmaids' luncheon.
11. Rehearsal dinner (optional).
12. Household furnishings for the bride and groom – from linens, china, silver, and crystal to furniture (optional).

The Groom's Family

1. Clothes for the wedding.
2. Any traveling expenses and hotel bills they incur.
3. Wedding gift for the newlyweds.
4. Rehearsal dinner, or any other expenses they elect to assume (optional).

The Attendants

1. Their wedding clothes.
2. Any traveling expenses they incur.
3. Wedding gift for the newlyweds.

The Guests

1. Any traveling expenses and hotel bills they incur.
2. Wedding gift for the newlyweds.

Over 50

Do you have some ideas for couples over 50? We need all the ideas we can get.

 Probably you will be paying for your own wedding, although if your parent's are still around, they could be listed as hosts if you like. Else you could word the invitations something like... The honour of your presence is requested at the wedding of Susan Lynn Smith to Matthew Andrew Larson... or Susan Lynn Smith and Matthew Andrew Larson wish you to share in their joy as they are united in marriage on... If you are having under 50 guests, you can hand write invitations on pretty paper or just telephone them. You may prefer a smaller ceremony and larger reception, in which case you could send out reception only cards. But if you would like a big wedding and reception, go for it, there is no reason not to.

Instead of a traditional shower, you may want to have a coed cocktail or dinner party that includes your fiancé, mutual friends, and their partners. And, if you already have everything you want for your household, maybe have guests bring something unique, like favorite recipes or pictures of themselves with you or your fiancé, or things for your garden or other hobby. If you want to register, consider things you may not have yet, like crystal or china or new sets of things that are worn out. Other things to register for could include your favorite wine, books, electronics, hobby preferences, etc. Some people also get the word out that they would like gift certificates to a specified travel agent (for honeymoon, etc.).

You can wear a long, formal dress in any color including white. Or any length gown in any color you prefer will also work fine. If this is a second marriage, skip the veil and go for flowers, a hat, pretty tiara, or nothing at all. If it's a first for you both, a veil is fine. The same holds for bridesmaids... anything from formal to street length dresses. The ceremony can be anywhere you are comfortable with, a church, a park, on the beach, city hall, etc. If this is a second wedding for either of you, hold the reception somewhere other than where the first one was held. If there are any children from previous marriages, consider including them in your wedding party.

Discuss finances and/or assets, as both of you may be well established already with a variety of household goods, real estate and investment holdings to merge or not merge, or dispose of. Take an inventory of what you have before registering for other gifts.

Take the time and spend the money to go somewhere special for your honeymoon. Go somewhere in the world that you both have always wanted to see, or somewhere that you have been before and really enjoyed.