As I wrapped up the previous post, I said the next one was optional for some people, hence why I kept it for last. In reality, photography in general is probably not optional, everyone wants some mementos. But there are FIVE big questions you will have to decide when it comes to photography.

A. Professional or not?

Picture this scenario. You’ve just spent six months planning what is likely the biggest event of your life. It probably comes third behind buying a house or buying a car in terms of the total cost, but maybe even second if you’ve never bought a NEW car. And the amount of work you put into it is way above the research you likely did on houses or cars. It’s BIG. And it all takes place in a single day. No rewind. No take-backs. No do-overs. We’re live, baby.

In 5.

4.

3.

2.

1.  » Read the rest

Even though you are planning the biggest party of your life in six months, even though you have lots of other things to do to, it isn’t like life just stops because you’re getting married, you still have to go to work, walk the dog, maybe take the kids to daycare, whatever, no matter that you have all this going on, people are going to throw MORE parties for you.

Engagement parties.

Wedding showers.

Bachelor parties.

Bachelorette parties.

Rehearsal dinners (although you might do that yourself).

Post-wedding brunch (again, you might organize that yourself).

Parties upon parties upon parties. And the important thing is that the parties are not about you. They’re not. Someone else wants to throw you a party, and your role is to say, “Thank you” and get out of the way. Usually.

Which isn’t to say that you won’t enjoy them, or appreciate them, you will. Yet often it is hard not to think, “But what about the 17 things I was planning to do this week and haven’t gotten to yet?  » Read the rest

The next three items are relatively easy, but there are a few little nuances here and there. But since they’re not complicated, I’ve lumped them all in the same post.

Accommodations

The accommodations question comes up if you have many out-of-town guests — they need somewhere to stay, presumably. And most people organizing a wedding will suggest location x or y, somewhere near the venue (or if you’re in a traditional banquet hall, perhaps the attached hotel itself). Hotels will sometimes be helpful when you book these rooms. If you’re doing a wedding with them in their ballroom, they know you’re spending a ton on food and alcohol, so they might give you a small group rate on the rooms. You can negotiate for better rates than they first offer you, but often they’ll only give you a better rate IF you guarantee the rooms. For example, they’ll offer you a special rate of $150 a night, but if you guarantee all 25 rooms for that night, they’ll reduce it to $125.  » Read the rest