Use Professionals Sparingly

There is definitely a place for the professional photographer at your wedding event. However, most people spend way too much on this budget line-item because they don’t understand what the other options are. Professional photographers base their pricing around the time that they will spend at the venue, as well as how many photographs they have to sort through, edit and process. Because of this, ask the professional for a small amount of formal shots and maybe the most important parts, such as the actual ceremony. It may also be cheaper to have a smaller session at another time for bridal portraits. It is easier for the photographer to wrangle you and your spouse alone than with the hustle and bustle surrounding the wedding party. Try to keep the time that your photographer spends to about an hour. Finally ask about discounts that may be available. For example, doing both your engagement and wedding pictures with the same person may earn you access to lower price points.

Rely on Family and Friends

Amateur photography is a popular hobby; it’s likely that you know someone who likes to play around with this technology. If this is the case, ask them to take pictures in lieu of a more traditional gift. They can take more shots of the poses that the professional sets up, as well as being available during the parts of the event that aren’t being covered by anyone else.
You can also ask your guests to share their digital wedding photos on a communal photo-sharing website. Many of these are now available, which are often free, and photos can be uploaded with users having access to a password allowing them to download and share with you shots of your memorable day.

Casual Can Work

Many couples find that a casual approach to photography provides some really fun shots that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Using disposable cameras is inexpensive and your guests can get in on the action. Even kids can have fun with this. Once the event is over, the cameras are left on the table and you can process the photographs later. While you are unlikely to get the quality needed for display shots, these pictures are perfect for wedding albums. However, there are often surprises, which is part of the fun.

Photographs provide one of only lasting physical pieces of evidence to remind you of the joy of your newly married life. Time passes quickly and things will change on an ongoing basis. Having the memories that are captured by good wedding photos can bring comfort and focus as you build your life together. You probably won’t spend as much as you would think, especially if you implement these budget-saving solutions.
 

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Having prior information about competitive pricing is a great way to keep the costs of your own wedding down. Negotiating is not about robbing the person who is providing services for your wedding, but coming to a more appropriate common ground when it comes to price. If you are not willing to pay a certain price for the band, the venue, or the caterer then they will lose your business completely.

Many wedding planning businesses and those who contribute their services toward making your wedding a festive event would rather complete the task for you at a better price than lose your business altogether, so it is all about the way you look at things and talk to people.

As far as the venue goes, be sure that you never sacrifice what you want in the name of your pride or a few dollars. There is nothing quite like having your wedding where you want to have it, and unless the deal is good enough there is never a reason to sacrifice what you want for something else. The way to get the venue you want for the price you want and on the day of your wedding, it is important to book the area far enough in advance that you don’t have to come out of six months’ worth of salary to be able to get married. As sad as it is, venue hosts sometimes take advantage of last minute wedding plans and that can mean extremely high venue costs for you in the end. If you want to save money, plan in advance and that is the best way to negotiate a good venue price.

The same goes for negotiating wedding reception venue costs—the earlier the better. Negotiating wedding reception costs are the only way to keep costs down for your wedding. As far as food goes, the caterer is definitely going to be one of the more expensive aspects of your wedding planning. Negotiating costs for wedding reception food is a good way to keep the costs of your wedding under control, rather than compulsorily accepting the offer that the caterer makes to you. Remember that they need your business, and are mostly willing to negotiate price with you. If you are concerned about refreshments, try to keep the appetizers and favors to a minimum—usually these are the things that are left over anyway.

Also, the band or DJ is another aspect of planning a wedding that can get a little expensive. A live DJ is usually cheaper than a live band, but many live bands (especially local ones) can be booked for a great price if you do it well enough in advance.

One key thing to remember is that if you have more than one choice for each thing then you can truly give the impression to the supplier that you are not desperate for their services. You should set a realistic target price in your mind for the service and if the offers you get back are not reasonable be prepare to "come back to them". Often it is helpful to have "someone to consult with" who is not present at the meeting. This could be for real or pretend. If you can’t make a decision without refering to someone else this can help remove any pressure if it being applied to force a decision.

Good luck and remember it is your wedding. Take your time and make sensible decisions and have a budget.

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