As a little girl, you aspired to be a princess, dressing up in puffy pink dresses and ordering your dog around the kitchen with a flourish of your wooden spoon. Your plan to rise to royalty was flawless, practically fail-proof even. You would pick the most handsome man in the land and marry him.
Your wedding day- a day that has been fantasized about ever since the moment you first saw that white dress, the sparkling flowers, the voluptuous curls in her hair, the veil- a crown for a princess. You’ve envisioned the day that it would finally be your turn, the day you would find your prince charming to sweep you off your feet into a fairy tale ending. Now the day has arrived and this flawless vision has morphed into the actual reality of planning one of the most monumental days of your life. Everything must be absolutely perfect. The to-do list is endless and budgeting all the necessities is stressful beyond reasoning. You start thinking that maybe you could save money on the photographer by having your mom step in… You picture your delightfully stubborn mother documenting this event of paramount importance, “Doodlebug, smile now! You don’t want these pictures turning out like your Uncle Larry’s fiftieth anniversary party now do you? Oh my goodness! Silly me, the lens cap is still on! Let’s redo those shots of you getting into that anaconda of a dress.” Epic disaster. You’re starting to rethink that brilliant idea. Sure, mom’s scrapbooks were nice, but this is your wedding day! It deserves so much more than a Creative Memories scrapbook done by someone that takes on your important day as a hobby on the side.
When you’re outlining your budget, it’s commonly advised to make a list of the wedding components in order of importance. There’s the dress, the hair, the makeup, the food, the flowers, etc. While these are all vital factors, they are temporary investments. Are you really planning on wearing that dress again? (At least you’re hoping not to!) The hair and makeup are washed away in a matter of hours, the food demolished by ravished guests who couldn’t care less what it tastes like after a few drinks, and the flowers that have wilted by the time you depart for your honeymoon. The one element that has any degree of permanence is the photographs. By the time you have children or even retire, your glory days of being twenty-five and flawless remain eternal. This is the number one reason that the photographer should be at the top of your budgeting list.
A professional photographer has a unique vision. They have gone into this business for a reason, most likely because they have an eye for composition, lighting, coloring, and all the other component of what makes a “quality picture”. If you are worried that they will not be invested in you and your personal vision, think again! Their job is to tune into what you are looking for in their pictures and bring out the best qualities and the beauty of the day. All they need from you is a little bit of trust in their abilities. Then you can take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the day that you have worked tirelessly to pull together while they capture every flashing smile, fleeting giggle, and glistening tear in your eye. The end result is a much more tranquil bride who can focus on the moment and savor the experience. Not to mention you will be left with thousands of shots to browse through so that you can pick and choose your favorite moments and build a lasting memory of your lifelong dream. Once you pick your favorites, the photographer is able to design the layouts for a professional looking album that trumps an amateur scrapbook any day. The lasting satisfaction of the memories is a priceless gift that, in essence, within reason surmounts the price tag.
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