Like every wedding discipline your professional wedding photographer is most likely to be able to provide the best possible results for a bride's big day. But sometimes the realities of life make it necessary to find ways to trim the budget. This can mean anything from cutting back on the wedding pictures we end up with a little bit to doing away with pictures entirely.

How much a couple cuts back is up to the couple and their budget. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

Here are six ways to save money on wedding photography along with the known pitfalls:

1. Limit the hours the photographer is needed: I mentioned this yesterday. Since labor is one of the biggest costs of the photographer, by saving him / her time a bride can save a good amount of money. Avoid the temptation to have them follow the bride or groom as they prepare and simply have them meet the wedding party at the church in time to get the pictures the couple really wants. Compensate by having the attendants bring (and use digital cameras) as the last minute preparations take place and during the bulk (or even all) of the reception.
2. Check Craigslist to find affordable photographers – of course, look at their portfolio, references, and see if their personality clicks with yours to decide if they are a good choice for your wedding.
3. Post an ad at a local college or university. There are lots of young people who would love an opportunity to practice their craft at a wedding. The problem here is that a couple is likely to run into some very talented young people with no track record as well as some, well, not so talented people who really need to be doing something else.
4. Make your own wedding album. This can save hundreds of dollars. Make sure to research how best to preserve the photographs.
5. Go digital. Instead of a proof sheet (or book) you can get the 'photos' on CD. Then make use of an online photo editor/developer. The risk here is less control over the quality of the print – but then you can always get it printed again down the road when the budget is not so tight.
6. Go digital… and forget the professional all together, if a couple feels brave. Instead ask your guests to bring their digital camera and go ‘snap happy’. After returning from the honeymoon they can email all the pictures to an email address the couple specifies (I’d open a separate email address for this) and then they can use that online photo developer (like Shutterfly) to print their wedding pictures. The advantage is that angles and moments will be captured that one photographer would never catch. The disadvantage is that the quality will be diminished - especially in low lighting settings.

Ultimately the choice is up to each couple. Fifteen years down the road some people really cherish their wedding photos. Others never look at them. Will they in another fifteen years? I think that is up to the individuals which is why only the couple can decide how much to spend or not spend on their wedding photography.

Wedding Photography Elements

In yesterday's post I included a list of the photographs that most brides consider essential to capture the day. Now the question is how to accomplish this without spending as much on the wedding photography - or even is the wedding photography a place that the couple wants to cut back.

Assuming that the couple has decided to attempt to cut back in the area of the wedding pictures we need to consider what you are paying the photographer for:

• Technical Knowledge: This is obvious. It is also the least important aspect since there are any number of people qualified in this area. Still, to find someone that is really skilled a couple needs to look at a portfolio of ENTIRE WEDDINGS, not just a collage of the best of a variety of weddings. Take enough pictures and anyone can put together an album of great photos.


• Interpersonal Ability: A couple gets the best value from a photographer that sets them and their family at ease because the posed pictures will look most natural.


• Time and Labor: This is where you can save yourself the big bucks. If a couple keeps their photographer all day, it is going to cost more. That is obvious. Schedule the wedding day in such a way that it gets the photographer in and out and the price should be less. Is there a need to keep the photographer throughout the reception? Usually the first half hour is enough and some have found that the photographer need not be at the reception at all (see tomorrow).


• Popularity: Like anything else, the most popular photographers command the highest prices. Find one that sets the couple at ease, has good skill, and is relatively unknown and the couple should be able to save money.


• Memories: Ultimately, when we buy wedding photography we are buying a tangible recording of the wedding day. How much is that worth? Only the couple can decide that.

Tomorrow I will discuss options to dramatically cut the cost of wedding photography even more - if the couple is brave... or desperate.

Wedding Photography Checklist

A wedding photography checklist is essential as we prepare to consider how to save money on our wedding pictures. Perhaps this is something a bride will want to cut out all together - but then again, your wedding photography is the only tangible record we have of our big day. The cake might survive in the freezer until the first anniversary and, yes, the bride's crystal wedding cake jewelry can add a touch of romance to room decorations for years to come... but beyond that, the only record a couple has of their glorious wedding day celebration are the wedding pictures.

Look the checklist over and ask yourself how important each picture is: Do you care about having that instant / group recorded photographically? How important is it to you to have the pictures be high quality.

• An official portrait of the bride and groom in tux and gown
• The bride and groom at the alter during the wedding
• Bride and mother
• Bride and father
• The wedding party in totality
• Bride and her immediate family
• Bride and groom with bride's immediate family
• The groom and his immediate family
• Bride and groom with groom's immediate family
• Bride with her siblings
• Groom and his siblings
• Bride and her parents
• Groom and his parents
• Bride and groom with groom's parents
• Bride and groom with bride's parents
• Bride and groom together will all parents
• Groom and his mother
• Groom and his father
• Bride and groom with groom's grandparents
• Bride and groom with bride's grandparents
• Bride and groom with attendants
• Each member of wedding party walking down the aisle
• Bride coming down the aisle
• Bride's father leaving her at the altar
• Entire wedding party at the altar
• The exchanging of rings
• The saying of vows
• The kiss
• The bride and groom leaving the altar
• Bride getting ready for the wedding
• Bride and bridesmaids (individually or as a group [or both])
• Attendants and mothers getting ready for the wedding
• Groom prepping for the wedding
• Groom and groomsmen (individually or as a group [or both])
• Bride and attendants leaving for the ceremony
• Bride and groom arriving at the reception
• Toasts - best man, father of the bride, etc.
• The wedding cake
• The cutting of the cake
• Bride and groom's first dance
• Tossing of the bouquet
• Guests dancing
• Guests signing the guest book
• Bride and groom departing the reception

There are forty-five items on this checklist - and many of them represent multiple photographs. Conservatively, there are at least one hundred and fifty pictures that most brides consider to be "essential".

Of course, the question is; to stay within budget which items on the wedding photography checklist are most important to you. After that question is answered, then we can talk about ways to save money on wedding photography because only then will a bride have the information she needs to make an intelligent decision about what would be best for her wedding.

Save Money on Wedding Dress

Since the wedding dress is one of the first items most brides purchase for the wedding day - and of necessity if they have to special order it - and considering how expensive a wedding dress can be, it follows that it is also a natural place to begin reigning in the wedding budget. After all, if you can get a bridal gown that is just as beautiful (sometimes more beautiful) for a fraction of the cost isn't it worth it?

Four places to look in your search for that perfect wedding dress without breaking the bank:

• Charity Sales / Auctions: Some charities have turned to accepting wedding gowns that they can resell to raise money. As a result you have the opportunity to buy dresses that are usually either new or worn once for a fraction of their original price. Call around. Check the Internet for a sale near you.
• Sample Sales: Do you have a high end wedding dress manufacturer close by? Check with them to see when they have their annual sample sale. Likewise, bridal stores usually find it necessary to clear out their samples along with anything left over of last years stock. If you are able to wade through sheer numbers of dresses, you can sometimes find some gems.
• Grandma: You've heard the old saying, "Something borrowed, something blue..." This is a great opportunity to import some family meaning into the wedding by borrowing the wedding dress grandma wore all those years ago - or mom, or aunt, or big sis. You get the idea. If you can find something that works for you this way you obviously save huge amounts of money.
• EBay: Let's face it. Most bridal gowns are never worn more than once so if you can find one on EBay you could save a lot of money.

Yes, it's easier to just go down to the bridal shop and special order one. But if the budget for your wedding is less than expansive one of these four options for finding a wedding dress at a bargain price just might be the ticket.

More Ways to Save Money on a Wedding Venue

A couple weeks ago I wrote about a way to save money and get more value from your wedding budget by using your own property to create a party green on which a wedding might be hosted.

Of course don't forget to consider parking issues. A couple that I heard of recently solved the problem by having their guests park at a local high school and having the guest ferried via horse and buggy. I heard of another that hired a trolley for a couple hours. Other's have simply used the van's from their church.

Which brings me to the second option that comes to mind when a couple needs to save money on their wedding venue (often one of the most expensive elements of a wedding): Many who are active in their local church or synagogue can often gain use of their worship facility for the wedding for a nominal fee or sometimes free!

Likewise, sometimes city or county parks are available inexpensively – though noise may be a factor.

An often overlooked resource (probably because so many are in poor repair) are recreation centers – some of the newer recreation centers have meeting rooms that are as nice as hotel ballrooms. I can even thinking of one with a nice, private courtyard!

Furthermore, depending on the regulations and private ownership issues in the area a beach wedding or ceremony next to a lake or river can save a couple lots of money they would otherwise spend on the wedding venue.

Reception Venue: Ideally, hold the wedding and reception in two different parts of the same place. For example, have tents with tables set up behind and to the side of where the ceremony is held and have the guests bring their chairs from the ceremony. This will save money on a separate location and renting extra chairs!

Honeymoon Get-a-way Activities: Volcano

No Hawaiian honeymoon is complete without exploring the volcano that formed the island. If you are on Kauai this means exploring the many waterfalls and lush vegetation of the inner island. On Oahu it means a hike involving the Diamond Head crater.

These are wonderful things to do. Think of the panoramic views that are available from high upon one of the volcanic mountain sides as you look down on the lush landscape and the gorgeous beaches below.

Depending on what exactly a honeymoon couple wants to see and experience, there are a number of ways to explore the volcanoes (all except two on the Big Island are considered dormant or extinct) - everything from hiking tours, to ATV tours, to Mountain biking tours, to horseback tours - they are all options. Just be sure to investigate where each individual tour goes and what they do. Hopefully they are all great (obviously I haven't been able to take every tour in Hawaii) but while some horse tours ride along ridge lines with vast panoramic views - others explore valleys.

Of course, we can't forget about the two active volcanoes on the island of Hawaii. Mauna Loa (sound familiar? Think Macadamia nuts. You can visit the factory just outside of Hilo!) and Kilauea. Both are considered active, but right now all the visible action is on Kilauea. There you can currently see lava flows (this changes from day to day, but the active lava eruption has lasted for a long time now.

Go to Volcanoes National Park. The entrance fee, I believe, is about ten dollars but it is good for multiple entrances for a week. There you can get current (within fifteen minutes) information about the volcano, hike among steam vents, look down into the massive caldera, hike lava tubes, see lush rain forest and a wide variety of landscapes trying to recover after being wiped out by a lava flow.

Volcanoes National Park is approximately thirty to forty minutes southwest of Hilo, making it convenient - and as of a couple weeks ago you could only approach the lava flow from outside the park, on the Hilo side down by the beach.

Of course, there are tours available that will take you to see the volcano and surrounding sights: The most common is the coach tour. It has the advantage of a guide who knows where things are, the ability to get out and do a bit of hiking, and the convenience of not having to drive. For my money though, I'm more inclined to say the air tours of the volcanoes are worth the money because, if it is possible to see a lava flow an air tour will be most likely to be able to make it happen as they can fly in at the angle that will give everyone the best possible view!

If even one of the honeymooning couple members are adventurous or scientifically inclined then this is a must do a Hawaiian honeymoon adventure.

Hawaiian Honeymoon Activities: Luau

Of course if you want to think about planning your wedding - apart from your honeymoon, you can always check the older entries on this blog, or go to http://www.excitingweddingfavors.com/ and either go to the fun ideas page (upper left hand corner), or simply sign up for the free wedding planning magazine "Stepping Stones to Your Dream Wedding". In the meantime we are continuing our series on Hawaiian Honeymoon Activities.

In my opinion no Hawaiian honeymoon would be complete without at least one luau.

And I say that as one that would much rather do than sit. But then, a luau is an interactive experience of the islands. It is a dinner show. That's for certain. But with the traditional Hawaiian foods, as well as the opportunities to learn to dance the hula, to learn to open a coconut, weaving, lei making, etc. under the evening sky in the warm air of the tropics, there was much to do.

Of course once the show began... wow. So much history coming alive in such an entertaining manner with dances and customs from across the Polynesian islands.

Some even got temporary tattoos!

Yes, a Luau is absolutely a must do on your Hawaiian honeymoon getaway.

Honeymoon Get-a-way Activities: Horseback Riding

For those of you who are anxious to get back to the act of actually planning the wedding day itself, don't worry. I will be back to that soon. That is the bulk of what I do. But isn't your honeymoon just as much a part of your wedding celebration as the ceremony and reception?

It should be.

It's just the personal celebration. It's the part you do with your new spouse alone.

As a result, just like you plan a variety of activities for your wedding day - ceremony, intermediate activities such as carriage rides or vintage ice cream social while you have your photography done, dance, cake cutting, garter belt, etc. - you also want to plan some fun activites for your Hawaiian honeymoon.

In my opinion, little is as romantic as a horseback trek into the Hawaiian contryside. You will see things that you just won't see from your convertible at 65 miles per hour.

My adventure started sitting inside a quaint little country store / coffee shop where we waited for our guide. As we sipped our drinks we browsed books and Hawaiian made art.

This picture is of me sitting on the porch with my convertible in the background.

Then the guide showed up in a four wheel drive van which hauls us to the stables. During the five minute drive we see panoramic scenes that are simply breathtaking.

The guides were great. They matched the horses with both the rider's build and riding ability. And they kept great control over all of the horses so everyone had a fun and safe experience.

Along the route, we saw avocados on trees that were four times the size of anything we see in the store. We tasted a sweet and juicy pomelo that was as big as my head. We saw elephant ears in this part of the rain forest that were bigger than any I have seen anywhere else on the islands. We rode along (and through) streams, up a canyon, and through fields where farmers worked much like they did many years ago.

Of course, each outfit offers a different kind of ride. This is only my own experience. Some offer rides across high ridges offering vast, panoramic views of the island from horseback. Some may take you to a seculded waterfall and pool where you can stop and swim. Some are on working ranches. It is worth looking at a wide variety of provider for your Hawaiian horseback activity.

There is no question that I would highly recomend a horseback ride as a very worthwhile adventure for any Hawaiian honeymoon.

Hawaiian Honeymoon Activity: Snorkling

I wish I had pictures - I really wish it do, but I don't own an underwater digital camera and you don't want to see the pictures the disposable underwater cameras provide, they just don't do it justice.

As I said last time, we went on a snorkeling trip with a couple of honeymooners. It was fun to watch them and see first hand how such a trip worked out for them considering that it has been... well, let's just say it's been a few years since my own honeymoon.

It was especially instructive considering that one of them (I won't say which for the sake of their anonymity) did not know how to swim.

Really.

I have known people who skipped a snorkeling trip because they couldn't swim. Big mistake.

There is no way you want to miss out on seeing the coral reefs teeming with colorful sea life dancing in and out of view like a top quality Broadway show.

You just don't.

I am serious. One of them could not swim, but they had a great time. The tour provided life vests and those foam "noodles" along with masks and fins. So the one that swam helped the other and they were able to be a part of the adventure with the rest of us.

To see the eels and parrot fish, yellow tang, butterfly fish, trumpet fish, surgeon fish, sea turtles, dolphins swimming just feet below or from us. It was gorgeous.

Now how do you overcome the photo problem on your honeymoon snorkeling adventure? I learned - once again from our honeymooning couple who were on the ball. They took a trip down to a local scuba and snorkeling shop where they were able to rent an underwater digital camera on a 24 hour basis. Smart move. Now they have an entire disk of great pictures (at least in theory) and I have my memories and a few grainy pictures from a disposable.

Next time I will - and I would advise anyone planning a Hawaiian honeymoon to budget a few extra dollars to preserve the memory.

What to bring: A good tan and lots of sunscreen (the sun is strong in Hawaii). Cover up. Towel. Sun glasses. Footwear that can get wet such as flip flops. Wear your swimwear as most have no place to change.

Our tour provided a snack between snorkeling locations (they took us to two locations for variety) of fresh seasonal fruit, chips, and beverage.

Honeymoon Activities

The weather is turning cold... making it a perfect time to plan your honeymoon - to somewhere warm.

I recently returned from recharging my batteries on the islands. There is nothing like it. Can I say the Hawaiian islands are a romantic place to honeymoon? Or is that redundant? Frankly, anywhere you go with the love of your life can be romantic, but there is something special about Hawaii.

And there are so many Hawaiian honeymoon activities possible!

I could be happy just sitting on the beach with a good book... The warmth of the moist ocean air caressing me in a light breeze. My husband nearby (getting restless - he doesn't sit well). That alone is enough for me, but...

On our first day we discovered that our next door neighbors (the condo adjacent to ours) were honeymooners. They were so cute - and so in love. She was quiet but oh so sweet. He gregarious - never met a stranger. They were from New York and had never been anywhere so open - they were out to experience it all!

They went on an ATV trip into the back country of the island. They hired an airplane to buzz Kilauea and get some awesome pictures looking down into the spew of lava. Of course they went to a luau (an absolute must). They talked of taking an inter-island cruise to get on the ground on more of the islands. Mai tais at sunset, exploring the open air markets, dining on the deck with the waves lapping the shore twenty feet away.

We went on a snorkeling trip with them. I'll write about that next.