Are you getting married? Congratulations! Your wedding day is a day of joy, emotion, of romance (of course) but also planning, lots of planning.
If you have just started to plan your wedding, you may already be aware of the number of things to organise for the big day. The list may seem endless, but there are certainly a few things that should be your starting point and priority. Applying to the registry office (or the Mairie if you live in France) for your desired date, selecting the wedding venue and your photographer are all priorities when planning your wedding, as you often have to book these suppliers 1-2 years in advance to make sure that they’re available for your desired date.
I can't help you with the registry office or the wedding venue, except to say that the Domaine de Saint Jean de Chepy (https://www.chepy.net) in Tullins is a beautiful wedding venue and to go and visit it if you are looking for an exceptional venue, but I can help you understand the reasons why it is important to choose your wedding photographer well.
Why is wedding photography so important?
The list of things to organise for your wedding day is long (flowers, caterers, dress, decorations...) and everything seems to be important and they are. Having beautiful flowers, good food and a gorgeous dress is great but you’ll only have them for one day - your photos will stay with you for life.
Long after the cake has been eaten and the flowers have wilted, you will be able to turn to your wedding photos, your wall art, photo album etc, to relive the emotions and highlights of your wedding.
Your photographer will accompany you throughout this wonderful day to create priceless memories that will allow you to relive the happy moments spent with your entourage, the emotional moments and to see all the little details on which you have spent a lot of time - the flowers, the decorations, the cake, the dress, etc.
It’s important to choose your photographer well as what they give you will last a lifetime and beyond.
Why is it important to hire a professional photographer?
A professional photographer is much more than someone you will spend 8 hours with on your wedding day. They are there to advise you beforehand to help you plan your big day, and afterwards to prepare beautiful gorgeous albums and wall art to preserve your memories so you can relive them for years to come, remembering the little details that, without those photos, you might have otherwise forgotten.
Your wedding photographs are one of the few things that will stay with you for life, long after the dress and shoes have been put away, the flowers have wilted and the cake is finished.
With a professional photographer, you have a photographer who understands how a wedding day unfolds, who can advise you on the timing of each step and who understands that all the little details are important to you because you have spent so much time choosing them, making them, etc. They also know that taking pictures of you is important but taking photos of your family and friends, your grandmother who is not so young, etc, is essential as these will be the memories you will cherish when they are no longer with you.
You may have an uncle who loves photography and will offer to take your picture to save you some money but, apart from the fact that he will not have the professional equipment nor the expertise to take beautiful wedding pictures, if he photographs your wedding he will not be able to participate in your big day and experience the emotions of the day with you - and this will be a shame as the reason you are inviting him is to share the day with you and not just to watch from behind the camera.
What do you pay when you hire your photographer?
Your photographer, unlike other wedding suppliers, is not providing you with something that will last just one day, she is giving you something far more valuable - memories that will last a lifetime. They give you the ability to go back in time, to rediscover the emotions of that wonderful day, to smile, or even shed a few tears, at tender or unexpected moments that you may not have been present for. It will allow your children and grandchildren to live this day with you and to discover their parents and grandparents when they were "young".
They deliver high quality products, designed to last a lifetime and beyond, because your memories are not just for today but for tomorrow and all the tomorrows after that, they are for your children and your grandchildren.
Your photographer doesn't just work for you on the day, they accompany you beforehand, advising you and helping you plan the timing of your big day. They are there, of course, on the day but not only as a photographer, they also guide you, relax you when needed and do everything in their power to ensure you have a wonderful day. And afterwards, once you leave for your honeymoon, they get to work so that you can discover your photos as quickly as possible.
Hiring a professional photographer requires a certain budget and there’s a good reason behind the price tag – your photographer will spend many, many hours on you and your wedding (over 50 hours for a standard wedding) and will provide you with high quality products to preserve your memories but, in return, you will receive gorgeous memories that will last a lifetime, allowing you to go back in time to relive your wedding day as many times as you wish.
Optimise your budget
If, after having read this article, you love the idea of having gorgeous souvenirs of your big day, look to see how you can optimise your budget so that your wedding photos can be a priority. Do you think your guests will notice if you've saved a little on flowers or on the food (lobster is not a 'must have' for the wedding meal) or if your cake doesn't have 5 tiers? If you're creative, make your own decorations - not only will you save a little, but your decorations will be more meaningful than if you had bought them.
See what you can save on to maximise your photo budget as this is the only thing that will remain after your wedding day.
To finish
You will spend a lot of time preparing for the day you marry the partner you will spend the rest of your life with, that special day you will share with your family and friends. Make sure you have special souvenirs of your wedding day, souvenirs that will last a lifetime, by hiring a professional photographer.
You only get one chance when it comes to your wedding photos and they will be the only things that stay with you forever so make sure you book the best wedding photographer you can afford - it will be an investment you will be glad you made when you look back on your photos for years to come.
So, think about how important wedding photography is to you and, if it's valuable to you, optimise your budget to hire the best photographer possible.
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