Dilemma - photos and honeymoon

Ms_Brush

Having a real dilemma over a couple of issues, so perhaps someone could advise or at least offer opinions please? Basically, I am a cheapskate, having finally realised that the wedding is about the rest of our lives, not the day itself!

My H2B is a fantastic photographer, way better than a lot of professionals I have come across, so as a result (for both finished result and a small budget) I am really reluctant to hire a photographer. We will ask everyone to take photos and give us copies of the best ones anyway, and I will probably put disposable cameras on the tables at the reception - but despite the obvious faffing, would rather my fiance to set his kit up and take a few photos as well (he can set it all up on a timer so he's in the pictures too...!) - cheapest quote we had was around £400 for 2 hours work! We also need to video the ceremony for family who wont be able to travel to the wedding - was going to ask my brother to do the honours.

Question is - is this the 'done thing' ... am I being realistic / practical, or am I off my trolley??

Next dilemma is the honeymoon. As a result of work commitments we are leaving a big holiday till later in the year, but we want a couple of nights away somewhere. We were planning on Eurostar to Paris (first class and lovely hotel) but we are horrified at the prices and the exchange rate! So, plan B... in the UK, somewhere within a 3 hour drive from Stansted airport.... We have spent a week discussing and debating options, and we are stuck.

Question - We want a nice hotel, 4 / 5 * ideally with a spa, bar and restaurant, and we want to pay 2* prices... has anyone got any bright ideas?

Minxy_Bella

Re the photographer issue (so sorry but I haven't a clue about any honeymoon suggestions) - my OH2B also loves his photography but I have banned him (LOL) from doing the photos as I know he'd be faffing about with it all day and I will hardly see him.

As a compromise, we're paying a professional to take some reportage style shots and give us them on a disc that OH can then photoshop and play about with to his hearts' content.

We're also going to be putting blank disks on the tables, inside SAEs - rather than disposables - asking guests to send us a copy of the digital photos they take.

kte

http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/kilheycourt/ this place has a lovely spa...HUGE hot tub where i could spend hours...and from there you could drive out to the lake district etc. You can use it just as a guest of the hotel.

If you click on the spa link at the top they do special spa holidays

Kynthia

Hi

Just to warn you that not hiring a photographer may be something you regret. I have a few examples for you;

A civil partnership ceremony I went to they just asked for copies all the guests photos. The quality of photos wasn't too bad, but there were two main problems. There was no-one taking charge arranging all the various scenarios, it was a bit of a mess. Everyone was just standing around, no-one wanted to throw confetti as everyone wanted to photograph it. There were no photos of all the family. The grounds were lovely but many locations were forgotten due to people chatting and catching up. You really need a non-guest to take charge and make sure you end up with the photos you want. Also many guests never got round to sending the couple copies.

At two weddings I've been to with disposable cameras on the tables all of the photos were awful. Virtually none were worth keeping. The only use they were was to keep the children entertained.

A cousin of mine insisted she didn't want a photographer and that her step-dad could take the photos. There was similar chaos as above and her step-dad busy for a lot of the day. She really regrets it now.

Maybe you could find a newly qualified photographer who needs experience for their portfolio, and just pay their expenses?

Horace

Not wanting to be rude do you really want your fiance faffing around with a camera on your wedding day? it's his day too and he should be able to enjoy it without having to mess about with cameras. £400 for 2 hours work isnt unreasonable especially when lots of photographers charge £1400+ for a day. Instead of having a video of the wedding - why not just send a few albums around the family so that they can see?

Little_Chicken

Ms_Brush wrote: »

Having a real dilemma over a couple of issues, so perhaps someone could advise or at least offer opinions please? Basically, I am a cheapskate, having finally realised that the wedding is about the rest of our lives, not the day itself!

My H2B is a fantastic photographer, way better than a lot of professionals I have come across, so as a result (for both finished result and a small budget) I am really reluctant to hire a photographer. We will ask everyone to take photos and give us copies of the best ones anyway, and I will probably put disposable cameras on the tables at the reception - but despite the obvious faffing, would rather my fiance to set his kit up and take a few photos as well (he can set it all up on a timer so he's in the pictures too...!) - cheapest quote we had was around £400 for 2 hours work! We also need to video the ceremony for family who wont be able to travel to the wedding - was going to ask my brother to do the honours.

Question is - is this the 'done thing' ... am I being realistic / practical, or am I off my trolley??

Next dilemma is the honeymoon. As a result of work commitments we are leaving a big holiday till later in the year, but we want a couple of nights away somewhere. We were planning on Eurostar to Paris (first class and lovely hotel) but we are horrified at the prices and the exchange rate! So, plan B... in the UK, somewhere within a 3 hour drive from Stansted airport.... We have spent a week discussing and debating options, and we are stuck.

Question - We want a nice hotel, 4 / 5 * ideally with a spa, bar and restaurant, and we want to pay 2* prices... has anyone got any bright ideas?

I think there's a Champneys spa around there somewhere. It's not 5* but you do get some good deals on their website.

Ms_Brush

"Not wanting to be rude do you really want your fiance faffing around with a camera on your wedding day? "

Yes - I completely take your point...!! Thing is, it will a compromise either way, despite costs - because he will spend the entire time moaning about all the things the official photographer "does wrong..." (as he did at my cousin's wedding - and his pictures were miles better that the official ones and my cousin used most of his in her final album) or he will go and interfere with what they are doing... (which could be even worse) so for my own sanity, letting him faff around with his own camera could be easier in the long run! As this is second time around for us both as well, you dont get much time together on the day anyway, and as it is his day too, giving him the green light to do some of his own photos will make his day!

I do take your point though - I hadnt thought of asking a student or similar to do the honours for expenses so that someone is co-ordinating shots & groupings etc, will start asking around and get someone lined up.

Besides, the wedding day itself isnt the problem, its what happens next that is important :j

Love the idea of the blank discs on the tables... much nicer than the disposable cameras (although I might get one or two anyway as we have some kids there!)

We had looked at Champneys, and ruled it out because its usually where I go with my girl friends - not sure about allowing a man in to that world, he might like it and want to come too next time!

Will certainly be taking a look at the hotel suggested - sounds exactly what we are looking for!

THank you for all your ideas and comments - this has really helped!

Off to start looking for an 'expenses only' person.....

karen_newcastle

Hi Ms Brush - I know I am going to sound biased being a photographer myself but after the wedding you only have 3 things - your wedding rings, your marriage cert and your wedding photos (ok maybe 4 if you have a video!). That's where you should spend a chunk of your budget.

I was married 18 months ago and I would have hated my hubby to be on the other side of the camera! The day is just too busy for that.

As a minimum - 2 hours photography can get you some great formal shots as well as some romantic bride and groom shots on a CD for you to make your own albums. If you were my client you would probably have around 200 images - not bad eh? If your hubby is an enthusiast he could even ask for the unedited files so he could tinker with them himself and this might satisfy him so he wont meddle on the day.

I too had disposable cameras but the photos were shocking! And to rely on my guests would have been awful as they are not photographers and the best I saw was mediocre snaps. I would have been very upset if that's all I had for wedding photos.

Lottebear

Personally, I think you should have a photographer, as the photo are the only thing you have after the wedding, the memories are wonderful but fade, we just got a CD and have done our own album and put the photos on a digtal frame.

With regard to your husband doing the photos, are you going to have any with him in and you are on such a high I think you would forget to take some of poses you may want with friends and family.

We paid £695 and are more than happy with results. I would try finding photographer where you can pay for the coverage by the hour which is what we did.

karen_newcastle

Had an idea! Get you hubby to photograph some weddings and use the money for your photography!!!