Wedding Budget Tip #44: Choose an a la carte photography package

This post is part of a recurring series here on BSB where we share wedding budget tips to help you save money on your wedding! You can access all the wedding budget tips on a single page for your convenience and future reference. This post shares how booking an a la carte photography package can save you money.

Wedding Budget Tip #44:

Hire a photographer who offers their services a la carte.

If you’re looking to save money on your wedding, one place I never suggest skimping is on photography. At the end of the day, your photos will be basically the only physical and lasting memento of your wedding (unless of course, you love to hang out in your wedding dress on the weekends a la FRIENDS.)

But when it comes to cutting back, there are ways to make your photography spend cheaper without forgoing hiring a seasoned pro. Seek out shutterbugs who offer their services a la carte or even per hour, and be wise about the amount of time you choose to have them on site.

This wedding budget hack is perfect for capturing a staged wedding exit, and then sending your photographer packing before it gets too late into the evening.

You can hire a photographer for coverage on the day of, but skip the big pricey package that includes albums, prints, engagement and bridal sessions, etc. A seasoned pro will be able to get amazing photos of you in your gown on the big day, so there’s no need to do that extra session if it isn’t in your budget.

Get 20% off any package from EventShare - including the PREMIUM plan!

Another great way to stretch your photography dollars? Crowdsource photos from your guests using a service like EventShare. While your pro captures the must-have moments, this gives you a fun, candid behind-the-scenes look at everything else – without needing to pay for extended coverage.

And with the wide assortment of online album companies out there that give you the power to DIY your wedding album, this is something you can remove from your wedding day spend and choose to order it later down the line (like for your one year anniversary!)

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It’s totally doable and in most cases MUCH more affordable than going through a third party like your photographer. The variety of designs, quality, and pricing make a DIY wedding album a total no-brainer.