Having a Wedding? Where to Splurge vs Save without Compromising your Photos

April 12, 2017 • Leave a Comment

You know you want your photographs to be gorgeous, but everyone has a budget

Wondering when to skimp and when to spurge without compromising your pictures? The Goodshuffle team has got you covered!

They will guide you through the rental process so your images will look absolutely stunning! We love working with them because we know that the staging is going to be on point!

Tiffany and Co. wedding rings at an in-home ceremony in Washington, DC. Goodshuffle shares when to splurge and when to save to make the most out of your budget without compromising your wedding photographs! Photos from the Harty, Washington DC, Rentals

There are tons of articles and blog posts about where you should splurge and where to save when it comes to your wedding. Almost all will tell you that a photographer is an important expense, as your photos are meant to last a lifetime; with photography, you really are getting what you pay for. What nearly all of these articles neglect to point out, however, is the importance of what is in your photos.

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We may not think of it often, but event rentals are one of the major components of wedding photographs; event furniture, decor, and other details are going to be in the background (or foreground) of just about every photograph.

What’s the point of splurging on an amazing photographer if images of your wedding day feature eye sores in the background?

Of course, not everyone has the budget to buy or rent the high-end rentals for every element of a wedding, so we’re giving a few pointers on where to spend a little extra and where to be more frugal while still having the best possible wedding photographs!

Marianna + Nick PREVIEW

Where to Splurge

Chairs. We wrote this blog post about chairs, and the main takeaway was as follows: You have as many chairs as you have people at your wedding. There’s simply no escaping the fact that chairs will be in almost every photo (of both the ceremony and the reception). You will wince if every photo includes a chair that looks like it was pulled from a town hall meeting instead of a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

Marianna + Nick PREVIEW

Even if the chair is not the focal point, they will still be visible

Centerpieces. Photographs of the reception table are a must and the centerpieces are the focal point of your tablescape. Not to mention, the first thing that wedding guests do (after grabbing a drink) is visit their table, ooo and ahh over how beautiful everything is, and put their belongings at their place.

Your centerpiece sets the tone of the entire table, and the difference between a dinky, cheap looking one (because we all know that just because something is expensive, it may not look like it is high quality in your photographs) and even a middle-of-the-line piece is enormous.

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Focal points. Think about the places the most important photos will be taken: standing in front of their loved ones to say, “I do!”, guest reactions, people huddled around the bar chatting, your first dance, you and your fiancé(e) cutting the cake, and ALL of the details...

Whether it’s a gorgeous archway for the ceremony, a unique bar for the reception, or a floral backdrop or beautiful stand for the cake table, drapery for your ceremony or reception - these are the photos that are bound to be framed on your walls or included in your premium wedding album for years to come.

Even adding a single exquisite piece that draws the eye will not only make a statement as guests enter and enjoy the evening, but it will be featured prominently in what are sure to be your stunning photographs

Unique details. These days, we’re all about spicing up weddings with details that represent each individual couple’s personality. From nautical lanterns representing a love of sailing to 1950s diner props that memorialize a first date or even vintage bicycles for the lifetime bikers; these are important personal touches that your photographer is going to want to capture in detail, making quality essential.

Where to Save

Tablecloths. Often, quality comes across in the feel of linens, more than the appearance. Sure, a specialty tablecloth design, such as a pintuck,is quite visible, but if you’re going for a simple look in your linens, a polyester linen will be far more affordable than a cotton cloth. This difference will not be visible in photographs, making it a great place to save some of your budget for whatever you two feel is more important!

Dinnerware. Not only is there only minimal difference between the fancy and the more “plain” plates (a gold rim, a charger, etc.), but the only time you’ll see a photograph of plates or the chargers is if you’re having a seated dinner and your photographer takes detailed pictures of the tables before food is served.

If you’re doing a buffet, or if you’d prefer a photo of the plates with your very expensive food served, you’ll never need to know if the plates were less expensive; people will be looking at the food and the plates will not even be on their radar during dinner or in the images.

Tables. Tables can almost always be covered by a tablecloth. There are, of course, exceptions. If you want a beautiful farm table,a unique, vintage look, or tables that glow in the dark, you’ll have to spend a little more mulah. You can also consider mixing and matching, using some high end tables for the cocktail hour or the dessert table, but keeping more simple tables for dinnertime (when they’ll be covered in food, glasses, centerpieces, and utensils, anyhow).

Photos from the Harty ı Wedding, Event, Lifestyle Photography ı Washington, DC & beyond
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Planning, Coordination, and Design: Intrinsic Events
Music, DJ: Al Graham
Flowers, Floral Design: My Flower Box
Hair, Make-up: Infinity Artistry
Photo Booth: Pixilated
Catering, Venue: Tabrizi's
Hotel: Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore
Transportation: American Limo
Additional Photography Locations: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Sliders Bar and Grill
Photography: Katie Lingan Photography
Photography Assistant, Additional Photographer: Leah Coppotelli Photography

Photos from the Harty is a partnership with Katie Lingan Photography

Water Barrel/Tent Weight Covers. Tents that are set up on a flat surface require water barrels. You can buy covers for these plastic barrels, or try using flowers or other decor as decoys for these slight eyesores.

Interestingly, most photographers will tell you that they tend to blend into the background best if you leave them as plain as possible. Besides, the vast majority of your photos will be taken inside the tent where your guest are and your guests will generally either be standing, sitting, or dancing in front of them, making the barrels almost invisible in your photographs.

There are so many ways to stay within your budget; as long as you have a good photographer, you can adjust or flex any of these items above to create a beautiful wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception space.

For those of you who are not familiar with Goodshuffle, we like to say that they are like the local, small-biz version of Amazon for rentals

Goodshuffle's website makes the process simple!

- Local Businesses We work with local vendors to provide you the best access to the inventory nearest you

- Search & Shop Use Goodshuffle's robust search filters to find exactly what you're looking for, then add to your cart

- Schedule & Details Throughout the shopping process we'll help you arrange delivery and gather all the details needed to ensure your rental is as smooth as possible

- Place Your Order When you're ready, place your order. Vendors will contact you if they have additional questions

It's that easy! Swing by Goodshuffle for all your rental needs!

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