re: January Budget Challenge: A Wedding in Houston, Texas for $10K (and not a dime more!)

goleudy — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:02:37 GMT

If you absolutely MUST sacrifice a wedding videographer to fit your budget by asking friends or family to record it, I have some advice for you...

1. Make sure the designated person puts their camera on a tripod. There's nothing worse than the seasick feeling you get when someone using a handheld camera constantly swings it around in an effort to capture the action.

2. Ask them to be unobtrusive. With the proposed budget above, you've gone ahead and hired a professional photographer. Make sure your friend/family member knows they need to stay out of the photographers' way. Otherwise you might see the designated videographer all over your wedding photos - or worse, they could end up distracting your other family and friends by moving around during the ceremony or blocking their view during key moments (think cake cutting, bouquet/garter toss, etc...) to get the best shots.

3. Find out if they can deliver the video to you in a format you could actually watch. Can they get the footage onto a DVD for you?

The budget above, had more than $800 dollars left over. Why not try negotiating with a local videographer to find out just what $800 dollars could buy you. Most likely, there will be at least one who will film and edit your ceremony for that amount. Along with your photographs this is the most tangible memory you will have from your wedding day. Photographs are essential, but what will you remember? The sound of his voice, your mother's tears, the laughter of your friends, the wisdom of your family, your grandmother doing "Cupid Shuffle" with the best man...

re: January Budget Challenge: A Wedding in Houston, Texas for $10K (and not a dime more!)

gummifaultier — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:45:15 GMT

Please do one for Chicago!