Some Alternatives
There are good reasons for not having a photographer at your wedding. Some couples have a small, intimate wedding with just a few family members and friends and don't want the intrusion of an outsider on their special day.
Others can't find a photographer within their limited budget. Still others are simply uncomfortable with photographers popping up here and there and snapping shots.
A nice alternative is to have a portrait taken in a studio. The shots for these are done in a controlled setting with particularly good lighting and without the weather and time constraints of ceremony and reception settings. There are just the three of you — bride, groom, and photographer; no one else sees or hears how the shots are set up.
Special moments between the bride and groom as they gaze at each other, for instance, can be very intimate; neither needs to feel pressured by onlookers.
If either of you has ever been unhappy with the way posed or candid shots have turned out — “Oh, no, I don't look like that, do I?” — then a studio portrait can be a great alternative.
Your Guests Can Take Great Shots, Too!
Another good alternative is to hand out disposable cameras to a number of people at the ceremony and reception.
Perhaps they'll take special shots that the professional photographer misses. They can capture moments at the wedding that are particularly meaningful to them.
Do put a cautionary note on the cameras if your church or synagogue does not want photos taken during the exchange of vows.
Fact
Instead of having a guest book, one couple had a favorite picture of themselves blown up and mounted on poster board. It sat on a table at the wedding, where guests signed around the picture. The couple had it mounted and framed so they could hang it in their first home.
Having your guests do informal photography can also help you save money. Some couples have a professional photographer for the ceremony and use the informal shots guests take at the reception for their album. The choice is yours!
From a Kid's Point of View
Older children enjoy using inexpensive disposable cameras to record a child's-eye view of the wedding and reception.
These pictures, while not always of the quality of those taken by adults, can be charming and will give children the opportunity to be part of things. Later, you can put the photos into frames and present them as gifts.
