Wedding Pickle: Videography

So we just talked about budget. You have set your priorities and know what you are willing to spend. However, there are some things you just shouldn't cheat yourself on. I recently read on a forum that a common mistake brides make is going for the cheapest vendor. Sometimes a vendor can be cheap and not that good. Sometimes a vendor may not be aware of typical pricing, charge cheaply and be really good. I kinda had it both ways. I went cheap on my caterer/cake maker, I got what I paid for. I went cheap on my photographer, 50% off deal. Red flag? Not in this case. I got a steal for some real talent.

The Pickle: How can I avoid getting what I paid for in price and quality?

The Solution: There are a few things you should makes as part of your priority so that you have enough in budget to not cheat yourself. Never be cheap with your photographer and cake. You can also throw in the videographer as a secondary priority.

Why Photographer and Cake: This is simple. Your wedding day will fly by so fast that your photos will be what you hang on to to relive your day. This is number one because there are so many moments to catch that you will want to see, that you need to make sure you have someone who knows weddings enough to catch those moments in a beautiful artistic way. If you get a deal like I had, check the portfolios and recommendations to make sure it isn't a red flag. What ever you do, DO NOT hire your friend to take your photos. It is not worth the missed shots, the resentment that can cause, and they don't get to be a guest at your wedding! Not cool. (Now if you got a professional wedding photographer friend or family member begging to do your wedding, and you like their portfolio, well, I say why not? It helps build their portfolio!)

Now, the cake might be important to some and not to others. I made the mistake of thinking the cake wasn't a big deal. I urge you to reconsider making the cake as important as your photos. Here is why. It is such a centerpiece to your whole event. People leave talking about the dress and the cake. In fact, the cake is so important, it even has its own ceremony! You will have so many photos around the cake, you do not want to cheat yourself.

My photograher and videographer catching the cake-cutting (and my ugly cake lol).

If you are doing video, you don't want to cheat yourself there for the same reasons as a photographer. Moving images of your day is like really reliving it and you don't want to miss those vital moments! The beautiful thing about video is that you see all the beauty of your day and not all the things that went wrong. You can see your day the way it truly was. :)

Check out my videographer's blog for samples of her videos. Tear-jerkers! Below you will find my wedding video trailer. Are you planning on using a videographer?

Melina + Michael | Oklahoma City Wedding Video from Sarah Pendergraft on Vimeo.