VENT: photobooth woes

bpphoto785 · December 2011

FI & I have had our hearts set on a photobooth at our wedding but they're REALLY expensive in our area because almost every vendor has to travel an hour to where the wedding will be.

A couple of months ago we thought we found one at a great price at a local hardware/rental store. We checked it out and it was tiny. Then we found another non-traditional photobooth at a great price and it fit up to 10 people! We were ready to book them when I just got an email saying that he will be on vacation the weekend of our wedding (he's a one man operation).

Our only other option is the most expensive but also very reputable. We have the money in our budget but $1,500 for 4 hours of a photobooth just feels like highway robbery! What do you ladies think? Would you cough up the dough or settle without one?

candice245 · December 2011

We are also having a photobooth at our wedding! I think it is a great idea..$1500 does seem really expensive! Have you explored all options?
I say that if it is what you really want and you know that they are reputable than you should get it.. you only get married once!

gpapale1 · December 2011

$1500 is pretty pricey, IMO. I saw a few photobooth vendors at a wedding show a while back that charged about half that, but it might be cheaper here. Have you thought about setting up a DIY photobooth? Here's a great set of instructions: http://vistaprint-goddess.weebly.com/diy-photo-booth.html (She did this one for $170!)

AurorasEnvy · December 2011

I got a deal on ours - we are paying $595 for our photobooth, but it is normally $895. This includes no travel fee, unlimited photos, a copy for the guests & a copy to go in the guestbook of all the photos, an attendant for the booth, props, and a CD of all the photos.

So, $1500 does sound like a lot to me. Maybe expand your search radius? Ours is based in a town about 2-3 hours away from here. Otherwise, you might want to try going to a bridal fair to book - often times they'll give you coupons or a deal if you book right then & there.

AurorasEnvy · December 2011

Also, try signing up for wedding channel deals in your area - like groupon, but for wedding stuff =] I've seen some photobooth deals on there in my area:

http://deals.weddingchannel.com/deal/national-deals/vacation-rewards-hawaii#

mandi921vh · December 2011

Wow, that does seem pretty expensive! I would do what PPs have suggested and search for a better deal, or just do the best DIY photo booth ever!

careydes · December 2011

At my brother's wedding (5 years ago?), they set a bunch of poloroid cameras out on a table, and let people take pictures and post them on a bulletin board on the table. It was so cute! There weren't props or anything, but it was probably much more affordable than $1500, and everyone LOVED it.

Laurie109 · December 2011

I like the polaroid idea - you can set up a background and get props if you wanted! i think people would have fun with that!

spalko · December 2011

$1500 seems like a lot of money to me to put just towards guest photos/guestbook. If your heart is 100% set on wanting a photobooth I would have to agree with PP and expand your search to other areas. You might get lucky and find one heck of a deal but you also might end up with a $1500 photobooth...

SweetheartLove84 · December 2011

We are making our own Photobooth for our wedding in May. It is WWWAAAAYYYY less expensive and you can create it to your liking! Hope this helps!! Good Luck

comeongetdown · December 2011

$1500 seems like a lot to me too... but i never had my heart set on a photobooth, it's all in priorities... we REALLY wanted a band, so we're probably paying what some people think is a lot of money for that.

if you have it in your budget and can't find a cheaper option like some people suggested then i say go for it!

something else i thought of, i've seen those cameras that automatically take a picture when you smile set up at best buy (or where ever) so maybe something like that could be used in a DIY situation.

good luck!!

bpphoto785 · December 2011

Thanks ladies! The problem with groupons or wedding channel deals is they're based out of cities 1 or 2 hours away. I tried to secure one awhile back and the guys wanted to charge me an arm and a leg in travel fees (plus they were jerks which was the ultimate reason why we didn't book them).

I thought of the DIY option but don't want to ask someone to facilitate it. I really don't want any of our family or friends to have to work at our wedding.

I think I'm going to email the one man operation who's going on vacation to politely ask if there's no way he can train someone in five months. Probably not a bad idea for him to have someone on backup anyways...

VENT: photobooth woes

Re: VENT: photobooth woes

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