Photobooths – A Fun & Fabulous Reception Idea

Looking for a fun idea for your wedding reception celebration? I know that the ceremony is important, but let’s face it, you also want to host a party afterward that will keep your guests smiling and dancing long into the night. Good parties just don’t happen. You have to provide the stimulus to make it happen, and one way to get things started is to have a Photobooth. I’ve done a few weddings now where a Photobooth has been brought in, and each time it has been a tremendous success and a great addition to the wedding celebration.

Photobooths add fun to any reception. - Photo courtesy of LaVie Photography

What is a Photobooth? How does it work at a wedding? To begin with, there are two types. The first one is the kind you find in shopping centres – a booth that one or more people pile into and the booth takes 4 – 6 consecutive shots of you in various poses. In this case, you rent the booth and it shows up at your wedding (usually during cocktails or during the dance – you choice). Your guests climb in to get their photo taken, get a printed sheet to take home as a souvenir and you get a DVD copy afterwards of all the photos taken throughout the night.

Actual rented photobooths print off a page of photos that guests can take home as favours. - Photo courtesy of The Photobooth Co. (Calgary)

The second type is where your photographer actually sets up in a corner, often with a playful backdrop, and guests can come by and get their photo snapped. The pictures are much better quality, but guests usually don’t have the option of taking them home right away (unless your photographer brings his own printer to your event).

Some photographers are willing to set up an area and snap photos during the reception. The photos are usually better quality, but just as much fun! - Photo courtesy of Snap Weddings

Both options work best if you bring along a variety of props, costume pieces, or even a blackboard and chalk for guests to write on. It gives your guests permission to be a bit silly and you get some fun shots of everyone to keep as souvenirs. More often than not, your guests will be having so much fun that you may have to extend the hours on the Photobooth to keep things going.

Some ideas/variations for using a Photobooth:

Props make it more fun. – Photo courtesy of Snap Weddings

• Visit the local Dollar store and get a variety of props and costumes that guests can use and play with during their photos.
• Ask guests to cut one photo out, glue it in a guest book and write a personalized message to you.
• Create a fun scene or backdrop for the photobooth area. This could include picture frame openings, an actual set with fixed props, or almost anything you could image to “set the stage”.
• Bring a small blackboard or whiteboard and writing instrument so people can write messages to go with their photos.

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area, who want a wedding that is a unique and personal reflection of them. She is also a destination wedding specialist, working with couples who desire to wed in various picturesque dream locations throughout the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

Tips For Getting Great Wedding Photographs

Wedding photography is one of those things that should not be left to chance. The pictures taken that day will last a lifetime, being seen by your children, your grandchildren, and even future generations. They are special moments in time that you will look back on fondly in the years to come. As a result, you will want to make sure that you hire the right person to take your wedding photographs. The following are some tips to consider when looking at finding the perfect photographer for your wedding:

Tip #1:
Research your wedding photographer ahead of time. Get references, check their portfolio, and ask to see a complete example of a wedding he or she covered.

Tip #2:
Look at wedding photos of friends and acquaintances. When you see ones you like, ask for the photographer's contact information.

Tip #3:
Make sure that you meet with the photographer who will be covering your wedding. You want to ensure that there is a good connection there as you will spend a lot of time with this person on your wedding day.

Tip #4:
Sit down as a couple ahead of time and decide what photograph shots are important to the two of you. Your photographer may have some ideas of their own that you may want to consider. Create a list and include the list as part of your contract.

Tip #5:
Make sure you know ahead of time what is included in the photographer's package. It would be criminal to pay to get the photos taken, but not have the funds to get them developed or placed in an album.

Tip #6:
Particularly if you're doing a destination wedding on the beach and choose to use the resort photographer that is included as part of the wedding package, take a quick surveillance of the beach to ensure that there aren't any unwanted guests who may appear as part of your wedding photos.

Tip #7:
Be sure to include your photographer (and their assistant) in the total number of guests that you give to your reception venue. After all, they deserve a meal too after their hard work throughout the day.

Tip #8:
When you receive the DVD with your digital prints, make a copy and leave it with a close relative or friend. In case of flood or fire, you will at least be comforted by the fact that your wedding photos haven't been lost completely.

There are a lot of details to consider when planning a wedding. Start working on finding your photographer shortly after finalizing your date and venues. The effort you put into finding the right person to take your wedding photos will be worth every minute you invest. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. A great photo is worth much more!

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

One of the bonuses of being a wedding planner is that when I meet people for the first time, they often start sharing the special memories associated with their own wedding day. I get to learn all about the details - the good, the bad, and the ugly!

More often than not, the one thing I hear on a consistent basis are regrets about the wedding photographer. Maybe they used a family friend with a hobby in photography, but who missed a number of critical shots throughout the ceremony and reception. Another person complained that the pictures were not centered properly, and often included extraneous people in the shots that should never have been there. My personal favorite is the the story about the wedding photographer who shot my parents' wedding completely inebriated. (Too bad they hadn't had a wedding planner like me to make sure this didn't happen!)

Photography is the one area that most couples wish they had invested more of their wedding budget. After all, this is the person responsible for capturing all of the special moments that you will cherish in the years to come. A good photographer will be able to tell the story of your wedding, each picture representing another page in story, capturing the special feelings and deep emotions of the day.

So how do you go about finding a great wedding photographer? The first thing is to know what you're looking for and figure out what you like. There are two main styles of wedding photography. The first one is the more traditional approach of posed shots, much like the wedding pictures of our parents and grandparents. The newer trend is photojouralism, where the photographer captures moments as they happen. It sounds simple, but actually requires a great deal of skill to done effectively. Many couples are choosing someone who can do a combination of both - someone who can do a series of posed portraits as well as the spur of the moment shots throughout the day.

Once you have figured out what style you like, the next step is to find the photographer who can accomplish what you want. Wedding planners have a good sense who the reputable photographers are in your area. They know the ones to use as well as the ones to avoid. They also have an idea of the costs that each one charges. This can save you hours and hours of time spent checking and researching it yourself. However, if you're set on finding a photographer on your own, one of the best methods is to look at the portraits of married friends that appeal to you and ask them who they used. As well, talk to acquaintances who have been recently married to get a firsthand accounting of the pros and cons of their wedding photographer. From there, check out photographer websites and try to see samples of their work. If you like what you see, arrange an appointment with the photographer to learn more about pricing and the packages that they offer.

Other strategies to ensure you get the photographs that you want:

• Find a photographer that specializes in weddings. [Skip this step at your own risk!]


• Verify who will be taking the pictures at your wedding. Is it the photographer you met with or will he delegate to an assistant?


• Make a list of the shots that you want and give them to the photographer ahead of time. The photographer may also have some ideas so be sure to listen to him. After all, he is the expert!


• When you get the pricing information, make sure you know what the package exactly includes. Some couples are shocked to learn that their photo package only includes the actual taking of the photographs, and all photo finishing costs are extra. Is it really worth spending a fortune to get the photos taken if you can't afford to pay for them to get developed afterwards?


• Ask the photographer to see complete photo shoots for weddings that he has done. It will give you a better idea of their complete coverage of a wedding, whereas their portfolio may only include their best shots.


• Ask for references and follow up on them.


• Make sure you remember to provide your photographer and his assistant with a meal if they are going to stay for the reception.

Your wedding portraits are going to be around for years to come. They will have places of honor in your home on the fireplace mantle or centered on the living room wall. Your children and grandchildren will want to see them time and time again. Make sure they are photos that will cause you to stop and smile as your remember the official beginning of your lives together. We've all heard the saying that "a picture is worth a thousand words." Wedding pictures are worth more like a million!

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasionsand Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.