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.