You may be considering having a photo booth at your wedding, but aren’t sure if you should go for it or not. If this is you, you’re in the right place.
I think we can all agree that photo booths are fun. They allow wedding guests to have their picture taken while using props, recruit others to be in the photos with them, and usually walk away with the photos right then and there. Photo booths give guests something to do. And, they definitely add some flair to weddings.
However, photo booths aren’t essential, which is why it’s common to consider having them at all. They cost money if provided by a professional, and can be more work for you if you’re making your own. Also, if you’re providing other forms of wedding entertainment, you may not need a photo booth.
Should You Have A Photo Booth At Your Wedding?
This post should help walk you through all the considerations with having a photo booth at your wedding so you can make an informed decision about what’s best for you. It will go over the types of venues that do better with photo booths. It will also provide details on average costs for photo booths. And, I’ll go over the general positives and negatives of having a photo booth at your wedding.
Let’s get into it!
QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE IF A YOU SHOULD HAVE A PHOTO BOOTH AT YOUR WEDDING
Before you commit to having a photo booth, you’ll need to ask yourselves a few questions. These questions are super basic and involve common sense, but they may help you decide.
DO YOU HAVE SPACE FOR A PHOTO BOOTH AT YOUR WEDDING?
Before you decide to have a photo booth, you’ll need to think about your wedding venue. If you have a cramped, tight, already-filled-to-the-maximum-capacity venue, a photo booth may not be right for you. Photo booths don’t have to take up a lot of space, but they aren’t supposed to be tiny, either.
So, if you’re getting married indoors, and already feel like the room is filled up enough, you may decide not to have a photo booth at your wedding. Additionally, some wedding venues may have limited options for where to put a photo booth. If you find that just figuring out where a photo booth would go causes stress, it may not be right for you to proceed.
ARE YOU WILLING TO SPEND MONEY ON A PHOTO BOOTH?
Another thing to consider when deciding to have a photo booth at your wedding is if your budget allows for it.
If you have a tight wedding budget, and a photo booth isn’t a priority, you may want to rule it out. Professional photo booths usually cost at least a few hundred dollars, and some packages can be more than $1,000. You’ll be paying someone to set it up, take it down, and provide their equipment for a specified amount of time. Some photo booth packages also involve someone staying to help operate it, which adds to the costs. You may also be asked to bring your own props.
So, look at your budget and see if there’s some additional space to add a photo booth in before committing to have it at your wedding.
DOES HAVING A PHOTO BOOTH REQUIRE ANY EXTRA WORK FOR YOU?
You may be considering creating your own photo booth rather than hiring a professional. This may end up saving you some costs.
You will, however, have to put in a little extra work. This is fine, as long as you have the time and motivation to put it all together. For a DIY photo booth, you’ll need a mechanism to capture photos, and props, at the very least. You don’t necessarily have to provide physical photos, as those can be captured and provided digitally after the wedding.
If you’re up for creating your own photo booth, and providing your own props, and want to save a little on professional services, it may be great for you to have a photo booth at your wedding.
DOES HAVING A PHOTO BOOTH AT YOUR WEDDING APPEAL TO YOU?
You may want to have a photo booth at your wedding because you just like the idea of it.
As I mentioned before, photo booths are fun. They can serve multiple purposes. Maybe you’ve been to weddings before that had them and walked away with a great photo or two. Perhaps you just pictured having a photo booth available at your wedding. If this is the case, and you don’t mind a little extra cost, or extra work, you should definitely have a photo booth.
DO YOU HAVE A PHOTO BOOTH VENDOR IN MIND?
For some venues, or photographers, photo booths can be part of the overall wedding package. It may be very easy for you to tack it onto the bill, and it’s a no brainer to proceed.
If you find that a vendor you’re already working with provides photo booths, it may be another reason to have a photo booth at your wedding. It may also be the case that your venue or photographer has a referral to give you, and you’ll be able to hire someone else at a discount. If having a photo booth excites you, and you have a connection with a photo booth professional, it could be very easy for you to just go for it.
WILL YOUR WEDDING GUESTS USE THE PHOTO BOOTH?
Photo booths can be really fun, but only if your wedding guests are using it.
If you think that none of your wedding guests will actually be into using the photo booth, you may want to skip it. Photo booths just aren’t appropriate for some weddings. If you’re having a particularly religious, or small, wedding, your photo booth may go to waste. And that extra effort and budget would have been better spent on something else that meant more to your wedding guests.
POSITIVES OF A PHOTO BOOTH
As you can probably tell from above, there are many positives to having a photo booth at your wedding. And it’s important to review them, because there are reasons photo booths are so popular.
PHOTO BOOTHS CAN DOUBLE AS A FAVOR
One awesome thing about photo booths is that the photos can be wedding favors as well. All you have to do is have the photos printed at the wedding, with or without your wedding date and names on them, and your guests have a cute little memento to take home with them.
It can be even more fun if you spend some time at the photo booth with your guests so they get to take home a photo of you with them. Of course, the photos may end up on your wedding guest’s fridges, or in some drawer somewhere, but they will likely keep them.
PHOTO BOOTHS ARE FUN
I’ve mentioned it a few times above, but I’ll mention it again. Photo booths are fun.
They allow guests to be a little silly, and to be creative. With some silly props, signs, or costumes, your guests will surely laugh as they are taking pictures. And, they will laugh later on when they look at the photos. While photo booths do have some downsides, they are also quite enjoyable.
PHOTO BOOTHS ARE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE
Yes, as brought up previously, there are some costs associated with photo booths. But, they aren’t typically a crazy expense. If you provide your own photo booth, and you have most of the props and equipment already available, they can be quite affordable. Even if you hire a professional to set up a photo booth at your wedding, you’re not going to have a big bill compared to the amount you’re likely to spend on food and drinks.
NEGATIVES OF A PHOTO BOOTH
Now that we’ve gone over the positives of photo booths, let’s review the negatives. Because let’s face it, if there was nothing but positives this post wouldn’t be needed.
PHOTO BOOTHS ARE QUICK ENTERTAINMENT
One of the biggest negatives about a photo booth is that the fun is over very fast. Like, very fast. This is especially true if you go with a photo booth that gives you a quick countdown and spits out a photo right away. Guests are likely to go into it, and come right out, taking their photo as they go.
Now, the fun can last a little longer if the photo booth allows for multiple photos to be taken. If this is the case, guests can keep the creativity going for a while. But, it’s not likely they will spend all night in the booth. They will go in for a bit, and come out sooner rather than later.
So, if you would like to have a photo booth for entertainment, but are also thinking about having other wedding entertainment that lasts longer (like a band or performer), you may want to rethink going with a photo booth.
THE PHOTO QUALITY MAY BE POOR
As with any photo, the quality of it depends on a few things. Factors like the camera used to take the photo, the lighting, and the person who actually snaps the shot all come into play. Because of this, the quality of the photos from a photo booth can vary.
The downside of a poor quality photo is that it may not be worth keeping. And really, what’s the point of having a photo booth if no one wants the photos afterwards? If you’d like a photo booth at your wedding, make sure there will be decent photos that come out of it to make it worth the cost and effort.
A PHOTO BOOTH MAY NOT BE WHERE YOUR BUDGET SHOULD GO
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Creating and sticking to a wedding budget is crucial. And, the number one rule about sticking to the budget is to prioritize what’s the most important to you, first.
So, if you have a budget, and you have higher priorities than a photo booth, you may find that you should skip the photo booth and put the extra costs somewhere else. Perhaps you’d like those dollars to go towards top shelf liquor. Or a fancier wedding gown. Maybe you’d like to invite a few more people. Whatever the reason, if a photo booth is a low priority, it may be best to splurge a little more on a higher priority.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Alright friends. Hopefully this post helped you decide if you’d like a photo booth at your wedding. Remember, photo booths are super fun. They can leave your guests with a long lasting favor and memory. But, they are also optional and no one will miss it if it’s not available. So, do what’s best for your wedding, your budget, and your preference.
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I think we can all agree that photo booths are fun. They allow wedding guests to have their picture taken while using props, recruit others to be in the photos with them, and usually walk away with the photos right then and there. Photo booths give guests something to do. And, they definitely add some flair to weddings
I totally agree! Thanks for the comment!
It’s good to know that photo booths allow guests to have a fun time by being creative with props and costumes. My sister’s getting married when fall arrives, and she’s finishing her wedding preparations, so I’m sure she’d love to read your post. I appreciate your intake in adding a photo booth to a wedding to make your party more enjoyable.
Thanks so much for your comment, Eli! Photobooths can definitely add a fun activity to a wedding, and a lasting memento for guests. Congratulations to your sister!
His topic of whether using a photo booth at weddings is a wise decision is addressed in Hummingbird Gives Advice. Photobooth Hire Sydney The article methodically explores the advantages of having a photo booth, including amusing visitors and producing keepsakes. It also discusses important things to think about, like finances and venue space.