Professional photos are essential – but will they bring the fun factor? For that, you should set aside some dough for a photobooth…
Hiring a photobooth, for some couples, is an absolute no-brainer. Sure, the professional pictures are going to be gorgeous and will remind you of the love shared on your wedding day for years to come. But a professional photographer isn’t going to capture candid snaps of you and your guests wearing comedy specs and false moustaches, pouting at the camera and kissing each other after a few glasses of prosecco, are they?
Like everything else you’re booking to entertain your guests, a photobooth is going to cost money. How much depends on what you want. You could set up your uncle’s old camera on a tripod in a corner of the room and trust your guests to know which button to press and where to stand. Or you could do some research and find a supplier who’ll provide everything you need for snappy fun at a price that your budget can accommodate.
Just like wedding dresses, photobooths come in all shapes and sizes. They can be open or enclosed, plain and simple, elaborate and high-tech, big enough for two people or half a dozen, and even customised to match your theme. “A full-size booth has the advantage of giving your guests a real, private photobooth experience versus just being placed in front of a camera pod,” says Scott Lawrie at Halo Booth.
Physically enclosed photobooths are great for separating off an area of your venue where people can queue up for a shot. But what if your guest list is on the large side and you need more space? Do you want to cram as many folk as possible into your snaps before the timer runs out? “We only offer an open-air booth,” says Chris Norman of The Photocube. “We feel this gives you the best experience at your wedding. It allows you to fit in a lot more people than you can with a closed booth.”
If it’s not the size of the booth that matters to you but the look of it, some suppliers give you the option of matching the booth to your overall theme. “Our range includes the Whisky Barrel booth and our super-quirky Chevron booth,” says Ryan Greene at Odd Box Photobooth. “We like to give you the chance to choose the look that’s perfect for your venue.”
We’ve tiptoed around it long enough: let’s talk numbers. How much can you expect to pay for a good-quality wedding photobooth? “For a completely unique photobooth experience, you can expect to pay between £300 and £500 for two hours,” says Ryan.
If you love the idea of a booth but are a little put off by these figures, there are plenty of ways to bring down the cost. “Instead of offering set packages, we like to give brides and grooms the power to create an individual package that suits their wedding,” says Ryan. It lets you opt in and out of certain costs to come up with a price that works for you. “Having this kind of flexibility can be a lifesaver for a lot of couples,” he adds.
And remember, sometimes it’s not about what you know, but who you know. If a friend has already booked with your chosen company, let them know – you might just be able to wangle yourself a discount or some added extras.
If you’ve got a little more to spend on your photobooth, there are plenty of ways to get even more fun out of it. “For a good photobooth with great customer service, high-quality prints and design, you’d be looking at paying between £550 and £650,” says Chris. This price gives you four hours’ hire, which is double the usual period, as well as plenty of fun props to get everyone in a playful mood.
The real benefit of spending more on your photobooth is the level of customisation it allows you to add. “A complete custom user interface and vinyl wrap (where the booth is covered with your name or design) are among the favourites,” says Chris. “Green screens (onto which interesting backdrops can be projected) can also add some fun to your wedding.”
Ryan has other customisation options: “You can create your own complete photobooth package, with a unique wooden laser-engraved cover for the guestbook, a bespoke wooden USB drive and your very own custom-print design matching any themes from your wedding,” he says. “And, of course, you’ll be able to order prints in huge sizes and in various formats.”
No matter how much you spend, you’re always guaranteed one thing, says Chris: “Regardless of which package you book with us, you will still get the same high-quality pictures.” And you’ll always get the giggles when you look back at your crazy pics!