Hey bride-to-be! If you’re newly engaged, first off, CONGRATS! I got married about 1.5 years ago and I already miss that sweet season of being engaged!! It’s such a magical time so be sure to SOAK it all in!!

Chances are, you’re probably looking at booking a few key vendors, such as your venue, your planner, and your photographer! I want to share a little bit about that last one and why it’s SO important to invest in your dream photographer.

One of the biggest regrets for couples is not investing enough in their photography… it’s one of the ONLY things you’ll have after your wedding day, so it totally makes sense!

And guys, I get budgets. I totally get it!! I got married in 2018 and had about half the budget of the average couple. However, I spent 1/3rd of my ENTIRE wedding budget on my photographer alone, and I would have gladly spent more if it meant I got my DREAM photographer!! I know this isn’t possible for every couple, but it was a PRIORITY to me so I made it happen with the budget we had.

Here are a few reasons why I think it’s totally worth investing in your dream photographer:

1. Your wedding day is going to run more smoothly. The #1 thing that you should look for in a photographer is someone you CONNECT with. Someone who gets you and your vision for your wedding day! This is incredibly important because your photographer plays SUCH a big role on your wedding. They are going to interact with all of your guests, they’re going to essentially run certain parts of the day (like family photos), and you’re probably going to spend MORE time with them than your future husband on your wedding day… crazy, right?! Making sure your personalities click will allow them to serve you really well!
2. They’re going to know how to handle any situation that comes at them. If they’re experienced and have shot a lot of weddings, they have seen it ALL. Trust me. They are going to know how to handle certain situations and still photograph your wedding day BEAUTIFULLY. If it rains all day long, they will know what to do so you still have magical wedding photos that are consistent with their work. If there are tricky family dynamics, they will know how to handle them to avoid awkward situations!
3. You’re going to look back and love your wedding photos. When you look at your wedding photos, you’re going to absolutely love them because you invested in an amazing photographer! Seriously, these are some of the ONLY things you will have after your wedding. The flowers will wilt and the party will end and the food will be gone, but your photos will remain forever. You don’t want to look at your wedding photos and completely regret your decision! Make sure to do your research and look through a lot of the photographer’s work. A blog is a great place to start (I blog every single one of my weddings, so there’s no room to hide if it rains all day at a wedding or something doesn’t go according to plan!) You can also ask to see some full wedding galleries to see if the photographer’s work is consistent. This is important because there are some experienced photographers who don’t have very consistent work in a full wedding gallery, so be sure you know what you’re getting into!

After being a bride myself, investing in your dream photographer is one wedding planning decision you won’t regret. Trust me!

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