It's time to plan your wedding and the excitement is really building.
Once you get settled into the fact that you are now engaged, it's time for the wedding planning to kick into high gear.
This can also be about the time that many brides feel the anxiety of what planning a wedding can cost.
Not only does the planning process take a lot out of you from the work it involves, but it also costs a lot of money when you consider each and every vendor that you plan on hiring.
That being said, there are certain things that you can't live without or for which you aren't willing to compromise.
One such thing is the photographer and this is a wise center point for your wedding planning and costs.
The reality is that the only true thing you will have to remember your wedding by is your photographs and so you want to ensure that you do it right and hire the right person.
However before you have to take out a second mortgage on your home, consider some helpful ideas for keeping your photography costs down.
You can still get some simply beautiful wedding photos but need not spend a fortune to do so.
Here we look at the best ways to keep the photography costs down and still afford you some stunning pictures of the big day.
Shop Around for the Right Photographer Depending on your geographical location, there are probably a great variety of different photographers available in your area.
It's important to remember that just because a photographer costs a lot of money doesn't mean that they are the very best in the field.
Sure to some degree it's true that you get what you pay for, but it doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg to have beautiful wedding photos.
The key is to interview each prospective photographer and see examples of their work.
It can also be extremely helpful to talk to trusted friends and family members, or even your wedding venue to ask for recommendations.
If you take the time to interview and really shop around, you may very well end up with an excellent wedding photographer that doesn't break the bank for their services.
Pick One or Two Prime Locations Where a lot of bridal couples get into trouble is when they want to have a bunch of different wedding locations for which to have photographs taken.
Work with your photographer to understand the cost for a variety of different locations and the shots that will go along with them.
Not only will you pay for extra locations most of the time, but you may even have a limit on how many total photos you can have for the day-if you go over that limit then you can pay bundles.
So consider your options and be sure that you clearly understand the rule of your contract because sometimes extra locations or additional shots can really add up.
Skip the Professional Photos Some bridal couples go for everything when it comes to their photo packages.
You want to be sure that the photographer captures the key moments such as exchanging of the vows and your first introduction as man and wife, but don't get into far too much beyond the basics.
If you want to have the photographers take the more formal photos with a set or background behind you that can add up.
So skip it and leave the photos with the two of you at important moments as the key ones.
You can save even more money if you don't open up the idea of professional photos to your guests.