How valuable is wedding photography?

I guess it’s pretty subjective.

So how valuable is wedding photography to you?

One couple might value it less, and another more.

One couple might have more budget to spend and another might have less. All budgets are valid, it’s where they are used that shows where the value of the couple is.

For Beth and I, the photographer was the second thing that we booked for our wedding (our church first) because we highly valued wedding photography. We knew who we wanted, and we were prepared to pay what they valued their business at.

So what does it look like to value wedding photography?

To invest a significant percentage of your overall wedding budget to a professional photographer who values their trade, experience and their time to serve you while embodying your values too.

The truth

You can have memories in your head of your wedding day at a venue that are priceless, but at the end of the day it is the photographs that you have to actually look back on.

To illustrate the vast differences in people’s preferences and budgets, Beth and I only spent around £10,000 on our wedding in 2018, with our photographer being our second largest expense. On the other hand, premier wedding venues in Kent and Cambridge can range from £10,000 to £15,000+ for exclusive dates and arrangements. According to “The Wedding Report,” the average cost of a wedding in 2023 with around 60 attendees exceeded £23,000. However, luxury weddings in the UK can reach extravagant amounts, reaching between £60,000 and £100,000+.

When you plan your wedding

Know that the best weddings aren’t necessarily the most expensive – but for the things you value, don’t compromise. I have never heard of anybody regretting investing in me to photograph their wedding (hallelujah!) but I have heard of people sadly wishing they had paid a professional instead of taking the kind offer from a friend or family member.

Value your wedding photography.