That sounds like the ballpark figure my S mentioned to me for the photographer they hired. What they really liked was the this woman convinced them to do an “engagement” shoot in the spring, at her expense, so she can get a better sense of how to photograph them and the kind of “feeling” they want from their pictures. I don’t know the details re: hours etc., but they did the research and met with their preferred photographers before choosing one. Now, I think they’ve decided to go back to a DJ because the prices quoted for bands (at least they bands they like) in the NY area are outrageous.
My D & FSIL opted for the DJ as well. Besides price considerations, they will have a packed house as it is and will truly not have physical space for a band…
D’s photography package included engagement session, 8 hours on wedding day, a really nice book of photos and a $250 credit for printed photos. Can’t remember other details.
Thankfully DD has a great friend that is a photographer and the BF videos, so they are a great team! Very budget friendly.
We had family photos taken in a summer vacation area, and the photographer was reasonable. We ordered enough pictures to be given a digital photo of the entire group. He also allowed others to take photos that he ‘set up’ (some photographers get upset with this, as they want to sell photos). Perhaps the high up front charge eases some of this when ‘Aunt Bessie’ wants to take a picture with her own camera.
I would try to negotiate some digital picture access. See what is done in other places - what is included. You may not be able to bring down the overall price, but may get some important things in that will save you money.
Another good piece of news: we provide the alcohol (beer, wine, other mixed drinks) but the caterer provides the bartenders to serve during the cocktail hour. So we don’t have their ‘mark up’ on the alcohol and can have available what we want. So DD is thinking about having lemonade, sweet tea, water available. Having one particular mixed drink as a cocktail, or guests can choose beer or wine.
One bridesmaid dress wasn’t available, so she is getting something similar to MOH:
MOH’s dress falls straight; this is the ‘embellished’. Otherwise the same dress. So 2 and 2 on the dress styles, all full length navy.
I don’t know the details of what S and DIL paid for their photographer, but it included engagement photo session, all day of the wedding (photos of bride and groom getting ready, etc). I don’t know if any prints were included.
Buying your own alcohol = big savings!
Pretty dress, @SOSConcern. I like navy for bridesmaids.
We have a good friend who is a fabulous photographer. BUT he will be a guest at DD’s wedding. I wouldn’t think of asking him to do the photos. But I will ask him for suggestions of others.
He knows us well…so,will make good suggestions.
D1 had found a photographer from NYC for 10K. This photographer would travel up to Ithaca for 2 days for the wedding, then she found someone from Rochester for 7K, and then through some recommendations she found someone from Ithaca with great reviews for 4K. This photographer would travel down to NYC this summer to take some “engagement photos,” would do 3 hrs of rehearsal dinner/party the night before, and 10 hrs the day of. It would be her and an assistant. We will be meeting with her in few weeks.
I think the going rate is around 5K.
My D and future SIL have a classmate who’s wife is relatively new to the photography business, about 1 year. D has seen her work and likes it. I am only paying $1,100. They were willing to save there to have more of the budget to go to other parts of the reception.
@oldfort…hmmm…that one sounds better than what I’m getting here!
Well, I’m glad I asked. It sounds as if the comparatively simple kind of photography we’d probably want–wedding party and reception only–would be a LOT cheaper. (Do so many people get engagement photos? Really? Wow.)
I watched one wedding video with the B&G after the fact. We had been guests at the wedding, which was lovely, and in comparison to our experiences, quite elaborate. All the bride could see was that her veil was crooked from behind. I can assure you, NO ONE noticed it at the time! It gave me a very negative view of wedding videos. 
@consolation it might not be a LOT cheaper. I’m finding that photographers charge by the day…not by the number of hours or anything like that. So if you want someone to do the wedding…you are paying them for their day…at their rate for a wedding day…because really…that’s what they charge.
We aren’t doing video at all. That is a totally different expense and often a different vendor.
@Consolation, ask me about the photographer D is having after her May wedding so I can pass on her info to you since she would be geographically close to you. That is assuming the pictures are good. Part of the $1100 was 1 hour for an engagement shoot, but they decided that wasn’t necessary, so she extended the wedding time by 1 hour. To utilise that hour, they are thinking of having some pictures taken before the wedding at the covered bridge that is near Simon Pearce.
People do engagement shoots as a trial run. If you do not like it then it is not too late to find another photographer.
Interesting. Now that you mention it, @thumper1 , I recall that when I hired a professional photographer to take photos for my business that he told me he charged by the “half day,” not by the hour. I think it was something like a 4 hour session.
I had taken some photos of my stuff with a tripod and decent camera to throw together a brochure and a quickie website, but what he did with professional lighting equipment and so on was on a different level entirely. Like snapshots I took in 1st grade vs Richard Avedon. 
@Cotton_Tales, I am only hoping S and his GF get engaged! I think this is definitely The One, but I doubt that they are in any hurry. Also, GF’s parents didn’t get married until she was 8, and then apparently mostly to smooth over any potential immigration issues for her father, who wasn’t a US citizen. I am simultaneously biting my tongue and keeping all appendages crossed.
My daughters haven’t done formal wedding videos, though they’ve each asked a cousin to video their ceremonies and toasts with a small handheld camera. We’ve watched each wedding video once or twice and look at the wedding albums all the time. Other folks might prefer seeing a video to looking at photos.
To @CottonTales in who posted in #1921 about hair and makeup:
Nine sounds like a lot but I think most salons will call in all their stylists and even extra help for wedding parties. My daughters have paid for hair and makeup for their bridesmaids - a nice way to relieve some of the financial stress on attendants. Of course many people prefer doing their own hair and makeup (just no one we know, apparently 
). We’ve had a great time being all together in the salon before my older ds’ weddings. We’ve brought in lunch (with salon permission) and made a nice event of it.
@frazzled1 yes…that hair makeup is how we plan to do it. We will pay for the bridal party and bride. Hair and makeup. Manicures and pedicures will be the day before the wedding. Same group.
Just not sure who will do the hair/makeup yet.
When the bride, her attendants, etc. get this hair/makeup thing done, is the entire cost born by the bride’s side of the family? If so, it seems like that could get expensive, too.
A (much-younger) friend of mine paid $12,000 for her wedding photographer five years ago. The pictures were gorgeous and the photographer stayed with the bridal party all day - but still, $12,000 is a lot of money.
DD is budgeting $5,000-$7,000 for her photographer. No decision yet about a videographer…
@doschicos we will pay for everyone. But I don’t think that is what always happens. DD was in a wedding…everyone met to get their hair done at the same place…but each girl paid for their own hair styling.
In our case, the bridesmaids will all be spending a LOT of money on airfare,hotels, rental cars, dresses, shoes, etc. We will pick up the nails, hair and make up tabs.
I should add…DD hasn’t even decided whether there will be a make up person or not.