Should You Have a Photobooth at Your Wedding?: Things to Consider Before you Book a Booth for your Big Day
In today’s world, the options are endless when you’re planning a wedding. From food trucks and interactive entertainment to donut walls and floral chandeliers, deciding on what you want at your wedding—and, more importantly, what your budget can support—can be difficult to say the least. One more question to add to that never-ending list (sorry!): Should you have a photobooth at your wedding? While there are plenty of reasons to add a photobooth to your reception design—there are also some reasons a photobooth might not be the best fit for you, your event vision, and your budget. But not to fear, brides- and grooms-to-be, today, we’re breaking down the pros and cons of photobooths at weddings. Read on to find out which category you fall into.
Reasons you should have a photobooth at your wedding:
If any of the below sound like you, you can answer with a confident yes! when pondering the all-important question of should you have a photobooth at your wedding.
You want something interactive for your guests to do. Let’s be real—there is nothing worse than a boring wedding reception (with bland wedding food coming in a close second). If you’re all about entertainment and want your wedding reception to feel like a true party, then a phootbooth is definitely a must. An interactive booth will help keep your guests entertained—plus, it provides an option other than the dance floor for attendees to enjoy.
Pro Tip: Want to really rev up the action? Options like a GIF photobooth, a Bommerang photobooth, or slo-motion photobooth all make for a major draw that will keep your guests coming back for their close-up time and time again. Check out our post on unique photobooth ideas if you’re seeking a booth that provides endless entertainment.
You know your friends would love it. If your friends are “those people” (read: they’re never scared of a good time and a great prop), a photobooth is likely right up your alley (or, should we say, aisle?). If your reception is going to be chock-full of the party-loving, never-shy-away-from-a-camera type, a photobooth will provide endless bang for its buck. Plus, after your wedding is over, you and your spouse will have an incredible time—and endless laughs—sorting through the shots of your friends in their element.
You want another set of photos to remember the night with. One of the best things about a photobooth is that it provides another set of photos to remember your wedding by. While your professional wedding photographs will be stunning, no doubt, it can be really nice to have another set of shots that capture the energy and atmosphere of the night in a laid-back, less formal way. It’s also a great way to ensure you have photos of any guests your professional photographer might not have captured on her camera. Plus, opting for a high-quality photobooth will ensure that, while your shots are fun-filled and fuss-free, they’re also high-end and frame-worthy (better start clearing space on your fridge already).
Pro Tip: From a modern gallery wall in your home or an unforgettable photo album to your annual holiday card or custom thank-you cards, there are plenty of things you can do with your photobooth images. Don’t think they have to be relegated to your social media profile.
Reasons a photobooth might not be for you.
If any of the below points ring true, you might want to skip the photobooth and spend your wedding budget elsewhere.
You’re having a super formal wedding and your guests might not “get it.” While we’re firm believers that a photobooth adds energy and excitement to any kind of affair—we also understand a booth can feel out of place or unwelcome in certain formal settings. That’s not to say we can’t make one of our high-quality photobooths work for a black-tie affair (we’ve done it on plenty of occasions!)—but we also want to ensure your resources are well spent. If your guests aren’t the type of attendees who are likely to participate in a photobooth, it might not be as big of a draw as it would at a more laid-back wedding reception—and you certainly don’t want an unused booth simply sitting there.
There’s not enough space at your venue. If you’re limited when it comes to space and there’s no way to fit a photobooth in without disrupting the overall flow and layout, you might want to skip it. After all, there’s nothing worse than a crowded reception space that doesn’t offer enough room for guests to move around (and dance!). That being said, we offer a battery-operated social booth which we can use with a virtual backdrop. This takes you from needing a space that’s about 10 feet by 10 feet to one that’s only 5 feet by 5 feet.
Your budget can’t support it. If every penny counts when planning your wedding, a photobooth might be the first thing to go. And, listen—we get it: if it comes down to having music or a photobooth, we agree you have to let ‘em dance. The good news? A photobooth doesn’t have to break the bank. We offer an all-new DIY booth for one-third of the price of our custom photobooth experiences, making it a perfect option for couples on a budget!