Do me a Favor?

The second hardest thing* for me to pick for my wedding are favors.  We started off thinking of making a donation to a charity in lieu of tangible favors. We scrapped that idea when we realized there are too many choices, and differing opinions.  We moved onto candy, because who doesn't like a practical favor? Chocolate capital buildings seemed appropriate, but expensive too.  Also, they have nothing to do with our theme.

Wine corks?  Not everyone drinks.
Yankee candles? Too cliche.
Picture frames? Even more cliche.
Key chains? Flower seeds? A nice cocktail and an evening of dinner and dancing (you know, what we're already paying an arm and a leg for?!)

Then my daydreaming led me in a different direction to photo booths.  A space for guests to grab props, friends, and smile for the camera.  Plus they leave with a great memory captured in a picture, in their hand!

Photo booths are a growing trend.  My friend's wedding (Hi Joy!) had a similar set up, with only a back drop not a booth, but the same idea - where guests can ham it up and capture the moment. This is a great way to get pictures of everyone in attendance, too!  

Then a Wedding Channel Deal email (similar to Groupon) came my way, offering $100 for $300 off the rental of a large photo booth from Lovely Day Photo Works. With only 24 hours to research and execute my plan, I jumped and quickly found that Lovely Day's prices are very competitive for the DC metro area.   After some more phone calls, weighing the cost for the rental vs. the money actually budgeted for favors, we decided: yes!  

The photo booth will be our favor to our guests AND our guest book!

See, after taking a photo, guests can then put one of the strips in an album next to the booth, and write us a message next to it and sign their name.  Voila!

I'm hella-excited about this one.

We will have our "logo" (monogram, date, names, or something like that) on each strip.  Also? Unlimited Photos!   We will rent the prob box, full of silly hats, crowns, feather boas, plastic swords and things of the like, to make the pictures extra fun.  The large booth, which can seat up to 8 people, will allow for a lot of fun photos!

(Our wedding is going to be so much fun!)

The one hitch (there's always a hitch): set up.

It costs $60 per idle hour (hours when the booth is set up but not in active use, like during the ceremony).  So if I want to feel safe I have them come early and pay for 3 idle hours.  If I want to risk it, I have them set up during dinner, coming in through the front entrance with stairs, and hope they are not a sore thumb of a distraction. 

To stress or to spend money?  

Anyone wanna sponsor this one? $180 gets you the first photo with the bride in the booth!

Anybody out there attend a wedding with a photo booth?

*The first headache being bridesmaids dresses.  Gym shorts and Tshirts, anyone?
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