Insure Your Wedding? Why?

Why are there so many brides and grooms taking out Wedding Insurance? One reason is that quite a few venues include a hiring agreement, which you have to sign, with an indemnity clause. It makes you responsible for any losses or damages resulting from your wedding; some even insist on you having you own liability insurance because they realise that most couples can not afford to make good the kind of losses they could face.

Really?? How much could that be? It isn't just that weddings are expensive, but they all carry what the law calls a Public and Products liability risk. Simply put, you can be held legally and financially responsible for yourself and all your invited guests. Even so, you can always look for a venue that doesn't insist on you taking out insurance for their benefit. Think on, though - there are some pretty good reasons to take out a wedding insurance policy to protect yourself... and it doesn't cost that much: read on...

I attend a lot of weddings, and I have rarely seen one that went just the way it was planned, with no little problems along the way: you have to plan for things going wrong: allow more time than you think you need; have an alternative location if the weather turns bad: you plan, you adjust, you cope. But I have seen a few major incidents, too - and a lot of things are beyond anyone’s control. When something unexpected does go wrong, it is frightening how quickly the costs can add up.

You can't insure against every possible eventuality - Nobody insures against a wedding cancelled because the groom got cold feet! But beyond this, for wedding couples - or their parents - who have lovingly planned every detail and budgeted down to the last penny, even a relatively small loss can be devastating, while a large loss or liability claim can be a financial disaster.

Think of it this way: the average wedding costs upwards of $30,000, making your “big day” probably the second biggest purchase an Aussie couple will make (after the family home). Protecting such a big emotional and financial investment against the unforeseen can not only give you peace of mind, but it can save you thousands of dollars if things do go wrong.

I'm not an insurance salesman, and I don't get any kickback from any insurer, so why do I sound so pessimistic about my favourite celebration? Because it doesn't matter if it's extreme weather, no-show vendors or some alcohol-related incident at the reception. What counts is having to cover the huge costs involved - such as damage to furniture and equipment, disputes with vendors (lawyers love these), and cancellation or postponement of your wedding.

Insurance policies designed especially for weddings covers things like loss of deposit and other expenses, cancellation and postponement costs caused by your booked venue being unavailable (they get flooded, catch fire - I know of one where renovators failed to complete their work on time and it couldn't be used).

 The worst possible scene - the death of the bride, groom and/or one of their immediate family members is such a terrible tragedy. But it's made even worse when the various vendors' bills start arriving for a wedding will never be held. And yes, I have seen something like this happen: a wedding postponed because a grandparent passed away shortly before the wedding day, and another when a wedding was moved at the last minute because a close family member became terminally ill and could not travel to the original destination. The family finished up paying for two weddings.

Less dramatic but equally costly- the bride, groom or someone else really important to the ceremony is hospitalised; or perhaps severe weather conditions prevent the bride and groom from getting to their wedding: BOTH these things actually happened to me personally! The Minister was to perform our wedding ceremony then accompany us to our garden party reception; except a cyclone blew the garden to pieces and the Minister had a hearty attack! Then things started to go really wrong!!!

Have you ever heard of a couple having a dispute with a wedding supplier? Wedding Insurers will negotiate for your legal rights if you get into a contractual dispute arising from an agreement which you have entered into for the buying or hiring of any goods or services and pay for any legal proceedings in courts. It will also reimburse you for lost deposits and help pay to arrange replacement services if someone like a caterer, florist or entertainer, lets you down.

Property cover under a typical Wedding Policy includes compensation for the cost to repair or replace property that is damaged or stolen: that can include photographs and videos; wedding gowns and suits; wedding rings; bridal jewellery; wedding gifts; the cake; flowers; your stationery; and the official  Wedding Documents.

That loss or damage cover extends for 24 hours before and after the wedding,  a time when thieves like to take advantage of your big day.

Other people own things that you could be held responsible for, too: damage to hire marquees and other equipment, rented suits, gazebos, staging, flooring, chairs, tables, furniture, household or lighting equipment hired during the wedding.

Finally, the Personal Liability issue that I mentioned at the start of this blog: wedding insurance covers that, too, up to whatever limit you specify, plus court costs and expenses for issues like accidental bodily injury including death, disease or illness; or accidental damage to property.

There are differences between companies and between policies, and you need to compare before you commit. Look at the optional extras, too, like Honeymoon Cover to protect your home contents while you are off on their honeymoon in case the home is burglarised.

So, from a sudden cancellation to stolen gifts, a damaged gown or a personal injury, wedding insurance can help protect you against the unforeseen, and afford you peace of mind. But can you afford it? Well, Australian premiums start from under $230 for a standard policy including loss of photos, videos, attire, presents, rings, and deposits and Public liability insurance up to $5,000,000.

When should you take out wedding insurance? Insurance companies have limitations on how far in advance you can purchase insurance, but really, the sooner the better. Let's say you put a deposit on your wedding reception hall 12 months before your wedding day but it burns down a month before the big day. Or you buy a dress six months out, which results in a dispute with the supplier because it is not completed to the standard you expected - you aren't willing to pay, she won't make the alterations you feel entitled to and won't return your (substantial) deposit....

Towards a Perfect Wedding

A Low-tech Wedding Limo

Loving Congratulations

 A professional photographer is the only person who is going to work your whole wedding day, from before you slip into your dress all the way through to the time you climb in to your limo at the end of your reception. As a professional wedding photographer I have attended 100's of weddings, and I have had to become something of a wedding expert by default - this blog is a fun way to share some of the  'insider' knowledge I've gleaned along the way. 

Brides want their marriage ceremony to be perfect. Part of making this memorable occasion nothing short of spectacular is to involve the right people behind the scenes. Everything from the cake, to the music, to the photographs need to be spot-on, and when it comes to pictures, competent direction and, lighting and posing skills that a professional wedding photography brings to your wedding assure the bride-to-be that she will look absolutely stunning. 

Strolling in the Grounds

So, how much should wedding photography cost? I know that every bride would love to have a Wedding Photography Price List and go shopping with it in her hand, but that's just not practical  in the world of wedding photography. However, you can get your hands on one price list for wedding photography to help you with your comparison shopping. 

Go to my website at http://weddings.davidrichphotography.com and click on the Prices and Packages tab. You are welcome to print off the prices for different levels of wedding photography services and use these to compare with other photographers... you can also click the links to see exactly what you get at each price point. Don't worry that most wedding photographers do not post a price list on line; they are not trying to make things difficult, but too many couples get stuck on the price question, and ONLY shop by price. Lots of effort goes into weeding out "tyre kickers" from real clients, and holding back price details until the photographer is sure that you are a legitimate client is a common practice. Hard to be specific when you haven't spoken to the bride and groom.

Wedding Hide and Seek

Once you have phoned or emailed them, explaining what you hope for (use the details from my site as a starting point) most will be happy to quote you. If they insist on an interview first, there are plenty of others who are more open about their pricing policies.

Be cautious about low price upfront offers. If your wedding photographer charges a base shooting fee, telling you to order albums, DVDs, image files and so on after the wedding, you can run over budget very quickly. The same is true if you hire someone who just charges for their time and a disk full of images for you to print out later... It seems like a way to save some money, but the chances are that you are going to pay more in the long run and get a far less professional result - if you ever get around to making those prints and albums at all!

You should also be careful not to take on the job of supplying photographs for your guests and relatives who want photographs from your wedding day; that can be trying, time consuming and, sometimes, expensive. It is better to look for a photographer who will facilitate everything you need in one easy package at a price you agree with them in advance. If you wish to add something after the wedding (a parents album or canvas wall hanging, for instance), a professional wedding photographer will have secure copies of all your files and be able to ensure you get the best prices and quality.

More Ways to Afford the Wedding You Really Want.

Number three in a series on controlling the cost of a wedding


Your Reception can be the most expensive part of your wedding - even more than your honeymoon, so there are lots of opportunities for saving money. Don't worry, though - economising doesn't mean you have to do without all the things that make a wedding beautiful. 

Music:
Hire a DJ instead of a band; or limit the time the band is required - say for four hours instead of six. Reception venues often include the DJ and MC in their packages and insist you use them. They will tell you that it saves money and protects them (they know the DJ/MC are professional and insured);  but do the sums... you could save a lot; maybe enough to make a different venue a better choice for you, especially if one of your friends would like to DJ  - someone who's right into your music!

Flowers:
If flowers are your thing, make sure to choose ones in season locally - hothoused flowers are not necessarily more expensive, but anything that has to be trucked to the florist will be, and they are not going to look as fresh if they have been transported or stored. Talk to more than one florist before you set your heart on a particular floral style.

Not everybody enjoys flowers as much as you might think - and throwing away hundreds of dollars worth of blooms the next morning is pretty wasteful;  alternatives to floral decorations could result in very real savings and be better for the environment.

The Right Day:
Weddings are traditionally held on Saturdays. Other days are relatively underbooked for receptions and many places offer discounts to attract business on these less popular days.  Tying the knot on a weekday could reduce your venue costs by 50% or more. 

A Church Reception:
If you are having a church wedding, the church may also be interested in hosting your reception. Many churches will decorate their halls for wedding receptions. They do it beautifully, they often do not even charge for the flowers, and the cost savings are significant - especially if it is your own church! You can usually opt to have the church members do the catering, hire a caterer or do it yourself - well, not you personally: you are getting married! But you know what I mean. 

Food:

Nobody checks the menu before they accept your wedding invitation. Don't get too fancy and don't let the costs run away with your budget. If most of your friends like pizza and fried chicken, now isn't the time to educate their palates at your expense. Keep it simple with food they don't have to think about.

Consider two courses instead of three. Make the entree or appetizer a simple finger food and keep the more expensive meat/fish dishes for the mains. The wedding cake makes a really special third course.

Photo Booth
My number one piece of advice to a bride and groom: hire a good photographer and have lots of family photos taken. Ten or twenty years down the road those photos will be much more important than what colour the ribbons were, or what music was played. A photo booth is a nice adjunct to the official photographer's work, but since they start at about $1000, I have fallen into the habit of setting up a mini-studio for guests to use - a camera on a tripod, a set of studio lights, a plain background  with lots of fun props. I just keep a whether eye on it or leave an assistant close by in case anyone has a problem or wants their photo taken when there isn't another guest nearby to  snap the picture. Lots of fun, and i don't charge for the prints. You can do the same sort of thing, or ask your photographer to organise something similar.

Saving on your Wedding might Save Your Marraige

I started my last post with the comment "mortgaging your marriage to pay for your wedding is a recipe for misery" and offered some advice about keeping your photography costs under control. But there are lots of ways to reduce your costs without giving up professional photography coverage. 

Wedding costs are a numbers game. Two extra Bridesmaids is not just two more dresses  - it also means two extra groomsmen, four extra "thank-you" gifts; additional fittings, meals (not just at the reception),  probably an extra hire car... It helps if they contribute financially -  you have, make it clear that you can't afford to dress them: let them know early in the process - when you invite them to be in the Bridal Party - that they will be expected to hire/buy their own outfits. Part of the fun of getting ready is the shopping and fitting, and you can still have that pleasure together!

Typically, bridesmaids dresses match - but I have been to a few weddings where each bridesmaid dressed individually, their outfits including an element to make them obviously part of the bridal party. 

If you only have it for the wedding day and never expect to use it again, look at the purchase with a critical eye. Be careful of "tradition" - a lot of these so called traditions are nothing more than inventions designed to sell more to brides. 

Anything that is a "one-off" purchase is a candidate for economising. A dress you will never wear again; table decorations and "favours" - do you really need 20 pairs of salt and pepper shakers shaped like doves, and will your guests enjoy the day any less if they don't get to take home a little china frame with your menu in it?  Personalised wedding favours do seem to be  the in thing at the moment, and it may be really important to you, but you really don't need more than one - if you have personalized napkins, you don't need personalised matches, lollies, place cards, menus and bookmarks too. Select just one. 

Consider the couple who put a bottle of Dimple Haigh on every table (about $500), a china frame for every guest (say, $600), hired a limousine to get to a park near the wedding venue, and then a horse-drawn carriage for the last 3 kilometres. It was very nice, but that was more than a year ago, they are still in financial difficulties and they are still asking for time to pay for their photos! 

You can save a very significant amount on the wedding gown if you do not insist on getting it from a Bridal Boutique. There are other options to having a designer dress made - or even buying off the hook at a Bridal Store - and no,  "budget" is not a bad word. There is nothing second-class about economising. And staying with the "seconds" theme, think second-hand. Your mother's wedding dress (or your fiancée's mum's gown) might cost something to alter, but what a lovely choice! 

Other "worn once only" sources are the classified ads (papers and on-line) and eBay; and I have to mention that I was in a Salvation Army store two weeks ago where I saw no fewer than 6 wedding dresses - none above $50 and all immaculate. 

The Internet is a great source for buying new bridal apparel too. I meet brides taking advantage of these very low-price options all the time, and I haven't met one who was unhappy they did - only one word of warning: order earlier than you think you have to. Not only can deliveries be slow, but sizes are not always a reliable guide to fittings when you buy from overseas suppliers, and quality, while surprisingly good, is not something to be taken for granted... you may have to resew a seam or strap, which you don't want to discover on the morning of your wedding.

For the men, the reverse might be true - some tailors are actually cheaper than rentals, and if you choose the right style, that suit can become part of your regular wardrobe. Bargain.

Men don't spend as much on shoes, but special shoes for the bride and her attendants are one of those "traditions" that your parents never heard of. If you were a shorter gown, smart shoes are important -  but "Smart" doesn't have to mean "designer" and, under a longer gown no-one  is ever going to get more than a glimpse anyway.

Back to the numbers game: reduce the guest list and the budget may come back to black without you having to do anything else.  You can invite many more people to the ceremony than to the reception, and really, it is the wedding ceremony that makes you man and wife - the reception is just a pricey party! 

To avoid putting anyone's nose out of joint, plan a barbecue for when you get back from your honeymoon or another suitable date. When you send out your wedding invitations, send a note to the "second list" at the same time, inviting them to your post-wedding celebration; make it a big deal. They'll love you for it.

Next post, I want to talk about savings you can achieve at the reception.

"She'll be right" is still at the heart of what it is to be an Aussie, and that means a lot of couples find themselves just a few months out from their wedding day with planners, caterers, hire car companies venues and others holding out their hands and a black hole where their bank balance used to be! 

 It just makes no sense to me that to start your life together in debt to your wedding day, and mortgaging your marriage to pay for your wedding is a recipe for misery. But what can you do about it? A bit... but don't leave it much longer!

Let's start with what I know best - photography. There are a few ways to reduce the costs and still get a decent photographer: 

• avoid hiring your photographer by the hour or for a set number of hours; instead, buy a package that includes all the basics you want. You'll know what your costs are, and you won't run into unexpected financial pain if the wedding runs behind time. After all, brides do get to the church late, Ministers and celebrants do get flat tyres, traffic accidents do make the musicians late to the reception...
  
• Some photographers include a second photographer without charge: that's a bargain, but if you can't find one like that, consider using one photographer instead of two (some photographers will still bring an assistant, but if you have specified one photographer, that's all you will pay for).
  
• A real money saver might be to engage a photography student or recent graduate provided you are not their very first wedding. And if someone describes themselves as a photography student or new graduate, check their qualification carefully. There isn't a course you can do to qualify as a wedding photographer, so there is a very good chance they mean they just took an elective at high school. Look carefully at their portfolio - more than just a few photos they took at a mates wedding - before you commit. 

The other  other cheap option is to have the photographer supply our photos on disk, without prints or an album.... I really don't like this option; and if you read my earlier posts you will understand why! But it can be a cheap way out. Personally, I think it is better to ask your guests to take lots of photos - but it is a big effort collect them after; and some never come out and most never get around to giving you the pictures! 

One clever idea is to have all your guests download a phone app (there are a couple) that will automatically upload all the photos taken on the day to a common online  gallery for you. They may only be phone-quality pictures, and there will be a lot of rubbish, but it will let you send the official photographer home a bit earlier (only n advantage if yiu ignored point one and hired someone by the hour!).

Photography might seem expensive, but cutting it out is a minor saving compared with other costs; I have seen reception centres add $1000 to the bill to place ribbons on the chairs; which would you rather do without - ribbons or your album?

Remember, your photos are not just for you and not just for now - high quality photos capture your wedding memories for you, your friends, your family and your children. It would be a pity. There are better places to save money, and I'll post on that later.

The Best Wedding Photographers in South Western Sydney

When you are looking for a wedding photographers you expect to get someone who knows what they are doing, They must be qualified, right? Like a plumber or a carpenter...Sadly no. There is nothing stopping anyone from setting up shop as a wedding photographer, qualified or not.

  If you've been searching for a wedding photographer for any length of time, you may have been surprised by the enormous number of advertised wedding photographers to choose from. Most of these are people with an interest in photography who shoot weddings cheaply on weekends to supplement  their real job - a paying hobby.

Wedding photography can be an attractive option for amateur photographers wanting to turn professional.The amateur who can't compete with the professional on quality or service realises that brides, are easy to target on price, because they don't understand what a professional wedding photographer actually contributes on a wedding day or delivers afterwards. 

The good news is that there are professional wedding photographers available. They are often easy to pick because they have professional qualifications and registrations, but not always - photography is not a highly regulated industry, so wedding photographers can choose not to take on training or professional membership - but the best photographers do tend to join one of the reputable organisations, because they are committed to improving and developing their art and their talent.  Membership is not cheap, and not just anybody can join the top Pro Organisations, but photographers  who want to stay connected to the training, criticism and networking that keeps them fresh are willing to put their hands in their pockets.

Even so, with all the hundreds of photographers touting their so-called awards and experience, it can be hard to find the talented and the reliable wedding photographers. You should ask your recently married friends about their experience at their own wedding -  but that was just one day with one photographer. 

- As soon as someone knows that I am a wedding photographer, they trot out stories about their wedding day; often they share their wedding photos with me, usually with pleasure and some with pride (and sometimes they ask me if I can fix them!). About half tell me who took their photos, the rest have forgotten. But no-one forgets the let-downs; All of this adds up to a pretty broad experience to draw on....

I also means get to see the work of my colleagues and competitors, and not just the photos they are proud of.  I get an understand of their attitude towards their clients and I see the quality of their work. 

Put that together with their reputation in the industry and you have the basis for list of people to trust. And there is another source of feedback that I trust, too - whenever I go to a reception, the MC, the DJ and the Venue Manager are always keen to talk about the photographers they wish they could warn couples off... not based on the quality of their photos (which they seldom get to see) but on the basis of their attitude, work ethic and people skills - they see wedding photographers at work every week, they know what should be expected of them, and they know who fails the test. I work in the Macarthur Region - South West Sydney - and I reckon I know which photographers would be at the top of my list if i was getting married this year or next.; I know who I would hide from, too. And while I am not willing to risk a law suit by naming the duds and incompetents, here are the ones I would approach - nice and early, before they get booked.

Sarah Lamond:, Artsnic Photography does weddings, boudoir, babies and family portraits; a pre-wedding session is included in all Sarah's wedding packages, her prices are mid-range and her style is relaxed, romantic and full of Style. A visual reflection of her personality. You'll find her at Camden NSW where she has a bricks-and-mortar studio. Sarah is a member of the most prestigious Australian pro photography association, the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers.

Also in Camden you will find Marions Photographics. Marions is a very different style of business to the typical Wedding Freelancer. A family business that has been operating since the 1970s. Impressive when you think that most family wedding businesses are lucky to survive past 5 years. In all the time I have been working in this field, I have never met any of their clients who were not satisfied clients, happy to recommend them to their friends.

It's embarrassing but that is not just my short list: it's my entire list! Just two names on it. Not that there are no other good photographers in the Macarthur... but the majority either don't do weddings, or do too few to count. 
There are plenty who advertise in the area; some do not have a local presence (their studios are in Penrith or Sydney or somewhere else hard to visit to inspect their work or get to know them); others have a nice portfolio but a poor reputation; some are easy to work with but their skill and knowledge of photography is limited -  if you don't  know the difference between hyperfocal distance and a hypersonic drive, you should only be shooting a wedding if you can guarantee nothing will go wrong; sadly, I never attended a wedding where something unexpected didn't happened.

Of course there may be other good wedding photographers that should be on the White List, but I don't know anyone else I would stake my reputation on - If you know any (or if you are one) you are welcome to add the name as a comment to this post... If any one photographer gets a lot of mentions, maybe that will be recommendation enough to encourage people to hire them!