I’m assuming you mean they are getting legally married, just not having an expensive ceremony and reception aka a wedding. (You do not need a wedding to get married everybody!)

Wedding ceremonies and receptions cost ALOT of money and can cause ALOT of family drama. If all you want is to be with your fiancé, look pretty, and have pictures to show your kids later down the road I think this is a perfect option. I might actually steal it. ha!

I’ve told my fiancé numerous times, I don’t care where, when, or how we get married just as long as I have my dress. I want to feel beautiful when I marry him. That doesn’t necessarily mean I want to feel beautiful in front of 100+ people just so I can have "non-fake" wedding memories (pictures).

And saving the money for a honeymoon, just on them two, sounds perfect to me as well! Why spend the money on chairs, tables, and flowers, etc, when you can have an extra week in paradise! Whoo Hoo!

To get some quotes from photographers in your area, try looking at Decidio.com and Eventective.com… they have been helpful to clients of mine in the past.

Good luck!

First. get a Canon flash, and a bracket if you can to reduce red eye. If you can’t afford a fast f/2.8 zoom, then use the lenses you have. The 18-55 will probably be the most useful and have the best image quality, although I am not familiar with Canon lenses, but definitely the 18 end will be necessary.

Is it indoors or out? Visit the venue before hand if possible. Take someone with you and practice a few shots. Note the camera settings and chimp for adjustments. If the reception is outdoors, you can practice anywhere at the same time of day. Make lots of shots and learn what setting make the best looking picture. The key here is practice. Learn how to meter for the sky and compensate your flash output.

If indoors, learn about using bounce flash and practice that. (You will have to have an external flash for that, the built in won’t bounce.) You might also want to research diffusers, but you will need some practice with those, too.

Learn about a technique called dragging the shutter and practice that as well. A good resource is http://www.photo.net. Go to the wedding and social event forum and search the archives for first time and beginner threads.

Vary your point of view. Get some wide and some close. Don’t forget to take some pictures of the details, the flowers, cake, special touches. Be careful when taking pictures of people eating. No one looks good while stuffing a forkful in their mouth or chewing. Also watch the table clutter.

If you are comfortable using manual, then do so. If you are not certain what settings do what, then you will probably be better off using the program mode. Be aware, program mode with direct flash equals deer in headlight snapshots that any guest with a point and shoot will be able to deliver.

Wedding photography is partly about gear and technique, but it is also about timing and capture. If you get some great emotion captured in your images, then you can consider your first wedding venture a success on that level. I have seen many "pro" images, although perfectly lit and executed, that have no life or emotional impact.

Good luck !

1. Take the proofs to a professional photographer that offers copying, restoration and/or retouching services. This will usually get better quality results but is more expensive than..

2. Take it to a camera/photography store that offers copying and restoration services and ask them to make copy negatives and prints from them.

Hope this helps. Good luck

Leave the sanctuary and your hubby has all of his done with everyone except for you….

That way when the ceremony is over…the only pictures needed will be with you and your husband and wedding party…

Your guest won’t have to wait soooo….. long for you to appear at your reception!

Best wishes!

XXXX