Does anyone know if you have to book photo/video through the wedding coordinator? I am getting married in September and feel like I am getting ripped off as far as the cost. The coordinator has given me a few options such as you get 72 pictures for 3 hours at 2 locations ($300), and as for video you get 2 hours ($500) and for an additional hour of video it is $200. In my opinion this is crazy! I am paying $700 for video for my reception when I return from Aruba and that is for 5 hours. I also would like the photographer to be there for more than 72 pics and more then 2 locations. If I have to pay that much money, I want a lot more pics and photo/video person to capture our whole day! Not bits and pieces. Sorry to vent, but does anyone have suggestions?

Thanks!

Renee,
I booked the photographer through the hotel but paid the photgrapher separately. I was able to get in touch with the photographer directly to speak with her regarding the options and different types of pictures she can take. We used Diane Keijzer and she was more then willing to negotiate and we ended up getting alot more pictures then orginally planned and there was hardly an extra cost. I would try to get your photographers number and see if they can work with you. Diane was great i would recommend her. As far as the video we didn't do one so I can't be much help there.

Good Luck.

Susan & Ann -

If you dont mind me asking what was the package and price that you received? I have e-mailed Diane, but have not received a response.

Thanks for the help!

My husband and I got married at the Hyatt on the 19th. We booked our photographer, Diane Kraijzer, through the Hyatt wedding planner, Tita. Diane did a wonderful job and our pictures turned out even better than we expected. She is very flexible with the prices and once you see the final product, you will realize that it is worth it. Also, we took our own videocamera and tripod and just had it set up on the beach. The video was not professional quality, but it captured the entire ceremony perfectly.

The wedding planner thing in my opinion is not worth it. You could almost make an extra trip yourself to get things organized. I think sometimes we make things harder than they have to be. Just go 2 days ahead and you can get it all arranged quite easily!
Don't worry because in the end it will all be just like it should be perfect.

Hello there,

Maybe you did not noticed, but this original post is almost 3 years old, for some reason it appears on the bulletin board now.

Regards,
Robert Arenz
Photographer

I have to agree with this statement and feel your pain. I shouldn't have to pay a wedding coordinator $$$ so that they can turn around and hire an officiant for a wedding vow renewal ceremony. We'll have 8 other people with 4 cameras so do need a photographer either. Shouldn't be so hard to pay "just" one person to recite a nice 15 minute ceremony to reaffrim one's devotion to one another in front of God and their family.

Aruba Bound! ~ Hoosier Kitties ~ Our-Cruises ~ Blogging to Aruba
Back to paradise Trip #18