Adjusted priorities

Last week I talked about the importance of printing and what it could potentially mean to future generations. This week's topic is related...how do you prioritise what you spend on your wedding?

Obviously I have a slight bias here, but I think my thoughts have merit.

What is the most long-lasting thing from a wedding? Hopefully it is the marriage...but after that? Not the cake. Not the music. Not the dress...although you may want it to be passed down through the generations...you only have boys...and it's not his size. Not what you spent on booze...only the bartender remembers that!

There is a pretty good argument for the honeymoon...

None of these even come close to the photographs. They are the truly enduring record of your special day. So why do people baulk at spending the money to employ a professional?

A confession here...I have been married three times. Some would say I am crazy (they might be right) but I am very happy. The first two were pretty traditional...the third we eloped. The photos from the first two are in my past, so not something I have a desire to regularly look at. However, I know they are there and they are relevant to my children.

There are times I wish there were more photos of our elopement...over time memories fade. And that is something else a photo has the ability to do...awaken memories. So it's not just a two-dimensional representation of a slice of time... it elicits emotion, brings back conversations, smells and smiles.

Most people spend a lot of money on their special day...so how about giving a bit more thought to how you prioritise that expenditure and who to trust with the responsibility of recording it for history.