Disney Cruise Brides - Let's Chat about our Weddings/VR's!

[JBeanBunny]

Wedding Photography is probably my second highest priority in the whole wedding scenario (second to marrying my Michael, of course!). I'm actually glad that the ceremony and cake cutting ceremony ordeal only lasts about an hour because I'm not one who likes to fluff up a ceremony (unity candles, pouring of the sands, poems recited, prayers, scripture readings, etc) I just want the quick and basic ceremony! Plus, having my friends and family aboard and in one place for three days of celebration is going to be great!

I'm ecstatic that I found two photographers willing to join me on our cruise. I was terrified that I'd get one of the sub-par onboard photographers based on so many mixed reviews and I didn't want to take that risk. I also wanted to take home more photos than they offered (and didn't want to spend a whole day on my 3 day cruise choosing which photos to order!) and I wanted more time to take more photos. I was very very frustrated in my photographer search because most people never considered shooting a cruise (And I live in the Orlando area, so local photographers are very familiar with Disney weddings) and some were expecting to charge me more than the cost of our cruise AND wedding package combined! Just as I was about to give up, my photographer suggested that she would trade the free cruise for her services and all the digital prints on a CD so long as she got to expand her portfolio with a Disney Cruise wedding! I booked her cruise immediately and loved her when I met her. I feel very fortunate that I could make such an arrangement and I hope other brides can find similar photographer deals!

 

[lexis]

Thats great! Our photographers travel the world doing shoots so they were not going to take a free vacation as payment as much as i would have liked that. I woukd have to agree photos are the second priority for us.

 

[PrincessTinker11]

As most know we brought our own photographer, Mikkel right here on the boards! I felt this was best as believe me it is hit or miss with Disney...I also did the MK shoot in disney and I was sweating that one out!

Mikkel was wonderful, creative and I cannot wait to get our shots back!! I think if you can swing it bring your own photographer, I think there are photographers who will work with you on the price. Figure what you are spending for disney's photography and then see what it would cost for a professional photographer to come along. We worked with Mikkel from getting ready until well into the afternoon....she also took photos through out the cruise and attended our wedding dinner and took photos...If you research you may find a photographer that you want to work with! I believe there is also a photographer on Facebook I have seen that was looking for work, you may get one that is willing to go for cruise fare and you pay for prints...worth taking a look

 

[lexis]

I know we also looked at a woman named jennifer werneth in orlando. Unfortunatly she was already booked for the time we would need her. She does have experience doing disney cruise photos. She also has experience with disney parks. http://jenniferwernethphotography.com/

 

[ljhayes]

Unfortunately I can't justify paying at least $2500 (assuming I could get someone to trade pictures for cruise fare) for photography when DCL will be less than $1k. I plan on coming up with a list of shots I want beforehand that I can give to the photographer. I'll also see if I can find the names of good photographers mentioned on here to request, although I know that will be a lot less likely to happen. I also might ask other DISers on the cruise to take some pictures with our camera if anyone on the meet thread seems like they would be amenable. And then I will keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best!

 

[PrincessTinker11]

I believe there is also a photographer on facebook called Disney Guru, she may trade for cruise fare...always worth a shot!!

 

[PrincessTinker11]

Theresa from Disney Guru asked me to pass her info on, her photography site is Shutter Expressions on Facebook, let her know you found her from here and see what you guys can work out! Worth a shot!

 

[dbjess1009]

ok so it says i need three more posts to post pictures so here's one!

 

[dbjess1009]

twoooooo

 

[dbjess1009]

three! sorry about the random posts!

 

[dbjess1009]

 

[JBeanBunny]

Unfortunately I can't justify paying at least $2500 (assuming I could get someone to trade pictures for cruise fare) for photography when DCL will be less than $1k. I plan on coming up with a list of shots I want beforehand that I can give to the photographer. I'll also see if I can find the names of good photographers mentioned on here to request, although I know that will be a lot less likely to happen. I also might ask other DISers on the cruise to take some pictures with our camera if anyone on the meet thread seems like they would be amenable. And then I will keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best!

I completely agree! I'm only going on a 3-night cruise, so the cruise fare for TWO of them was about $1100, only one-or-two hundred dollars more than the photography package I would've chosen from the Disney photographers. For a couple hundred dollars more, I'll get thousands of images on a CD from two photographers that I get to utilize the entire wedding day (not just an hour and a half!) and I can also snag them for the legal ceremony too... I understand that on longer cruises that fares increase dramatically. I do agree that you should ask fellow DISers that'll be on your cruise! The key to getting good pictures is taking a LOT of them- that way you can pick and choose the ones you like!

DBJess! Great photos! I love the Mickey & Minnie ears that all of your guests are wearing! I can't believe I'm up to 50 guests I wasn't expecting many guests to attend! I have no idea where they're going to put my party since not everybody has RSVP'ed yet!

Happy Thursday, everyone!

 

[PrincessTinker11]

I completely agree! I'm only going on a 3-night cruise, so the cruise fare for TWO of them was about $1100, only one-or-two hundred dollars more than the photography package I would've chosen from the Disney photographers. For a couple hundred dollars more, I'll get thousands of images on a CD from two photographers that I get to utilize the entire wedding day (not just an hour and a half!) and I can also snag them for the legal ceremony too... I understand that on longer cruises that fares increase dramatically. I do agree that you should ask fellow DISers that'll be on your cruise! The key to getting good pictures is taking a LOT of them- that way you can pick and choose the ones you like!

DBJess! Great photos! I love the Mickey & Minnie ears that all of your guests are wearing! I can't believe I'm up to 50 guests I wasn't expecting many guests to attend! I have no idea where they're going to put my party since not everybody has RSVP'ed yet!

Happy Thursday, everyone!

There are photographers out there that will give you a good price, have faith! If you are willing to chance it then it is not a huge deal but to my DH and I the pictures were the ONE thing we could not leave to chance! The memories of our wedding will definitely be from our photos...I did ask a fellow Dis'er to video for us...I wanted that as well and Disney did not offer it!

i also agree for a little bit more I will have so many more high quality photos and will not waste precious time on the ship looking through photos to pick!

 

[Freckledginger]

dbjess1009, thanks so much for sharing your photos!! They're wonderful!! I love your flowers (stunning!!), and everyone looks so happy! It looks like it was a great wedding! Are you planning to do a TR?

 

[lorimay]

Hi Ladies,

Quick question:

We choose the photography package that's $999.00 ( don't know the package name ) Can you tell me how long the photographer is with us and when do they arrive, at the room or the ceremony?

Thanks, Lori

 

[PixieDust1969]

dbjess1009,

Great pictures! You look beautiful and so do your flowers!!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Lori - TAKE ME! Just get me a room..I am easy, I will take an steerage room and will stay with you the entire cruise (and Kate can baby sit E & E )

 

[lorimay]

Lori - TAKE ME! Just get me a room..I am easy, I will take an steerage room and will stay with you the entire cruise (and Kate can baby sit E & E )

HAHAHA! I would love to take you along! Amanda would enjoy having Kate around to help with the kiddies!

 

[ljhayes]

Question for those who have already had their wedding/vow renewal... I went dress shopping this weekend and the one I like the most has a corset back. We aren't having any guests at our vow renewal and I had figured we would get ready separately. So my question is, do you think I will be able to find someone to help me do up my dress? I'm figuring if I had a female planner I could maybe ask her. Or maybe put my dress on in the salon after getting my hair done and get help from someone there? Do you guys think I could make something work or should I stick with a dress that I can do up myself?

 

[Goldeelox9]

Lori, The Photographer met us at the wedding site on Castaway Cay. they stayed through the cake cutting then we took photos around the ship for about 30 - 40 minutes. Thats all. THEN we had to pick all of our prints the last day. Spent 3 hours of our cruise trying to pick what prints we want. It sucked. LOL I do hear they are kicking up the photos for the brides.

Photography is the one thing I wish I could redo. I would take a photographer with me in a heart beat!