How to Rent a Photobooth for a Wedding

Have guests put their photos in a scrapbook for a fun wedding souvenier.

Renting a photo booth is a popular way to keep guests entertained at wedding receptions. The photos they produce are fun wedding favors. The photo printing paper and backgrounds often can be customized to your wedding. Booths are rented by the hour and generally are suitable only for indoor receptions. Because of printing and transportation expenses, expect to spend at least several hundred dollars.

Instructions

How to Rent a Photobooth for a Wedding

1. Confirm your wedding's major details, such as date, time, venue, budget and guest list.

2. Check your budget to determine how much you can spend on a photo booth. Expect to spend a minimum of several hundred dollars on rental fees for each booth, including a deposit.

3. Call your venue's manager and confirm they allow photo booths. If so, ask how early the photo booth can be set up, when it must be removed, how many photo booths the venue allows and whether there will be extra fees for having a photo booth.

4. Consult your guest list to determine how many hours you will need your photo booth, or booths, for all your guests to take pictures. Photo booths generally can accommodate 35 to 50 sessions an hour, depending on the machine. Each session generally snaps four to six photos and prints two copies of the pictures. Many guests will take group photos, increasing the number of guests photographed in each session.

5. Search for photo booth companies in the phone book or with an online search engine. Find out whether going with a local company can cut down on travel fees or mileage charges.

6. Call at least two companies to discuss their rates, travel or mileage fees and services. Compare the companies and choose the one that best fits your budget, needed amount of photo booths and other requirements.

7. Book with your chosen company. Sign the contract and pay the deposit, which will be a percentage of your final bill. Read your contract carefully to ensure your requirements are listed and correct. Keep a copy of the contract for reference.

8. Call the photo booth company a week to two weeks before the wedding to confirm your wedding day rental and any transport details. Give the company the name and number of someone the company can contact in case of an emergency on the wedding day.

9. Make the final payment to the photo booth company at the time designated in the contract.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you sign a contract, ask your photo booth company for references. Contact at least one reference to ensure the company is legitimate.

• If your ceremony and reception are at the same place, make sure that the photo booth won't be set up during the ceremony. Even if it's being set up in another room, noise travels. If you have your booth set up beforehand, arrange for a screen or decorative cover to keep the photo booth from spoiling your ceremony's decor.

References

• RentPhotoBooths.Com: FAQS
• Red Eye Booths: FAQs

Resources

• PhotoBooth.Net: Photo Booth Rental