The case for
A booth gives guests something to do in the gaps. Cocktail hour while you take portraits, the lull between dinner and dancing, the moment when someone's plus-one knows nobody. It brings people together in small groups, which is exactly how friendships get photographed and remembered.
The prints double as favours. Instead of a trinket left on the table, each guest leaves with a strip that has your names and date on it. And the second copy, if you add the scrapbook, becomes a guest book filled with faces rather than signatures.
The case against
It is a real cost, and a wedding budget has many claims on it. Our Beverly Booth is $700 for three hours or $850 for four, which could otherwise go towards flowers, a second shooter or the bar. If your guest list is small and the reception short, the booth may not get the use that justifies it.
It also needs space and a good position. A booth tucked behind a pillar in a side room will be quiet, and a quiet booth is money spent for little return. If your venue is cramped, think carefully before committing.
What makes the difference
The booths that pay off share three traits: they are near the bar or the dance floor, they run during the social hours rather than the ceremony, and they come with an attendant who draws guests in. All three are within your control when you plan.
Prints matter more than people expect. A digital-only booth is fun in the moment, but a physical strip gets pinned to a fridge and seen for years. If you are going to spend the money, we would steer you towards the DSLR booth with prints rather than the cheapest option.
Guest experience, honestly
Not everyone will use it, and that is fine. Older relatives sometimes need a nudge, which is where the attendant helps, and a few guests will never leave the dance floor. In our experience the booth is busiest with mixed groups, friends from different parts of your life who finally meet.
The Newlywed Tattoo Club and Love Letters stations are small additions that extend the experience beyond the camera. The tattoos are a conversation starter, and the letters give guests a quiet way to say something they would not say in a toast.
Consider the audio guestbook instead, or as well
If the budget allows only one extra, the Audio Guestbook is worth weighing against a booth. Guests pick up a vintage telephone, hear your greeting and leave a voice message. It costs less than a full booth, takes a fraction of the space and the recordings age beautifully.
Many couples pair the two: the booth for the laughing group shots and the telephone for the words. The Audio Guestbook can be booked on its own or added to a booth package.
Timeline tips if you go ahead
Open the booth at cocktail hour so it is already busy by the time you arrive at the reception. Keep it running through the first hour of dancing. If the photographer is doing sunset portraits, that is prime booth time, because guests are otherwise waiting.
Approve your template early so the strip matches your stationery, and pick a backdrop that complements rather than fights the florals. Both are included in every booking and both are easier to get right with a few weeks in hand.
- Place it near the bar or dance floor
- Open at cocktail hour, run through early dancing
- Choose prints over digital-only if you can
- Add the scrapbook so the second copy becomes your guest book
- Pair with the Audio Guestbook for the words, not just the faces
Planning a celebration in Los Angeles or the San Fernando Valley? Tell us the date, the venue and the guest count and we will email a personal quote within 24 hours.
