When are you looking to have the wedding? This year is a bit insane for us, but you never know.
I totally understand about the immigration costs,, I moved here 8 years ago, and am very lucky things were alot less expensive back then.
Email me and if I can help by recommending someone ( I know alot of photographers) or sharing what to look for when shopping for a photographer over here, I'd be happy to.
You will find all sorts of packages, and costs, so much so that its' confusing to know what to actually expect to get for your money. Also photographic styles vary, the level of skill also varies from one photographer to another, which helps with the confusion.
We say that it's a good idea to visit a few before deciding, usually you can get an idea after seeing 3 photographers. Meet them in person, you will be spending alot of time with them on the day, so you want to be sure you are comfortable with them. Some will include a pre-wedding photosession, which is great because you get to spend time with the photographer, see how they will work with you, and feel more secure that they can photograph you to your best.
While it isn't a sure fire way of pre-qualifying your photographer, it is a good idea to check if they belong to a professional organization. They are bound by the code of ethics of that organization. We belong to the Master Photographer Association, but there are others out there.
Be sure to view a few weddings of varying lighting conditions to see how they handle challenging situations.
We are in Bournemouth, so about in the middle between where you are in Devon and Brighton, lol.
One thing we do, is to have an Encore session after the wedding. We have had a few couples do this a few months after the wedding, and a few who were married overseas, who just want to do an 'arty' type photosession after having the wedding. This is a bit different than a 'Trash the Dress' photosession,, it's more like an Encore, arty, not dirty, lol.
Seriously, this is what I do 24/7, so don't hesitate to bug me for advice
Teri