Photographer for a Registry Office Wedding?

Okay, so here's the thing. I want this wedding as cheap as possible. I LOVE my fiance, I'm excited to marry him, but I care about the MARRIAGE, NOT the CEREMONY! No disrespect to anyone who's had a big lavish wedding...it's just my personal feeling that I'd rather save money for stuff for the house, preparation for a baby, etc.

Here's the scoop so far:
- Wedding dress: Looking at them under $200 (simple, no train); mom has offered to pay for.
- Register Office: Stirling King's Knot Room, about 207 pounds for room, paperwork, ceremony
- Rings: Still looking at rings at the moment, but we know what we're looking for.

It's the PHOTOGRAPHER I'm stumped on. This is so small a wedding it's hardly a wedding people. Me, fiance, two witnesses, MAYBE a couple of his close friends. That's it. The cheapest I have seen for a wedding photographer is 395 pounds. That is just not gonna work. There's not even going to be a cake, we are going out for dinner afterwards. There is just not that much to photograph. That being said, I do want some nice pictures of the event, and pictures of us in my simple wedding dress and his kilt. I can't imagine paying 395 pounds for that! Anyone have any advice for how to look for a photographer to do it for cheap?

(Before you all start feeling sorry for me, we'll be renewing our vows in a year or two with a nice ceremony and reception. For now, we just want to be together and start our life. I need to be with my beloved!  )

Is there a school/university nearby that has a photography programme?  I bet you could find a student who'd be thrilled to do your pictures for whatever fee you offer.  I have a friend who's a photographer, and when he was a student he was over the moon to have any kind of gig for any fee. 

You could also look at a long time amateur photographer whose photographs you have seen and/or like.
As historyenne has said any amateur photog or student would love to have a chance to do something like that for a modest fee. It would be something they could put on their CV and portfolio.

We are doing the EXACT same thing!!!! I would be interested in a photographer too. If you find one thats cheap, please let me know. Also, I have been looking at dresses at the same price you are and Monsoon has some really cute ones for under 200.

The student thing wouldn't be a bad idea. Closest college/university would be about half hour to an hour away from Stirling, where we plan to have the ceremony. Perhaps I could get in contact with a photography teacher/professor at one of the nearby schools and see if any of his/her students would be interested. That should be sufficient, if I can make that happen. I don't need Ansel Adams, just someone who has some clue about how to take decent pictures.

If you google the name of the area you live and "photographer" I am sure you can find a semi-pro in the area. It never hurts telling them you are on a low budget as well

Closest college/university would be about half hour to an hour away from Stirling, where we plan to have the ceremony.

There is a university AND a college IN Stirling (Stirling University and Forth Valley College).

Well, I figured as much DrSuper, but it didn't turn up on a google search. Maybe that was because I searched for photography courses. I'll have to see if either of those have photography courses. That would certainly be closer/easier.

We were pretty broke when we got married and just bought disposable cameras (colour and black and white) for everyone top take snaps. We got some really lovely informal ones that I don't think a photographer could have taken.

Just an alternative thought if you are on a budget. 

We had a slightly more lavish wedding (20 people all together, 'country house hotel' venue, flowers, cake, catered sitdown dinner, lots of booze, etc -- in-laws paid ), but my DH was dead set against having a professional photographer, so we didn't have one.  (We actually had a big doozy argument on that very subject before the wedding!  )  Various people in attendance at our wedding brought their cameras, and sort of along the lines of what mapleleafgirl72 said, "we got some really lovely informal ones that I don't think a photographer could have taken."

(My hubby hates having his photo taken & didn't want to be posing for professional photographs on his wedding day, plus the cost being outrageous.)

So I agree with the suggestions posted by others.  Or do you have a friend who is a good photographer, who might be willing to do it as their wedding gift to you?  Some friends of ours have asked DH to be their wedding photographer.  (If they ever get married, because now it's postponed to 2012!)

Stirling Uni has a film, media and journalism department that might be useful: http://www.fmj.stir.ac.uk/index.php
Forth Valley College has an art and design department: http://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/courses/art_and_design/
For the latter, the students might be in Falkirk or Clackmannan, but it's not far to travel.

Private message Lindy on here... or go to lindademelophotography.com. She did mine and did an amazing job.

Wow, her photographs are incredible! But Stirling is 3 hours away from Manchester. Yikes!

Hi Carrie,
thanks- glad you like my photos. Just send me a private msg.  I'm new to the wedding biz so lets make a deal!

Lindy

Hi Carrie,
thanks- glad you like my photos. Just send me a private msg.  I'm new to the wedding biz so lets make a deal!

Lindy

I checked out your pictures too. Absolutely lovely!