As cliché as it sounds, your wedding is a day to remember. And what better way to revisit happy moments than with lots of photos?
Your photographer and videographer can’t be everywhere all at once. That’s why more and more couples elect to add a photo booth rental to their weddings. Photo booths provide guests with some non-dancing entertainment during the reception and capture all kinds of silly party moments your photographer might miss.
Whether you’re sold on the idea or are still exploring your options, you’re probably curious, first of all, about the cost of a wedding photo booth. Here’s what you need to know, including the different types of photo booths, how photo booth rentals work, and factors that go into the photo booth rental cost.
Before diving into the specifics of photo booth rental costs, it’s important to understand exactly what a wedding photo booth is. In simple terms, a photo booth is either a designated space or a unit where guests can take pictures of themselves during the reception. After snapping some photos, guests can print or email their images on the spot.
Booths usually fall under one of two categories: open-air photo booths or enclosed photo booths. The names are self-explanatory, but an open-air photo booth is a free-standing camera unit set up in front of a background. An enclosed photo booth is a self-contained box with a small curtain. Guests enter the booth, draw the curtain, and take photos inside.
Most photo booths come with props such as wigs, hats, masks, and funny signs. They might also come with customizable background options or digital features, such as GIFs or social media integrations.
Open-air photo booths and enclosed photo booths are your two main options, but there are a couple more types of photo booths to consider, and it’s worth understanding the benefits and downsides of each type before you rent a photo booth.
By far the most popular, this variation allows guests to take individual or group photos in front of a backdrop. On the plus side, the design can fit multiple people at once. As for cons, you might need to bring extra ring lights to ensure good lighting. This model also leaves guests to their own devices, so you might need a designated photo booth attendant to keep things running smoothly.
An arcade-style or old-school booth, this photo booth gives guests privacy when taking photos. While that’s helpful for those who are camera-shy, it means that only a few people can fit into each photo.
This type of photo booth can be either open-air or enclosed. It comes with social media integrations that allow you to create boomerangs and GIFs right after taking pictures. Unfortunately, you can’t print the images. That’s fine if your guests are tech-savvy, but some guests might be disappointed by the lack of hard copies.
Like social photo booths, Magic Mirror photo booths come in both open-air and enclosed versions. While it’s not exactly a fairytale looking glass, it’s pretty close. Using a touchscreen, guests can add digital props, make short videos, or play interactive games. The only downside of this model is that you won’t have time to explore all the hilarious and wacky features.
Different factors determine how much your final photo booth rental bill will be.
Factors that contribute to the cost of renting a photo booth include:
Considering all the factors that go into the final cost of a photo booth rental, it’s difficult to say how much you’ll end up paying. Here are some estimates.
On average, a basic photo booth rental in a smaller city or town will run you anywhere from $425 to $550. If you live in a bigger city, add props, or are getting married during a busy season, you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $1,500 for the rental. High-tech booths can go for $2,000 or more.
Plan to set aside about 3% of your total budget for the wedding booth rental.
Before looking at the cost of a photo booth, you might wonder if it’s even a good idea. Like many wedding-related expenses, the choice is up to you. That said, a photo booth is a fun, interactive way to capture candid pictures of your guests.
Photo booths are expensive to rent mainly because they’re expensive to buy. The company renting them needs to make back its initial investment, and the best way to do so is by charging customers. Secondly, booths with customizable green screens and advanced cameras are expensive due to the built-in technology.
If a photo booth isn’t right for your wedding, consider having a Polaroid picture wall. Guests take pictures using the instant camera, then hang their snaps on the wall for everyone to see. Another option is to go old-school and have guests take candid shots with disposable cameras.
Most photo booth rental companies allow you to take as many pictures as you want. According to DY Photobooth, a rental company in North Dakota, guests make about 40 visits to a booth per hour. Each session generates three to four photos so that you can end up with several hundred photos.
A typical photo booth measures four feet wide by six feet tall; however, different models and brands may have other measurements. If you’re unsure about whether or not a photo booth will fit your space, contact the reception venue for measurements or measure the space yourself.
Here at The Groom Club, we know how quickly wedding expenses add up. We’re dedicated to providing you with budgeting tips, cost guides, and practical money-saving advice for every stage of your wedding journey. Curious? Head to our wedding archives page.
