Oh my, Allison I am sorry! I wondered how your DD2 became engaged and married so fast :-( I should have known you would at least have posted a dress issue or something on the conversations board with all that wedding talk! Very sorry for that misunderstanding. But initially the posts that crossed over to houzz were not dated, so I had no idea the thread was four years old. Now I see they are dated, although in the faintest possible ink color. (Houzz must have mostly 20 and 30 something users with better eyesight.) At any rate, the groom may not have been a keeper but the flowers were lovely!

The disposable cameras on the tables idea doesn't always work as well as people hope. Even if people try to help you out, you are likely to end up with lots of pictures of a few guests (mostly from the younger tables) and few or none of many guests, including family. You don't want to end up with 20 shots of your work friends and none of Grandma. And someone has to remember to collect and store the cameras, and then later you pay for developing a lot of pictures that aren't always any good. I think that photography is an area where it is worth it to use a professional. They just do such a good job. And what is the one thing that everyone says they would save first from a burning home? You can (and should) give a pro lists to make sure that you get pictures of the people you want most. I would save costs instead by hiring him/her for only the minimum amount of time, and perhaps by skipping or at least minimizing formal poses. Call a couple of recommended photographers in your area, tell them your budget, and ask what they can do for that much. You may get a nice surprise.

if you weren't invited to the shower, you don't need to give them a shower gift. If you DID go to a shower, you would give both, as you know. If you wish you had been invited to the shower, you *could* give them a shower gift, but I wonder if that might make them feel bad for not inviting you--in which case, don't label it a shower gift. But the wedding gift alone is just fine--and I bet they'll like it, LOL! it'll certainly fit w/ their decorating scheme.

Goutgrec wrote that T"hat's because there usually isn't anyone from the magazine at the photo shoots, or the designer doesn't want to reveal too many sources, especially those which aren't obvious." Not to be argumentative, but that's not true, at least with the magazines I've freelanced for. House Beautiful, House and Garden, Elle Decor, Metropolitan Home almost always have an editor or producer around when the room is shot. What is true is that often the designer has added things from vendors that aren't owned by the client or homeowner. Shoot's over, lamps go back to the shop.