The Future of Photo Booths
Are photo booths part of your post-pandemic wedding plans? We feel your pain: wedding planning has always been a stressful business. Then along comes a global pandemic and it all becomes even harder.
Your wedding has had to be postponed several times, and with talks of an imminent second wave, you’re wondering if you’ll ever make it down the aisle. But take courage! Your big day will come at last, and it will have been more than worth the wait – but just make sure you’re ready to record and remember as much of your special celebration as possible. As weddings have become a major social event for everyone involved, it’s as important as ever to create mementos of the day to look back on as a keepsake. One of the most fun ways to do so is with a photo booth.
So many options!
Photo booths have come a long way since they were first introduced to Britain in 1962, appearing in bars, restaurants, and clubs. They are constantly evolving, and we are now a long way from the days of waiting for ten minutes outside the coin-operated booth in Woolworths for four fun and wacky images of you and your friend to develop.
These days there are ‘selfie pods’, ‘table selfies’, and ‘magic mirrors’ to name just three, and they come with a variety of themes and capabilities – never has it been so easy – or so fast – to personalise, pose and print an image that captures the fun, or even the romance, of the moment.
If you’re looking to add this element of fun to your event, a quick search for photo booth hire near me can help you find local options to suit your wedding style and budget.
Since the emergence of digital technology and the popularity of social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat, we all now enjoy taking a great selfie accompanied by a funny or flattering filter. And equally, photo booths have become a must-have package to include in your wedding plans as a great way to socialise with and entertain your wedding guests, all whilst capturing fantastic memories on your big day.
However, photo booth hire has been seriously affected by the pandemic, and as venues begin to reopen, restrictions are being applied to ensure events can operate safely. Couples in the midst of wedding planning are left questioning what can and cannot be included in their post-pandemic plans.
Photo booths by their very nature generate intimate moments between you and your wedding guests, as space and props are shared to capture a great memory. So, in the spirit of getting on with the show, here are a few ways you can still include and enjoy the fun of a photo booth in your post-pandemic wedding.
Open-air booths
With winter coming, the idea of an open-air photo booth may not be something that interests you. In fact, the thought of rain on your big day is enough to make you reconsider the outdoors as a setting for any part of your wedding day at all. However, when set up under a canopy or tent, suddenly an open-air photo booth is both safe from the elements, and a great solution to engage with your guests to create some fun at your wedding. This option most definitely respects the restrictions currently in place, as it’s considered that when outdoors, the risk of the infection spreading is minimal due to the increased circulation of fresh air.
Re-thinking props and accessories
Covid-19 can live for hours or even days on surfaces, depending on the material. Therefore, to ensure photo booths are safe to operate, the use of traditional props (hats, glasses, and hand-held signs) may be limited, or, they may be replaced with items made from easy-clean materials.
Although props and accessories are a fun way of engaging your guests with each other and bringing out that all-important smile, the photo booths of today are capable of adding filters and features so that no image will be left without that wow factor!
Limiting numbers in a photo booth image
Before Coronavirus, you could fill a photo booth image with as many wedding guests as you could fit, or squash together in a big hug with all your friends and family in front of a ‘magic mirror’. Now though, hugging and squashing together are limited depending on the size of your social bubble. If you and someone from another household want to capture a moment together in the booth, there would have to be social distancing in place.
Booth Buddies rather than self-service
To avoid multiple people touching the screen, photo booth staff will be provided to assist in setting up images and filters for each user instead of users setting this up themselves. This system also makes the booths and mirrors much easier to use! These Booth Buddies will also be busy keeping the photo booth clean after each use, and, just as per before the pandemic, they’ll be there to make sure the guests have a great photo booth experience.
The initial set up of the booth will be different for each venue, however we can expect classic social distancing, with two-metre guidance for the queuing system and hygiene stations set up in various areas around the photo booth. And of course, to comply with regulations, Booth Buddies will wear masks at all times, with long hair tied back.
Guest books still available, but at a later date
Some photo booth companies provide the happy couple with a guestbook at the end of the night, full of pictures and special messages from your fabulous wedding guests. This is a truly great keepsake for the bride and groom. However, post-pandemic, the preparation of the guestbook may be delayed, being made after the wedding to avoid creating more touchpoints through wedding guests all using the same pen to write their special message, along with touching the guest books and pictures themselves.
Personalise Snapchat for your big day
If however you don’t have your heart set on a photo booth, and instead are looking for a cheap and simple way to create fun photos at your wedding, try designing and purchasing a Snapchat filter from the Snapchat website. You don’t have to be very tech savvy for this to be an option, as the Snapchat website guides you through creation and purchase of your filter. It’s a fun way to get your guests engaged and is a great option to consider. Take a look at this link for an easy how-to
Photo booth bookings are getting snapped up for 2021 and 2022
Although the pandemic has caused headaches for wedding planners and heartache for happy couples-to-be, as the dust settles, most weddings originally scheduled for this year are now either going ahead with minimal guests or have been rescheduled for 2021 or beyond. With this in mind, companies are racing to create a business plan that will enable clients to safely engage their services for weddings throughout the pandemic restrictions and the future, assessing each wedding event individually to make your special day pictureperfect, even in these uncertain times.
There are a variety of photo booth companies that provide a wide range of fun, romantic and stylish themes to cater to any wedding, with companies like The Magic Photo Booth, Inflatable Booth Hire, Blush Photo Booth and Raspberry Photo Booth to name a few of my favourites. Whilst times are uncertain, this does not mean your wedding plans have to be; hiring a photo booth is still possible, so speak to your wedding planner to discuss options.
If you haven’t already booked a photo booth for your wedding, or if you need to reschedule your plans, I’d encourage you to do so now to avoid disappointment. Companies are now taking bookings for 2021 and even 2022, as 2020’s crop of couples rush to secure a new date.
Many thanks to Raspberry Photobooths for this article.
See our Photo Booth recommended suppliers here
