[redbaron]

While I don't have a problem with amateur photography, I think it's tacky to ask a good friend of family member to take the pictures.

Photographing a wedding is a full time job, and frankly, your friends and family should be there to enjoy the day with you, not to work their butts off to save a couple dollars.

Best idea, is to have the disposables on the tables at the reception. Some comedy gold has been produced for some of my friends over the years, plus it will help you remember who came.

Secondly, if you hire a pro/semi-pro photographer, they are going to have better equipment, and be able to produce a better product. You don't have to get all posed pictures either. Get some posed for posterity, but have the photographer go nuts on candid stuff- Most wedding photographers are shooting 90% digital now, so it's not a big added cost to go through TONS of pictures.

Anyway, my opinion is that asking a friend to do a song that lasts a couple minutes is one thing (and can be quite an honor), but asking them to do something that lasts the entire event spoils it for them.