The Debate Rages On: Amateur vs. Wedding Professional
First, let's put this out there: I am a wedding professional, which means my opinion on the issue is obviously biased. 
Is it appropriate to hire an amateur or hobbyist to work your wedding? The answer: it depends. Let's walk through the pros and cons to see if we can figure this one out.
PROS
$$ Savings. You can save thousands of dollars on the cost of your wedding by hiring amateurs instead of wedding professionals.
A Blank Slate. An amateur hasn't seen much, so they don't have an expectation of how weddings are "supposed" to go. They might be eager to prove themselves and do whatever you like, but they'll need lots of guidance from you to do it.
CONS
Lack of experience. A seasoned wedding professional has attended hundreds of weddings and spent thousands of hours refining and working on their craft. An amateur doesn't have the experience, the resume or the credibility.
An amateur doesn't know where to stand, what to do or how to do it nearly as well as a professional. What comes naturally for a wedding professional...directing the flow of events, trouble shooting issues before they become a problem, acting as an expert resource for you...is completely lacking in an amateur. They just don't have as much to offer due to their lack of experience.
Lower Quality. Amateurs haven't spent the hours practicing and perfecting their work yet. The quality of products and services generally won't be as good as they are when you hire a professional. They might be, but it's a crap shoot.
Questionable Reliability. An amateur hasn't built up a reputation yet and doesn't have the pressure to maintain it. If she messes up, she can say Oops and go back to her day job.
Will they deliver on their promises? Will they show up on time? Will they show up at all? Maybe, maybe not. It's a big gamble hiring someone without a proven reputation for service and quality. This can mean a boatload more anxiety and stress for you.
No Contract Means No Protection. A true professional works with a contract outlining the specifics of your agreed terms of service. This protects you as well as them.
If you do business with an amateur who doesn't use a contract and something goes wrong, you won't have a leg to stand on in court.
If you are considering whether it's a good idea to hire a wedding professional or a talented amateur, follow these guidelines to avoid a wedding disaster.
1) Hire professionals for your most important wedding priorities.
Spend a little time thinking about what is most important to you on your wedding day. Is it the photos? The music? The beautiful location?
If it's important to you, spend the money to hire a professional. If you must hire an amateur, hire them for services you don't care as much about.
2) If you expect professional service, hire a professional.
If you have an expectation of delicious gourmet food, original artistic photos, non-stop dancing and a seamless flow of events, have a wedding professional provide these services. If less than professional service is acceptable, consider an amateur.
Imagine the worst case scenario (like in these videos below) and ask yourself if this is acceptable for your wedding day. If it's not, hire someone with the talent, reputation and experience to deliver what you expect.
3) Hiring an amateur means more work for you.
An amateur doesn't have experience with the ins and outs of a wedding including timing and scheduling. You will have to tell him exactly what to do.
Know going in that you will be responsible for doing the research to learn what's necessary. Then you'll have to set up timelines and to do lists for them. On the day of the wedding you'll have to manage and check up on them.
If you have a tight budget, of course you need to pinch pennies wherever possible. An amateur might be a part of that; just make sure it makes sense for you. And don't automatically rule out hiring a pro; there are wedding professionals who provide services in every price range, from low to high end.
I surveyed dozens of brides after their weddings and the #1 regret was NOT hiring a professional for a service that was important to them...usually a photographer.
Amateur Wedding Disasters
Watch the video below for an example of what can happen when you hire an amateur to MC and DJ your wedding. Not only are the announcements embarrassingly clumsy, but the entertainers actually lose the First Dance Song! This is truly PAINFUL to watch.
Check out the video below to witness the aftermath of hiring an amateur photographer. It ends up with a tearful bride in court.
One of our smart, savvy DIY brides a few years ago decided to arrange her own floral centerpieces. She saved hundreds of dollars by ordering roses in bulk from a wholesaler, but she told me it was a huge hassle putting them together during that busy week before the wedding.
She did spend the money to have a professional florist create her bouquets and boutonnieres. She could really tell the difference between the arrangements she did and the ones done by a professional. In hindsight, she would have paid the extra money...and saved her sanity...by having her centerpieces professionally done.
Finally, I'll share my own experience. When Jeff and I got married almost 10 years ago we had almost no wedding experience. We had a photo hobbyist friend take our photographs. It was super cheap; she only charged us for the cost of her film and development.
However, the results are not professional. Our photos are just okay. She didn't ask us if we wanted any family photos...and I didn't know to ask at the time...so there isn't one photograph of my mother-in-law. Ouch.
Hiring an amateur might work out great. It will certainly save you money. Just make sure you think carefully about the consequences and weigh those pros and cons so that you can make an informed decision. Your wedding day is too important to leave it to chance!
What do you think about hiring an amateur for your wedding day?