Don't forget the framing! - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

PaulS · #1 04-08-2007, 05:08 AM

Hi Brides-to-be,

I'm a professional picture framer, and I'm posting this because of something that happened in my shop today. A young woman came in with her wedding portrait (very nicely done, too), to get it framed. I figured that since this was the happiest day of her life (right?), let's go with the best -- a beautiful Louis XVI closed corner frame, a fabric mat, and of course museum glass. It would have been about $850, an excellent value -- the finest in framing, and it will look great on her wall for 30 years or more!

But it was too much. So was the $300 framing treatment, so we ditched the museum glass and the fabric mat. But the $250 framing treatment was too expensive too, so we ditched the gilt frame and went with a very nice but less expensive frame. Managed to get it under $200, and it will look very nice. And she isn't the worst bride that's come into my store -- I had one couple that loved each other so much, they would only spend $35 for a ready-made frame for their wedding portrait.

But seriously, folks. This woman probably spent more than $1000 on her wedding dress (and many of you will too), and only wore it that one day. Her groom probably spent more on his tux rental. They probably spent $5000 on flowers that were all dead and wilted a week later. $20000 or more on the reception and catering. All for the happiest day of your life, right?

So why not set aside some money to have your wedding portrait properly framed? It's going to last alot longer than your wedding dress. You'll see it every day, pride of place on your family wall, for 30 or more years -- can you say that about your wedding dress?

You can spend anywhere from $250 on up and get a very nice framing job. It will last for decades. At $350, you can start including things like fabric-wrapped mats, fillets, museum glass. At $600, you are getting 24-carat gold-leafed closed corner frames, the best available and one of the few examples of true artisanship still remaining.

It's your wedding day -- don't you deserve the best?

Marci Curtis · #2 04-12-2007, 03:25 AM

I think the problem is that you're encountering couples who have totally depleted their savings to throw themselves a great wedding. What's $850 for a life time of great framing? Not much. But that's a house payment, or two car payments or four weeks of living expenses for most couples. Some couples will have spent that much on their total photo package (if they really, really got a great deal, granted), so to expect them to pay that much for the frame alone just isn't an option for most or a top priority for many.

sparklesweetie · #3 04-12-2007, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulS

But it was too much. So was the $300 framing treatment, so we ditched the museum glass and the fabric mat. But the $250 framing treatment was too expensive too, so we ditched the gilt frame and went with a very nice but less expensive frame. Managed to get it under $200, and it will look very nice. And she isn't the worst bride that's come into my store -- I had one couple that loved each other so much, they would only spend $35 for a ready-made frame for their wedding portrait.

Now wait a minute here. How do you even get off claiming that a couple's love for each other is measured in how much they spend on a frame?!? That's just absurd. I'll have you know that I've been married almost a year and I still don't have my wedding portrait up. Why? B/c like Marci said, we spent a good chunk of change on the wedding. And when I do get it printed and framed, I will be stunned if I have to spend more than $50 on it total. Does that mean that I love my husband any less? No, it sure doesn't.

I'm gonna go now before I won't shush....

ljeagle · #4 04-12-2007, 05:00 AM

I think it's crazy to go out here and let some one like you charge me $800 for glass.

I got more things to spend money on then a piece of wood and glass!

NovemberGal · #5 04-12-2007, 05:07 AM

I can see it now...my wedding picture in its $850 frame hung above our green velveteen la-z-boy recliner and Ikea furniture!

Seriously, I'm sure for some people the frame is important enough to rate spending that kind of money, but right now it is so not my priority. And not because my wedding or my marriage or my love for my husband isn't important enough, but because...it's a frame. I've been married over a year and I still don't have any "major" picture from my wedding up (I have 4x6's in a couple frames here and there), but I have put the money I spent on a photog (which was VERY important to me) to good use creating digital albums for us, our parents, our wedding party members, etc. I've spent maybe $400 on about 6 large and 4 small albums done on Shutterfly, had a blast making them and remembering all those little moments, the recipients have loved them, and I've gotten way more out of it than a big fancy-framed photo on my wall. So, you have to realize that your priorities as a framer may not be the priorities of all the brides you meet.

Like Sparkle, I should hush.

Going to bed now!

Marksbride · #6 04-12-2007, 12:45 PM

Hahahahahahahaha

That's an outrageous price!

Heather · #7 04-12-2007, 01:41 PM

That's crazy. I could go to a craft store and frame photos myself - and have, and they've turned out beautifully. I'm also appalled at how you've judged a couple's love by what they want to spend on framing, lol. That's absurd!

As our resident photographer (Marci) has said, $850 could be a car payment, house payment, dress, and a host of other things.

I think some photographers also offer discount framing for their clients. I remember seeing that on a few price lists when I was searching for a photographer.

Julz518 · #8 04-12-2007, 01:44 PM

OK, now I am someone who HAS spend a good deal of money of frames... for my diploma, for artwork I collected during my travels, etc.

But $850 for a frame! I've never spent that much. I think my diploma frame was $180. The special-order frame for my Chinese watercolor was like $80. But then again, I'm not into "gold leafed corners" and all that jazz. My home is country-chic - nice oak or mahogany frames suit me fine.

I can see the point about considering the cost of the frame when planning your wedding - and I'm glad you made it, cause it is something I will need to consider. But I think you need to realize that a "nice" frame to each of us is not necessarily the most expensive frame. And even if we do want a "nice" frame, to some it might not be practical - like Novembergal said, goldleaf doesn't really go with the Ikea decor!

Julz518 · #9 04-12-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heather

I think some photographers also offer discount framing for their clients. I remember seeing that on a few price lists when I was searching for a photographer.

Some of the photographers I've looked at have offered BEAUTIFUL framing for under $100!

JustineMillerPhotography · #10 12-21-2007, 05:33 PM

WOW $850 for one frame... I can get GREAT frames for WAY LESS than that... not saying that SOME can afford it..but in my expereince.. my more affluent clients dont do so much as buy an 8x10..they prefer albums and spend the real $$$ on fancy artwork for their walls or go straight canvas.. good luck convincing more than 2% of brides that spending that kind of money on a frame is something they should justify.
I do agree that there should be a budget for the prints/frames/albums.. whatever.. but like anything, the bride and groom decide what they can or cant afford.