Some would say the most important part of a wedding is capturing it on film (or digitally) in order to experience it again and again. Choosing how your memories are preserved is something you need to consider, keeping in mind your budget, location, and resources.

Many couples opt to use friends and family to take their wedding photographs, which can be a great idea, especially if you have a talented amateur photographer within your group. If you don’t care so much about having professional, cinematic quality photos, another economical idea is to hand out disposable cameras before the ceremony. Your guests can freely take pictures and pass the cameras around as the evening progresses, returning them by the end of the night.

After the wedding is over, you can set up a website/blog guests can access to upload the pictures they took with their phones and digital cameras. Applications for smartphones also exist that make uploading their pictures easy. Find out which one works best for you and inform them about it on your website or via email. Using friends and family as your main source of photos will definitely cut costs, but don’t be too disappointed if the final product doesn’t end up on the cover of Brides.

You may decide hiring a professional photographer to take with you on your trip is right for you. This might be problematic if your destination country requires your photographer to have a work permit. Some places are more lax than others, but countries like Mexico require permits that can take up to four months to obtain. You must also check with your particular venue to see if they allow out-of-the-country photographers. They may require you to use their staff photographer or charge an additional fee to bring your own. Consult with your wedding planner, if you’re working with one, about the best options you have considering your chosen location. They may be able to recommend a local photographer.

Before you make an ultimate decision, meet with your photographer in person (if you can’t, then arrange a Skype meeting) to make sure you’ll work well together. Even if you like their style, it is important they’re a good fit for you and will accommodate all your needs.