Why Throw Away Cameras for Wedding Guest Tables are a Bad Idea: Costs, Getting Pictures Developed, and a Smarter Alternative

I don’t understand why the "trend" of having disposable film cameras at weddings is making a comeback. Sure, it sounds like a fun idea on paper— imagining all the crazy photos you’ll get from your drunk bridesmaids, groomsmen, and that one wild friend. But after ten years of developing film at various photo labs, I can confidently say: you will be wasting your money.

Now, I’m not saying the idea itself is a bad one, just the execution with disposable cameras. If you’re dead set on having retro-style pictures from your wedding, there are better ways to go about it—like hiring a film wedding photographer or trying an alternative, which I’ll get to in a bit.

And you don’t have to take my word for it. The couple in the video below admitted it was "completely not worth it; most of the pictures were pretty shit." They bought 10 disposable cameras—each with 27 exposures—for a total of 270 possible photos. Out of those, they only got 10 decent pictures. Thankfully, they only spent about $155, which isn’t that bad to be honest. But let’s break that down: that’s about $31 per each of those ten shitty pictures. Let that sink in.

Throwaway Cameras for Weddings: All Hype, No Bite

Disposable cameras are not bad in a pinch if you’re chasing that retro vibe that’s all the rage with Gen Z. However! The average person doesn’t know how to use them—especially drunk people. For starters, to get a decent result from a disposable camera, you HAVE TO use the flash. And guess what? That’s the one thing everyone forgets to do: turning the dang flash on.

The way these things work is that the flash needs to build a charge, which takes a few seconds. Most of the time, people think the flash is ready just because they turned it on, so they snap a picture without it, resulting in a black picture of nothing. And even if you do manage to turn it on and the flash-ready light comes on, it’s only good for a few seconds. Then—surprise!—the charge is gone right after firing or if it sits idle too long. This means you have to turn the flash back on for every picture. On top of manually advancing the film after each shot—ain't nobody got time for that!

Price for Disposable Camera Pack of 20 and Developing  

Disposable cameras are $25 for a 2-pack or about $15 each if you buy a 20-pack from Walmart—not too bad at first glance. However! Because photo labs charge a flat rate per roll for developing and scanning, you will pay the full price even if there’s only one frame exposed. On top of that, many photos will end up severely underexposed because—let’s be honest—people, especially drunk people, forget to turn the flash on (as we discussed earlier).

Here’s a total cost breakdown for an 8-pack of Fujifilm QuickSnaps from Amazon, plus developing and scanning from either The Darkroom (West Coast) or Reformed Film Lab (East Coast):

• Fujifilm QuickSnaps 8-pack (216 exposures): $15 each, about $120

• Developing + Scanning: $18 per roll, about $144

• TOTAL: Close to $300 after shipping, taxes, etc.

And yes, that’s the price whether you get one frame or all 27 frames from each camera.

Pro Tip: Avoid the "wedding-branded" disposable cameras. They’re not only more expensive than name-brand Kodak or Fujifilm options, but they’re often loaded with respool film, and the cameras themselves are notorious for being faulty right out of the box.

Best Alternative to Disposable Cameras at Weddings

Honestly, if you want retro-style pictures of your wedding, just hire a wedding photographer who specializes in 35mm film. You’d be surprised—many film photographers have competitive rates compared to "digital" photographers. The downside is that you’ll likely get fewer photos overall, which might make it seem more expensive because you’re paying the same for less quantity. That said, avoid photographers who offer film as an add-on. I’ve seen far too many charge an extra $300 for just one or two rolls, which is utterly insulting.

Another option is the ever-popular Fujifilm Instax. But again, after all is said and done, you’ll spend about the same amount of money without significantly better results. My recommendation is to pick up a couple of Nikon N75 kits. Yes, you’ll spend about the same amount upfront, but the N75 works like a point-and-shoot—the flash pops up automatically and won’t fire unless it’s ready, so you’re almost guaranteed usable photos for an entire roll of film. Best part? You can lend the cameras to friends for their weddings or resell them afterward to recoup your money.

Here’s the math:

• Two Nikon N75 cameras: $50 each

• Two 36-exp. 3-packs of film: $50

• Developing for 6 rolls: $120

That totals $220 for 216 exposures—or $170 if you resell the cameras. With a little tape and a lot of patience, you’ll get higher-quality photos and more control over the results—all without wasting money on disposable cameras that will leave you disappointed. Your memories deserve better.