Ocean, depending on where you're having your wedding, you should be able to find one cheaper. There's a company here in GA that has them for 6 hours in the $450-$550 range! And that includes the cost of the operator (some places charge you a separate fee for that) I DEFINITELY want to have one if I end up having more than 100 guests, anything smaller than that and the photographer can do it. As a compromise to your fiance, maybe consider asking your wedding photographer to have an assistant onsite to do "photo-booth-style" photos? May end up being cheaper for you and you can get a similar (to a degree) effect?