This is a tough one. Everyone seems to have a friend or relative that has a photographic hobby. Some of them might be quite good. However, an experienced wedding photographer brings much more specialized training and expertise to the situation. Timing is crucial in good wedding photographs. A photographer worth his salt will be at the right place and right time to capture those once in a lifetime images. If your friend has not photographed a wedding, you most likely will not get some of the pictures you want. Photographing a wedding puts a lot of pressure on a person. Imagine the disappointment and strain on your relationship if your volunteer photographer runs out of film or batteries, or doesn't place you in the best lighting, or has trouble organizing people for group photos.When placed in this situation, your friend never really gets a chance to enjoy the wedding, because he will be thinking about getting pictures for you. Let your special guests have a good time, and leave the business of photography to someone dedicated to the task. You are paying the professional to be there on time, and to get you a great collection of images that will bring back the beauty of that day.