Photographic Memories would like to share our wedding photography 
knowledge and expertise with all our brides and grooms  

Wedding photography is both an art and a science, requiring someone with the proper equipment and the right skills, plus the demeanor to be effective and creative under pressure. It is almost impossible to be a guest and at the same time, concentrate on the technical details of photographing an entire day. Trust your once-in-a-lifetime wedding to a "pro-for-a-day" and you will have bad feelings for a lifetime.

I feel that asking a guest to do the official photographs and no different from asking dinner guests to work for their meal. The biggest equipment failing of amateur photography in lieu of pro (for weddings) is inadequacy of flash power. Compared to at-home shots, the flash must cover a greater distance in rooms with higher ceilings for a longer day with slower film. Wedding pro flashes have 5-6 times the power for three times as long as even higher end amateur flashes. Don't discourage your guests from bringing cameras, but DO suggest that they enjoy themselves as guests and they should not interfere with your hired pro.

This is easy for very small events, but challenging when the guest list climbs toward 100 or more. In my experience, the best way, when having formal seated dinner service is to get table shots (before main course, preferably). Or, have the master of ceremonies call for a huge group shot of all the guests. It's fun and makes a great shot for the album!

Depends on the style and approach of coverage, length of coverage, and size of the wedding. For a ceremony and reception with dancing and over 100 guests, you should have at least 75. Possible guide: 15-30 images per hour. Beware of photographers who claim the 40-50 previews will result from a 6-hour event with 125 guests!

No! Even though B&W film is cheaper, developing and printing are more expensive because B&W has not been automated to the extent of color and usually required hand processing and printing. So expect to pay a premium for B&W coverage.

It's illegal, unless you have been given written permission to do so. 
Quality will be very poor.
Of course, some photographers do not claim copyright and even release the negatives. The right of a photographer to copyright the photographs has a firm basis in law. A number of copyright infringers have learned the hard way that illegally copying a photographer's work is a big no-no and cost them LOTS of money in damages and fines - and legal fees! So unless you have written permission, don't try it - and don't ask anyone to do it for you.

Photography inherently involves an element of risk and speculation due to its technical nature. You can lessen the chance of problem by booking a competent photographer and clearly communicating your event information and expectations.