Getting married in Long Island, but live in Florida!

LynnScott1

Hey! I never introduced myself...I'm getting married 6-27-10 at Giorgio's! We are both from NY, but live in Florida now. So...I'm planning from far away. Got my dress here in Florida, booked LI Sound for DJ. Torn between Big John at ADA Photo. and Patken. Both have good prices. Any recommendations?? Thanks!!! Also, on a tight budget for flowers...any suggestions????? Thanks again!!!!!!!

nickymel

I didn't use any of those.....Patken was booked on my day but I have heard wonderful things about their work from the people I work with.  I booked Fine Arts Photography.  I was going to meet with ADA but I had googled them in a LI wedding blog and read some not so nice things about them showing up late and not taking the number of proofs that were promised.  I am sure no one is perfect but those comments kept me away.  Good Luck!

LynnScott1

Thanks. I know what you mean...there's good and bad with every vendor, which makes it so hard!

jeanetteandmatt

I chose Patken for my wedding. My sister got married a month ago and used Patken. The proofs were beautiful, so I knew that's who I wanted to book. Good Luck!

jilliibabii

Patken did my neighbor's wedding last year and they came out beautifully the pictures. I liked her photos much better than the work I've seen on their website even. She said they are very willing to work with you on what you want. I have no experience with ADA though!

Caitrus

Heidi at Sugar Magnolias in Stony Brook can help you. She is great and just let her know what your budget is.

lucyslove

I LOVE Heidi!!!! Her flowers are gorgeous! I hired her immediately for my wedding.

LynnScott1

Thanks! gonna call sugar magnolias...received something from them in the mail!

stagemaster14

Sorry to post so late. . . I used ADA and have mixed feelings.  The work seems nice, but our photog (Tony the owner) really dropped the ball on some things.  I told him we were unhappy and he didn't offer to do anything.  Patken is pretty good.  My cousin used them a few summers ago - the only thing I wasn't crazy about was the soft core porn like pictures.  But hey, if that's your thing, go for it.  I don't have any knowledge of Big John.

jilliibabii

LOL stage- that's exactly why I didn't book with Patken and why I say I liked my neighbor's pics way better than the ones on their website. She went in and told them that she didn't like the sexiness of the photos, and they really worked with her on what she wanted and toned down the sexiness. I'm babysitting her daughter this Saturday so if I remember I'll ask which photog from Patken she used.

LynnScott1

Thanks for the feedback! It's greatly appreciated!

kimanddavid1013

LI Sound YAY!!!!! We just booked them. Two of my friends booked with Patken and love them personally werent my style but my friend got epics off site and they came out amazing their photographer is Jessica. ADA did my cousins wedding in Sept and I hated every picture to me most of the pics were outdated. I booked with Duet but they are probably booked that day. Also Thomas Paul takes some beautiful pictures. Good luck.

LynnScott1

omg! don't tell me that...about ada!!! i went to the giorgio's bridal showcase and got a really good vibe from big john at ada. the albums they had for show seemed beautiful too. i hope that wasn't your cousins photo. i did research after research for like a week w/reviews and everyone seemed to love him and say good things about his work. i feel the same way you all do about patken - the pics were a little too sexy! yes, duet was already booked. i tried. let me know about your cousins photo from there!...thanks!!!!

LynnScott1

LI Sound's great - they are friends of my cousins and i knew i wanted to book them! yay is right!

Mrs Stella

Hi! Im in the same boat as you, except im planning my LI wedding from up north in New Hampshire. I went to a bridal showcase at East Wind and I met Big John and I also thought he was great. We made an appt to meet with him to discuss prices and they seemed a little high but now after reading what everyone has to say about ADA I think Im going to look into some more photographers. Thanks for everyones advice!

LynnScott1

Hey Mrs Stella.... I was a BM in my fiancee's sisters wedding at East Wind last year. Beautiful place! Are you getting married there? I did go with Big John b/c I thought he was great too! He gave me a good price w/ a lot. I have friends here in FLA that paid like 5 grand and didn't get half as much as I did. You know LI is more expensive too:) I was torn between Patken & Big John, but I didn't get a chance to meet anyone from there. I also googled out reviews and stuff about both. Big John got great reviews from a lot of brides. I agreed about Patken being a little too sexy, but their pics look awesome too. I went to the showcase at Giorgio's where I'm getting married & all the albums ADA had out looked great too. It's so hard to make these decisions!!! Good luck! P.S. I spoke to a lot of photo in LI before narrowing it down to those 2 and everyone else seemed even pricier...well for me!

Mrs Stella

Hi LynnScott1 Im getting married July 16, 2010 at the Estate at East Wind. It is a beautiful place, Im so excited! When I met with Big John I was happy with all he had to say and show me. When I went to the showcase at East Wind I met another bride that I was talking to that is getting married 2 weeks before me, she reccomennded her photographer, TimeXposure. I spoke to the owner on the phone the other day and I will tell you that his prices are better then ADA's. The packages were almost identical as well. Just a thought for you. Happy Planning Meghan

flinn017

I haven't really starting researching photographers yet, but I was strongly considering ADA.  I'm kind of surprised at all the negative reviews.  I know three weddings they've done.  And the pictures came out beautifully.  Most recently, my sister's wedding last december.  The photographer, an italian guy with a very italian name i think, was AWEsome.  He was soo funny, and made the day very enjoyable.  As for Patken, I don't know much about them, except for what was already said.  My friends who used them have mixed feelings.  I felt a little awkward looking at some of the photos online (they were a bit risque).  But this seems to be their style huh?

LynnScott1

Hi flinn017, I wonder if it was big John that did the photo?? He's great. I saw a sample of his/ADA's work at the Giorgio's showcase in July and they looked beautiful. Thanks for your post! I clicked w/him too and he worked with me on the pkg. I know you said you haven't started looking yet, but let me know if you want details or his phone #. I googled and searched out reviews for like 2 wks with a lot of photo studios. Didn't find anything bad about ADA online except for someone saying the 2nd photo left early something.