Vent/Nervous Breakdown (long)

Kitty315

I've had it up to here with wedding planning! I just started a serious search for photographers (as opposed to the casual inquiry here and there). I wanted to see pics of my fave photog before contacting her. Instead of looking at her blog, I decided to go to the pricing page. On top of having a style FI and I liked, she was super affordable for our budget! At the end of last year her base price was $950 which increased to $1,250 after the new year. It was only $150 over our budget, but still a number we could do. I expected to cut back on flowers or something. I just went back to her site so I could bookmark her blog and thought I would double check the price then contact her to see if she was available for my new date (old date was Oct. 4). Prices went up again!! Base is $2,150! I can't afford that! This is the one I kept going back to over and over to see if the blog had been updated. I hadn't booked anyone yet because we a) didn't/don't have a venue b) changed our dinner & dance reception to a dinner and c) I don't know if the ceremony and dinner will take place in 1 or 2 locations. This is the first time I've burst into tears just from looking at a website. I'm exhausted! I'm irritated by all this.. I'm tired of looking for venues and not finding anything to suit the vibe I'm going for, the small group, or the budget we have. I'm tired. I feel like I've searched all of Miami, but I know I haven't. I don't have anything done for this wedding.I want to win the lottery.*sigh*Thanks for letting me vent. I feel better now having taken it out on the keyboard..

MichiBolooki

Don't worry, it will all come together. I would definitely contact this photog and share your concerns and see if she is available. You can negotiate with her and hopefully book her. Have you thought about getting a planner to help you with partial planning? Maybe that would alleviate some of your stress. What is your budget for a venue and for how many people?

goldie3474

Irene, Call her - you never know what she would be willing to do if you talk. Tell her she's your #1 choice and that you were able to swing her old pricing - ask if she would be willing to meet that for you. Fingers crossed.

YHFoxtrot

Aw hun, hang in there. We all have our breakdowns at some point.I am with Alissa. Just contact her and explain to her what's up. Tell her you've been eying her for months but waiting to solidify your plans before booking and now you see her price has more than doubled. Explain your budget and see what she can do. It never hurts to ask. You NEVER know.GOOD LUCK!

vanered15

I know how u r feeling but my story is worse. The photographer that is included in my reception is horrible. Instead of saving money cause its included in the reception now im going to invest more cause i have to find a photographer. its horrible and photographers are not cheap this is our wedding and we want the best. ive been on a search for one too and when i find one really good they are freaking expensive and then u think jealous no wonder people waist so much money cause everything is sooooo expensive. i think that vendors should maybe have some simpacy and knowing that through these economic struggles they should at least compensate and try and help the customer casue they are interestd in their work then should be like ok let me see what i can do like that they a get client.

**Octoberbride09**

Irene, hang in there. It gets better. I swear. Wedding planning is a PITA! That's why you're really only supposed to do it once. It's too much of a hassle to do twice, know if that's not motivation to stay married I don't know what is. Ok, ok, all kidding aside, during wedding planning things don't always work out. It sucks but sometimes they don't work out and it's for the better. Seriously. As for photography it sucks, I know. Look into Ashley colhouer if you like her style. She's very flexible. Hang in there love.

[Deleted User]

Maybe you girls would be interested in checking out my photographer? His prices are extremely affordable aand his work is great! www.josephcasal.com I was on the same boat in the beginning. The 2 photographers that I loved were just way out of my budget but i ended up with Joseph and hes a quarter of the price so im very very happy GL girls!!!

heathermckelvey

Yes, it is stressful! We all want the most beautiful things, the best of the best, but unfortunately most people cannot afford their dreams. I know that it's easy to fall in love with one vendor, but trust me there are plenty of other photographers out there, good ones. I would tell the photographer that you have been waiting to inquire contingent on the wedding details but have been spying on her website since you first found her. Tell her that you can afford the $1250 (or whatever amount it was) and then ask if she would be willing to be your photographer based on that price. Tell her she is your number one choice and you are even stepping $100 out of your budget to have her, but that you have some other photographers lined up that sadly if she says no, you will have to use them instead. If she seriously wants the business and needs it (which in all honesty if her prices doubled in less than a year - trust me she needs it), then you should have room to negotiate.

jennej24

I feel your pain about the venue for a small wedding. I went through it too, but ended up with a lunch at the Rusty Pelican, and I couldn't be happier! I hope you find a venue you love soon! As for the photographer, like the other girls siad, I would call them, you probably won't be needed as much coverage since you are doing a dinner only, so maybe they will come down on the price.

Kitty315

I contacted her last night and replied to the last e-mail written with all the old prices attached. Hope it works! Also, before the vent, I contacted DB Images since their base price is so close to my budgeted amount. Waiting to hear back from both photogs. Millenia - lol.. I'm listening. I'll take any information you have. I know things can be negotiated.. I got the hotel we liked to knock off 35% from their total to match our budget.. nearly gave the house away. Unfortunately there was a date/time conflict with another bride who signed on for that day and space. That was when we were doing a dinner/dance reception. You can send me anything to kitty_0516 at hotmail dot com. Thanks! =)Michi - I have been considering a planner for a couple of days now. I need someone to help with the leg work, someone who may know this county better than me. I think I'll do a separate post for that later today. =DAlissa & Jaime - Thank you.. keep everything you can crossed! lolVane - It's really hard. That's what I didn't like about places that included photography & video. I knew their person would have some dated style that wasn't what I was looking for. Do you think you can get credited for opting out of their photographer so it frees up some money in your budget to find a new one? Lorena - Yes, wedding planning is a PITA! I was going to contact you about your photog.. I remember you raving about her. Thanks for the suggestion! Could you e-mail me her info and base price if you don't mind, please? Nane - I've considered him but after looking at his blog for more pics I'm not 100% sold on the work. I'm definitely considering him anyways and am eagerly waiting to see pics from Patty's wedding! Thank you though for the suggestion. =)Heather - I'm waiting anxiously for her reply! I have an e-mail tab open so I can see it change when a new message comes in. I think if the wrong vendor contacts me today I'll have a cow. lolOk, so.. my ideal venue: I want an intimate, romantic, garden-type feel (like some of the spots at Alissa's venue). FI and I didn't want the ballroom feel and I really want our ceremony outdoors in a setting as described. We were almost going to sign a contract with the Marriott in the Gables because of their beautiful courtyard but there was a conflict with another bride using it. We downgraded to a dinner at a restaurant because spending $575+ on a DJ when about a dozen out of 50 guests were probably going to be the only ones dancing (and FI wouldn't be one of them) didn't seem worth it. It's close family only so far.. I know which guests dance and which don't - it just makes sense to me. One night we went to Carino's, an Italian restaurant in Doral and their party pricing including taxes and fees was about $20 for the lowest package and $25 for the highest. Based on 50 people that's about $1,000 or a little more to feed and assume another $1,000 or so for alcohol - it will run about $2,000+/- versus the $3k I had negotiated with hotels. That restaurant doesn't have ceremony site though. Another example.. a friend suggested Dolores in the Brickell area. They have similar pricing, but parking would be horrendous especially for some older guests and they can't guarantee their terrace for ceremony until the day of. =\ Another restaurant I thought was perfect was La Palma in Coral Gables but is $75pp++. http://bit.ly/17u31V They wouldn't budge much.. $73pp++ was the lowest they'd go.Ideally, a nice ceremony site like I mentioned above where we can eat there as well. Could be a restaurant with both or a hotel with both. I would prefer if parking weren't too difficult as I have some older guests with difficulties. At the lower end of the budget $25pp. At the higher end, no more than $50pp, inclusive of taxes and fees. Cuban or Italian food are our preferences. Or any place that serves chicken lol.I'm sooooo sorry this turned out to be such a long reply. Hope that info helps you ladies get an idea of what I'm looking for. Thanks again!!

Kitty315

Update on top pick for photog - She wrote back saying she's booked for the month of March. Ah well..

jessi720

Perricone's is a great spot for a big family dinner and they have packages, although it is right next to Dolores so parking would still be an issue.  On another note, I totally recommend DB Images, so I hope Devynn is able to work something out for you!  Some of my wedding pics were taken by Joseph Keith, her second shooter, and he may be more affordable if you need more options.  I loved all of my pics so you can't go wrong with either!