Vendor help!! Budget saving!!

Nadia1827 · February 2011

Hello Knottie Brides,

I'm new to the boards, this is my first post, and I'm looking for some help with vendors like photographer, videographer, florist, and DJ. First off, my name is Nadia and I'm from chicago but I'm having my wedding in Sunny Isles, FL near miami at Newport Beachside Hotel and Resort. My FI and I are paying for the wedding ourselves and we're trying to save as much money as we can but realize it's going to cost a bit of money.

So, my question to you knottie brides is... Is it possible to have each of the vendors I listed for under or around $1,000 each? Or is that not being realistic? Does anyone have any suggestions of vendors they like, booked or recommend?

For a photographer we want them for the getting ready, ceremony and only at the reception for cake cutting, first dance etc. For a videographer we are looking for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception but not the entire reception (we don't want drunken pics of our family lol) our reception excluding the cocktail hour will be 4 hours. So maybe only 2 hours or so into the reception..?? For a florist we're looking for flowers for ceremony (ambience, bouquets, corsages, bouitineres etc) and the reception just the centerpieces which will just be like a small arrangement in a square vase or something like that I don't want a tall arrangement or anything too extravagent.

Thank-you to anyone who replies!! The help is definitely appreciated since I'm not from Florida..

twinkle82576 · February 2011

Hi Nadia, welcome to the board!

I'm having a very small wedding, and doing my own flower arrangements, not having a DJ or videographer, so i can't help with those.

For photographer however, I highly recommend my photog., Kathy Izaguirre from Browntography. She's relatively new to the business, so she's more on the inexpensive side (I know you can book her for under $1k), but she is amazing and super talented. Contact her via FB:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Browntography/116029718409517

HTH and GL!

dewreb · February 2011

Hi Nadia! My photog is new to the business, so will fit your price point - Kristen Wynn kristenwynnphotography.com. Also, I don't really know much about it, but I do know that there's a company called The Pros, and they have packages that include photography, videography, and DJ for a good price. (I don't know if you need a DJ). That might be something to look into.

anaroo87 · February 2011

Hi Nadia! Welcome!
I'm using Ivan Apfel for photogrpahy and Vision DJs - both have packages under $1000
For videogrpahy .. .. try Reinhardt Productions. I know they had packages under $1000 and a couple girls on here used them and had good reviews.
I'm using Nellie from Natinel Floral design and she's very open to working within budgets. Because florists are based more on type of arrangments, size, quantity, type of flower, etc .. it's harder to pinpoint someone who is under $1000. Your best bet is to just get a couple quotes for the flowers your requesting and see how that prices out.

Good luck!

Nadia1827 · February 2011

Thank you so much ladies!! This is a big help.. Sometimes I think its better to hear reccomendations from fellow knotties then a preffered vendors list even though I do take the vendor list into consideration, some of the vendors are wayyy out of my budget.

waterroxy17 · February 2011

congrats and happy planning. Like some of the other girls have said.. Nellie with Natinel Designs is willing to work with budget and Reinhart videography has a package under $1,000. Make sure you book him ahead of time, he goes quick! Sometimes vendors runs specials so i would recommend liking their pages on facebook or their blogs.

sadou02 · February 2011

Hi Nadia! Welcome to the board.

I can recommend my photgrapher/ videographer couple team. They are well within your budget price point You can contact them at photoloud@gmail.com. Ive seen they're work and its great!! They have some great packages under 1000 since their a fairly new team. Let them know Sandra referred you.

Jeni10csc · February 2011

Congrats!

Photographer/Videographer -
maybe you should try some of the companies that do both. I recommend Simply Captivating. I didn't use them but they are really good.
For photography, I recommend Ricky Iglesias. He did my bridal shower of 80+ women and did an exceptional job!!!! check out his work: http://riphotogs.com/blog/

Florist - depending on what you want, I find this to be a place where it's difficult to stay under $1000 without DIY.

DJ - UBI MARRERO!!! A-MA-ZING!!!! He had EVERYONE at my wedding on the dance floor. everyone - even my 85-year old grandmothers!!!! and he's under $1k for sure