Venue Help! Price est ideas etc. N. Jersey Area $90pp/175 guests, Feb-Mar, Ceremony & Recep

PetKatSold2011

That's really reassuring actually. I was really wondering if I had made the right choice due to the budget. The place had everything we needed so I don't have to worry about overly spending in decor or even trying to create a certain ambiance..we even nixed out the limo idea since the ceremony will be there. We really had to take a double look at our budget and figure out what was more important...which leads me into photography and dj's lol....My fi and I had wanted a Same Day Edit video but realisticly it's an addition, not really a must have, so that is up in the air. I'm kinda torn with what budget I should have to not feel like I'm scrimping on the photos (especially since those last forever, or at least longer than the actual event). I'm trying not to be too cheap on everything else but I'm not one of those that wants to go crazy starting off our marriage in debt either lol. Also the DJ...there is one I've seen at a wedding that I really liked but my fiance thinks he looks like a magician (he's only seen him in pics not in action)...which has nothing to do with his talents. lmao Have you gotten those done already? I forgot are you getting married this year or 2014?

Dancer2873

yeah I am getting married in 2014 actually on february 22, 2014 so I know how its going to be in the winter months right along with you! We wanted to do it during mardi gras seasons since our inspiration is mardi gras and new orleans. I have pretty much everything done. This is my 2nd time planning a wedding so I have the experience. My priorities have changed this time around as far as the financials go. Video was more important that photo to be being that my dad wont get to be there for me during this wedding. Although the marriage didn't last, I am always greatful that I have the video of us dancing that night. Photos were also important but we kept it under 6k for both. We are using Joe Minella for our video http://www.joecinema.com/ 

right now we are just getting all day coverage with 2 videographers, 2 recaps and raw footage. We are going to pay the editing fee after the wedding is done, we just wanted a great videographer that day and we will worry about the video when we have more money in our budget. We are doing the same for photo, All day coverage, 2 photographers, engagement shoot and one framed photo, which is what she does anyways and then after the wedding we will worry about the album whether we are putting it together or having someone do it for us. We are using Jessica Oh! for photography

http://www.thejessicaohblog.com/

DJ the last time around I used Elite Entertainment in Titon Falls, Dominic Sestito was great, I have seen Tom Monaco who is also great and my friend just used them on June 8th but I forgot the name of her guy he was also great. http://www.eliteentertainment.com/ I really would have used them again but this time around fi wanted to use someone he worked with so we are using Jimmy Hempel http://www.jimmyhempproductions.com/Services.html So far we are within budget off all our stuff. Hope this helps

PetKatSold2011

Yes I'm sure you can definitely relate. But it's ok, I guess I can't think about things that are out of our power. I'm trying to just hope for the best, lol. I looove your theme! I'm all for color and typically I think that people having their weddings in winter time...tend to think it has to be some sort of winter theme..My FI was trying to convince me to do that (have it a winter wonderland) but not what I wanted. :P I definitely agree about the video. I'm sorry your father can't be with you the second time around. :{ I told my FI that it is important to me to have a videographer of at least the ceremony and first dances etc...the SDE is more of a luxury so at least for now we will have the actual video of the entire day. People told me I may not need it because people don't typically watch their videos or anything....even though it may not be every day, I know I'll watch it and force my future kids to also, lol. But also you don't really know what's going to happen along the way...good memory to have like you said. So together video and photo is under $6000? That's pretty awesome. Especially with 2 videographers and the photography? Maybe I'm miss understanding? lol Actually tonight I will be meeting with a photography company (Abella Studios)...their prices are decent...the biggest photography package is about $3,900 which brings two parent books and a couple of add ons I think, and a raw unedited video maybe like $1500...so probably close to what your spending. I'm just not sure if I like their photography. I have to go see the albums in person. Ahhh Elite, I've heard of them, pretty popular. I'll def check them out! This all extremely helps. )) BTW I'm sorry my paragraphs aren't indented and they are jumbled. I'm having a bit of a problem with this new Knot format.

SewInLoveWithDMB

I was curious as well - congrats on booking! Now you can really start to plan!

PetKatSold2011

I know right! Once it was booked the excitement really kicked in. )

JerseyAKL

Olde Mill Inn and one of the properties at Crystal Springs both told me they were running a promo for Jan-March and the price was in the $90's per person and you could probably even get it down lower given the time of year. Bernards Inn runs a promo those months too, but the price is $125 (again, I would bet you could negotiate that a bit as well). The Madison Hotel's prices for that time of year started in the very low $100's. I hope that helps!

We originally looked at that time of year and ended up just going for it and planning for this November.

Dancer2873

Definitely be careful with Abella since they have multiple shooters you want to make sure you are meeting with the one who will be shooting your wedding, you want to see their personality and their work together. That's why I chose to just get a photographer that I love their personality and their work and know it will be them. Jessica Oh! is great but also another photog that would be in the 3k range to start would be Kamila Harris...Check both out! 

Just don't get elite entertainment confused with elite sound entertainment....very different

but yes we were able to keep in in the under 6k range for all the expenses for those two vendors leading up until the wedding!

PetKatSold2011

Hey, what was included in your photography? I saw Jessica Oh!s pics. I like her vintage style which is what I'm pretty much going for and see the price range but wasn't sure what was included in your package. Do you get an album or anything else? Oh I see...I'm not sure which one I've heard of. We had met with Premire Entertainment at a wedding show but so far thats it. Oh and the other "magician" looking one via email, haha.

Dancer2873

Is Premiere entertainment in East Rutherford?

This is what is on her website:

//WEDDING STORIES. 

I KEEP THINGS SIMPLE. ON A WEDDING DAY, I DO NOT WANT TO THINK ABOUT HOW MANY IMAGES I'VE CAPTURED OR HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE LEFT TO SHOOT WHAT'S IMPORTANT. WITH JESSICA OH PHOTOGRAPHY, YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED FOR AMAZING WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY WITH NO LIMIT ON IMAGES TAKEN + NO LIMIT ON TIME. 

​

WEDDING STORY COVERAGE INCLUDES :

FULL DAY COVERAGE WITH JESSICA OH AND AN ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHER. ALL FINAL, EDITED IMAGES IN HIGH-RESOLUTION FORMAT ON A HARD DRIVE WITH NO WATERMARKS. THE PRINT + DUPLICATION RELEASE SO YOU CAN PRINT + SHARE TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT. YOUR VERY OWN PASSWORD PROTECTED ONLINE GALLERY. AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION - SO WE CAN BREAK THE ICE + MAKE PRETTY PICTURES TO DISPLAY ON YOUR WEDDING DAY. A CHOICE OF PRINT COLLECTIONS + A CUSTOM FRAME BY THE CARVING TREE. ​



EVERYTHING YOU NEED WITH NO DRAMA : $3800 + APPLICABLE SALES TAX +/OR PAYPAL FEES. 

//ENGAGEMENT, COUPLES, ANNIVERSARY PORTRAITS : $400 + APPLICABLE SALES TAX +/OR PAYPAL FEES. 

JESSICA OH PHOTOGRAPHY TAKES A LIMITED AMOUNT OF PORTRAIT SESSIONS OUTSIDE OF ENGAGEMENTS + WEDDINGS. PLEASE CONTACT FOR AVAILABILITY.

We paid in full so we got some money taken off and we paid in check so we wouldn't have to pay the paypal fee. Also she was running a contest for free photography and we were a runner up so we had a little more taken off our package. She said that making albums is not her strength so that why she releases all the rights to the client and gives recommendations for professional album site. My fiance has his degree in graphic design so I know he can put together an album. We just haven't decided that we want to spend 800 to over a 1k on album. I just want the pictures to look great and then we will figure out the album. I had John Agnello Photography for my first wedding and although he had pretty good packages now I have this 1k album sitting in a closet just because my father is in the pictures and my mother never got her parent album. It was 5k down the drain....he did a great job but he was a little more traditional then I really liked and had just booked to early.

emmmy1221

 

PetKatSold2011

John Agnello keeps calling me but I haven't touched base with him since I have reached out first to places that have photography and videography to see if I could get some type of group discount. His pictures seem nice but I don't think our personalities would mesh lol. He seems a bit intense but nice guy.

Dancer2873

yeah that's up to you if you would want to contact them, he had good packages and his pictures are nice but they were calling me this time around and its like do you remember you took the photos of my first wedding?! Awkward?!