Advice needed...

milichal · April 2011

...from oot of town girls
I am moving to FL in August for a teaching job. So I was wondering...
What piece of advice helped you the most when planning from out of town? And how dififcult was it to plan your wedding?
TIA!

carlyanne05 · April 2011

Take advantage of information available on the internet and make the most out of any trips back to Pgh! It's been somewhat challenging bc I've had to take many weekend trips back, but since I'm only about a 4 1/2 hrs drive back, it's not very difficult, just annoying. I've also had to convince people to give me info over the phone or meet with me when they wouldn't have otherwise done these things had it been convenient for me to be there. Also delegate tasks to family/friends that you're not able to do from a distance. Good luck!

mm4662 · April 2011

Hi there!

Planning out of town was tough. I had to convince people to give me prices and information over the phone when they didn't want to.

I also had a tough time trying to get my views across to my mom. She isn't the best with a computer so it wasn't as easy as showing her something through e-mail.

It's not terrible though. It's actually probably faster to plan because I'm not meeting with a ton of people. I got reviews online and if we worked well on the phone, I booked. Most of the other stuff like invitations, escort cards, etc. I don't need to be home for so it's not bad!

Good luck :-)

amy727 · April 2011

Do a lot of research online before meeting with vendors. Will you have family back in Pittsburgh after you move? My mom and SIL were very helpful.

gmc22 · April 2011

I agree with the pp's - it is difficult in some respects, but easier in others. By that I mean it's difficult to cram all my vendor meetings etc into my trips home, but because I'm OOT I didn't 'shop around' as much as I probably would have if I were home. I only met with one photographer and booked them, two florists, one videographer, and we looked at 3 venues.

Luckily for me, my mom has been able to do a lot of the work for me so my best piece of advice is utilize any family members that you have in Pittsburgh to meet with vendors, take checks to people, etc.

Also TK (and this board specifically) has been an invaluable tool for me while planning from OOT.

GL with your move and let us know if you need anything! We're always here to help : ) -- Where are you moving in FL?? FI and I are going to move to FL as soon as I'm done with grad school!!!

cgyvhu · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_pennsylvania-pittsburgh_advice-needed-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:116Discussion:630e94bc-8e82-4741-a3cb-2961ace3f30fPost:44f9f673-8377-44ed-af5e-c1f46309a4e5">Re: Advice needed...</a>:
[QUOTE]Hi there! Planning out of town was tough. I had to convince people to give me prices and information over the phone when they didn't want to.
Posted by mm4662[/QUOTE]

This. I kept getting "when are you coming back to Pittsburgh?" and such when trying to book vendors. And I've never met my DJ, string quartet, or officiant - just booked straight off recommendations and phone calls/emails. I think you will have to get used to not necessarily meeting your vendors and might have to narrow your pool down to just the vendors that are responsive by email/phone

Also, booking a venue that had the linens/tables/catering/cake/ceremony included is a godsend for me... so many less vendors to find!

jlbaxter33 · April 2011

The board has helped me tremendously and photo blogs from PGH photog. Before I was engaged, but had an inkling that it was coming, I started stalking knottie's blogs and photo sites to see what venues I liked and what vendors others were using. Almost everyone one of my vendors came from knottie recommendations... seriously, my DJ, the venue, guitarist, officant, hotel blocks, rehearsal dinner location, make-up person, etc all from knottie reviews.

Also, I pack as much as I can into Pittsbugh visits. We looked at venues during Christmas break, I would meet with my photog., florist and Rev. in the same weekend. Just pack it all in. Of course, I've taking a few Fridays off.

I have not met my DJ or guitarist. But, other folks on here have used them so I feel good.

laurlaur414 · April 2011

- When you talk to vendors, find out if they have had experience working with OOT brides (many have). It really helps if you choose vendors who are used to dealing with brides though phone and email communications. If you want, I can tell you which vendors I'm working with... all of them have been great so far (just PM me).

- When you can make trips to Pittsburgh, fill up your time with as many meetings as possible. It's tiring and somewhat stressful, but at the end of the trip, you feel so accomplished. Try to only see 2 or maybe 3 vendors in each category. Do as much research as you can before you come back.

- If you can't go back to Pittsburgh to meet a vendor or see a space, get as much information as possible about it from review sites and other Knotties! I've asked to see photos from other girls' weddings to see florists' creations, photography style, my reception venue, etc.. Everyone is always really nice

- I don't have a wedding planner. But if it's a financial possibility for you, consider it, especially if you can't make a lot of trips back to Pittsburgh or you don't have family and friends remaining in the area who are willing to meet vendors for you. It is absolutely possible to plan your wedding from out of town without using a planner. Lots of us girls do it. But I know a planner would have helped relieve some stress.

Good luck and have fun planning!

dalecnar · April 2011

I live about 2 hours south and I try to squeeze as much on the weekends I visit as possible. You can get quite a bit accomplished.

Otherwise, I try to do a lot of my details and working with vendors via email. I haven't met my DJ nor my videographer but they came recommended on the Knot and were willing to work via email.

Good luck!!

milichal · April 2011

Thanks for all the advice! I'm actually planning about 70 miles north of Pittsburgh in a little town called Greenville. I already have the ceremony site booked and an organist (she comes with the chapel). I'm hoping to get a reception site sometime this summer, too (once FI is done with his candidacy exam). My mom and FMIL will be nearby, and both of them are willing to help out. I've met most of my must have vendors in person at bridal shows near me, so I'm confident things will turnout okay.

milichal · April 2011

G- I am moving to Pinellas County--it's the part that's in between Tampa Bay and the Gulf. The first thing out of my dad's mouth was annual passes to Disney! We're all big Disney fans--thet went in September for their 30th Wedding anniversary, and are going next month for my brother's college graduation.

Rachiella3 · April 2011

The most helpful thing for my OOT planning has been using Skype. We had met with many DJs over our Christmas visit, but none of them worked out. Then we found our DJ shortly after we returned home. I wasn't about to turn around and head back to Pittsburgh, so we asked if she could Skype. She did. We loved her. We eventually met her in person a few months later when we were up to meet florists.

Advice needed...

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