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Vendor Recs

mroth2011mroth2011
10 Comments
in Illinois-Chicago
Hello Everyone,

My name is Maryann and I'm getting married August 20th of this year. I'm new to TK but have had plenty of friends that were on here that said this was the best place to talk wedding. I'm still looking for the following vendors:

- photographer (budget: $2000)
- videographer (budget $3000)
- dj (budget $1500)

any recommendations would be appreciated.

MA
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Re: Vendor Recs

  • Love is BaldLove is Bald
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Welcome Maryann! This is great site to jumpstart your plans with lots of advice and recommendations. :)
    Report Reply
  • mroth2011mroth2011
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thank you Love Is Bald! Have a great day!
    Report Reply
  • lkeefnerlkeefner
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011

    Our photographer is a friend so I am partial :) HIs name is Mike Belec and her works for Essence. Prices for Essence depend on what package you pick.

    Not using a videographer.

    I LOVE OUR DJ!!!! Okyne Media Lab...They have been so wonderful to work with so far. The aren't your typical wedding DJ. They actually mix the music together rather than pressing play on the computer, letting the song play through and then pressing play again. I believe that they were $1300.

    Report Reply
  • mroth2011mroth2011
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks lkeefner! I appreciate the recs!
    Report Reply
  • TatiMarieTatiMarie
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Toast & Jam for DJs.  Dustin was great and I liked that he wasn't "cheesy" with his music choices.
    image
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  • MrsPapsMrsPaps member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    2nd for Toast and Jam--we're using Kate and Rachel.
    Photog is Kara Schultz

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Planning Bio UPDATED with For Sale!
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  • mroth2011mroth2011
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_vendor-recs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:e9c65826-5688-4baa-847c-c350b7b62154Post:2cd9f29a-5c49-43e2-9998-1ca47dd57c0a">Re: Vendor Recs</a>:
    [QUOTE]Toast & Jam for DJs.  Dustin was great and I liked that he wasn't "cheesy" with his music choices.
    Posted by TatiMarie[/QUOTE]

    thanks! i've heard great things about toast & jam!
    Report Reply
  • mroth2011mroth2011
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_vendor-recs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:e9c65826-5688-4baa-847c-c350b7b62154Post:d5eca888-f9e0-4e01-b746-862f18b76e24">Re: Vendor Recs</a>:
    [QUOTE]2nd for Toast and Jam--we're using Kate and Rachel. Photog is Kara Schultz
    Posted by MrsPaps[/QUOTE]
    thanks mrspaps - we looked into kara but decide not to book. she was not w/in our budget either.

    it's exciting to see all of these recommendations for toast & jam! i've heard great things about them as well as spencer from style matters!
    Report Reply
  • thealphabridethealphabride
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Congrats on your engagement and welcome to the board!

    We used Music by Design and loved them!!!
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  • nikikarabetsosnikikarabetsos
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    For Photography I highly recommend Michelle Lyttle, especially if you like the photojournalism style

    http://www.michellelytle.com/
    nikiplanning.weebly.com
    Report Reply
  • kthamekthame
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    For Photography, we used Danielle Aquiline who is AMAZING!!!

    Videography we used Orange Wedding Film. You cannot go wrong with him. I've heard great things about Ben Mahoney as well.

    DJ we used Spencer from Style Matters - he was AMAZING!!!
    imageimage
    Finally...we are Mr. & Mrs.!!! WooHoo!!!

    Planning Bio
    Married Bio (Work In Progress)
    Report Reply
  • PenelopeSnuzPenelopeSnuz
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Have you considered pushing some of that Video money over to Photo?

    I think you can get higher quality video for much less than you can photo....just something to think about.
    image **Married 7/9/11**
    Report Reply
  • MrsPapsMrsPaps member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I agree with Penelope, maybe reallocate your photo/video budgets. I know Kara is pretty reasonably priced and does amazing work.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Planning Bio UPDATED with For Sale!
    Report Reply
  • butterflyfanbutterflyfan
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We are using Midwest Video Productions of Illinois
    www.midwestvideoproductions.com

    and Answer Back Entertainment for our DJ
    www.abdjs.com
    Report Reply
  • mroth2011mroth2011
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_vendor-recs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:e9c65826-5688-4baa-847c-c350b7b62154Post:bdfd58cb-2a59-49dc-acd9-41b6870b01ba">Re: Vendor Recs</a>:
    [QUOTE]Have you considered pushing some of that Video money over to Photo? I think you can get higher quality video for much less than you can photo....just something to think about.
    Posted by PenelopeSnuz[/QUOTE]
    thanks for the advice! i'll talk to my fiance about that.
    Report Reply
  • mroth2011mroth2011
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_vendor-recs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:e9c65826-5688-4baa-847c-c350b7b62154Post:3b7b5026-94b5-41c7-9db7-17460a77075b">Re: Vendor Recs</a>:
    [QUOTE]I agree with Penelope, maybe reallocate your photo/video budgets. I know Kara is pretty reasonably priced and does amazing work.
    Posted by MrsPaps[/QUOTE]

    thanks mrspaps, but as i mentioned above, we looked into her but decided against booking her.
    Report Reply
  • aimers1525aimers1525 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Hi and congrats!  I recommend Tasha Schalk of Redwall Photography. Her typically wedding package is a little bit more than your budget, but she also does a la carte, so if you like her style I don't think it would hurt to contact her and see if she can work w/in your budget.

    http://redwallphotography.com/

    I also recommend Kathleen Thame Photography:
    http://www.kathleenthame.com/blog/

    Sorry no videographer for me, and one of my FI's friend is a DJ, so he is DJing our wedding--if you're interested just send me a PM.
    Report Reply
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