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Vendor recommendations in NoVA

Oct.15thBrideOct.15thBride
First Comment
in DC

Hi Ladies!  I'm trying to gather some vendor recommendations for friends getting married next year in Northern Virginia (Tysons area specifically).  This board was very helpful when I was planning my wedding 4+ years ago.  Since I was married further out in MD, my vendors wouldn't be ideal for my friends getting married near Tysons.  I'm looking for recommendations for the following:


wedding planner
photographer
florist
cake
DJ


They have not given me any budget details, so feel free to list vendors in any range, and it's up to them to sift through their pricing.  Thanks!!

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Re: Vendor recommendations in NoVA

  • 62511wedding62511wedding
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011

    Our photographer is Laura Walker, we've only done engagement pictures so far but her work is great!  She's easy to work with and very affordable...
    http://www.purejoyweddings.com/

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  • Lisa50Lisa50 member
    2500 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Jim Johnson Photography
    www.picturestorystudio.com
    (202) 686-7300

    I highly recommend Jim.  Based in DC, he travels far and wide for weddings, including to the Caribbean!  He photographed my first wedding here in DC in 1992 and is booked for my upcoming 2011 wedding in Annapolis.  I just spoke to him a couple of days ago and he mentioned going to Leesburg, so I know he's flexible.

    His work is incredible, very personal, and flawless!  I give him an A+
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  • fchan1fchan1
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    wedding planner - our wedding planner is Khadijia Morrow, owner of Avant Garde Event Boutique. we are using her for full planning and she is about 9 to 10% of our total budget, with a $3K minimum. she's been great  to work with and is super sweet! relatively speaking, i think she is about on par or even less expensive than some other wedding planners around here, especially for full planning. khadijia@ageventboutique.com

    photographer - i highly recommend our photographer, Hino Banzon , www.hinofoto.com" target="_blank">www.hinofoto.com. i'm not sure if he raised his rates, but his full package was the best deal. for about $2300, we are getting 12 hours, two photographers, full rights to the DVD, engagement session, and three prints. he doesn't push albums but recommends designers and printers, so i think that may be where some of the cost savings is. his work is comparable or even better than photographers who were charging double his price for 6 to 8 hours. he's extremely laid back and easy to work with.

    florist - we haven't booked our florist yet, but we've met with edge flowers in maryland, www.edgeflowers.com" target="_blank">www.edgeflowers.com (not to be confused with petals edge) and volanni, www.volanni.com" target="_blank">www.volanni.com, in DC. i think we are probably going to go with volanni but both florists were incredible in their designs and ideas. they were both (including delivery and tax) about $4500 at their initial quotes. 

    cake - my dream was to get charm city cakes to do our cake since i LOVE chef duff and "ace of cakes" :) but alas, they are way too expensive so i had to taper my dreams down a bit. we are going with Fluffy Thoughts in McLean and i couldn't be happier. lara stuckey is the owner and she was super chill and her cake tasting is very unique. our primary flavor is hazelnut filling with nutella spread on white chocolate cake - SO GOOD. i would recommend checking them out just for the tasting experience! also, just found out that she is going to be on Food Network Challenge so that's close enough to duff for me! our fondant, three tier cake is about $650 or so, including delivery i think. it's about $5 per slice for buttercream and $5.50 for fondant.

    DJ - our DJ is DJ ZX (Alvin) who is based in Alexandria. he is a very experienced DJ and MC. i haven't spoken to him personally yet but he's a friend of my MUA (who is one of MY best friends) and we heard him spin at her 40th birthday party and he was just awesome. FI spoke to him before our wedding planner took over and he liked him a lot too. we're getting him for about 7 hours for $700. his website is www.avi-ent.com



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  • LadyLyLadyLy member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    It's so nice of you to help your friends!  I've been digging through a number of vendors and trying to narrow down the list, but I am happy to share who I have been looking at with you!

    wedding planner: not using one myself
    photographer: Heather Z Photography www.heatherzphotography.com, Shuttercrest www.shuttercrest.com
    florist: Petals Edge www.petalsedge.com, Growing Wild www.growingwild.net, Holly Chappel www.hollychappleflowers.com
    cake: still looking (maybe someone else will recommend one here for me too!)
    DJ: Kirkabees www.kirkabee.com
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  • LadyLyLadyLy member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    OMG! That hazelnut, white chocolate cake sounds sooooo gooood!!!
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  • Oct.15thBrideOct.15thBride
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks, ladies!
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Photographer????
    Cake: Honeybee Bake Shop * www.HoneybeeBakeshop.net *
    Coordinator: Nadda
    Location: Maggiano's Tyson- I have worked with them before for work. Great location and the food is wonderful.

    Hope that this helps.

    M
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  • irishfaithirishfaith member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Wedding Planner - Kelley Cannon
    Photographer - Charlie Shin
    Florist - Flower Gallery in Chantilly (Ask for Rick)
    DO NOT get your cake from Amphora Bakery in Herndon.  They delivered a frozen cake to my wedding and the owner yelled at me on the phone the other day and will not give me a refund.
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  • undertheseabrideundertheseabride member
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Wedding planner: Myrna Grossman with For All Occasions www.fao-events.com
    Photographer: Annette with Classic Creations www.classiccreationsphotography.com
    DJ: Bobby Goeddell with Bobby G's Disc Jockeys www.bobbygsdiscjockeys.com
    Cake: Victoria with Cakes by Happy Eatery www.cakesbyhappyeatery.com
    Florist: Patricia Collette Graceful Flowers by Patricia www.gracefulflowers.net

    Using Myrna's vendors, she saved almost enough to cover her fee for a full plan. She was amazing!
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