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Seattle Caterer and/or Photographer Suggestions?

KdheinyKdheiny member
First Comment
in Washington-Seattle

 I've booked my venue for next August :) Now I'm working on deciding on a caterer and photographer. If you have any suggestions for one or both, that'd be great! I'm not too concerned with cost/budget for the caterer; but I am looking for a photographer within a reasonable price, no more than $2000 would be great, but it's proving harder to find just through "google" -- recommendations greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

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Re: Seattle Caterer and/or Photographer Suggestions?

  • mgoss228mgoss228 member
    Sixth Anniversary 1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    What kind of food do you want to serve at your wedding?

    For our wedding we used Larry's Smokehouse ( http://larryssmokehouse.com/ ) and the buffet was SO GOOD.  Larry and his team provided great service, and the food was a great price.  BBQ can be a great way to keep costs down.

    For our Rehearsal Dinner (RD) we had it at Portage Bay Cafe (in Ballard, but there are two other locations, and they will cater other venues)  http://www.portagebaycafe.com/Portage_Bay_Cafe/Seattle_Catering_Organic_Events_-_Portage_Bay_Cafe.html
    They were great with working within our budget, and we had a fabulous experience.
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  • KdheinyKdheiny member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    @mgoss228: Thanks! BBQ sounds wonderful. I will check them out. We're not really sure what kind of food -- we like all kinds! There definitely needs to be vegetarian options. Right now I have RFPs out to Arista Catering and Twelve Baskets. I'm leaving the Rehearsal Dinner up to my fiance and his Mom, but will pass along the suggestion about Portage Bay.
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  • firsttimersluckfirsttimersluck member
    2500 Comments Third Anniversary 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    Kristin Harris is our photographer. here is her blog! We're in there under the "engagement" section :o)
    http://www.kristinharrisphotography.com/search/label/Weddings

    We're "Urban Engagement"
    http://www.kristinharrisphotography.com/search/label/Engagement

    She is costing us 1,500 for the wedding day, but that included the engagement shoot, two photographers, and all the rights to all the pictures we want so we can print whenever, wherever. :)

    Also,
    Heidi Caldwell was a consideration for us. She is 1,100 for the entire wedding day, doesn't include the e-pics but does include a second photographer, all the pics, and all the rights to them as well.

    http://heidicaldwellphotography.blogspot.com/
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  • sparent2010sparent2010 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would suggest getting the Seattle Brides magazine. There are so many photographers lsited in there!
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  • sparent2010sparent2010 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    FTL- I love your pictures. Makes me rethink e-photos lol
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  • chelsea1110chelsea1110
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I chose Red Sparrow Photography. We are paying $1200 for 6 hours of photography and all the printing rights.

    I also met with Kristin Harris and we loved her style I just personally got along better with Katie from Red Sparrrow.

    For catering we are using LaStrada Dolce Pizza. They are a mobile pizza cart like Veraci's only better : ). Pizza for 150 people and our choice of toppings is $2200.
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  • firsttimersluckfirsttimersluck member
    2500 Comments Third Anniversary 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    You're not doing e-pics?!
    I'm actually not a huge fan of mine, but that's because Fi complains about how his hair is all messed up and no one told him, and I was abou 13 pounds heavier then and wore the wrong outfit for it. Oh well.
    I loved doing them though.. It warmed us up in front of her camera, and let us get comfortable with her.. I think they are totally worth it..
    You should keep an eye out on living social. I have seen photographers offer 1-2hours sessions with all rights to pics for as low as 40 bucks. You could totally get e-pics with that! :P
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  • firsttimersluckfirsttimersluck member
    2500 Comments Third Anniversary 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    chelsea that's an awesome caterer! mmmm.. now I really want pizza. :o)
    I never met with Red Sparrow but the website pics look great.

    OP keep in mind that google will first post all the popular, big spender vendors. You have to do a little digging to find the diamonds in the rough ;)
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  • LGM22LGM22 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011

    I posted this on the 2012 August site but thought I'd go into a little more details for ya on our photography package from Rebecca Jane Photography (http://www.rebeccajanephotography.net/#) was 'The Kiss' and we added a second photographer to it.  It includes an engagement photo session, $50 dollar print credit for that, digital negative with print release, a 150 dollar print credit for wedding day photos, 10 hours of photography on the wedding day, online gallery, 25 page wedding book and digital negatives with print release. 

    I really liked Rebecca's photography style and saw already a positive review of her on TK.  Additionally I had an honest (guy's no less) opinion of her from someone who is having his daughter's first year picture's taken by Rebecca.  I got her name through a coworker who's known her since High school. 

    Rebecca has always been professional and quick in her communication and when we met to make sure we were a good fit we really liked her personality and her honesty.  She wasn't selling us anything, she was telling us about herself and that's what we liked. 

    We're doing our e-photo shoot in a couple of weeks so we'll be able to really get to know her better in a professional element then too!

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  • cheyennem2012cheyennem2012
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Yikes.  There is nothing that makes the 'you get what you pay for' statement more true than photographers...
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  • VheinzenVheinzen
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    We're having Reema Al-Zaben do our photography (www.reemaalzaben.com). We're paying less than $2000 for the engagement photos and wedding day pics combined. I know her from my previous job and after seeing the pics she did for a few different weddings of my ex-coworkers, she became our first pick! For catering we're going with Seasoned in Seattle. They catered my fiancé's grandparents' wedding anniversary and the food was delicious. Not at all what I would expect for buffet food. The presentation was nicely done as well.
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  • LGM22LGM22 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_washington-seattle_seattle-caterer-andor-photographer-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:104Discussion:76bb0ff8-d4d8-4430-8029-93b1d74f1da3Post:58c10990-6911-402a-9422-eb5c5a41380a">Re: Seattle Caterer and/or Photographer Suggestions?</a>:
    [QUOTE]Yikes.  There is nothing that makes the 'you get what you pay for' statement more true than photographers...
    Posted by cheyennem2012[/QUOTE]

    I have to disagree.  When we were meeting with our photographer there was another one in the same location also meeting with some potential clients.  That photographer happens to be on TK and happens to have won some awards, according to their website anyway.  But not once have I seen their name come up on a single review by a local bride.  Their pricing for a similar package was over 5000 dollars. 

    What's more is because we didn't know what our photographer looked like, we thought this photographer was who we were meeting.  For a good 5 minutes the photographer was BSing their way through our conversation with the clear intention of holding what we thought was our meeting and it wasn't until my FI noticed their name on the sample books (and that it wasn't who we were meeting) did we realize the mistake.  While mistakes happen, it was very misleading and I'd say unethical, for this person to not own up to having no idea who we were.  They acted as if she knew who I was referencing (to coworker who referenced us, and his baby girl) and the blog posts I'd read by her. 

    While the photographs that person may take can be great, a photographer is there for more than just clicking a button on a camera.  And their personality and meshing well with you as a couple and knowing how to work with you, your family, crying children who just want to wiggle around and play - that's what's important.

    I don't think that price really should be a factor.  If you find a photorgrapher in your price range who you connect with, who's portfolio you really feel is a style you want your photos to be like - then that's who you should go with.  Dollar signs do not always me quality.  Neither do awards.  Awards, imo, can also bolster up the price unnecessarily. 

    So sometimes you might pay over 5000 dollars for a photographer who you don't get a 5000 dollar experience or photographs out of.  But then sometimes you might pay less than 2000 dollars, or 3000 and get 10,000 dollars worth of a photographer experiences and photographs that are priceless.

    (edited to add: not meant as an attack - I just didn't know how your statement was meant to come off and I really don't think that someone should base their choice on any vendor off of money.  We originally had that mindset but soon discovered that's not at all how it was.  Money does not equate excellence.)
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  • TeamMoriartyTeamMoriarty
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    i am here to RAVE about JAYLEE Photography.  We just did our e-pics with them a couple of weeks ago.  We absolutely love them and their work-it is obvious that they love what they do.  They are a husband/wife team who do all their shoots together and they do all their editing in house.  they offer different packages- one at the $2000 mark.  They are our "wedding splurge" because pictures last a lifetime!!  they have a website and a blog as well-Please check them out!  Also, Ali (the wife) does boudoir photography.
    www.jayleeproductions.com and
    blog.jayleeprodutcions.com
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  • emyinpinkemyinpink
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I LOVE LOVE LOVE our photographer, JennyGG. She's incredibly awesome, and takes amazing photos.


    no recommendations on the catering front...
    He Cooks...She Shops
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  • lusantoslusantos
    First Comment
    edited December 2011

    I am using Tim Matsui.  He is a photojournalist, an Emmy nominee. His photos are awesome, not the typical wedding stuff that you see everywhere.

    Also when you use his services you are also funding part of his journalistic projects.

    www.tualua.com His wedding web site

    www.timmatsui.com  

     

    good luck

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  • MarisseeMarissee member
    Second Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I'm very excited to work with my photographer vladamir from VoIR photography. I've been following him on FB and watching all of his engagement shoots and wedding shoots. All very gorgeous!! He takes very candid, beautiful pictures. I'm using Cabbage Patch Catering also, which is one of our favorite restaurants, so great to work with. But they are in snohomish, might be too far to Seattle.
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  • August2013BtBAugust2013BtB member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I personally LOVE the work of Genesa Richards Photography. I know her pricing states that it starts at $2200 but I have a few friends who've used her and paid less. I follow her Facebook because she puts new photos on there all the time.
    Her website is: www.genesarichards.com
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  • August2013BtBAugust2013BtB member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I don't know if you've looked but I LOVE Genesa Richards Photography. I'd definitely check out her work. My friend got married in August and used her and I've been in love with her work ever since! Her website is genesarichards.com
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  • KatyDidlettesKatyDidlettes
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I used Northern Lights Photography in Seattle, Cheryl jones was amazing!  here is her link http://northernlightsphotography.com/ 

    for food we use Pyramid, they were also much less expensive than anywhere else I tried and the food was fantastic. 

    I spent hours and hours and hours researching both, and you can see pics (and food pics!) in my wedding album-
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  • RedFilterRedFilter member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011

    Red Filter Photography - www.redfilterphoto.com

     

    One thing that is unique about our business is we offer an amazing package that includes: engagement pictures, a "How We Met - Love Story" HD video incorporated with your custom wedding slide show of pictures, all-day photo coverage on your wedding day, full 1080p HD wedding video, with photo copyright release and 3 sets of your photos on DVD, giving YOU ownership of YOUR pictures!  And all this for the reasonable price of $2,999!


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  • KdheinyKdheiny member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_washington-seattle_seattle-caterer-andor-photographer-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:104Discussion:76bb0ff8-d4d8-4430-8029-93b1d74f1da3Post:7caefb77-1c9f-4158-9a15-29ffdb3adc55">Re: Seattle Caterer and/or Photographer Suggestions?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I used Northern Lights Photography in Seattle, Cheryl jones was amazing!  here is her link  <a href="http://northernlightsphotography.com/" rel='nofollow'>http://northernlightsphotography.com/</a>   for food we use Pyramid, they were also much less expensive than anywhere else I tried and the food was fantastic.  I spent hours and hours and hours researching both, and you can see pics (and food pics!) in my wedding album-
    Posted by KatyDidlettes[/QUOTE]

    <div>Thanks for the suggestions. I'm looking into Pyramid right now. How would you rate them? Were they easy to work with? Detail oriented, etc? I can't believe how pricey catering can be around here. Trying to find something that is good quality for a good deal. Thanks!</div>
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