Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

For my wedding I did not use any family or friend to do business with. I went out and find my own vendors it did not matter to me what great price they would have offered to me.

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

Then only one I took advantage of is my Dad since he's a florist

Other than that... we pretty much picked our own, with advice and great help from fellow LIW friends/brides.

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

I did! My cousin went to high school with Lindsay Cress, James Cress's granddaughter so we used them as our florist and got a nice discount! James Cress Florist did our wedding and my at-home bridal shower...

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

When we got engaged a close friend of mine worked at a popular catering hall. We went there and got quoted an insane deal for a Saturday night. But, ultimately we went elsewhere because I was not happy with the space we would have had to take because we have less than 100 people.

It's just as well, since now my friend no longer works there!!

The only other offer I might accept is my FBIL used to work as a florist, he keeps offering to do some part of the wedding. Since right now we have nothing for the ceremony, I might give him that to work on.

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

Several of our vendors are coming from family or our personal friends. If you can get a better deal why not. Our DJ is a friend and we have seen him work before, so we know he is good. Limos are family and I'm really not that picky about that anyway, and finally our photographer is distant family, we are happy with our choices so far.

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

I would if I had any!

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

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Posted by hmpena

I checked out the connections that people gave to me. In the end I didn't end up booking them. However I felt like I should at least give the recommended vendors a chance.

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I agree. When I was looking around, it seemed that everybody new somebody in the business, so I did check them out, but in the end FH and I went with who we wanted. We are most likely going to book the photographer & videographer that my brother used because their work was great, however we are not getting a discount for that. I do know the owner of a limo company and i know he will hook us up (and his company is fab), so that is the only company that we will probably use. Even if I did not know the owner, I would book with them.

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

I did business with the limo company we used prior to hiring them for my wedding. I knew they were excellent to the people from work, so that was one aspect I wasn't worried about at all.

I didn't use other connections, and sort of regret it. The companies we did hire were excellent, but prior to the wedding, I didn't want to have any problems or 'what should I do' moments. In all other aspects of my life I try to be a loyal customer and support businesses that support causes I deem worthy, so I almost feel like I let myself down by not using people I was connected to. Does that make ANY sense? (ie, I use KodakGallery b/c they sponsor a domestic cycling team....yet I didn't hire a family friend for flowers...because I didn't want conflict?)

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

I think you should access as many people who know people to get a good deal and great service. My wedding will cost less than $4000 because I have been networking my booty off. My dj, photographer, florist invitations, placecards and wedding cake are all coming from people I know or from people who know people I know!

I think it adds a more personal touch and it saves a bundle. For example, Why pay $2500 for flowers when you can pay $200.!? The flowers are the same quality and it's even better that the person who will be providing you the service will do a better job because they know you!! I think you should go for it, unless you have an unlimited cash flow and dont care about saving money! You have to remember that the weddings are a multi million dollar business and most vendors who you may have heard about are going to inflate their prices because they can!! It's not necessarily that you pay for something that's better quality, you're paying for their reputation!!! Good Luck!

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

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Posted by ajaysmom

Totally! I say if you can save a few bucks in the process then why not!!! We actually have a few 'vendors' that were not only recommended but are family or friends! If they offer why not!!! And if it's someone you know... why would they 'screw you' know what i mean.. I think they will hopefully take better care of you!

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I agree. I would hope they would take better care of you! Especially if they themselves (or someone they are close with) will be at the wedding. FH's best friend is our videographer and we totally trust and love his work. We are also using a family friend for our DJ. Again, totally trust him and he has been used by me before (Sweet 16) and he DJs all of our big family parties. But then again, we have other family members in the business that we are not using for certain things. It all depends on how YOU feel. I would say check out these family/friend recommendations and also shop around. Go with who you feel comfortable with and not necessarily the one who will 'give you the better deal.' Also, don't feel obligated to use family/friends and their recomendation. It's your day! HTH!

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

My best friend from childhood (we are not as close anymore) is a wedding florist in Northern California. I ended up using her for my flowers and she did an absolutely incredible job. I priced out how much it would cost with a local florist and even paying for her and her boyfriend's airfare, I would be paying less with her. Plus she put her complete heart into it and I had the most amazing bouquets and centerpieces which were so unique because she and I designed them together over IM.

I also used a hairdresser that was friends with my dad and that went well as well.

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

A friend of my mom's did the flowers for my sister's wedding and will be doing mine as well. She was absolutely incredible- came to the house in the morning with our bo-ks and she even had extra flowers, one of which i put in my hair. Then they went to the church and decorated there and attending the ceremony. Then they went to the reception site and put out this candles with sand and seashells for my sister as well as doing the reception room. YOu didn't even realize how hard she was working and she still enjoyed the wedding I look forward to working with her for my wedding!!!

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

YES, I'm using mostly people or services that I know personally and I've had positive experiences with. There are a few vendors I need & I'm doing reserch on here b/c if I don't know their reputation I'm not using them.

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

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Posted by MattandTricia07

A friend of my mom's did the flowers for my sister's wedding and will be doing mine as well. She was absolutely incredible- came to the house in the morning with our bo-ks and she even had extra flowers, one of which i put in my hair. Then they went to the church and decorated there and attending the ceremony. Then they went to the reception site and put out this candles with sand and seashells for my sister as well as doing the reception room. YOu didn't even realize how hard she was working and she still enjoyed the wedding I look forward to working with her for my wedding!!!

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Yep and she did it all at cost....it was an amazing deal esp. since I mainly used roses.

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

I don't have any connections but I know if I did I would take advantage..lol

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

im not into family helping out with things- my future uncle does invitations-
what if i didnt like them? what if i didnt like his selection?

i figured i was better off using my own vendors

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

I don't have any friend/family connections in the wedding business, but I wouldn't have used them anyway.

In theory, it sounds good- pay less money and your friends/family SHOULD do right by you, right?

But I have seen brides who used a friend/family member for their wedding only to have problems with them during the planning. It just seems to go wrong more often than it goes well.

Re: During your wedding planning...did any of you take advantage of family/friends business connections???

I had a friend of mine do my make-up. She insisted we have a trial and everything first - she did an amazing job on me, and my bridal party.