Melissa---

I am in the same boat as you..I am planning this wedding from San Francisco, so far we only have our church and reception booked. We are heading to LI the end of June..but we are already so busy..I see you are having your reception at the PJCC, that was on our top 4. Who have you looked into for photographers, videos, and dj's..i see you picked Invit. to Dance, did you look into anyone else??

Michelle - (Long)

Planning from out of state is very hard. And it comes with a very expensive phone bill. (I don't have a cell) We're going to LI for Memorial Day Weekend. We have 6 photographer appointments (Paul Marino, Imagine Studios, Michael O'Neill, Patken Photographers, Hal Lyman and Ziba Film). Most of them also have video, so we didn't book any videographer appointments. It's not like we would have the time anyway. Being since I'm out-of-state, we could only book our DJ by video. We were unable to go to NY at the time, and we were told that the DJ is one of the first things to book besides the Reception and church, because they book up quickly. We looked into G.I.T. Productions, Spin Around Sound, W.G.K.P. Sounds and Invitation to Dance. GIT and WGKP were recommendations from our reception hall. The other two were from referrals from this site. I didn't like any of the demo tapes except Invitation to Dance. G.I.T. was ok, but not impressive after watching Invitation to Dance, and they had a lot of feedback. I did not like Spin Around Sounds demo tape. They sent me a tape of 15 different weddings they did. I was not impressed. You could barely hear the music, and the guy just stood there? They didn't have any personalities. Now, don't get me wrong, some brides and grooms like that or might of asked for that. We don't want heavy MC'ing either, but you need something, and we feel you need personality! So that's why we picked Invitation to Dance. Their tape was great. We're using Rick as our MC. I know it's just a demo tape, but since I heard so many good things about them from many brides here, and then really enjoyed their demo tape, we booked them. I think their prices are average too. A lot of brides like Spin Around Sound, I'm not saying don't look into them, you should. They were extremely nice, but not our style, maybe they're yours? Everyone is different. Anyway, we're coming back from LI by June 1st, I can let you know how everything goes with the Photographers if you'd like? We have to pick one while we're up there so I'm hoping we like someone! :) I can give you all the prices and what they include too at that time! Just let me know! Good Luck!

Melissa

My fiance and I are heading to LI the end of June..so that would be perfect if you could let me know what you thought of each photographer. The only video I received so far for a DJ was Invit. to Dance..i dont know if we saw the same video..but i liked this one guy..dont know what his name was..in the video he made everone in the audience stand up when he was introducing the bride and groom it was funny. Does that ring a bell?? For photographers I have been looking into John Pagano w/ VIP Studios, Mark Kaufman, Imagine Studios, Patken, have to contact Paul Marino, maybe JoVon, FIne Art & ADA. The have all sent me..or are in the process of sending me info. Well, we will keep in touch!!!

Melissa

one more thing..could you give met contact info for GIT and WGKP!!

Melissa---

If you are interviewing Photographers I have a great recommendation for you. His name is Philip Manganaro and he works out of Center Moriches, NY. He is a VERY professional photographer, although he does not only do photography as his main work. He chooses to do so many weddings a year, all himself, rather than trying to book 800 weddings and have to hire 12 other photographers out of his studio. I can personally vouch for the fact that this guy is GREAT!!!! Take one look at his work and you will be impressed. He's VERY easy to work with and very professional. Give him a call if you like - His # is 631-878-4930.

Long Distance Brides - photographer & Florist

Hi Gals, I too am planning my wedding from afar (however not as far as you, I'm in PA). Anyway, I was home over the weekend and picked the Photographer and Florist. We met with Mark Kauffman, George Pliakis and VIP (John Pagano). We've decided to go with VIP Studio's - We had a three little bears experience, Mark Kauffman was too much (money and photo's - just think of reviewing 1000 proofs, I think I'd go nuts), George was really nice, but just too traditional and VIP (our last stop) was just right - we chose a $2000 package and he's a good mix of traditional and photojournalistic. We chose Silk Iris as our Florist - I've only got the DJ left to book. The one DJ that I was supposed to meet missed our meeting - not a good sign. Now I've got to take another trip to LI and schedule some meetings...

Michelle - (Long)

I couldn't even imagine how difficult it must be to plan a wedding from out of state. We heard from friends of ours that are in the buisness, that when the photogrphers have a video person,they usually are not as good as if you were to go directly to a video company.The photographer likes to sell video to make more money for themselves.I heard the person that video tapes your wedding doesn't even edit it. Check out professional video companys that shoot and edit there own work. Good Luck.

Planning from Atlanta

Hi- We currently live in Atlanta and we are trying to plan everything from here!!! We have been to LI 3 times already and are going again the first weekend in June. It has been really stressful- b/c whenever we are there we spend all day looking at wedding stuff. We did a lot of our searching over the internet and looking at posting boards. It has been hard but we got engaged last june and still have 4 months to the wedding so we had a lot of time to get things done- too much time if you live there!!!

Planning from Atlanta - Jillian

Hi, I hear you... We're not getting married until August 16, 2002 and already I'm stressed. We're planning from North Carolina. We've only been planning this wedding since February. We moved down here from LI almost 2 years ago and have been up to NY 2 times already. But our visit on Memorial Day Weekend will be our first Wedding Business Trip, I guess you can call it that. Not for pleasure this time. We have an appointment to meet with a Catholic Priest, 6 photographers, we're going to the Country Club where we're getting married, might go to a limo place, and would really like to go to Liberty Travel to get some ideas for a honeymoon. We just can't come up with anything. On top of that, my FI godmother is throwing us an Engagement Party (I'm not suppose to know about it), we're going out to dinner with his Grandfather, his mothers B-day is on Memorial Day and have to visit some relatives too. All of this for us to do in 4 1/2 days. AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaahhhhh! Talk about stress!!! (Sorry so long, guess I needed to vent) Good luck!

Michelle - (Long)

I guess I shouldn''t complain that I am planning my LI wedding from NJ!! I am glad to see though that I am not the only one going crazy over this. We have a hall, church, and hopefully a photgrapher in the next couple of weeks. I am going home once again this weekend and June 9th for more planning. I can make this trip in my sleep now!!! I am meeting with Imagine Studio also(this weekend). If I can add any info I''ll pass it along.

LisaAnnK

Definitely post info about Imagine Studios after you meet with them. I'll be meeting with them in a couple of weeks. Thanks!