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Need help w/ flowers and photo

dreamworld06 Posted:

Need help w/ flowers and photo

Someone else posted pricing and asked for advice which I thought was a great idea so I'm going to follow and ask for your help. I want to make sure I'm getting a good deal for flowers and photo/video....please let me know what you think.
Flowers:
high centerpieces (textured) with different colored roses, lillies, snap dragons, wax flower, and stock $125
my bouquet $175 (3-4dozen roses/stephanotas)
MOH bouquet $75 roses
BM bouquet $70 roses
coursages $20 roses
boutonnieres no charge
cake decos/bathroom arrangement no charge

video:
full day coverage, 3DVDs, unedited footage, baby and honeymoon montage, graphics $1595
photo:
one photographer
digital coffee table album w/80pics
2parent albums and 3 enlarged pics $3750

I know I'm asking for a lot of help but it would be greatly appreciated!


















N.Y.bride Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

I cant help you with photo because I didnt get an album. I paid 1/3rd of that and had a photojournalist and regular, but no album.

I can tell you the florist price looks way too high IMO. I paid $100 for 4 dozen roses and $50 for 2 dozen for the BMs

and videographer seems just about right? I think I paid less

Check out 12th night
JPI video
National Floral
soon2bmrsdunn Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

Everything seems ok exept I think your photographer you go down in price a little. I am also paying 1/2 as much as you are for my bm bo-k's but i don't know what you are getting.

SeptBride70 Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

My florist, James Cress, is a little on the high end in terms of price but I really liked his work, and the quality of his work, so I went with him... Your prices, in comparision with his was less money so to me it seems about right.
I think the prices for your Bo-k and the centerpieces are on par for the flowers that you are getting, MAYBE you could go down five bucks on each c-piece but that's about right and MAYBE you could go down to 150 for the bridal bo-k but there's a lot of roses in there so I can see that. James Cress did not include the bathroom arrangements though so that was good for you! Try and talk him down on the other prices a little bit, every little bit counts...
With photography I got like a $4500 package so for the difference in price it seems about right but maybe shop that around b/c the only big thing I can see that my photographer gave me that I do not see on yours is extras... like black and whiteing any number of photos I want, adding color to bo-k's in b&w pics for no extra charge, englarging any pics I want for no extra charge...and when I did my shopping a lot of places charged big bucks for those things, he also gave me two 'brag-books' they are miniature versions of my big regular wedding album that could fit in my purse, I figured I would give one to my mom and keep one for me. It's nice on a desk at work--its just a nice freebie. He also included a very large framed picture, and a bunch of smaller pictures of my choice. But my fave thing that he included was a free one hour engagement shoot anytime before the wedding that I want which I think all photographers should include that but take a look at other photographers if you want to feel re-assured that you are getting a good deal.
I met and sat down with SIX different photographers and compared everything and Jimmy was the best price for the most things and I really thought his work is amazing. I also liked Imagine (a little pricey) but very nice. BTW, I am using Fine Art... it's all listed on my profile.
Plus, I did the same thing with the flowers--I went to about 4 different florists and even though James was a little more I felt the quality of his work was worth the difference in money. FM me if you need anything else... good luck, trust your instincts and what your gut tells you with these decisions. Take Care, Dani
prncssrachel Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

Honestly, everything seems too high, in my opinion.

kittythestray Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

I thought everything seemed a little high - I'm getting my photographer for less and there's 2 of them (owner and assistant) and the flowers seemed high to me, too. I'm using Port Jefferson Florist, you meet with the owner, Kathy and she does totally unique work, no 'typical' flowers unless you want that. I really love her style.

M&LSept1606 Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

I don't think it's too much. I'm paying almost exactly the same for Flowers and Video.

The photographer price seems just right for what you're getting. My photography package was more, but I'm getting more.

Everyone has a set range (price) on how much they want to spend on each vendor/service. So, do I think you can probably get it ALL cheaper?? YES. But you start losing quality if you go lower than those prices. IMO.

prncssrachel Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo


Posted by M&LSept1606

But you start losing quality if you go lower than those prices. IMO.




That's a huge misconception. Which is why most vendors get away with charging so much. My photographer and videographer were WAY less than that, and STILL are, and they are probably two of the best quality vendors I've seen to this day. Granted, I'm biased, but I look at other people's pictures on here knowing they paid two to three times as much as I did, and I know damn well that you don't always get what you pay for. And trust me, I was willing to spend as much money as I needed to.
N.Y.bride Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by M&LSept1606

But you start losing quality if you go lower than those prices. IMO.

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I definately dont think you always start losing quality if you pay less. I think you are smart to shop around. Some brides end up paying for their vendors name and not the quality.

I paid less for all of mine and Id have to say my pics and my flowers were drop dead gorgeous. Better than some who paid more.
klingklang77 Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

i think the photo sounds about right. do you get proofs and a cd as well?

the flowers sound pretty reasonable, but i think you can get cheaper...

for me:

flowers:
for $775 i am getting 7 centrepieces, my bo-k, MOH bo-k, i am having no BMs, boutineirres for FH, BM, my brother, FFIL, my dad, my brother in law, 2 ring bearers, basket for flower girl, and mothers coursages.

my centrepieces are low and will consist of calla lillies, gerbera daises, hydrangea, maybe peonies. i am still undecided exactly what i will do for centrepieces and i may need more, so they are $75 each. the bo-k s and boutinerries will be callas.

for photo:
8 1/2 hours of coverage, 2 parent albums, my album, one photographer+assistant, cd, and proofs for $2800. if he goes overtime it will be 200 an hour and thank yous are 1.50 each. i wnet a little crazy looking for photo b/c i wanted a particular style and alot was booked when i started looking. i also wanted an independant photgrapher, no big studios.

good luck!
dreamworld06 Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

thanks girls i appreciate all your help!

lcherian Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

i think your photo and video quotes sound about right.

just a little questionable about your florist quote. how many roses are in each cp? just wondering because i know that stock, snapdragons and wax flower are pretty inexpensive flowers.
JazzyT Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

The photo/video is a little high im paying a little more than you're paying with two photographers 10 hours and 2 videgraphers 2 parent albums, 11x14 album and other things at DUET, check them out.

For flowers i used Flower Michele John is awesome and reasonable.
MrsMichel07 Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo


Posted by JazzyT

The photo/video is a little high im paying a little more than you're paying with two photographers 10 hours and 2 videgraphers 2 parent albums, 11x14 album and other things at DUET, check them out.

For flowers i used Flower Michele John is awesome and reasonable.



I def. agree that you are paying way too much for phot and video... I definitley got a good deal with Duet for both.
dreamworld06 Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

I'm not sure how many roses would be in the centerpiece....they're putting one together for me and I'll ask then.

I keep hearing great things about Duet but unfortunately I called them last week and they don't have my date available
October Bliss Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

I saw 14 florists, so I would say that price is about right. High CP are always more expensive than low, and stephanotis are expensive little flowers.

I only saw 3 videographers, and my package is way higher than yours, but I have two videographers, and we're getting 5 DVDs.

It's the photographer price that I think is off. We saw 7 total. Every package we looked at included two photographers, negatives or CD, our album, 2 parent albums, portraits, a variety of 5x7's, and engagement shoot with all proofs and an enlargement. Those packages started at $3000 and went up to $5000 depending on the photographer and the size of the albums.
SummerBride06 Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo

that florist quote is very high. i'm using masters & co. and am getting more for much less.

video is high. i'm getting 5 FULLY edited DVDs, raw footage, baby pictures, recap and custom cases for $1100. www.weddingcinema.net i would not pay $1500 for unedited video.

photo seems okay. you should check out Gary Leli--his photos are awesome and his prices are competitive. he will customize a package based on what you want. for a few hundred more, we're getting a 2 phtographers, digital album with 100 pics, parent albums, and several large photos (11x14, 16x20s)

i would keep shopping around...best of luck!
xcalystax Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo


Posted by dreamworld06

I'm not sure how many roses would be in the centerpiece....they're putting one together for me and I'll ask then.

I keep hearing great things about Duet but unfortunately I called them last week and they don't have my date available



Really on a Friday?? You are my date twin!!!! I have Duet but they have two other teams that usually are available, I am just surprised they are booked on a Friday in the middle of November. Anyway Hi Date Twin!!!
dreamworld06 Posted:

Re: Need help w/ flowers and photo


Posted by SummerBride06

that florist quote is very high. i'm using masters & co. and am getting more for much less.

video is high. i'm getting 5 FULLY edited DVDs, raw footage, baby pictures, recap and custom cases for $1100. www.weddingcinema.net i would not pay $1500 for unedited video.




The videographer is giving me 3DVDs edited plus one undedited....sorry if i wrote it incorrectly

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