'You Get What you Pay for?'

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Posted by nferrandi

I don't always think that's true. Like I don't think paying $10,000 guarantees a band to be any better than a $3,500 band. I think a $10,000 wedding gown may be higher quality fabric, but I don't think it necesarily means it's more beautiful than a $500 dress. What are you asking in regards to?

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I agree... it really depends on what the question is specifically referring to.

My Motto is Hey you never know
You gotta go with your heart

I'm just wondering about people's general philosophy. There are a lot of vendors that brides on this site love and the big focus is price, how great the price is, and some of them seem so great, but for me photo is where I will NOT compromise, and I see a difference in the photos at a studio that is less expensive and an expensive one...but is it worth $500) more?

I was just wondering where people thought ti mattered. Is it usually paying for the name? I think definitey in gowns you get what you pay for. Not in terms of what's more beautiful. there are GORGEOUS inexpensive gowns (and to me a lot of the expensive designer gowsna re weird and out there), but there's a HUGE difference in fabric, how the beadowrk is done, etc..but what's the difference between a $700 DJ and a $1700 DJ, a $100) florist at a $5000 florist... When is it worth more money? Really I was just cruious about what everyone's approach is to wedding planning and stuff in general. I'm not sure I'm being clear, but...

I agree with your comment on the dress... I do feel that you get what you pay for with respect to fabric and workmanship but not to say that a $500 dress is not gorgeous.... at the same time, it is only a dress that you will only wear once, how much is excessive? That is each individuals own decision.

With regard to vendors... I had this issue with DJs... what do they really do? A guys stands and plays music. What makes a $700 different from a $1700 DJ... not sure but for me the difference is the type of person that is up there.. the appearance and the overall feel of what you get. Is an MC included? What is the MC's personality? This was a very difficult decision for us to make and in the end I don't know if we made the right one,.. I guess we'll find out on June 18th. I am confident however, that the guy spinning the music will not be a highschool kid... and the MC will be well spoken. Maybe that is the difference... I really don't know.

Also... when selecting a photographer/videographer... that was hard too because we could definitely see a difference in the product when we went to places that quoted us $4000 for everything and those who were more in the $7-8,000 range. My feeling on this is that when all is said and done... the wedding is over and you feel like the day flew by and you have no idea what happened... all you will have left are the photos and video (if you chose to get one). I chose to spend more (even if it was just paying for the name) because I liked what I saw and know that I will be happy looking at my album 25 ... 50 years from now.

Now, with the florist... I really don't want to speak to that. I know many girls have had problems with the florist that I am using. I booked him well before I found this site and booked him strictly on price - not that I have had a bad experience as of yet ( ) But in the end... with flowers... I feel like you have to be smart and realize that most will be in the same price range... the cost of flowers does not vary much, its what you do with them. Any florist can tell you that you can have whatever flower you want... even the most expensive ones... but in the end, the difference will be how many stems are used and how full your bouquets and arrangements are. I for one and being very specific with flower counts for EVERYTHING and it is all in my contract... and florist is well aware that FH is an attorney (I always bring him with me cause I am a pushover).

I don't know if I answered you... I feel like I got a load off my back though

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Posted by marymoon

Definitely answered my Q, Galina. That's what I was looking for, what people generally think. I'm also probaly going to blow the bank on photography becuase that's all you have left at the end of the whole affair.

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Glad to be of service

We got engaged around the same time!

FH took me out to dinner tonight, it's the anniversary of the dya he proposed I was so happy he remembered

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Posted by marymoon

We got engaged around the same time!

FH took me out to dinner tonight, it's the anniversary of the dya he proposed I was so happy he remembered

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Awww! Happy Anniversary!

Here's what I found in my planning....
Gown- I think I spent middle range for my gown, about $2000 for dress, alterations, tiara and veil. That was the budget I set out with and what I stuck to. I think I got the most fabulous gown for me and my style and I would have chosen my gown if it had been much cheaper, and probably had it been out of my budget.
Flowers- I made the personal decsion to have smaller CP and save money here. I used LA Blossom and her prices were very competetive.
Photo- I chose to go with duet based on their quality and the prices for their quality. Are there better photographers out there? Maybe. But I feel I got more value than what I spent from them. FIL kept telling me how any photog was going to be a 'waste of money.' He's a photog and he wanted me to use of friend of his who would have done it for next to nothing, but I hated this guys work. In the end, I was happy because I got a photog I felt confident in, and FIL was happy because he felt like I got a good deal for the money.
Hall- A lot of things play a roll in picking a hall. I've heard, mostly from you girls, how much food is given at halls that cost much less than we payed. But at the same time, the quality and quantity of food at my hall was outstanding. I feel that the service at my hall was better than I've ever seen at any wedding. I also was paying for the beach. Even though we spent a lot on the hall, I think it was money well spent.

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Posted by nferrandi

I don't always think that's true. Like I don't think paying $10,000 guarantees a band to be any better than a $3,500 band. I think a $10,000 wedding gown may be higher quality fabric, but I don't think it necesarily means it's more beautiful than a $500 dress.

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A agree.

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Posted by marymoon

I'm just wondering about people's general philosophy. There are a lot of vendors that brides on this site love and the big focus is price, how great the price is, and some of them seem so great, but for me photo is where I will NOT compromise, and I see a difference in the photos at a studio that is less expensive and an expensive one...but is it worth $500) more?

I was just wondering where people thought ti mattered. Is it usually paying for the name? I think definitey in gowns you get what you pay for. Not in terms of what's more beautiful. there are GORGEOUS inexpensive gowns (and to me a lot of the expensive designer gowsna re weird and out there), but there's a HUGE difference in fabric, how the beadowrk is done, etc..but what's the difference between a $700 DJ and a $1700 DJ, a $100) florist at a $5000 florist... When is it worth more money? Really I was just cruious about what everyone's approach is to wedding planning and stuff in general. I'm not sure I'm being clear, but...

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I saw this a few days ago and did not get to respond so, since I'm up.....

As for a $700 DJ and a $1700 DJ, the more expensive one (in theory) will show up with an MC, giveaways and maybe some smoke and lights? Something other than just records.

With a florists (and photographers/videographers) you are paying for their 'art' and not just the flowers, paper & tape/DVD. So, although the flowers, camera equipment and tape/DVD's all cost about the same thing for each vendor to purchase (and then sell to brides) their 'art' jacks up the price. How a value is placed on the 'art' of one florist v. another? Who knows. I guess it's whatever the market will allow. Sylvia Weinstock wedding cakes are but they are made of flour and sugar just like any other wedding cake? But still the same, she commands a hefty price tag for her 'art' with cakes.

As for the old saying 'you get what you pay for' inthe context of weddings - it all depends on what is important to the person footing the bill. Some people want to invite everyone they love to their wedding so they go to a less expensive reception hall. Some people want a really high end hall with all the trimmings so they cut the list (assuming they need to cut the list to afford the hall).

There are some people who want a fabulous band or DJ and others who prefer to splurge on the photos and video.

I have friends who have spent $40K for 70 guests but that was with bringing in a band from out of state and hiring a fabulous caterer who charged $200 per person. They rented out a Manhattan mansion and still rave about the wedding.

I attended a wedding in the Bahamas that was under $5,000 for about 75 - 100 guests and everything was beautiful. They had a professional photographer and the family cooked. They rented out space in a 'park' for lack of a better word and it was soooo pretty. I took about 170 photos at that wedding since the ceremony was at a hotel (poolside) with the ocean in the background.

As for us, we have a budget that I plan to stick to as closely as possible. I have been searching for the best price on the dress I want. And everyone on this site nows I have been looking for an inexpensive hall to accomodate about 150 guests and still fit the budget. Although, I am getting a silk tulle veil made, it will not be more than $100 or so and the tiara (or crystal headband) I wear came from ebay. They were both under $20.

So, no I do not think the saying 'you get what you pay for' means you are getting substandard products or services because they were not expensive. In fact, I was at a bridal salon today and a tiara I looked at for $250 was bending as I touched it. The attendant nudged it back upright (some floral piece) and then proceeded to try to sell it to me??? Not worth $250 in my opinion at all but to someone I'm sure that $250 will be well spent on that very tiara.

Ok, I'm done now.

I don't think price = quality. Other factors are played in like how long the vendor has been in business.

I'm always willing to give the underdog a chance!