DJ booked. And florist decision indecision. General progress report

[Gypsy]

We found a great DJ and he''s got a great voice and character I think will fit us well. So YAY! One more thing down.

My mom thinks the font on the STD''s is too big. I''ve pretty much thought so too this whole time, but can''t bring myself to care. handed some out today at a family function (yay no postage or envelopes). They''re done, the envelope samples on are they way... and they are going to end up in the trash at the end of the day anyway. It has made me rethink making my own invites though, I have wedding nightmares everynight as is without waking up in a cold sweat about font sizes for the next two months.

I met with two florists this weekend. One is a very enthusiastic stya at home mom, a bit scattered and and generally a person who does this as a side job. She has good contracts in the floral industry and can get the flowers I want at a good price. She didn''t have a website so I was waiting until I saw her in person portfolio, but... for some reason I had a lot of confidence in her from out emails and such. Welll... I saw her portfolio and wasn''t terribly impressed. She''s just average, and I really wouldn''t be getting a bargain... just exactly what I''d be paying for. I didn''t see any centerpieces in the style I am going for in her work, and from talking to her I got the impression that it would be a first for her. I''m all for giving folks a break... but I''m picky as HECK about flowers. So...

Then I met florist number two (this is out of the 6 I''ve emailed and felt out), she''s got a gret portfolio works from a hole in the wall in South San Francisco, and I''ve even got one of her bouquet''s on my hard drive as a possible alternative. She''s higher priced, but she''s got the exact vases I want, I can rent them from her for a decent price and I have complete confidence that she''ll execute something gorgeous without my even having to think about it. She''s still very reasonablly priced, all things considered, just well... not nearly as affordable the other.

So, even though the 2nd lady is going to put me over budget on the flowers, I think I''m going to book her. I''m determined it will be my only spurgle. But I really want lovely flowers. As soon as I firm up details on pricing I''d be happy to post her information. She''s quite good and I know a lot of Nor Cal ladies are looking for a good florist.

OH... and I forgot, John has agreed to ask his uncle to be our offciant! Now I"m just REALLY hoping his uncle says yes, so that we have that settled. And the $$ savings will help me with the guilt of the floral splurge.

 

[Haven]

Gypsy--You are on a roll! Good for you! I''m finding that booking the band is the most difficult thing for us so far, so big kudos on finding your DJ!

As for the flowers, if you''re picky about flowers I''d definitely splurge a bit on florist #2--it sounds like you''d regret it if your flowers didn''t end up looking the way you''d like them to. Do you have any pictures of what you''re looking for? I''m just being nosey, but I''d love to see them!

 

[bee*]

You''re flying through things

I wish I was more in the planning mood! I have to ring the priest later and I''m dreading it so I''ve been putting it on the long finger. Note to self: be more like Gypsy and get things done

 

[turtledazzle]

Gypsy -- definitely book florist #2. I had a similar experience when looking for a florist. I contacted a number of florists I found out about through different ways ... some were ruled out from the get-go due to terrible response time (but that was another thread

). I met with one lady who was so sweet and did flowers mostly on the side -- I found out about her from the Knot and everyone said how great she was and truly reasonable. Well ... she was nice and her prices were extremely reasonable, but I really wasn''t overly impressed with her portfolios (and I''m not picky). The florist I ended up using has been doing weddings for a couple of decades, and her husband owns an event planning company. Her portfolios were beautiful, but she was quite a bit more expensive than the other. But, since she had done my wedding and I had confidence in her to just ''go to it'' without a ton of input from me, I paid for that premium. I was extremely happy with her work, while I feel if I had booked the other florist, it would have been just ''meh''.

So ... go with your gut and book the more expensive florist if you can swing it. If you''re able to save money on the officiant, then bonus!

Yay! Congrats on your progress!

 

[gtn]

gypsy, you are on a roll. I wish I had the same gumption you did, especially since my date is before yours.
I agree, you would rather spend a little more money on nice flowers than save money on your florist. Go with florist #2.

So how did you find your DJ, FI and want a good MC not necessarily we are on the fence about having a DJ or live band. We have not liked any of the other DJ''s we have seen at other weddings, but a band would be so expensive.

Since I have been MIA all weekend, I am still catching up on the threads...

have you called about your dress yet? Is it going to come in time?

 

[enbcfsobe]

ditto what turtledazzle said. alternatively, i would ask each to do one sample centerpiece. actually being able to see a mockup that translated what i asked for into something i could see and touch made a huge difference for me. those who weren''t willing to do this and didn''t have portfolios with samples in the style i wanted (which isn''t particularly traditional as you saw) were much easier to eliminate. while i went over my budget, it was not by a huge % and i feel so much better having confidence that i will get what i want, rather than worried that it will be a ''you get what you pay for'' situation that results in disappointment. you have a great sense of style and strong opinions about what "look" you like. i think its worth avoiding the potential headaches and going with the professional that you have confidence in.

ps -- i saw your shower thread. while i don''t have advice on planning a shower, i do hope your mom''s surgery goes smoothly! it is so nice of you to think of how to make things easier for her!

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 2/18/2008 10:48:53 AM
Author: turtledazzle
...
But, since she had done my friend''s wedding and I had confidence in her to just ''go to it'' without a ton of input from me, I paid for that premium. I was extremely happy with her work, while I feel if I had booked the other florist, it would have been just ''meh''.
...

Sorry ... missed a key word earlier .

 

[Harleigh]

Hi Again,

Glad you got your DJ all settled! Hooray for you!

I think you should go with the 2nd florist...you just do not seem the type of girl to settle for less than what you want, and I definitely don''t think your wedding day is the day to start!

I hope if you do have them do a mock-up bouquet or centerpiece you''ll share it here with us!!!

 

[CrownJewel]

Congrats Gypsy!

Now will you plan my wedding for me too? You''re just so good at this!

 

[Gypsy]

thanks for all the encouragement everyone.

I contacted the 2nd florist and asked for a couple of pricing accommodations. We''ll see what she says. I''m pretty set on having her instead of the other woman. You all are right about that. I''ve compromised an some major things, but as long as I can swing it, I''m not going to compromise on this.

As for being on a roll. I''ve got a bit of a crazy goal for myself to have all of the major planning done by the end of June.

That includes everything except the mailing of the invitations, the seating chart layouts, and my fittings. So I''m pressing myself a bit.

I''d be happy to help anyone with their planning, CJ. I do actually enjoy it. Most of the time.

I found my DJ though my DOC. We don''t want a ''personality'' or a game show host, just someone who likes music, listens to us, and knows how to mix music and read a crowd. So... I''d be happy to give you his information if you want it since your local. She''s heard him at a few functions they''ve done together (she works for a great local caterer)and when John spoke to him a few times, they clicked on music. We met with him this weekend and told him what we wanted, he did a little bit of a demo feeling us out, and we booked him. John liked him, and this was his decision to make, so I went with it.

 

[FrekeChild]

Sounds like you''re on the right track Gyps. You''ll have to help me plan mine someday, in the far off future. I think you''re making the right choice with the florist, I don''t know that I could compromise with something like that either, and I want really simple centerpieces and more minimalistic...but sometimes thats harder to do than the really lush stuff...

PS-I got a 86 on the Brain test!

 

[Gypsy]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FREKE! And 86 is much better than you were expecting! That''s great news! I''d be thrilled to help you when you are ready with your planning.

 

[FrekeChild]

I know! I was terrified of failing that thing. I think the TA is a SERIOUSLY easy grader though, because I don''t feel like I deserved that! I guess I''ll know more when I get it back. Unfortunately, I''ve heard that the next test is the hardest, but we''ll see!!

Have you sold your dress yet? I still love it...

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 2/19/2008 1:19:00 AM
Author: FrekeChild
I know! I was terrified of failing that thing. I think the TA is a SERIOUSLY easy grader though, because I don''t feel like I deserved that! I guess I''ll know more when I get it back. Unfortunately, I''ve heard that the next test is the hardest, but we''ll see!!


Have you sold your dress yet? I still love it...

Well, maybe he''ll be an easy grader on the next test too! Or drunk... lol.

Nope dress hasn''t sold. I''ve given up on ebay. It''s going to get listed on preownedweddingdress this week (after thursday... all these deposits are putting a strain on the bank account and Thursday is payday). I just want to see it go to the right home.