Sumbride-- DC metro brides on a budget.

[Gypsy]

I've been talking to photographers and caterers...

Here's what I've found out. First. Ouch.

Now that that's out of the way... Ceres.... whatever mansion in Fredrick is pretty highly recommended. Everyone keeps suggesting it to me. Hmmm.

In DC you have to be canny.

One place (not a caterer a restaurant/hotel) wanted to charge me 1.50 per cloth napkin. Oy.

Sumbride... I didn't figure out if DC was a no-no for you.... but I know MD is okay with you... but Woodend in Chevy Chase (audubonn site) is BEAUTIFUL and apparently affordable (waiting on fee information) according to two photographers I spoke with... and it backs up to Rock Creek Park so it's got amazing grounds. Which is lovely.

Strathmore Hall Rockville (haven't been able to get info on it) apparently has a good in house caterer and is a reasonable and nice location.

I spoke with Festive Foods Caterer... in MD they will serve your alcohol for you... without charging you a corkage fee!! And they didn't have ridiculous other charges either.


For me... the Tabard Inn is looking better and better. I have decided to deal with the catering woman. She's not warm and cuddly... but I've spoken to two ditzes and well... at least she's efficient and the restuarant is 5 star quality. Elizabeth's on L is looking good as well. The Four Seasons is our backup (it's about 1000 more than Tabard Inn). And well... The Churchill... although I'm not sure about this one as apparently according to Trip Advisor the rooms can be a bit unclean (ICK)... but the catering staff has been fabulous. So we're going to do a site visit and see what we think.

Photographers in DC. One word. EXPENSIVE. The reason The Tabard Inn is back on our list is because I've had to expand our photography budget by 1500. Crazy. And that's for all digital... which I don't even WANT.

How is your planning going?

I've decided on my table arrangements. I'm DEFINITELY making them myself (freaking photography fees).

Here's a pic. Although I would use pale pink roses.

 

[Gypsy]

Here''s another view:
Except without the swirly bare grass which I like.

 

[firebirdgold]

Love the arrangements!
Have you considered hiring the photographer for a shorter period of time, and then have diy photography? My sister just asked her friends to bring their digital cameras (practically everybody had one) and then to send in their best pics. And there are some really great shots of the party and of the ceremony. Perhaps you could save a little money by having the photographer for just the ceremony and the posed shots? Or even just for the posed shots??

 

[Efe]

Hi. My first post after months of lurking

You might want to consider hiring an advanced student or even a teacher from the Corcoran School of Art. They will put up a post for you on campus. Far cheaper than a full time professional and very talented.

Also, the best caterer in the DC area IMHO is Bedri from Elif Catering. He is in Maryland and his number is 301 983-9733. His food is absolutely fabulous.

 

[sumbride]

Hey Gypsy -
We have an appointment with Ceresville Mansion on Sunday at 9 am! Getting to Frederick by 9 am on Sunday is going to be a hassle, but it looks beautiful and is within budget, so it''s definitely on the top of my list right now. We''ve been focusing mainly on Maryland because I want my brother to do the ceremony and DC doesn''t take internet ordinations, at least as far as I can tell. I was also considering VA for a while because M found Top of the Town and has been waxing poetic on the view, but then I saw the site fee for Saturday night.... $5500 and that''s just for the room with tables and chairs... not a bit of catering! Yikes. I did live in VA for 5 years before he asked me to move to MD, but I think I''d rather do it here. I''ll check into the places you mentioned!

Of course, last night I went to dinner with my girls and did a quick poll on travel and they all said that not only would they travel to Texas, but that they actually wanted to. One of them said "I''m going to friggin'' Nebraska next month for a wedding... I''ll go to Texas!" So I''m still kind of up in the air about that. M thinks it''s amusing that I can''t even pick a state. I was really set on MD until I started thinking about having to actually tour all these places... many of which only seem to be open for tours 8 am-3 pm. How many days off can I take and still save up for the honeymoon?

On photography... You definitely do want somebody professional at least for the ceremony and the photo shoot, but as for the reception you can probably rely on family and friends. I have a good friend that is a professional wedding photographer out of Texas and her packages start at $3400, not including travel... I''m hoping she''ll do at least SOME of my wedding as a gift... she did it for Selkie''s brother and SIL! She''s fabulous. Corcoran is a good place to look.

-Sum

 

[sumbride]

Oh, and I LOVE those arrangements!!!

 

[Gypsy]

Wow just found a location I''m totally in love with... but it''s 3500 just for the site rental. SO... um. No. Ah well.

 

[Gypsy]

How big a vase do you think? 5-6 inches high and 8-12 inches wide I''m thinking... Hmmm. Anyone see something like this anywhere (cheap?).

 

[indecisive]

Date: 8/16/2006 6:07:05 PM
Author: Gypsy
Wow just found a location I''m totally in love with... but it''s 3500 just for the site rental. SO... um. No. Ah well.

That is actually really cheap for what I have been seeing in the northern VA/DC area. Most have been 5k and some 8k... I am seriously considering eloping because of the prices around here!

 

[Gypsy]

Thanks for the catering suggestions... I haven't found a place with a 'reasonable' enough site fee yet (except Rockwood Manor in MD but that's a transportation issue I'm not prepared to tackle) that is either in DC or right outside DC that doesn't have it's own catering...

As for photographers. One of the photographers has a 'short' package... and I've found a couple that will book one photographer, instead of two, for less. SO... we'll see. Will keep students and professors in mind though... definitely.

Back to flowers:

ETA: My cousin is a florist. But well... I don't necessarily want to involve him in all this. We aren't THAT close... so...

What do you think? Is this reasonable? I know that for him these would be half the price. But well. Hmm.

http://www.jamaligarden.com/productDetail.asp?productID=1191-BV764&inGroup=yes&subC= They would be 10 dollars each for the 4 x 10.

 

[E B]

Gypsy,

These photographers are in the DC area and are somewhat reasonably priced:

http://www.hansphotography.com/weddings.html

http://www.richdutchman.com/

http://www.alexagaryshev.com/

 

[Gypsy]

Ebree... you are the best! Your definition of reasonable and mine are very similar.

Here are the photographers I am looking at:

http://www.alexagaryshev.com/ (THANKS EBREE this one might have the 'eye' I am looking for and the prices are FABULOUS)

http://www.michellefrankfurter.com/ (She's $600 more than my MAX adjusted budget of $3200 but she's been excessively nice and helpful so she's still on the list.)

http://www.cbphotographs.com/ If I can get the wife... they don't shoot together anymore and the husband has been well... promoting himself and I have spoken with her yet AT budget as well. They would be a couple hundred under budget and it would be for two photographers. A primary and an associate.

http://www.romanphotography.com/ is right AT the new budget, unless I change my wedding to a December event, then he's $2800.

http://www.eikonphoto.com/ who I would just get a solo photographer package from AT budget.

Oh there's also:
www.abrittonphotography.com Which with one photographer is $800 under the new budget.

What do you guys think of these photographers?


Eikon is my favorite in terms of their pictures I think. Roman is good too.

 

[Blenheim]

Date: 8/16/2006 9:21:57 PM
Author: Gypsy
Ebree... you are the best! Your definition of reasonable and mine are very similar.


Here are the photographers I am looking at:


http://www.alexagaryshev.com/ (THANKS EBREE this one might have the 'eye' I am looking for and the prices are FABULOUS)

Hey, that's my photographer!!

BTW, I'm getting married in the DC area in May. We've splurged (in our perspective) on the things that are most important to us (food/wine), and now I'm looking for reasonable prices on other things. Anyone know of a good florist?

ETA: His blog has more pictures on it, if you're interested. I don't think the prices for the albums are listed online, but they're $700-1500 depending on size, # of pages, and other options, and duplicate albums are 50% off. HTH.

 

[griffitk]

If you''re looking for a photographer, try Craig''s List. We found ours (Phoenix based) on there and she has amazing photographs but has a young child and only shoots part-time so she uses it as a form of free advertising where she can control how many people she is willing to see/book. Her prices are about 1/2 that of a studio with similar quality and experience.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 8/17/2006 8:07:59 AM
Author: Blenheim

Hey, that''s my photographer!!

BTW, I''m getting married in the DC area in May. We''ve splurged (in our perspective) on the things that are most important to us (food/wine), and now I''m looking for reasonable prices on other things. Anyone know of a good florist?

ETA: His blog has more pictures on it, if you''re interested. I don''t think the prices for the albums are listed online, but they''re $700-1500 depending on size, # of pages, and other options, and duplicate albums are 50% off. HTH.

Cool. Yes. Umm... depending on how much you want to spend in the DC area... I know of a FABULOUS florist... extremely expensive though. http://www.philippatarrant.com/ Look through her site...her designs are just stunning IMO. Very modern. Monocromatic.

Otherwise... I''d call the Four Seasons for suggestions. Nor Greenworks. That''s my .02.

Craigslist is a great idea!!!

I''m on the blog NOW. Love the prices so... THANKS!