Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

Brian Reed74 · 2006-07-20T23:03:31+00:00

Hi everyone! I’m finally joining the conversation🙂 I’ve been reading through some great ideas here, but the issue is that most of the good stuff seems to be co…

Morgan Stewart50 Active Member

70 messages
joined Oct 2007

#861 · Feb 17, 2009

Justin Martinez3 said:See, that’s really just a matter of personal taste. I actually had the chance to look at some work from Krizmanić Photography, and honestly? The DVD was great, but the actual photos... not so much. I don't know—everything with the wedding shots felt like it was coming out of the same mold, just the same old poses over and over again. It felt kind of lackluster. Then again, who knows? Maybe I just caught them on an off day when they were having a bit of a slump. Either way, for me, the DVD was fine, but the 👍 photos 👎 weren't quite there.

No offense intended, but that's just my honest 🙂 take on his photography style.

In my view, though, we aren't talking about subjective taste anymore, but rather the actual quality of a specific piece of work. I truly believe that there isn't a single photographer out there who hasn't messed something up at least once in their career! Ultimately, people choose what resonates with them, and let's be honest, price is usually the deciding factor for most folks. Also, I've noticed a bit of a trend: in my neck of the woods in the Midwest, photographers almost always double as videographers, whereas in places like Washington, D.C. or other major cities, they tend to hire a photographer and a videographer as two separate professionals.

Justin Martinez3 Active Member

127 messages
joined Nov 2008

#862 · Feb 17, 2009

At the end of the day, I really care about what the actual take-home pay looks like after everything is settled. But honestly, both Morgan Stewart50 and I are from the Midwest, so we know how things work out there.

Sandra Morgan7 Member

22 messages
joined Jan 2009

#863 · Feb 18, 2009

I’ve heard people raving about how great a digital zoom can be, but honestly, we ended up just hiring a local photographer and videographer out in Indianapolis instead..

Our guy is killing it with the video footage, but when it comes to the actual stills? I’m still on the fence. It’s kind of weird because there was this other person involved that we never actually met. The photos we've seen so far aren't bad, they're just... fine. Nothing to write home about, really.

Is the name Blitz? Anyone ever heard of them?😉

Zachary Booth3 Member

27 messages
joined Dec 2008

#864 · Feb 18, 2009

Morgan Stewart50 said:The Krizmanić Photography family studio is truly something else. They’re probably the most famous photographers in Columbus, and honestly, their calendar is booked so far in advance it feels like you need to schedule a session years ahead of time, haha! I mean, they are just incredibly high in demand... though I can't quite put my finger on where all their clients are coming from specifically...

Look, if you prefer plain and mediocre, go ahead and hire them..

Justin Martinez3 said:See, that’s really just a matter of personal taste. I actually had the chance to look at some work from Krizmanić Photography, and honestly? The DVD was great, but the actual photos... not so much. I don't know—everything with the wedding shots felt like it was coming out of the same mold, just the same old poses over and over again. It felt kind of lackluster. Then again, who knows? Maybe I just caught them on an off day when they were having a bit of a slump. Either way, for me, the DVD was fine, but the 👍 photos 👎 weren't quite there.

No offense intended, but that's just my honest 🙂 take on his photography style.

No one should be offended. This is a forum; everyone has different opinions and that's what it's for.

Angela Davis74 Active Member

101 messages
joined Aug 2008

#865 · Feb 18, 2009

Personally, I value physical photos more. There is something about flipping through an album that beats sitting in front of a TV screen. Of course, quality matters for both, but I prefer the tactile experience. I’ve never had any interest in watching wedding videos. Maybe it’s some lingering childhood resentment from being forced to sit through hours of someone else's wedding footage whenever we visited relatives.🤷 😬😬

Sandra Morgan7 Member

22 messages
joined Jan 2009

#866 · Feb 18, 2009

I’m right there with you... I honestly can't stand sitting through wedding videos anymore. Even though they've actually gotten shorter lately—like an hour or ninety minutes instead of those marathon four-hour slogs from back in the day! 😲

Photos are just better... especially if someone actually puts in the effort to curate them into a nice little album. 🙂

Morgan Stewart50 Active Member

70 messages
joined Oct 2007

#867 · Feb 18, 2009

I’ve always considered myself a rather plain and unassuming person by nature, but when it comes to our wedding guests, I simply insist on nothing less than absolute perfection. We strive to make everything flawless to the very best of our abilities. It isn’t just about hosting them; it’s about truly embracing them, and we certainly don't regret going all out. Honestly, I highly doubt we'll ever look back and wish we had done less! Of course, I have to be incredibly meticulous—just as I am with any other vendor, from the florist to the live band—to ensure every single detail is executed exactly as promised. That goes for the photographer as well, whether we end up working with Krizmanić or Hoyka and Mar Milin.

Justin Martinez3 Active Member

127 messages
joined Nov 2008

#868 · Feb 18, 2009

Morgan Stewart50;18889991 said:I usually pride myself on being pretty low-maintenance and laid back, but when it comes to our wedding, everything has to be absolutely flawless. We’re pushing ourselves to make sure it’s perfect—not just because we want it to look good, but because we feel like we've already committed to this vision. And honestly? No regrets. I highly doubt we'll ever regret going all out. Of course, I have to micromanage every single vendor just like anyone else would—from the florist to the band—to ensure everything goes strictly according to plan. That includes the photographer, whether it's someone like Krizmanić or Hoyka and mar Milin.]

At the end of the day, the only thing that actually matters is that you and your partner are happy with the final shots. If the finished product makes you both smile, then the job was done right—at least, that's my take on it. 😁

Angela Davis74 Active Member

101 messages
joined Aug 2008

#869 · Feb 18, 2009

Of course. I have no desire to deal with a terrible group of in-laws either. If things don't go exactly according to her vision, there will be nothing but trouble..😠😠😁😁

dustypanther12 Member

30 messages
joined Nov 2008

#870 · Feb 18, 2009

Krizmanić is capable of producing incredible work, but honestly, it really just comes down to how much effort he puts in and which specific crew he sends out to cover a wedding. In my experience, there seem to be about three or four different teams working under him. Sometimes they hit it out of the park with both the video and the photos, but other times, it’s just a total miss. For instance, looking through the photos from those third weddings I saw, there were three completely different styles of editing going on. To make matters worse, in some shots, every other guest looks like they’ve lost half their head due to poor framing. It makes me think there's really only one true professional in the mix here...
Then again, in those other weddings, everything looked absolutely perfect. It really wouldn't hurt to double-check which specific team is being assigned to your big day...

Zachary Booth3 Member

27 messages
joined Dec 2008

#871 · Feb 18, 2009

Angela Davis74 said:Personally, I value physical photos more. There is something about flipping through an album that beats sitting in front of a TV screen. Of course, quality matters for both, but I prefer the tactile experience. I’ve never had any interest in watching wedding videos. Maybe it’s some lingering childhood resentment from being forced to sit through hours of someone else's wedding footage whenever we visited relatives.🤷 😬😬

And that’s exactly the point. Fewer people are making those marathon multi-hour DVDs these days. Those days where you get a 5-hour disc are mostly gone.
Actually, they haven't vanished entirely because plenty of people still do it, but the trend is dying out.

It’s a lot of work—sitting there for hours just to hand something over to the newlyweds.
You have to edit the shots, assemble the DVD, pick out the highlights, and cut out all the dead air where the camera was just pointed at a wall or the floor.

I'm not calling anyone out specifically, but I am a perfectionist when it comes to this stuff. I can easily tell the difference between high-end production and mediocre work. It's like being able to tell the difference between a talented florist and someone who's just punching a clock.

Regardless, music is definitely one of the biggest factors in a successful wedding. If the food is bad but the band is killer, guests will stay entertained all night and won't even mention the catering. But if the music sucks and the guests spend the whole night moping and bored, they'll remember that forever.

Anyway, I think there's a massive selection of vendors available throughout the Midwest. No one should make a final decision after just one conversation with a venue, a photo studio, a florist, or a jeweler. Usually, there's up to a year between picking a date and the actual wedding, which is plenty of time to shop around and check everything out thoroughly. It’s work, and honestly, it can be a massive headache, but it beats regretting your choices later.

Angela Davis74 Active Member

101 messages
joined Aug 2008

#872 · Feb 18, 2009

I know things are shorter nowadays, and my photographer—who is also filming—is doing a great job. I don't personally care about a DVD; I have no use for one. However, if it’s included in the package price, I expect it to be done properly. As far as everything else goes, there are plenty of options here in the States. But I knew exactly what I wanted from the start, which is why I didn't waste time shopping around. We will still wander through a few places looking for wedding rings and a suit, though I doubt we'll find anything we actually like at those local ethnic boutiques🙂. You need to have a clear vision. If you are indecisive, vendors will just take advantage of you, and you'll end up miserable on your wedding day because the decor isn't what you imagined.
My brother had a disaster where they tried to DIY everything, leaving them with only one paid professional: the photographer. He was a complete catastrophe. In the church, a woman kept walking in front of the couple during the procession to take photos, while the videographer stood by the altar; the final footage was mostly just the back of the woman and the tops of the couple's heads. It was the same at the reception—they focused entirely on the couple and completely ignored the guests. Luckily, many of us had digital cameras, so we amateurs basically saved the day. They even tried to follow a specific choreography, announcing the timing so the videographer could prepare, yet he still ran out of tape right in the middle of the dance and had to swap it out. Who even uses tape cameras anymore? It was an absolute nightmare.

Morgan Stewart50 Active Member

70 messages
joined Oct 2007

#873 · Feb 18, 2009

dustypanther12 said:Krizmanić is capable of producing incredible work, but honestly, it really just comes down to how much effort he puts in and which specific crew he sends out to cover a wedding. In my experience, there seem to be about three or four different teams working under him. Sometimes they hit it out of the park with both the video and the photos, but other times, it’s just a total miss. For instance, looking through the photos from those third weddings I saw, there were three completely different styles of editing going on. To make matters worse, in some shots, every other guest looks like they’ve lost half their head due to poor framing. It makes me think there's really only one true professional in the mix here...
Then again, in those other weddings, everything looked absolutely perfect. It really wouldn't hurt to double-check which specific team is being assigned to your big day...

Well, we have already reached an agreement with him, specifically requesting that either he personally handles it or his son does. We made that a non-negotiable part of our deal, so there shouldn't be any issues at all.

placidowl20 Member

17 messages
joined Jan 2009

#874 · Feb 18, 2009

I was wondering if anyone here might have some experience working with Photo Inch or Mr. Korov? 🙂

placidowl20 Member

17 messages
joined Jan 2009

#875 · Feb 18, 2009

Sandra Morgan7 said:I ended up filling my bin too... though I have to admit, I actually managed to track down a flower shop 😁

Plus, this guy from Savannah was super helpful and walked me through everything we needed to do... so, yeah... I guess our trip wasn't a total waste of gas. Still, it kind of sucks that the fair was such a tiny little thing.

Does anyone know what a reasonable price for a wedding suit would be in Brooklyn? Or maybe in Indianapolis?
They seem pretty pricey in NYC, but I'm thinking we might find the exact same suit in Indy for a better deal.. 😉

Casey Hernandez21 Member

13 messages
joined Feb 2009

#876 · Feb 18, 2009

placidowl20 said:Does anyone know what a reasonable price for a wedding suit would be in Brooklyn? Or maybe in Indianapolis?
They seem pretty pricey in NYC, but I'm thinking we might find the exact same suit in Indy for a better deal.. 😉

Those prices usually cover just the $1167.
Keep in mind, that’s strictly for the suit itself—it doesn't include the shirt, the vest, or any other accessories.
I suspect those same price points apply in New York as well.

Sandra Morgan7 Member

22 messages
joined Jan 2009

#877 · Feb 19, 2009

So, this guy tells us a full setup—we're talking the suit, the socks, the shoes, the cuffs, the vest, all that jazz—is gonna run us about $1667... meanwhile, just the damn suit itself is sitting at like 3, 3.5 grand
.

Angela Davis74 Active Member

101 messages
joined Aug 2008

#878 · Feb 19, 2009

Would a suit, shirt, and tie exceed the $4,000 mark? I'm starting to worry about that. My husband can be... let's just say, rather tight-fisted when it comes to clothing expenses. I'll find a way to make him pay for it, though. 😬

Sandra Morgan7 Member

22 messages
joined Jan 2009

#879 · Feb 19, 2009

I mean, honestly? Probably not... but look, once a stylist gets their hands on you and tells you that you’re going to look like James Bond at a black-tie wedding... I bet your man would cough up $1667 😁
just to see it. 😉
Those pros really know their stuff.

Casey Hernandez21 Member

13 messages
joined Feb 2009

#880 · Feb 19, 2009

I wouldn't recommend trying to pick up everything you need while you're out in Appalachia. Their suits are actually fantastic, but if you want to save some money, you can definitely find better deals elsewhere—I've looked into it myself. Honestly, if you’re looking for shirts, cufflinks, or even a vest, you'll get much better value shopping in the States. You'll likely end up with the exact same quality as what they have in Appalachia, but at a much more reasonable price point. $500It's really just a matter of where you get the full
set.

Everything you need for a Midwest wedding

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