Fireworks,Video, and Photography Help

[Acksweetie]

I am getting married on November 9th, 2007. I was wondering who people used for their video and photography and what they liked or didn't like about them. I was also wondering if anyone added the fireworks package to their wedding? If so, did was it worth the extra cost?

Thanks for the help,
Amy

 

[Maggimus]

Everyone here LOVES Randy Chapman and his photography. He truely is amazing...

Before I speak further I encourage you to look at at Randy's work along with other competitors. Randy is highly spoken of here on the boards, but I want you to make a decision that you are comfortable with. I am Randy's biggest fan so you will hear me speak very highly of him. His work is phenomenal and seriously, cannot be beat.

Depending on the package you get from Randy will depend on the price.
If you go to www.chapmanphotography.com and go to "Disney brides" the password is "Ariel". You can look at those photos and see some examples of his work there (you might be surprised to see many DISers there). If you click on the botton it will say "wedding information"... there you can look at his prices. When comparing prices you will see that Randy is a GREAT investment.

Disney gives you very few photos and makes you pay approx $1000 for the CD. Where Randy, on the other hand, gives you a CD with all of your photos and you own the copywrite to the CD. He also gives you an album with (depending on the package) a great number of photos.

Here was my package-- to give you an idea.
-I paid $613 dollars for 3 hours of photography. He shot me getting ready at the WL, then at the ceremony (Sea Breeze Point- Boardwalk Resort),shot afterwards for the reception and Mickey and Minnie, and then we went for the remainder of the time to the Grand Floridian for some photos on the grounds there.
-We received the album with over 400+ photos. The album is beautiful and I could not be happier.
-He also sent the CD with every single photo he took of us on the day. We have been able to take this CD an get reprints for as low as .22cents (Compare that to any other photographer. Sometimes reprints can cost up to $70 dollars).

Randy is a great deal! Take a look at the photos he shot of my DH and I in my Trip Report. That link is in my signature and will give you an idea of his work.

Randy is the most artistic, tallented, individual I have ever met. He is very personable and really makes you feel as though you are well taken care of. I had no idea what was going on the day of my wedding and Randy did. He took control and even helped my DH and Dad get their clothes on correctly (haha ) before the wedding. He also answered all of our questions as to what we needed to do for the ceremony (something my WC hadnt really prepared us for).

I highly recommend Randy as an outside vendor.

Think of it like this

You get what you pay for. With Disney its already included but you get very very few photos and when you want more (those that they didnt give to you in your fold out)... that will add up (sometimes photos are $70 a piece. Wont all of the in-laws want atleast 1 photo?? How many photos is that-- it practically makes going with randy worth your money). His packages are so reasonable and you wont have to worry about years down the road having to get in touch with someone just to get a reprint of a photo that your child happened to rip up, or got knocked off the shelf and bent. You own the copywrite and the CD with all the photos are on it... its as easy as going to wally world-- popping it in the computer and getting a reprint for mearly pocket change.


But look this is the real thing, Im not someone who works for Randy nor do I know Randy outside of the photography that he shot for my wedding. Genually- hes all round tallented great guy.

Here are a few of my photos-- and if this dont convince you I dont know what will. I have said this many times and ill say it again-- im not bragging about me or my DH in these photos (if you read my TR you will see I wasnt exactly pleased with my looks on the day of the wedding).. but in all honesty, Randy Chapman could take fabulous photos of pigs playing in a pig pen...

I could continue posting great photos from Randy-- I have so very many! Let me know if you want to see more...I hope you make the same great decision I did...

 

[dmslush]

Maggie,

I never get tired of looking at your pictures!! Your photos are one of the main reasons why I booked Randy for our wedding!

 

[Maggimus]

Thank you-- I certainly dont do it for the compliments, but seriously Im just in awe of Randys tallent! I have our photographs throughout the house and I seriously dont know what I would have done if I had used someone else only to have wished I had went with him. I love telling other people about him because.... heck, everyone wants great Wedding Photographs-- its the one of the absolute most important keepsakes from your wedding day (beyonds the experience, rings, memories, etc).

Im glad I could help you! Good Luck on your upcoming wedding

 

[Acksweetie]

Your pictures are gorgeous!! Thanks so much requesting Champman, I will contact him today!

 

[hisprincess]

Maggimus, thank you for the great review of Randy Chapman. I have read your compliments on him in various threads and today I booked them to do my wedding. They are so incredibly nice! Your pictures are beautiful, and I am so glad that I listened to your advice already.

 

[Maggimus]

This is so awesome-- arent you so excited !! You really will be pleased with the results-- hes amazing and his work definately reflects that. Please come back and show us your photos once the wedding is over with-- I would LOVE to see how great they turn out.

 

[StephSFL]

I wish I had known about Randy before booking Disney! We are going to use him for our VR. Maggimus- amazing photos! Can't say how enough how wonderful they are.
We used Disney for photo and video, not too happy with the video- too much stock footage and not enough footage of our reception.

 

[Maggimus]

Steph, thanks for the compliments. its hard getting out of the planning mode-- DH and I have talked about a VR too! Have you decided how long you plan on waiting!! I know Ive said it before but congrats on your recent wedding-- you are absolutely gorgeous!

 

[Acksweetie]

Maggimus,
Thank you for such wonderful advice. I would like to ask you a few other questions.
Where did you have your reception?
Did you have someone come to the resort to do your hair and makeup? If you did who did you use and did you like them?

Thanks again,
Amy

 

[Maggimus]

I was an intimate bride so we didnt have a reception-- instead we went out to eat afterwards at O'hanas. Its a very relaxed enviroment, buffet style, but still very elegant and beautiful at the exact same time. There we watched wishes from the restaurant (you have a clear view of the MK) and they pipe in the music so you can hear the music with the fireworks. It was a great time. We had an at-home reception when we got home.

If you read my TR (located in my signature) you will see that I dont necessarily like how my hair and makeup was on my wedding day (I do comparison before & afters of my hair and makeup so you will see all of that-- its in the trip report)! I used a highly recommended vendor to come to my room before the wedding and do it. It looked okay- but wasnt what I wanted or asked for-- my colors werent right and my hair was different than what I wanted. Since my experience of using her (She was the absolute number one raved vendor at the time)-- I have seen many girls start using other vendors than the one I used. A lot of the girls are using Makeover Magic, Beauty Speciale, and there are a few others that I cant remember right now.

Good luck and feel free to always ask questions. Ill never turn you away and answer as honestly as I know how.

GL

 

[hisprincess]

This is so awesome-- arent you so excited !! You really will be pleased with the results-- hes amazing and his work definately reflects that. Please come back and show us your photos once the wedding is over with-- I would LOVE to see how great they turn out.

I am VERY excited! My wedding is March 4, 2008, so sometime after that I'll be sure to post my pics.

 

[aprincess72]

If you use an outside photographer what happens with the one included in your intimate package?

 

[princessdisneybelle]

If you use an outside photographer what happens with the one included in your intimate package?

They trade it for the Honeymoon shoot.

 

[dee slack]

you can direct trade if for the MK honeymoon shoot, or I believe you can pay $50 to have the honeymoon shoot in one of the other parks.

 

[hisprincess]

Does anybody have any advice for me. My wedding is March 4, 2008 at 2:30 at sunset point, and I was wondering, based on that, what time should I make reservations to eat? I am planning on cali. grill and am wondering how long it takes there to eat from the time of reservation till your walking out the door? I want to do the wishes cruise to watch the fireworks after dinner too, and I am freaking out about what time I should do each activity. I know it depends on the time of fireworks, but they do not have those times out yet. Thanks everyone.

 

[Skylarr29]

Does anybody have any advice for me. My wedding is March 4, 2008 at 2:30 at sunset point, and I was wondering, based on that, what time should I make reservations to eat? I am planning on Cali. grill and am wondering how long it takes there to eat from the time of reservation till your walking out the door? I want to do the wishes cruise to watch the fireworks after dinner too, and I am freaking out about what time I should do each activity. I know it depends on the time of fireworks, but they do not have those times out yet. Thanks everyone.

The fireworks schedule will be released 6 months prior (the same time you can make your ADR for California Grill and Wishes cruise ressie) so you will know what time they are before making your Cali Grill ressie. When you call to book your cruise they will tell you the time of the fireworks and then they can make your Cali Grill ressie at the same time so it will work out don't worry.

I would give yourself two hours to eat at the Cali Grill.. more than likely it would take about an hour or so but you don't want to be running late. I have done this 3 times from the Cali Grill and fireworks have always been at 9pm so we had to be at the Marina at about 8pm so we made dinner ressies for around 6:15pm both times and it worked. Started at the outer rim lounge until it was a few minutes before ressie time. then checked in and were called to take the elevator upstairs and seated immediately. Normally the restaurant isn't 'too' busy when they first open because it isn't close to Wishes time but as fireworks time gets closer that place can get packed. I would just make the first seating as to enjoy an uncrowded restaurant and then you can always spend some time on the balcony and walking around the resprt.

 

[Janet2k]

was wondering who people used for their video and photography and what they liked or didn't like about them. I was also wondering if anyone added the fireworks package to their wedding? If so, did was it worth the extra cost?

Acksweetie, I used Disney for my photography and videography needs. Two photographers photographed my ceremony and dinner party. They worked together as a team -- one took the more traditional shots while the other took the more photojournalistic shots. They did so because that was what I had asked them to do. And they did it beautifully. I couldn't have been more pleased.

I’m not sure what you meant by fireworks? If you are asking about adding fireworks to your Wedding Pavilion ceremony, I can’t answer that question since I didn’t do it. However, I did add a custom fireworks display to my FTW vow renewal's dinner party.

My dinner party was a progressive one that was held after-hours inside the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. The night ended with a custom fireworks display that Disney's Pyrotechnic folks had created just for us. I chose a song (that Disney had to bless) and they choreographed the fireworks to it.

I had kept the fireworks a secret from everyone except for my husband & our children. I actually didn't plan on telling them about it, either, but when Disney asked me for a song, I was stumped and thus had to turn to them for help (I swore them to secrecy). I must admit that having a custom fireworks display was the most ~magical~ way to celebrate 20 years of marriage.

I hope this helped.

 

[figmentfan814]

I am VERY excited! My wedding is March 4, 2008, so sometime after that I'll be sure to post my pics.

My wedding is March 3, 2008. It's exciting to meet another bride that will be down there at the same time

 

[Acksweetie]

Acksweetie, I used Disney for my photography and videography needs. Two photographers photographed my ceremony and dinner party. They worked together as a team -- one took the more traditional shots while the other took the more photojournalistic shots. They did so because that was what I had asked them to do. And they did it beautifully. I couldn't have been more pleased.

I’m not sure what you meant by fireworks? If you are asking about adding fireworks to your Wedding Pavilion ceremony, I can’t answer that question since I didn’t do it. However, I did add a custom fireworks display to my FTW vow renewal's dinner party.

My dinner party was a progressive one that was held after-hours inside the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. The night ended with a custom fireworks display that Disney's Pyrotechnic folks had created just for us. I chose a song (that Disney had to bless) and they choreographed the fireworks to it.

I had kept the fireworks a secret from everyone except for my husband & our children. I actually didn't plan on telling them about it, either, but when Disney asked me for a song, I was stumped and thus had to turn to them for help (I swore them to secrecy). I must admit that having a custom fireworks display was the most ~magical~ way to celebrate 20 years of marriage.

I hope this helped.

Janet2k, Thanks so much for your advice. Instead of the fireworks at the wedding pavillion, I am going to have a dessert party.
I bet the custom fireworks were beautiful and will have to consider that for our future return. Thanks again!!