Simcha newbie here - I need help with a cost breakdown pls!!

amother

Blue

Tue, Oct 23 2018, 12:37 pm

I am making a simcha IY"H for the first time, ever.
I have absolutely no clue whatsoever how much things should cost.
Can someone please help me with what a normal price is for the following:

-photographer (one person taking stills, no add-ons like a photo booth or whatnot) - does pricing usually go by the hour, by the party, something else? Does it cost extra to get an album/prints or digital pics? Does it cost extra to get table shots?

-videographer (again -does pricing usually go by the hour, by the party, something else? Does it cost extra to get an edited DVD?

-balloon centerpieces - does it go by the elaborateness (if that's a word) of the centerpiece? By table? Something else?

-DJ for Jewish music plus two dance 'motivators'

-invitations (is it better to try and get e-mail addresses and do paperless post or some other online invite)?

-benchers

This is for the NY area if that makes a difference.
bonus question: if you've made a simcha in NYC/LI recently and have any vendors to recommend I would appreciate it!!!
Thank you for your help! I wish I could invite you all!

doctorima

Tue, Oct 23 2018, 12:49 pm

Mazal tov! Take a deep breath; you're not the first one to do this, and you'll make it through just like the rest of them did. As for your questions, is this for a wedding or Bar Mitzvah? For weddings, the photographer (and possibly videographer) will likely have a standard package that includes prints and one album for the couple and a smaller one for each set of mechutanim. Table pics included.

For Bar Mitzvahs, it usually goes by the hour, and to save money, you can just get a CD with the pics that you can print or make into an album yourself. Video editing will usually not be included and costs more.

Centerpieces - usually priced per table, with price per unit varying based on "elaborateness"

Invitations - maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I really don't like e-invites. Considering how much you're spending on everything else, a couple hundred for traditional paper invites isn't a major expense and is much classier.

Bentchers - usually minimum order of 100, price per unit depends on how fancy it is

DJ - for wedding will be standard, for Bar Mitzvah probably per hour. No idea about dance motivators.

Hatzlacha, you can do it!

amother

Maroon

Tue, Oct 23 2018, 1:44 pm

amother wrote:

Bar Mitzvah

Any idea about actual prices? I need to start getting quotes but I have no idea what's cheap vs. normal vs. expensive vs. crazy astronomical!

Reach out to a few vendors who's work/style you like and compare.
A few photographers that I can name off the top of my head are:
Abbie Sophia
Srivki weisberg
Naftoli goldgrab

They are not the same style, but get quotes..

doctorima

Tue, Oct 23 2018, 3:03 pm

It really depends on your budget and priorities. You can get a photographer just to take stills before the event for $150 or less, or to stay for the entire event for $400-$500 (with a CD, prints are extra). You can find a one-man band for a few hundred, or get someone really popular and good for more. Centerpieces you can get from a gemach and needn't cost a lot. Bentchers should be $100-$150, invitations maybe double that (don't forget postage). The biggest expense will be the hall and caterer, which you didn't mention, as well as kiddush if you're making a nice one.

amother

Blue

Wed, Oct 24 2018, 10:55 am

bump

help appreciated please

I have a price quote for 200 an hour from a photographer and DJ is 900 for 3 hours
I have caterer quotes from 29 pp to 40 pp
are these prices normal in NY
is it possible to find cheaper but good and if so who