Weddingbee

Ok - before I begin this post, I just want to put a disclaimer out there and say that yes, I know it was an “unnecessary cost” in the grand scheme of what’s really important, but I just really really wanted one, ok?

With that said, I probably researched and received bids from about 7 different lighting/event companies in the Dallas metroplex area.

I was looking for someone who could provide the following services:
-monogram gobo for the dance floor (ok ok, I’m a lemming, but who cares?)
-pinspots for the centerpieces
-highlighting the cake table
-place ~20 round paper lanterns at different heights above the patio outside the glass wall panel (coming down from the downcans on the patio - not just hanging from a wire)

However, when it came to decision time, my choices were narrowed down to 3 main vendors:

1. Switch Dallas (referred to by Todd Events and highly recommended by my venue coordinator)
2. Lite Dallas (saw their ad in a local wedding magazine)
3. HPS Lighting (per the recommendation of a lovely bride, Lynda)

I whittled down my choices to these three based upon reputation, personal recommendations, portfolio, and value.

My mini-recap of my experiences with those respective companies:

1. Very professional, quick responses, knowledgeable, impressive reputation, and good/fair pricing. Their website is still under construction apparently, but I have seen their work on numerous occasions in wedding magazines and absolutely <3 what they do! They work with Todd Events, and judging from their portfolio, it’ll be fabulous. I also probably bugged the poor guy at least 3-4 times a week for the past 2 weeks with questions! But he was patient and very helpful! –> very important to have in a reliable vendor…

2. Impressive website (Preston Bailey event design flowers!), run by 2 relatively well-known individuals in the wedding industry in the Dallas area, some good/innovative ideas. However, I felt that their responses to my inquiries were very slow - I had to call about 4-5 times before I actually received any sort of answer, and then I had to wait over 2 weeks to get a simple basic quote at a venue that they have supposedly worked at a lot. I felt that they didn’t really care about me/getting my business, and that they charged a bit too much considering they weren’t that well-established as a lighting company (completely IMO). In the end, I just felt a bit miffed that I wasn’t getting the answers I needed - maybe it was the bridezilla in me coming out, but I expect an answer from my vendors in what I consider to be a reasonable time frame.

3. Small company, poor website/portfolio quality, but the guy was quick to respond, helpful, and offered crazy cheap pricing! The downside was that I didn’t know too much about his experience - he told me that he had done events at my venue before, but turns out, he only helped to set up the Christmas tree outside during the winter season - no events to speak of indoors where I’ll actually need the lighting. I felt a bit misled and in the end, I just felt it was better to go with someone with more experience and a good, solid reputation for great special event lighting. I’m not saying that I didn’t like his work - I just didn’t love it as much as I loved the company I ended up going with.

Can you tell which one I went with?

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