Don’t loose your sleep 
Every night half an hour before going to bed do something that doesn’t involve wedding preparations. Probably read a book or something. So when you sleep you really DO get to sleep. I remember during my time. I would literally wake up in the middle of the night & start thinking about my outfit or something regarding the wedding. During my last days I was just so tired. Anyways.
My experience with Syed Studio is such that if I were to do my wedding again I’ll book them as my wedding videographer & photographer. The are a little desified. I am gonna warn you about that one but in our case I almost loved my experience with them. This is how it went.
If you browse through GS I actually started a thread asking about Syed’s but no one responded to that one. Then I read another thread probably 3,4 years old where someone had recommended Syed’s to a Guppy. I actually pmed 5 different guppies & guppans. One never responded. One thought they were just okay. Other three highly recommended them. At the same time I had also read couple of bad reviews somewhere. I don’t know if it was GS or not. At that time I was more inclined on finding a non desi photographer as I wanted a more of a photo journalistic approach. I tried to find someone & was really confused. Then one day we were passing by Syed’s in Villa Park where me & my hubby decided to just check them out. I remembering before entering the studio I was like I am so not booking these guys for my wedding (all because of the confused reviews)
We just went in there without any appointment that is & Javed that’s the guy’s name he showed us some of his work. Also the different kinds of albums they offer & the price differences. I asked him a lot of questions as I had been researching what to ask a photographer/videographer when you see them. He answered all my questions & for the package I wanted quoted me $7000. We left the place telling him we’ll get in touch if we decide to book them & also let him knew that we were gonna check out 2 more people. (trick I have used with all vendors & venue people, they end up quoting you a better price when they find out they are in competition)
We checked out Zeerum & Murad. Zeerum guy was very nice but really disorganized which kinda put me off. He did quote us almost half of what Syed’s had. Murad was a big no no because of several reasons mentioned in the thread previously.
This was all during Christmas break. I went back to Houston & at that time was only satisfied with Syed’s. Also contacted Mili but as good as she is, she is really expensive. Also Twin Productions from NJ. They were already booked.
At the end with many email exchanges we decided Syed’s & booked them for $5000. They mailed my husband the contract & he paid the dep. over the phone. They also mailed him a questionnaire asking him what style of photography we wanted & blah blah.
Come wedding days. They were on time every day. Captured the event beautifully. If anyone decides Syed’s make sure you ask them that Javed personally does the photography. He is really good at it. Besides capturing details he also knew how to handle a desi crowd professionally which I don’t think a non desi would have been able to do that good. He was nice, a little stern at times yet very professional.
One bad thing that happened though is that on Shadi day me & hubby were supposed to go Downtown for a photo shoot before the event. Due to some unavoidable circumstances we couldn’t & that very day asked Syed’s if we could do it later some day. They were a little upset at that & told us that we can do it 2 days later but there will be an extra charge & on the photo shoot day we ended up being 1 hour late & he aksed us to pay $500 extra for being late & doing the photo shoot at a different day. My husband who was already upset that day because of many reasons & a traffic ticket actually didn’t bargain at all & dropped him a $500 check that evening. I do think we could have bargained it down to $300 & Syed would have agreed.
Other than that we got our wedding video 5 weeks back & they had done a good job but me being a prefectionist wanted some editing done. In the start they were a bit ohhh yeh to sahi & all that & my husband & brother had to really talk to them that whatever changes need to be made you should accommodate us properly as we have sent them customers & paid some good amount for everything. After a phone conversation & 2 emails back & forth they are working on the video again now. We should be getting it back anytime soon. can’t wait for that.
Just recently I got my wedding album. Its a flush mount & I LOVE it. They have done an excellent job on the album. You can look at the album & tell that they must have taken some good time in editing. Not that its my own wedding album & I am saying this but anyone we have showed it to so far says they haven’t seen anything like this before. My brother who is a graphic designer himself & initially thought I was wasting so much money on this whole photography thing finally said its so worth it & him being satisfied & talking about the album so many times really means something.
If I was in Chicago I would have offered you girls to show my album & video so you girls could get an idea but I have moved out of the state now.
Oh & they also threw in 2 smaller flush mount albums (copies of the bigger one) as a wedding gift to us
Other than that my advice to all the would be brides. Before finalizing any contract you can add many perks & the vendor will happily do it because they want to be booked. Any word a vendor gives should be written on the contract. It shouldn’t be “oh its between us. Don’t worry I’ll take care of you guys.”
Just an example when Syed’s sent us the contract it was missing how many dvds we would get & we emailed them & made sure that we add it in writing & then faxed a copy of it to them. There shouldn’t be any hesitation. This way you & the vendor is safe.
Long post I know. But hope this really helps.