I contracted a friend who provides videography and photograhy services to cover my wedding ceremony. He gave me 50% discount and since we are friend, I didn't sign any contract with him. He only committed to what our verbal agreement covers in many of our email correspondents. It is now three months after the wedding, he has not deliver nothing from what was discussed in our agreement and he has stopped answering my phone calls. He has been paid fully before the wedding ceremony.

I am avoiding taking him to court since we are friends but I also need to get my wedding video because family members are asking for it. Please advice me on how to proceed if I finally want to take him to court. We are not living in the same state. Can I sue a service provider outside my state or I have to sue him in the state where he registered his business. Thank you

Save all the emails and print them out.
He doesn't seem to be thinking ''Because we are friends I need to get these to her'' so don't be so easy on him either.

You can file suit in the jurisdiction where the work was done (namely where you got married). But you will have to serve him where he works.

I would also check with other videographers about the a normal time to return a wedding video. I'm not sure that 3 months is out of line. A videographer doesn't just take the video and transfer to a DVD. They will take the footage and edit it with titling etc, into a coherent production.

If you find that 3 months is a long time, then send him a registered letter stating that if he does not provide the services you contracted for within a set period (I would give him 2 weeks), then you will be forced to proceed with legal action.