Beautiful Memories Blog | Hudson Valley Wedding Cinematography | New York Videographer

A Sweet Email from Tina: One of our 2006 Brides

2012-01-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

I was surprised and delighted to find this sweet email in my inbox this weekend and had to share it!

Hi Jenn:

It's been quite some time. I just thought of you and Mike and wanted to drop a hello. Stan and I were just feeling nostalgic and watched our wedding video. And I was gushing like a little baby.

There were so many things I didn't remember until the wedding video reminded me of it. I am so glad that I went ahead and decided on having a videographer for my wedding. At first I thought a video was just duplicative of photos, boy was I wrong- and glad I was wrong! I remember we had this exact conversation when I was planning my wedding. We had our first meeting and you told me that couples would tell you after the fact that they would have regretted not going with a video. I am now one of those couples as well!

The first thing that pulled at my heartstrings was seeing my grandfather in the video. He's older and significantly less mobile. And to see him in motion when he was well really got to me and brings back memories, happy ones. That's when it first made me realize how important it was to have my wedding day on video.

It's funny, my sister is now engaged, and going through the same process and she too is going through the budget and thinking of what to cut out... I've had the same conversation with her- that videos capture things that a still picture camera can't.

Was just feeling nostalgic and thought of you and how I really appreciated the excellent job you did on our wedding video.

All my best,

Tina

Allison + John: Wedding Day Highlights from Mohonk Mountain House

2011-12-09T11:47:00.001-05:00

Our latest wedding day highlights clip is from Allison and John's super fun wedding at the beautiful Mohonk Mountain House. I love the story of how they met in an arcade! It's both sweet and comical and it was important to me to make sure that their story was prominent in this clip. Hope you enjoy!

If you enjoyed this clip, please add a comment and/or write on our Facebook Wall (Don't forget to like us while you're there).

Trash the Dress: A Post Wedding Session in Ruins

2011-11-23T18:22:00.000-05:00

When Kristin and Dave got married, it was March. The weather was cold, the trees were bare and the last snowfall had just about melted. Kristin put so much effort into her look and the formal photography session was cut short because of the cold. I suggested to them that we go out again when the weather was warmer and do something fun.

Mike and I have always been fans of old buildings, forgotten spaces and history and Dave has been exploring abandoned buildings with his best friend, another Mike, since they were kids. When Dave met Kristin, she found it as fun and exciting to explore these places, so she joined along for a few trips. When they told me about the places they had been, I said we should use that as the theme for their shoot. I just love taking a bride and groom all dressed up and lovely to a place that is so non-traditional and, in some cases, dirty, grungy or wet for a wedding attire shoot (see our last Trash the Dress Session with Marissa + Justin). I couldn't resist getting the shots of her dress and her shoes before we began. How creepy cool do those shots look? By the way, if you haven't read the other posts on Kristin and Dave, Kristin made those sparkly shoes herself. Anyone want to place an order? They're phenomenal and they lasted the wedding day and this shoot and are still going strong. Great job, Kristin!

Mike Bowman, best friend, best man, co-photographer at their wedding and photographer for an awesome website, Desolate Places, was going to come along for the post shoot and be our connection to some of the places we would go. When the time came to go, Mike couldn't make it, so I reached out to one of our friends that I knew would be into the theme of this shoot, Cheryl Bolton-Reuter. Once she was on board, the five of us set out to choose some cool places to go.

The first stop was an abandoned warehouse that Kristin and Dave have been to with Mike. Totally cool, but also falling apart dangerous and completely creepy (dark areas where someone could come out of the darkness after you creepy, but there was also plenty of light to be found on the outside). Here are some stills from our film.

Though we could have spent all day there, we had a schedule to keep, so we moved onto our next location, the streets in the city of Beacon. Dave and Kristin are friends with the owner of The Beacon Cafe, so made a quick stop there in our travels to do some urban shots. While there, Kristin and Dave were serenaded by a famous opera singer from China. What an unexpected treat!

With other places to go, we headed out to our third location, The Cornish Estate. It was quite a hike to get there (a real hike, not a figure of speech), but once we saw it, we knew it was worth it! We were quite surprised to find that there was a crew there clearing away vines and grown in branches as part of a restoration project. We are so glad that people are taking the initiative to clean up and restore these local treasures. Among the volunteers in the crowd were Thom Johnson, who is also a member of the group restoring Bannerman's Island (He wrote a book about Bannerman's Island and has been seen on the show Off Limits telling the story about it) and Rob Yasinsac, who wrote the book Hudson Valley Ruins (along with Thomas Rinaldi). We have been following Rob's work for a long time, so it was quite a surprise and a genuine honor to meet both him and Thom while we were out that day! We own both of their books and highly recommend them to anyone with an interest in abandoned places and historic architecture. Here are some of the stills from our stop at the Cornish Estate.

The beautiful red rose bouquet was provided by Morgan's Florist in Poughkeepsie. Thank you to Steve for supplying these gorgeous roses to us at the very last minute and for the tips you provided to us for keeping them fresh as we worked with them all day long. They lasted for days after the shoot and made my kitchen smell and look great!

Kristin had a series of outfits with her that day. In fact, the back of my truck was jam packed with dresses, shoes, accessories and other fun stuff in addition to our gear. Sadly, we only had the time for one costume change that day. While at the Cornish Estate, she made a few changes. The first change was to add a pop of red with some red sparkle shoes and her wedding dress. After a series of shots, she changed from her wedding gown into her mother's wedding gown, which she wears as a costume when she attends the Renaissance Fair. It was fun to see her run around and play in her mom's dress. I'm a big fan of the long draping sleeves (my wedding dress had those too, just not nearly as long). What a great reuse for a wedding gown. It was so great to see it get some love!! Thanks to Kathleen for letting Kristin wear your beautiful dress. Below are shots of Kathleen wearing the dress 35 years ago and then Kristin wearing it this year in the woods.

Heavy rock walls with a dirt floor and no ceiling, a true ruin. This is such a beautiful place. The restoration group is trying to save this structure so it doesn't fall into complete disrepair like many of the old buildings in the area. Like others, this is a site where kids like to go to drink and party, leaving their trash and destruction behind. We hope their effort will save this structure from further disrepair so we can all continue to enjoy these marvelous structures.

Here is the Trash the Dress Film from our adventure with Kristin + Dave.

If you enjoyed this clip, please add a comment and/or write on our Facebook Wall (Don't forget to like us while you're there)

Again, we could have spent hours at the ruins, but we had one more stop to make. My Mike is a big fan of all things automotive and locomotive; classic cars, trains, big steam engines, or any other engine for that matter, etc... We find every opportunity we can to ride on, photograph and visit trains (we did a great trip to The Grand Canyon by train in an old Pullman Car). When Kristin and Dave said they knew where we could find some abandoned train cars, we jumped at the chance to go. Here are some of the stills from the video we shot while at the trains.

Not thinking it was possible to secure a florist in time to make flowers for our shoot on such short notice, I got my craft on to create the flowers in the photographs above and below. If only we had more time to organize some additional props, I would have brought more than the flowers and the Bride's Magazine Kristin is reading in the train shot. We shot so much footage that day that it was impossible to get it all in that one clip. Maybe when I have some time, I can look through the footage and edit a part two. Of course, there's always hope for an Anniversary shoot with all the other outfits Kristin didn't get to wear!

What a wonderful adventure!!! We were so happy to be take part and are so thankful to Kristin and Dave for being so willing enter dilapidated buildings, trek into the woods and sit on rusty train cars to do this shoot with us! Kristin, you looked as beautiful as you did on your wedding day and Dave, you really came out of your shell! Below is his impression of Jack Nicholson. "Here's Johnny!" We had so much fun spending the day with you and exploring new places and making new memories. I wish more couples were so brave to go out after their weddings to do shoots like this. It is a completely different experience from your wedding day. It's more relaxed, a lot more creative and you end up with the most phenomenal film and photos from it. It's liberating, freeing and expressive. It's true art! Don't just take it from me, here is what Kristin had to say about her experience.

Speaking of art, please check out this beautiful post by Cheryl Bolton-Reuter with some of the great photographs she took with us that day. We're so glad you were available, Cheryl! Thanks for coming along on this adventure with us! It's always a pleasure to have a like-minded and creative photographer along with us on these shoots!

For more from Kristin and Dave, you can check out Kristin's Bridal Prep and Kristin and Dave's Preview Clip.

Remember to leave a comment if you enjoyed this post!

Halloween Wedding Inspirations

2011-10-31T22:48:00.000-04:00

For those of you who don't know already, Michael and I were married on Halloween. We met at a friend's birthday gathering at a karaoke bar. These are friends associated with County Players Theater in Wappingers where I had been involved with several productions on stage and off before moving to New York City to pursue my career in film and TV. Michael was just starting to get involved with the technical side of the theater with the lighting crew and in lighting design just after I left. Coming from the theater and having hosted several years of Halloween Movie Nights at our home, we thought Halloween was an appropriate day for our wedding. We wanted to have a wedding that would celebrate our favorite holiday, but we didn't want it to be tacky or expected Halloween fare.

Our biggest fear about asking guests to come to a Halloween wedding in costume was that we would see some really bad costumes; wall to wall super heroes or comic villains, people dressed as babies or coming in pajamas or worst yet, the sexy sets; sexy witch, sexy nurse, French maid, etc... It was a wedding after all and we wanted elegant, not trashy.

To eliminate the bad costumes, we wanted to create a theme that was unique to us and would keep the elegance in our wedding. We decided to use Pre-20th Century Masquerade Ball with a touch of Dia De Los Muertos. With the theme being this specific, it ensured that we would get elegant dress (I added a little note with the invitations just in case). It also made it very easy for us to say yes to some elements and no to others that would have been tempting purchases.

We wanted everything to be about Halloween, but still maintain that level of elegance, so we had masks imported from Venice for our bridal party. The girls and guys wore these as they walked down the aisle instead of carrying flowers. It made for a more dramatic entrance for everyone and really fit the look of a masquerade. We knew that there would be some people that would feel weird about coming in a costume (grandparents especially), so we gave guests masks as favors. This way if they came in regular dress clothes and had a changed of heart, they could join in easily and not feel left out. Lots of people wore them all night long and most had them on for a least a little while. The favors were masks that I crafted myself or enhanced using stock masks from Columbia Costume Shop. Just about every element of our wedding had our hands in it or our personalities on it.

To celebrate Dia de Los Muertos (which actually began the next day), we had an alter set up with candles, decorations and photos of our relatives and pets who had passed away. This was only a small alter compared to what people generally do to celebrate this holiday. It also includes making candy sugar skulls and decorating them with vibrant colors (that was a DIY project that I ran out of time for), adding lots of marigolds (which weren't available here by the time our wedding day came around), your relatives favorite foods (which would have been messy) and other personal items. Our families especially appreciated the display and guests spent time looking at all the photos even though they may never have met those pictured. This was our way of having the people we lost close to us on our wedding day. Even though my dad wasn't there to walk me down the aisle, he was watching over my shoulder all night along with all the other members of our families we wished could have been there.

My grandmother has made cakes for everyone's birthdays and anniversaries for as long as I can remember. She loves to bake and we love her cakes, so we asked her to bake our wedding cake. She was not crazy about the whole Halloween idea, so she started to buy Martha Stewart books on cake decorating to make an elegant cake. After some convincing by the rest of my family, she embraced the idea and gave us pumpkins, leaves and ghost garland. She had to include the tiers to make it look like a real wedding cake, but it was delicious and made with love. It was so delicate that our cake topper couldn't be placed on top, but she was probably happy about that. :)

Instead of floral centerpieces, we did glass mosaic lanterns with the silhouette of ghosts and pumpkins. They were given away at the end of the night to the guest whose birthday was closest to our wedding day. Even though my sister and grandmother were at the same table and my sister's birthday was the closest to our wedding and won that centerpiece, my grandmother managed to obtain two. She's very proud of them, tells everyone where she got them and lights them every year on Halloween. Glad to see they're getting some good use. We still have ours too. I often wonder if anyone else kept their lanterns and masks (besides my mom who kept one of everything from our wedding).

Some personal touches we had that you don't see here:

- We wanted to have candles on our aisle, but I didn't want them on the ground; I was worried that my dress would catch on fire. So my wonderful Michael built rustic candle holders that would accept a tall candles in a glass vase. They looked great, everyone could enjoy them and no fire hazard!

- Vampire brand wine was the only wine at our wedding. We couldn't believe there was such a thing when we found it and it was perfect for our wedding. At the time, we had to have it shipped in. Since our wedding, it has become more popular and you can find it in local stores this time of year. Michael is a beer enthusiast, so he had a selection of great beers for our guest as well. Things you never see at a wedding like Old Speckled Hen, Pilsner Urquell, Spaten and Sam Adams Octoberfest.

- We named our tables for all things Halloween. Because we have a black cat, our sweetheart table was the black cat table (he was going to be our ring bearer, but the BnB owners had a dog). The rest of the tables were named for classic horror movie characters; Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy etc... It was right in keeping with our Halloween Movie nights.

- We asked our DJ to stay clear of all the typical Halloween songs that people expected to hear, especially "Monster Mash". One song that was a must play was "The Time Warp" from the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" because we had shown that at our house and all of our friends knew the dance. It was a crowd pleasing moment with lots of fun - our answer to "The Electric Slide" which was also on our Do Not Play list. We also requested the "Mexican Hat Dance" because we thought it was a dance you don't see very often at weddings. Our DJ threw out a sombrero and started the music. Guests rushed the floor and joined in immediately. Everyone loved it! To this day, we haven't seen this done at another wedding.

Anything I wished I could have done differently?

- I wished I'd given myself more time to do my DIY projects. DIY takes A LOT of time, so much more than you realize. If you think a project will take you a week, give yourself three. I made my necklace and that took me a long time and then countless hours on the masks. If you plan to DIY, my advice, start asap and make sure you do the crucial stuff first, even if you think something will only take you a couple of hours.

- I wished we had more money in our budget for decor. I would have loved to have done some custom lighting (which wasn't popular at the time, but we have always been big fans), draping or other things to alter the look of our venue. Don't get me wrong, our venue is beautiful and we absolutely loved it, but today, I might add something more that would really make the space our own besides the smaller items we brought in.

- I wished I hadn't listened to our caterer's linen advice. When we had the linens discussion, his first comment was "I hope you're not doing the same old tired colors" (orange, black, red). All the colors I loved and wanted. I shouldn't have let him convince me to do white table cloths. If I could do it again, they would have been black or red to make the plates and other things on the table top pop. White was just too clean and proper for our wedding.

Maybe we'll make up for these with a renewal ceremony some day.

One final note, if you want to have your wedding on Halloween, don't let anyone tell you it's a bad idea. When some people heard our wedding was going to be on Halloween, they had all kinds of comments for us. The top among them was that we would have a cold, wet and rainy day. Unlike this year's snowy Halloween, many are actually beautiful. We may have been luckier than most getting married on Halloween. It was 70 degrees and partly cloudy on our wedding day with a beautiful purple sky as we said our vows which turned to a red colored sunset.

No matter when you get married or what anyone says, think positive, stay true to your vision and hope for only the best. Hope this inspires some other Halloween weddings.

If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment here on the blog and/or our Facebook Page.

Looking for more Halloween Wedding Ideas? Check out these posts I found!

http://www.bridalguide.com/blogs/bridal-buzz/halloween-wedding-ideas
http://www.bridalguide.com/blogs/bridal-buzz/halloween-wedding-cakes
Masquerade Wedding in Florida 2010
Corpse Bride Glam Halloween Wedding

Kate + Tony: A Preview

2011-10-21T15:09:00.001-04:00

The secret to having a great wedding is not in the location, the dress you wear, the decor of the room, the food you eat, the cake you bake or all the tiny details. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love all of the above and it adds a tremendous amount to the experience, especially when the details are personal, but without one key element from the couple, it's just not quite right. Kate and Tony had the locations, the dress, the personal details, etc..., but they also had that one key element, the spark.

From the moment Kate arrived at St. Mary's Church in Wappingers Falls for the ceremony, she was glowing, excited and ready to get married! She was dancing outside the limo, dancing in the vestibule of the church, dancing at the alter (as you'll see in the preview) and dancing outside the church when the ceremony was over. She was a ball full of energy from the beginning to the end of the day and when she and Tony finally got to see each other that day, it multiplied and spread to their guests. It was clear to everyone present that this was one very happy couple. In fact, I don't think there is a single shot from the entire wedding day where Kate and Tony aren't smiling, dancing, laughing or having a great time!

Every couple is happy on their wedding day without a doubt, but you don't see energetic bursts of continuous joy like this all the time. Once the two of them were together in the church, their energy and the presence of love between the two of them became infectious to everyone around them. It was electric! From the moment Kate and Tony said their vows to the very last dance at their reception at The Links at Union Vale, it was hard for guests to not get caught up in the intense feeling of love and joy. To look at their smiles put a smile on your face and seeing them having fun on the dance floor made you want to join in. That spark drove the entire day and made their wedding one that guests won't easily forget. It was abundantly clear to everyone at the wedding that these two are very much in love, super happy when they're together and have a lot of fun being around each other! It's this infectious joy and energy that really makes a wedding memorable!

I usually write up a long post about our weddings showing all the many details, but to me, Kate and Tony's wedding was really all about two very simple and pure things; the love Kate and Tony have for each other and their want to celebrate their love with family and friends in a really big way! I honestly can't describe the feeling or atmosphere of their wedding better than the looks on their faces or the energy these two had all day can.

Here is a preview clip from Kate and Tony's wedding day!

It puts a smile on my face every time I watch it. Hopefully it will do the same for you!

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave a comment here on our blog and/or on our Facebook Wall (Don't forget to "like us" while you're there).

Congratulations to Kate and Tony! May the joy and love of your wedding day remain with you both for the rest of your lives!

A Sweet Thank You Note

2011-10-20T19:20:00.000-04:00

It's always so great to hear back such wonderful comments from our couples, but especially when it's so soon after their wedding! Here is a sweet note we received from Lisa-Marie whose wedding was last Saturday at the Highlands Country Club.

Jenn,

Although this is not my “official” thank you I wanted to let you know how happy Patrick and I were at the wedding. When I told Patrick before the wedding I wanted the videographer he was really not loving the idea of someone putting a camera in his face. He told me afterwards he was so impressed with how you guys filmed. We are so excited to see the end result.

We plan to do out hand writing thank you notes and vendor reviews within the next few weeks but I was so happy with everything I had to tell you sooner.

Thanks again,

Lisa-Marie

It means so much to us to hear comments like this!! It means even more that Lisa-Marie felt compelled to send us this message right away! We try so hard not to be that stereotypical videographer everyone fears, so it makes us feel good when we hear that we were able to make a skeptical groom feel comfortable with us filming him.

Thank you, Lisa-Marie for sending us such a lovely note and thanks to you and Patrick for having us there with you on your wedding day!

Kristin + Dave Trash the Dress: A Love Note

2011-09-26T11:18:00.000-04:00

Trash the Dress and Post Wedding sessions do more than just give you an opportunity to wear your dress again (and the guys can come too!). It also gives you some great shots and footage for your wedding film that will be unique to you based on where you go and what you do. It is beautiful to see and empowering to do (like supermodel for a day). No one ever expects to have as much fun as we do on these types of shoots. With nothing to loose and everything to gain, including images like the one below (and a video soon to come), why doesn't everyone jump at the chance to go out and do it?!?!

A sweet Thank You note to prove this point follows:

Jenn, Mike and Cheryl,

Dave and I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Today was an amazing experience and we couldn't have dreamt of anything better. You made us feel so special and really took the time to make each shot perfect. It was a pleasure to work with such professionals with a passion for what they do. It really shines through in your work. It is a day we will never forget and we can't wait to see the stunning results from our adventure. Your planning, research, patience and sense of adventure really made this a spectacular day!!!

Thanks again!

Kristin + Dave

Kristin + Dave,

We were so honored to take part in this adventure with you. I don't know who had more fun, you guys or us, but I do know that the photos and video we created together that day will be special for you in so many ways. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to do what we love, filming couples in love having a great time, and in such unique and fun places too!

There will be more posts to come on this adventure.

Lauren + Mike's Grandview Wedding Preview

2011-09-23T11:39:00.000-04:00

We were so excited for Lauren and Mike's wedding to arrive! It wasn't just because they are so adorable and sweet and that after meeting with them, getting to know them and learning about all the plans for their day we were anxious to see it all come together. It was also because we would be reunited with some friends we haven't worked with in a while, photographer Lori O'Toole and Stephanie and Jeff from The DJ Solution, and were super excited to be teamed up again.

We began the day with Lauren and Mike at Locust Grove as they had their First Look and Formal Photography with Lori O'Toole. What a beautiful location for photos! So many different areas to work with from the gardens and greenhouse to the home itself and the river view, there is so much to work with on this property that you could spend an entire day and not be done finding new and interesting spots.

Lauren and Mike were like pros as they were getting their pictures done. Having been out with Lori for their engagement photos, they felt at ease with the cameras on them and knew exactly what to do. At one point, Lori said to them, "snuggle spontaneously", they laughed and then did just that! Since they were up for having some fun with the shots, we had them walking and running around the grounds for us. The skies were blue, the clouds were billowy and the lighting was perfect. It all made for some really pretty shots and some great footage for their wedding film. Please check out Lori's stunning photographs from their beautiful wedding.

Lauren could have put Aphrodite to shame. She looked simply elegant in her chiffon dress by Maggie Sottero. I'm a big fan of light weight dresses for a summer wedding and this dress was the perfect gown for a hot July day. Chiffon looks great no matter what you do with it. It drapes naturally, looks ethereal as you walk and when a breeze hits it, phenomenal. What goes better with a beautiful and flowing chiffon gown than a pair of Jimmy Choo sandals? Not to be outdone, Mike was handsomely dressed in a smart gray suit and tie, but the best part of his attire had to be the awesome green and aqua argyle socks! So fun!!

Being the first in their group of friends to get married, we weren't sure what to expect from their bridal party. Most first timers just want to get to the party and have no interest in posing for pictures, but this group was quite the opposite, especially the guys. Totally unexpected. They were all so much fun and absolutely willing, even going so far as to suggest what they could do for a picture!! The boys kept asking us if they could do a shot with flair. Lori and I weren't completely sure where they were going, but we're game for fun. In the photos above, the lovely ladies on the porch and the guys on the lawn, with their flair (as requested).

Once we all had our fill of picture taking, it was time to get to The Grandview for their ceremony which took place on the patio overlooking the Hudson River.

Lauren's mom walked her down the isle as The Dorian Quartet played "Here Comes the Bride". Father Rich Hasselbach performed the ceremony which was both sweet and entertaining. At one point he made mention of the weather and said, "Thank you, Lord, for sending the cloud and the breeze". It was a much needed break from the sun and just in time for their vows. One of my favorite parts of their ceremony (besides the pronouncement, always my absolute favorite part) was their recessional. Lauren and Mike walked out to the quartet playing "Ants Marching" by Dave Matthews Band. Never heard it before on strings alone and it was quite unexpected and very impressive. I love when couples add personal touches like that!

Here is a preview clip of Lauren + Mike's wedding. I felt it appropriate to use DMB since they're big fans. Hope you enjoy!

If you enjoyed this clip, please post a comment here on our blog and/or on our Facebook Page (don't forget to "like us" while you're there).

Cocktail hour began the moment guests left the ceremony patio and were greeted at door with several beverage choices. The Grandview always does a fantastic job with service and getting the party started right away. Another area they excel at is presentation. Have a look at some of these stills. Above is the seafood bar complete with fish ice sculpture and bottom lit ice table covered with Colossal Shrimp, Oyster Shooters, and Littleneck Clams. My favorite; the Seafood Martini. How pretty!

The fruit at The Grandview always looks too pretty to eat, but is also so fresh and delicious. I love that Lauren and Mike also included some good old comfort food at their cocktail hour, expertly dressed up for a wedding by The Grandview, of course. How cute are those sliders and the mini mac and cheese plates?

The tables in the ballroom were adorned with one of two types of centerpieces by Flowers by David Anthony. The table numbers were very personal; double sided, tri-fold frames with the table number in the center and a picture of Lauren on the left and Mike on the right. Great idea! My favorite picture had to be the very special one at the sweetheart table of the two family members who had to stay at home for the night. (Mason, on the right, makes a special appearance in their engagement photos by Lori O'Toole).

The amber glow of Lauren and Mike's reception, designed by Hourglass Lighting, was both beautiful and dramatic. Uplighting completely changes the look of any ballroom. I love when a reception space has more than just the ambient lighting. Uplighting makes the room pop and makes everything in the room stand out more. As you'll see in the stills above and below, uplighting creates depth and drama.

By the end of the cocktail hour, everyone in the crowd was ready for a party and who better to deliver than Stephanie and Jeff from The DJ Solution. Fresh from playing acoustic guitar during the cocktail hour, Jeff took his place at the controls as Stephanie got the crowd ready for the bridal party entrances. Check out Stephanie's post about this wedding on her blog where she writes about how Lauren and Mike personalized their entrance. I'll have to dedicate another post to the dancing at this wedding because stills just won't do it justice. Everyone had so much fun and were all so full of energy all night long!

Who can resist pictures by the water? Lori and I grabbed Lauren and Mike for a quick set of shots on the docks and sidewalk at the marina. When we did the photo below, Lauren said that this was probably Mike's favorite part of the day so far because he got to just lie down and relax. Sometimes you need to just have a short break away from the crowd just to be together on your wedding day and while you do it, why not have a few photos taken. It does look very relaxing.

One last surprise Lauren and Mike had for their guests was the Viennese Hour. They stood behind a curtain and as it rose, music was playing and flames came up from the ice cream station. Talk about drama! That was only the beginning though. Look at all the precious little treats below! Heart shaped individual cakes, mini cupcakes and creme brulee just to start.

These sweet treats were yet another clever presentation by The Grandview. Who can choose between fresh peaches (below on the left) and sweet desserts made to look like them (on the right)? Fresh fruit tarts covered with powdered sugar and stuffed chocolate chip cookies, there really was something here for everyone no matter the level of your sweet tooth.

There were several stations set up including the ice cream sundae station, a coffee and dessert drinks station, the many tables of cakes, pastries and cookies, but probably the most fun was the chocolate fountain. Most people would expect to see strawberries, bananas and marshmallows, but the Twinkies and Ring Dings were a surprise. I'm positive that no one left this wedding hungry.

I'm sure there will be another post on this wedding since there was just too much to fit in this one (even if only to show off some of the dancing and reception fun). Congratulations to Lauren and Mike for setting a high standard for the rest of their friends by pulling off a fabulous wedding!

The Production Team

The Wedding Location: The Grandview
The Picture Location: Locust Grove
The Flowers: Flowers by David Anthony
The Officiant:Father Rich Hasselbach
The Photographer: Lori O'Toole Photography
The Ceremony Musicians: The Dorian Quartet
The Officiant: Father Rich Hasselbach
The Uplighting: Hourglass Lighting
The DJ + MC: The DJ Solution

Please, don't forget to leave a comment for us below.

Kristin's Bridal Preparations

2011-09-17T08:48:00.002-04:00

It always surprises me when some bride's say that they don't want to have their bridal preparation caught on film. If photographs of this part of the wedding are so important, why wouldn't the actions and sounds be equally important? Hopefully this bride's prep will have more bride's thinking it's important to have video there.

I am completely in love with Kristin's Bridal Prep segment! It has the beautiful dress, the spectacular shoes, all the blingy details and of course all the girls sharing the excitement along with her (especially her adorable little girl, Scarlett). I hope you enjoy it as well!

If you enjoyed this clip, please make a comment here on the blog and/or post to our Facebook Page.

Jessica + Lee: Great Time at the Grandview

2011-08-09T13:08:00.000-04:00

Jessica looking out the window at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel before leaving for the church

Jessica and Lee were married at the United Methodist Church in Poughkeepsie and had their reception at The Grandview. We first met Jessica when we filmed Kristin and Hunter's wedding in 2008 when she was one of Kristin's bridesmaids. This time their roles were reversed. We were looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces and we weren't disappointed! What a great group of family and friends! We felt so privileged to be a part of their wedding!

Jessica and Lee's rings and invitation

Just Married!

I had been anxiously awaiting this wedding since our first conversations with Jessica and Lee. From the color scheme she described to all of her ideas for the details, big and small, she made me excited to see it all come together.

Our day started with Jessica and Lee as they were getting ready. I can't wait to get to edit all the footage from Jessica's Bride's prep together for their final film. Jessica and the girls all had so much fun together that morning (as seen in the preview clip below).


Jessica's beautiful Sottero and Midgley gown!

Jessica's Sottero and Midgley dress was beautiful! The bodice was covered in lots of intricate, sparkly, beaded detail. The back was a lace up closure. The fabric had a sheen that intensified the sparkle in the bead work as well as all the sparkle of the jewelry that she wore. It was a gorgeous dress and she look radiant in it!

Bracelet and Engagement Ring

Wedding Day gift from Lee to Jessica.

Jessica's jewelry was a mix of old, new and very new. The bracelet pictured was given to her by Lee the night before the wedding and was followed by the set above the morning of the wedding. But that wasn't all folks! At the alter as they exchanged rings, Lee gave Jessica one last new piece of jewelry. A wedding band different from the one she was expecting to see. All the guests saw was Jessica's look of surprise followed by a slap on Lee's arm. The guests burst out in laughter. It wasn't until later that we all found out what he had done. Jessica's engagement ring is pictured above next to her bracelet, but if you want to see the wedding band with it, you can see the picture above with both of her rings as well as Lee's wedding band. When you get a look at Lee's wedding band, you'll see the bride wasn't the only one with some bling.

Great Grandma's ring with Jessica's Engagement Ring and the Headpiece she wore.

Jessica's Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue was a mix of her things with family heirlooms. Her Something New was her dress, of course. Her Something Old was her great grandmother's ring seen in the photo above with her engagement ring in the background. Her something borrowed was a family heirloom handkerchief passed down through many generations on her mother's side of the family. It's pictured below with her great grandmother's ring, seen peeking out of her something blue, the fabulous shoes she wore under her dress. I love that brides are going less traditional with their shoes and allowing for a touch of personality and vibrant color! The last piece pictured above is her headpiece. All beautiful details for a beautiful bride!

Jessica's Awesome shoes, Great Grandma's Ring again with a family heirloom handkerchief, Engagement Ring and Shoes

Jessica did all her prep at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, hair, make-up and getting dressed. It was a good thing they had use of two adjoining rooms and one across the hall. All the bridesmaids and her parents were there with her as well as myself, her photographer (Kristine Palmer), her hair stylist (Maria) and her Make-up artist (Amy from MAC). Every time a bride gets into her gown and the girls are helping her, someone inevitably asks, "How many people does it take to get a bride dressed". The answer, for any of you wondering, is everyone in the room and nearby. Most gowns are more tricky than you would think. As Jessica got into her gown, she had one girl holding the dress in place while her mom and two other bridesmaids worked on the lacing in the back. For good measure, there were two other bridesmaids standing close by in case they needed an extra set of hands for anything and more on the bed at the side ready to grab anything they asked for. It was a group effort very well done!

No matter how many weddings we film, I'm still amazed by the transformation that happens to our brides!! When we first meet them, they come dressed in their normal, everyday clothes with hair and make-up done the way they normally have it and they look great. They are excited to talk with us about their wedding and constantly smile throughout the meeting.

On the day of their wedding, they get into their gown and there is a unique glow that washes over every single one of our brides and we're so glad we get to see this. Of course, they look fabulous; that goes without saying. What you don't expect is for this already happy girl to get even happier. Her smiles are brighter and the excitement is infectious. Even though there are nerves sometimes present, it can't overcome this glow!

When you have this phenomenon paired with awesome lighting and a room full of people close to the bride, it's really hard for me to stop shooting. These are the moments that the bride, her husband and the family will look back on years down the road. As you can see in the stills below, Jessica was an absolutely stunning bride!!

Photo op before leaving for the church

This was our first time working with Kristine Palmer Photography and we had a great time working alongside her! She was as enthusiastic as we were about capturing all of the details and the fun that day. She was easy to work with and fun to be around! Please check out Kristine Palmer's Pictures of Jessica and Lee's wedding on her Facebook Page. Though all her shots are beautiful, a must see is the shot she took of Jessica and Lee on the dock outside The Grandview. Absolutely perfect shot!!

The day was very emotional for a lot of people, but the most outward show of emotion came from Jessica's sister. Her toast as maid of honor at the wedding was one of both sincere sentiment and comedic wit (I wish I could have fit it into the preview clip, but there will be more posts to come on this wedding, I'm sure).

She spoke about their time growing up together and called Jessica her role model. Later she told the tale of how Lee approached the subject of marrying Jessica with their father while on a hunting trip. She called Lee brave.

They also shared a touching moment together in the elevator on their way out of the hotel that only Kristine and I were witness to. They had a few glances at each other that was like a conversation in and of itself, like they knew what the other was thinking. Then before anyone could cry, there was a smile and a kiss for good luck! It's moments like these that I'm happy to be there with the camera rolling! There moments are priceless!

Here is the preview clip from Jessica and Lee's wedding. If you are a wedding peep checking my post out, you may see a familiar face dancing in the crowd at the reception near the end of the clip. This must be the year for professional photographer cameos!

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave a comment here on our blog and/or on the wall of our Facebook Page and please remember to "like us" while you're there!

Here are just a few of the details from Jessica and Lee's Grandview reception. What a beautiful set up! One of my favorites was the grass and petals with the escort cards. Vibrant pink next to a fresh grassy green. How could you go wrong? The centerpieces from The Greenhouse at Rhinbeck were gorgeous; tall, full, earthy and very dramatic. Not like your standard, everyday centerpiece.

Uplighting is really becoming popular at weddings and I'm glad to see it! When you add uplighting to your decor, you can transform any room into your unique space. The lighting and monogram gobo, supplied by their DJ Enriquez Entertainment, added to the drama and washed the walls in a purple glow. There is nothing that adds mood to a room more than lighting. The first thing most people think of for a romantic mood is candles, right? Well it's for good reason. The soft, warm glow sets a mood. Lighting is so important!

Candles on the tables with clear "bubbles" and a close up of the rock and moss detail in the centerpieces

The four-tier cake was topped with a heart engraved with their names and wedding date

It has become a tradition for this group of friends to begin their reception with high-energy entrances. The music was pumping and with each introduction the stunts got more elaborate (I didn't pull stills for all these, but just to give you a few examples; one pose a la Charlie's Angels, two awesome piggy back rides and one groomsmen that attempted to pull a switch-a-roo on a bridesmaid last minute by twirling into her, but she won in the end). You'd think that after all that, Jessica and Lee would be upstaged, but no! They tore into the room together to The Time by The Black Eyed Peas like an explosion of unrestrained excitement and began dancing as soon as they reached the floor. When things calmed down, they began their emotional first dance.

Above I mentioned Jessica's sister's toast, but Lee's brother also gave a toast to remember. One of the most memorable comments was about Lee dating Jessica and how he introduced her to the family and friends. His brother started to notice that an increasing number of his friends were coming back to him talking about this girl his brother was dating. He said, "He's dating this girl. That's great. I haven't met her. That's screwed up". After thinking about the order in which the friends were introduced to her, he said he "realized what Lee was doing. He was breaking her in!". The crowd broke into hysterical laughter!

One last memorable moment from this very memorable reception; Jessica and her Dad shared a surprise parent dance. They started off dancing to Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, but after a short time, they were performing their best air guitar to Back in Black by AC/DC and showing off their favorite dance moves to Hey Ya by OutKast. It was a real crowd pleaser!

Jessica and Lee, congratulations on a beautiful wedding day! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of it!

The Details

Ceremony Location: United Methodist Church, Poughkeepsie, NY
Reception Location: The Grandview, Poughkeepsie, NY
Photographer: Kristine Palmer Photography
DJ and MC: Andrew Enriquez, Enriquez Entertainment
Florist/Centerpieces: Craig from the Greenhouse at Rhinbeck
Jessica's Dress: Sottero and Midgley

Melissa + Rob: Take Two at Marist and The Walkway Over the Hudson

2011-07-20T12:26:00.000-04:00

You can plan every last detail of your wedding from the venue down to the type of fork you eat with, but one thing you can never plan for is the weather. When Melissa and Rob got married, it rained, so their plans to do photos at Marist College, where they met, changed last minute to group photos in the church and a quick set of photos during cocktail hour when the rain let up.

We wanted to make sure that they had the photo session they intended for their video, so we took them out the following week for a post wedding session with their photographer, Annette. The great thing about a post wedding shoot is you can take your time and do things you would never dream of doing on your wedding day for fear of getting dirty or mussed up. You also have all the time you want, so no rushing to fit it all in. It's all very relaxed and fun and you end up with video footage and photos that might not have been possible on the day of your wedding.

Since Melissa was taking the time to get back in her gown for a second time, I showed up early to grab some shots of her getting back in the dress to start this "Take Two" segment. When we got to talking about it, I suggested to them that we do more than one location since she was already dressed. I offered them the opportunity to include a stop at the Walkway Over the Hudson as well since that is where Rob proposed to Melissa. Once we got them out there, they were having so much fun, they would have agreed to go anywhere in their wedding attire.

There will be plenty more to come from their wedding day, but for now, here is

Melissa and Rob's Take Two session at Marist College and the Walkway Over the Hudson.

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave a comment here on our blog and/or on our Facebook Page (don't forget to "like us" while you're there).

Anytime we've had a bride and groom on the walkway it's been great. The crowds are so welcoming and warm. We had several people give them well wishes and ask to take pictures of them and with them, but the group that really struck us were the cousins visiting from Florida that were creating a human chain across the walkway for a photo. They asked if Melissa and Rob would join them for a photo. What fun!

We're so glad that Melissa and Rob decided to go out with us! We were so excited to go out and shoot it!! It was so much fun and the footage is priceless!

Allison + John: The Time of Their Lives at Mohonk Mountain House

2011-07-19T13:52:00.001-04:00

Allison and John were married at Mohonk Mountain House, one of our favorite places. With it's breath-taking views, beautiful gardens, warm and welcoming atmosphere, pristine forest hillside hiking trails, serene bench look-outs and rich historic details inside and out, this is a unique location for a Hudson Valley wedding!

BRIDAL STYLE AND FUN

Our day began with Allison and her girls as they prepared for the wedding. What a fun group! I was expecting this based on my meetings with Allison, but it was laughter and fun between a few very touching, tearful moments the whole morning.

Allison had several special details including a handkerchief that belonged to her grandmother which she wore tucked into her garter. She was helped by her mom and her twin sister as she put on her final details.

THE GREAT RING CAPER

Just after I finished filming the rings and placed them back in their beautiful box (they're resting on the top of it in the still above), we were getting ready to send them up to the guys for the ceremony when we noticed that the box was empty. There was a short moment of "where are they?" Not to worry, everyone kept their cool while the search was on and got a really big laugh out of it when the flower girl revealed she had them in her hot little hands. Apparently she wanted to be the bride. It was such a cute and funny moment and it definitely doesn't happen at every wedding! We were glad we were there to share in it!

THE PERFECT LOOK

Allison was so calm, easy going and excited that she smiled the whole morning. I don't think anyone ever had to ask her to smile. But just when you thought she couldn't get happier, she got in her gown and began to glow. Her Rosa Clara gown looked great on a hanger, but once it was on Allison it transformed into fabulous. For those of you familiar with the Salome model, she had the neck line altered into a sweetheart shape. She was so comfortable and natural in it that you'd think she wore it everyday. What a perfect dress for her! And let's not forget the shoes. Super cute polka dot heals that screamed personality!

THE FUN NEVER ENDS

These moments really capture the fun of being with Allison and the girls for their prep. LOVE the "I'm Getting Married Bitches" cups. It really shows that they all have a fantastic sense of humor. Then in the midst of having some photos taken in front of the fireplace, one of the girls asked her for a booty pop and another decided to smack her. Allison just broke out in laughter. This is the way to spend the moments before you get married, super happy and stress-free having fun with your best friends. I wonder if the boys had as much fun as the girls?

Allison's Bouquet, made by Meadowscent Florist, was not only beautiful, but smelled so good. She couldn't help but share with everyone in the room. The colors were so vibrant and they were really fresh.

READY TO GO

We don't always get the opportunity to be with the bride as she makes her way to a first sight because often they are two different locations. What a treat to get to walk the halls of the Mountain House with Allison and her entourage. Along the way we met up with her Dad as he got a first glimpse of her all dressed up for the wedding.

TEARS AT FIRST SIGHT

Allison and John Decided to do their photographs before their ceremony, so we set up a first sight for them on the porch overlooking the lake. Pictures and first looks before the ceremony are becoming very popular with brides and grooms not only because it allows them to enjoy more of their cocktail hour, but because it allows more time to get creative with their photos and creates less stress because of the rush to fit in all the pictures in an hour. Though some couples think it will spoil the magic of that moment at the alter when you first see each other in your wedding attire, if you look through the stills from Allison and John's first look and ceremony, you'll see that all the emotion and magic were still there for them. Allison was between tears of joy and laughter most of the time, with a couple stops at blissful love in between, once John wiped the tear from her cheek. They're so cute together!

Off to the dock and the other picturesque surrounding areas for photos with Jean Kallina of Hudson Valley Photography.

THE MAIN EVENT

Though they had planned for an outdoor ceremony, you just never know what the weather will be like in April. This is the beauty of Mohonk Mountain House as a location. Because it was just a bit too chilly for an outdoor ceremony that day, they set up the ceremony in the grand parlor. A gorgeous room that overlooks the lake. No compromises with this setting at all.

As guests arrived they were welcomed by the lake view out the giant picture window and the music of Jeff Armstrong, who continued to play music throughout the ceremony and onto the cocktail hour. Their officiant was one of their friends who was performing her first ceremony ever. She did a wonderful job! There were plenty of fun moments even through the ceremony, but my favorite part had to be when Allison vowed "to encourage, support and inspire (John) to lead a life of learning, exploring and expanding of yourself, not your waistline."

Allison and John lit candles they made themselves with the likeness of family members in memorium.

THE PREVIEW CLIP

Check out their preview clip here which features their fun and loving vows to each other as well as the many details of their wedding and, most importantly, the dance stylings of John, who impressed with his many dance moves including the robot and his best impression of John Travolta in Stayin' Alive. Everyone else was pretty impressive too! Jimmy Lutz of Lutz entertainment got them on the floor and kept them moving. It was a great party!

If you liked what you saw here, please leave us a comment here and/or on our Facebook Page (and don't forget to "like us" while you're there!)

INTRODUCING THE MR. + MRS.

SHE'S CRAFTY

Allison put her stamp on every aspect of the wedding. Here are a few a few more DIY items by our crafty bride, Allison (with a little help from her groom, John, of course).

Programs were printed, crafted and pasted by the two of them. They looked so pro you would never know they were a DIY project.

Allison and John also made all of the cards and envelopes for their well wish jar using scrapbook papers. They asked their guests to write words of advice to them. They plan to open one every year on their anniversary.

They made favors for each guest to take home. Heart-shaped candles were nestled in sheer fabric pouches and attached to homemade cards with their picture and a message.

The votive candles on the tables were made by Allison as well as the needlepoint monogram with their wedding date. Allison said that she was doing some needlepoint to relax as she was getting her hair done that morning as well. She's one crafty girl!

Allison had given the staff at Mohonk two pictures of cakes she liked and asked them to take her favorite elements from each cake to make the design for her cake. We were standing nearby when she first noticed the cake's decoration. She was so happy with their interpretation of the designs.

THE TIME OF MY LIFE

Allison and John shared their last dance of the day to (I've Had) The Time of My Life complete with a lift and a kiss surrounded by family and friends. What a perfect way to end their perfect day!

The Details

The Location: Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, NY
The Photographer: Jean Kallina, Hudson Valley Photography
The Ceremony Music: Jeff Armstrong
The Reception Entertainment: Jimmy Lutz, Lutz Entertainment
The Dress: Salome, by Rosa Clara
The Flowers: Thersea, at Meadowscent Florist, in Gardiner, NY

Erin and Mike: Highlights

2011-06-09T13:03:00.001-04:00

Erin and Mike were married at Round Hill House in Washingtonville, NY. It was a beautiful day for their outdoor ceremony in the garden which was personal, romantic and sentimental. Lots of little touches within the ceremony and throughout the wedding really helped to tell the story of how Erin and Mike met, fell in love and came to be married. From the personal words they said to each other during their ceremony to the toasts given at the reception by their friends and family, if you didn't know their whole story before the wedding, you got to hear all the wonderful, fun and sweet details that day.

A fantastic party for their guests followed powered by the outstanding food from F.E.A.S.T. as well as the tunes being cranked out by BJ Bri Swatek of Spinning with Style. A great time was had by all who attended, but especially those who made their way to the dance floor and never left it!

We absolutely love when there are so many personal details, touching and funny toasts and interesting ways to include guests. When Erin shared her dance with her Dad, other fathers and daughters were asked to join them half way through and there were lots of them. The same thing happened when Mike danced with his mom. We were surprised to see how many people got up there. There was an adorable poem written and recited by Mike's grandmother and a sweet reading by Erin's Aunt Eileen. A heartfelt toast was given by Erin's Dad as well as a set of combination toasts (humorous and serious) by the Best Man, Mike's brother, and the Maids of Honor along with their "beats" crew (you have to see it to really appreciate it). There will most likely be another post or two from this beautiful wedding so you can see the details I'm writing about.

We walked away from this wedding knowing that Erin and Mike are a fun and caring couple who are admired and loved dearly by all their family and friends. What a great way to celebrate the start of your life together as husband and wife. Congratulations again to Erin and Mike for putting together such a beautiful and memorable wedding!

Here is the highlight segment from their wedding film to give you a brief glimpse into their wedding.

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave a comment here on the blog and/or our wall on Facebook.

(You can also watch their preview clip here)

The Production Team

Wedding Location: Round Hill House
Caterers: F.E.A.S.T
Reception Entertainment: DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning With Style
Erin's Dress: Designed by Cymbeline, Style: Agidir
Erin's Shoes: Hey Lady Shoes (If you're looking for comfortable, but stylish shoes, check them out! Erin was dancing in them all night without sore feet and they were super cute too!)

Sean and Dawn: 20th Anniversary Edition

2011-05-31T20:27:00.001-04:00

On April 27th, Sean and Dawn, two of our closest friends, celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Sean approached us a while back and asked if there was anything we could do with his wedding photos and video (a home video shot by a guest with her personal VHS camera). He wanted to do something special to surprise Dawn. Knowing that this would make two of our very best friends incredibly happy on their anniversary, I took his memories and got to work.

Now, I'm not an advocate of DIY wedding video; not because I'm a videographer, but because it never comes out as you had hoped and becomes a video that you never want to watch. Sean and Dawn's original footage really brought this point home. Sean said they watched it a few times and shared it with their kids. It was and unexpected gift from a guest and it's nice to have, but nothing you would feel compelled to watch. This is one very big reason that engaged couples opt out of video for their wedding. These home video style wedding videos are what most people associate with wedding videos in general and why many couples see videography as an unnecessary expense. One of the biggest reasons people give for not getting a video is that they will never watch it.

As I was editing Sean and Dawn's video, I was getting upset for them. Their guest was not a professional and I'm sure she did the very best she could, but the most important parts of their wedding are not clear, cut off or missing entirely. Their vows are inaudible and cut off. Their kiss at the alter is also cut off and shot from a bad side angle, so you can't really see Dawn, just Sean's back. The first dance is mostly the feet of the shooter running to a better location, only to reach the destination and get two shots of the first dance with them alone on the dance floor. The cake cutting footage has the photographer in front of the bride and groom. The dances are shaky, in silhouette, out of focus or in a constant pan from side to side. Definite home video material. This is the primary reason why you should hire a professional to film your wedding. Hiring a professional is not only about the editing of the finished product. It's an important part, but so are the things you don't think about or may not know about; how the shots are framed, the way the sounds are captured so they can be heard clearly, anticipating the next move and being in the right place at the right time, knowing what shots are important and being sure to collected them all and doing it all without being noticed or getting in the way of your other professionals.

Though the shots in their original video are not what we would shoot and many were short clips, I'm not the type to back away from a challenge. I was determined to make something special for our friends to celebrate this important anniversary with; a video that I hope they will enjoy watching instead of leave on a shelf. It was a lot of work, far more than it is to edit one of our originals, but for the sake of preserving their memories, it was well worth the time and effort to us.

I thought it was important to share this story because there are so many engaged couples that struggle with the question of whether or not hiring a videographer is worth it. The sad truth is that video is never really appreciated until after the wedding is over. Even couples that hired us often tell us after they get their video back that lots of things were more important to them than video when they were planning their wedding, but these couples also tell us that there is no greater way to remember their wedding than to watch their wedding film.

I guess one of the best way to answer the question "Is a professional videographer worth it" for you is to watch the clips below. Two of the clips are from the 20th Anniversary Film I edited for Sean and Dawn and the other two are 3 minute clips from their original footage. Would you be happy if you ended up with a video that looks like the original footage? I know, that is a VHS and you can use a new HD Camera to film yours so it will look better, right? Even with the new cameras that are available, you can end up with a bad video because it's not just the quality of the equipment, it's the people behind it. When you hire a videographer to film your wedding, you are hiring experience, equipment, talent and creativity that will deliver you a great finished film.

I'm happy to report that Sean and Dawn have watched their new 20th Anniversary Edition Video many more times than they ever watched their original VHS. They have shared it with friends and family, many of whom never saw the original VHS version. Sean and Dawn have demonstrated to us that not only is a wedding video important, it will be watched over and over again if it's entertaining.

This is a clip from the new edit I made for Sean and Dawn using their wedding song.

This is a 3 minute sample clip from their original VHS Ceremony footage.

This is a new dance segment that I edited using their old VHS footage.

Here is a 3 minute sample of the original dance footage from their VHS Tape.

As always, your comments are welcomed, here on the blog and on Facebook.

Family History Film

2011-05-18T09:43:00.002-04:00

So many families have old films and VHS tapes lying around unwatched and waiting to disintegrate. Some people take the time to convert them to the latest media, but one of our former brides took it one step further. Joanne came to us with footage her family filmed starting from as far back as the 1940's all the way up to present day and asked us if we could edit her footage into a family film for her.

Though we specialize in weddings, we do take on specialty projects when time permits and when the opportunity came to help Joanne archive her family history, we couldn't resist. It has been a long process and massive undertaking by Joanne and us that is still ongoing, but when we see start to see the finished results, we agree that it's well worth all the effort put into it. Preserving memories is our passion and this is another important element to that.

This is the first clip from Joanne's family history film showing her as a child. We unveiled this and four other clips as a surprise for her and her family at a recent party for Joanne and the reaction from all in attendance was warm and sentimental, lots of oohs and ahs, laughter and a tremendous round of applause at it's completion.

You just never realize the impact and importance a video will have years from now (or in this case, decades). Watching film of you, your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc... , reliving fond memories and seeing and hearing those who have passed on is priceless. What a beautiful reminder of your family's history.

We're honored that Joanne approached us with this project and trusted us with her precious family memories. Thank you, Joanne!

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave a comment here on our blog and/or post to our Facebook page (Don't forget to like us while you're there)

Anniversary Session with Marissa and Justin

2011-04-26T11:59:00.009-04:00

Long overdue for posting, this clip is the companion to our trash the dress video. An Anniversary Session, Post Wedding Session or Rock the Dress Session is a great way to get more than one use out of your dress (and unlike the Trash the Dress, you don't have to get dirty). We had such a great time shooting with Marissa and Justin. They were both really ready to just get outside and have some fun!

Each year when Spring finally arrives, we just can't wait to get outside and create! If you want to go out and have some fun with us, now's the time to secure your spot! Hope you enjoy the clip!

If you enjoyed this video, please leave a comment here on the blog and/or on our Facebook Page. (Don't forget to like us while you're there!)

If you missed Marissa and Justin's Trash the Dress video, you can see it here.

Congratulations Kristin and Dave!

2011-04-18T13:03:00.003-04:00

GLAMOR, SPARKLE, SURPRISES, FAMILY AND LOVE

Kristin and Dave hosted our first wedding of the season and we couldn't think of a better way to kick start 2011!! What a memorable wedding!! There was the undeniable love between Kristin and Dave, a strong sense of family embedded throughout, surprises for their guests and all the sparkly details!

I want to start this post off with a preview clip and then post a few stills with some of the fun details and events from this beautiful wedding.

KRISTIN AND DAVE'S WEDDING: A PREVIEW

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave a comment here on the blog and/or write on our facebook wall
and don't forget to check out the clip of Kristin's dance with her dad below.

THE GLAMOR
Kristin looked like she walked right off the silver screen in her gorgeous Martina Liana dress with all the crystal and vintage styled details. Now, I'm not an expert when it comes to fashion by decade, but this looks like a dress Rita Hayworth could have worn in the forties. Such a beautiful gown; stylish, flattering and fun. I was so happy that she asked us to be there for her bridal preparations. When so much detail goes into your look, it's important to have that documented and the footage we got that morning is priceless (Kristin and her look had A LOT to do with it). Flawless and absolutely stunning is how I would describe Kristin. Her look was a combination of smart purchases, hand made items, gifts and borrows that made it all come together. Her earrings were a Christmas gift from her parents. Her garter was made by her sister, Kerry. The fur she wore to shelter her open back from the frigid temperature during pictures is vintage and borrowed from her mom's best friend, Gail (Kristin calls her aunt because they're so close). At the last minute, Gail couldn't make it to the wedding, so she sent up her fur for Kristin to wear. Kristin said it was nice to have a reminder of Gail with her on her wedding day. It added to her look perfectly as well!

THE SPARKLY DETAILS

From her hair clip and jewelry to the detail on the dress and the shoes, Kristin shimmered from head to toe. In the stills below you can see some of the sparkly goodness; Crystals in her bouquet, crystal detail on the front and back of her dress, delicate crystal details on her straps and those spectacular shoes!!

Let's talk a little more about those spectacular shoes. Can you believe they were a DIY project for Kristin?? I know! They were absolutely perfect and so well done that I could hardly believe she put every crystal on them herself. The amount of time, work and patience that went into making these sparkly beauties was well worth it! They were a total show stopper and the perfect hidden detail that would peak out with every step! Absolutely fabulous!

Of course, to go with the sparkle on the bride, there had to be sparkle at the wedding. Kristin and Dave's wedding took place at The Fountains in Middletown, NY. The sun drenched the ceremony space adding to the glimmer coming off Kristin's dress and accessories and helped make their ceremony even more magical. When the reception space was revealed, it was just as brilliant from the crystals on the tables to the bling on the cake. The staff did a great job of making the room beautiful!

THE SURPRISES

Because Kristin and Dave decided to do their photos before their ceremony, we set up a moment for them to see each other before the photos. We brought Dave outside to wait for Kristin so they could still have that moment of surprise when the groom first sees the bride. Picture one is Dave anxiously waiting for Kristin to arrive and the second is when he got his first look at her all glammed up. After a few peaks at the details, it was off to take some photos!

A big surprise for the guests was the dinner entertainment that Kristin and Dave had arranged; Aisha, a belly dancer! Not only was she fun to watch, but audience participation was encouraged and expected. I think one of my favorite moments is when Aisha was dancing with Kristin's Dad and you can see her Grandmother dancing in the background (you can see this in the preview clip above. Too cute!!). Everyone enjoyed Aisha's performance and guidance as she demonstrated some key moves, especially the kids. I think a few little proteges may have been born on the dance floor. Many of the guests continued to utilize their newly discovered, hip shaking moves well into the evening as DJ Domenic supplied them with tunes to keep them dancing.

FAMILY AND LOVE

I saved the best part for last. No wedding is complete without the love of family and friends, but there was a very special family member that took center stage (next to her mom).

This wedding was not only about bringing two people in love together. It was also about forming a new family. When he proposed, Dave included Kristin's daughter, Scarlett, by having her hold a bouquet of flowers and even let her pop the question (Well sort of, he asked her again after Scarlett did). Kristin said that she was so touched by Dave including Scarlett in the proposal. On the day of their wedding, Scarlett was also a very big part of the day. Not only did she have the honor of being flower girl, but was also the center of her own special vow ceremony where Dave promised to care for her and she was given a necklace from the two of them because Scarlett is the key to their hearts. The unity sand ceremony was a family affair as well. All three of them filled a picture frame with three colors of sand to represent the three of them becoming one family. Group hugs and a series of blown kisses from Scarlett to her great grandmother ended these moments to make you smile, laugh and tear up. It was all so precious and lovely. What a great way to start off our wedding season!! Thank you, Kristin and Dave (and Scarlett) for letting us take part in this very special day in your lives!

If you enjoyed reading this post, please leave a comment here on the blog

and/or write on our facebook wall (Don't forget to Like Us while you're there)

and don't forget to check out the clip of Kristin's dance with her dad.

THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Location: The Fountains at the WallKill Golf Club, Middletown, NY
DJ: DJ Domenic Entertainment
Belly Dancer: Aisha - exquisite belly dancing

Awesome Father Daughter Dance!

2011-04-18T13:03:00.002-04:00

Kristin and her dad blew guests away with this dance! Surprise dances between the bride and groom are growing in popularity due to viral videos posted all over YouTube, but I haven't seen any with the bride and her dad. This clip begins with the parent dance already in progress so you can see the fun stuff faster.

Just a note to Kristin's Dad from us: You totally rock!!

Enjoy the clip!

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave a comment here on the blog and/or write on our facebook wall (don't forget to Like Us while you're there) You can also check out a longer post with a preview clip and all the details from Kristin and Dave's wedding here.

Thanks for the Kind Words, Amy and Adam!

2011-03-13T12:54:00.001-04:00

Hi Jenn,

We got the DVDs!!!! Wow. Amy and I both agreed we had this nervous/excited/scared feeling when just looking at the package, kinda like an amazing present you don't want to open.

We watched some of the video last night and absolutely love it!!! Thank you so so much for all of your hard work, correspondence and everything. We watched part of the video last night and were blown away by it. The opening specifically is just so impressive and we love what you did. I'm so glad you thought of it and encouraged us to do it. We're saving a full viewing until we have some more time, probably Friday night.

Thanks again and we hope to stay in touch. We'll be recommending you to every engaged couple we know!

Adam and Amy

Watch clips from Amy and Adam's Wedding Here

Had to share this wonderful comment!

2011-02-10T17:02:00.002-05:00

We receive comments, phone calls and letters all the time from our happy Brides and Grooms about how much they love their videos. It's always wonderful to read that people are happy with what we have produced for them, but when we get a comment like this from someone we only just met, never worked for or worked with, it's beyond what any words can express.

Comment from our Facebook Fan Page

Carolyn was working at the Mary Kay Cosmetics booth next to ours at the Villa Borgehe Bridal Show this January. We're used to other vendors coming by, having a look at our work and introducing themselves, but Carolyn couldn't tear herself away from screen. She would walk back to her booth and minutes later, she'd be peeking at our screen from over her table. Bride's would be at her booth and she would be sending them our way. This is not unheard of at Bridal Shows, but it's highly unusual to receive this kind of support when you've only just met the person that morning.

We were so blessed to have met Caroyln that day and feel so privileged that she was so impressed with our work that she liked our Facebook page and left us such a wonderful comment. Thank you, Carolyn, from the bottom of our hearts!

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE

2011-02-08T12:54:00.000-05:00

ATTENTION 2011 BRIDES AND GROOMS:

We're running a special promotion of buy one, get one free on our extras beginning today.

To qualify for this promotional offer, you must be getting married in 2011.

We can only offer this to the next five couples who book with us for their 2011 wedding, so if you're considering video, don't delay. Take advantage of this very special opportunity now.

For those couples who have already booked with us for your 2011 wedding, you can take advantage of this promotion as well. Please contact us for details if you're interested.

Linda and Vince

2010-12-09T16:47:00.000-05:00

Like many brides, Linda didn't think that she wanted a videographer. We heard from her one month before her wedding. On her initial call to me, it seemed like she was still a bit hesitant. She said she hadn't planned for a video but her friends insisted she look into it. Her main concerns were the visibility of the cameras by her guests making them uncomfortable, herself and her husband being followed around by an obnoxious camera person all day and having the cameras in their faces. These concerns aren't unusual and are the main reason some couples never consider hiring a videographer. This year we saw a flood of last minute bookings from people uncertain about video, but intrigued enough by what they saw to give us a call.

The thing about wedding video is that, unlike photography, you don't truly appreciate a video until you see it. At weddings, there is so much happening and because you are the focus, you will end up missing a lot, even if you really try to take it in (trust me. I thought I would remember everything too). All the weddings we film for people who never initially budgeted for a video tend to be so much fun (what wedding isn't fun, right?). Often when we're on our way home from these weddings, Mike and I will say, "I can't imagine not having that wedding on film! I'm so glad we were there! What a great party, personal ceremony, heartfelt toast, beautiful decor, etc..." Linda and Vince's wedding was no exception.

Linda and Vince were married at the gorgeous Belvedere Mansion overlooking breathtaking valley views and the majestic Hudson River. They had a beautiful outdoor ceremony in the mansion's garden and a high energy, fun filled reception under the tent. Dancing was powered by The Big Smoothies, a great local band out of Port Ewen. If you're looking, give them a call! We'll most likely be posting a dance set from this wedding because we absolutely loved them and so did Linda, Vince and their guests. They had them on the dance floor all night long and even let them help sing some songs. It was an unforgettable night for us as I'm sure it was for Linda, Vince, their families and friends.

Have a look at this clip for yourself and tell me that this wedding didn't need to be filmed.

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave a comment here on the blog and/or our wall on Facebook (Don't forget to like us while you're there).

Congratulations to Linda and Vincent on a beautiful wedding day. Thank you for asking us along!

Congratulations Erin and Mike!

2010-11-02T11:19:00.002-04:00

Erin and Mike had a beautiful wedding at Round Hill House in Washingtonville. It was a gorgeous early Fall day with perfect weather for their outdoor ceremony. Afterwards the happy couple (This is not just a generic phrase. Have a look at the video clip. These two had smiles on their faces from beginning to end.) and their guests danced throughout the night thanks to the sounds supplied by DJ Bri Swatek. There is much more to see on this wedding and more postings are sure to come, but for now, we have a preview clip that shows some highlights from this great wedding! Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave a comment here on the blog and/or our wall on Facebook.

The Production Team

Wedding Location: Round Hill House
Reception Entertainment: DJ Bri Swatek, Spinning With Style
Erin's Dress: Designed by Cymbeline, Style: Agidir

Elizabeth's Beautiful Bridal Prep

2010-10-20T11:52:00.000-04:00

I am currently editing Elizabeth and Michael's wedding and just couldn't resist sharing her beautiful prep segment. Hope you enjoy!

Congratulations Amy and Adam!

2010-09-09T18:58:00.023-04:00

What an awesome wedding! In the words of Amy's dad, who put it best, a "Locally sourced, Organic, Vegetarian, Eco Sensitive, Yoga Intense, Great Outdoors, just like Summer Camp wedding". There was much fun had by all (as you will see in this clip) and a lot of really cute details (too many for this short preview, so there will definitely be more to come on this wedding).

Of the many personal, creative and interesting things about this wedding, the ones that stand out most to us were the vows that Amy and Adam wrote to each other (you only hear a brief bit of them in the clip), their surprise dance that wowed the crowd (you can tell that they practiced A LOT for it) and the close relationship Amy and Adam share with their family and friends.

I hope that you will enjoy the preview and the surprise dance clips below!

Amy and Adam's Preview Clip

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave us a comment here or on our Facebook wall.

Amy and Adam's Surprise Dance

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave us a comment here or on our Facebook wall.

Congratulations again to Amy and Adam! We hope you enjoy your preview clips as much as we enjoyed being a part of your wedding day!

The Production Team:

Location: Full Moon Resort, Big Indian, NY
Photographer: Jeff Tissman Photography

Congratulations Keila and Fred

2010-08-26T13:48:00.001-04:00

What a great wedding! American and Mexican cultures and traditions blended for an emotional, personal and fun filled wedding at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie.

A mariachi band, a traditional Mexican dance, candy (and the groom) being tossed around the dance floor and a fun choreographed entrance are just some of the events that happened. One of my favorite unexpected surprises was when Keila's dad got up to sing with the mariachi band just before the toasts were given.

I hope you enjoy some of the stills that I pulled from the video to show all their cute details and the video clip that gives a tiny peek at their wedding day.

I loved that they didn't use table cards. They placed journals on the tables with the table numbers and a bunch of pens for the guests to write in them. There was a gentle breeze off the river, but it was still hot that day. Keila and Fred thought ahead and left fans on the chairs for the ceremony. Not only were they pretty , but I would bet, much appreciated by their guests.

I loved a lot of the design and details, especially Keila's dress, bouquet and their toasting glasses.

Here is a preview clip of their wedding

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave us a comment here and/or on our Facebook wall.

When Keila and Fred told us about the live mariachi music we couldn't wait to hear them. We honeymooned in Mexico and the sound of mariachi takes us back there and puts a smile on our faces. These guys sounded great! They serenaded guests during the cocktail hour and went table to table as the guests waited for the bride and groom to make their entrance.

Of the many surprises and fun things they did for their guests, our favorite was the assortment of interesting items that Fred found under Keila's dress, in addition to the garter, of course. If you want to have a closer look, watch the video clip above. It was too funny to watch and the guests loved it!

I wish I could write more about the history of the tradition pictured below (maybe someone can write a comment for me so I can add it to the post). Based on what happened, I think it has to do with the strength of their marriage. The bride and groom got on chairs and Fred held Keila's train as the female guests ran under it looking like a train. After they had run through numerous times, the men tried to push Fred off the chair (in the picture below, some of the girls got in on it too, but this was their last attempt). This process happened a few times and by the end, they had managed to take Fred down. Then they picked him up and tossed him in the air. It was another great moment!

Congratulations to Keila and Fred on a beautiful wedding!

Congratulations to Petrina and Kevin

2010-08-11T19:45:00.004-04:00

Chelsea Clinton was not the only vegan to wed in upstate New York on July 31, 2010. Across the river in Woodstock, two fun, completely adorable and totally in love people were also getting married. Petrina and Kevin had a lovely, intimate and very personal ceremony at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary with their closest family and friends in attendance (even the furry ones).

We really love it when couples do more than just say "I do" at their ceremony. It really draws your guests in and becomes an emotional experience for everyone there. It's always special when the bride and groom really say what's in their hearts at that moment. Though we had only just met them, we felt like we were friends from way back by the end of their wedding. Not only were Petrina and Kevin welcoming, warm and so full of energy and joy, but their family and all their friends were as well. There was love all around that day!

After their touching vows, pronouncement and kiss, Petrina and Kevin surprised their guests by dancing up the isle and racing to position to ride past them on a tandem bike. They invited all the guests to be in a group photo and then invited them to enjoy the farm before moving onto the reception. Petrina and Kevin walked the farm feeding, frolicking with and playing with the adorable animals.

There were several cute moments at the farm including; a visit from the turkeys just after the ceremony, Moby, an incredibly friendly kitty that sat next to me during the ceremony, making the rounds greeting all the guests, the Bride and Groom feeding the pigs and chickens (I learned that they love halved grapes), a rush to the gate by all the goats as Petrina and Kevin approached, Petrina running with Anne (a goat that she helped raise), and my favorite, a few hungry goats that chewed on the bouquet and veil. Petrina just laughed. She was more concerned about the goats getting sick than the potential damage to her flowers and veil. That is one unique bride!

It was such a treat to go to the farm and film all the animals, every one of them so friendly and sweet. It's no wonder that this is Petrina and Kevin's favorite place. Below is a very small group of the many animals that are residing at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. It's a great place to visit!

Here is a preview clip of Petrina and Kevin's wedding. See the love, joy and fun for yourself!

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave us a comment here and/or on our Facebook wall.

Here are a few notes on some the special details of their wedding day that I just couldn't resist sharing.

Kevin hand picked wildflowers the morning of their wedding to serve as the bouquets for Petrina and her Maid of Honor. This is a tradition in England, where Kevin is from. Not only is the idea of this so sweet, but also the random variety of the wildflowers held together with a simple ribbon really fit with the farm setting. It was both rustic and beautiful.

The programs, guest cards, menus, table cards and other stationary needs were designed and printed by Petrina's crafty sister, Colette. She did a great job! I especially love the goat silhouette.

There is no rule that states you need flowers for your centerpieces. Petrina's mom, Ruth and Collette created vegetable centerpieces for Petrina and Kevin's tables. What a creative and unique way to represent the theme. They had a variety of designs so each table was a little different. They were all very colorful and beautiful, especially when the candles were lit.

The Emerson Resort and Spa was the location for their reception. What a beautiful location; outdoor space for dinner and dancing and wooded areas with access to the Espous for pictures. It is nature at it's best and with the sound of the water flowing past, calm and relaxing. We were along side their photographer, Derek Goodwin, as he took their formals. Petrina and Kevin are so animated that they not only took the cute pictures that were expected of them, but they also posed for some really fun and unexpected shots. Two of my favorites are below; their recreation of their first kiss (in the middle) and the Mr. Universe style pose (to the left center). These guys took a very relaxed and fun approach to their whole wedding day and it really shows in all the footage that we shot.

The menu for dinner was all vegan. From the appetizers featuring a phyllo cup filled with beet, barley and walnuts to the main course of zucchini stuffed with red quinoa, roasted tomatoes, shallots and pine nuts, everything was yummy. To top it off, Petrina and Kevin had some very special cakes and other sweets delivered to Woodstock all the way from Bethlehem, PA from a well known vegan bakery, Vegan Treats. They looked delicious and tasted better. What an educational culinary adventure all the guests were taken on. We learned so much that day!

The couple kicked off the dancing at their reception with a choreographed first dance. This is one of my all time favorite first dances ever!! Not only was it fun and set to a great song, but it was a real crowd pleaser too. The guests where both surprised and entertained by it. They got a great reaction and were even asked to, "Do it again!"

Here is a clip of their super fun first dance.

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave us a comment here and/or on our Facebook wall.

Congratulations to Petrina and Kevin on a phenomenal wedding celebration! Mike and I were so happy to have been asked to be a part of your grand adventure. We had a blast filming you and your guests and learned a whole lot in the process. Thank you!

The Production Team.
Ceremony Location: Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary
Reception Location: Emerson Resort and Spa
Photographer: Derek Goodwin
Cake, Cupcakes and other Sweet Treats: Vegan Treats

Officiant: Melanie Joy, Ph.D., Ed.M. http://www.melaniejoy.org/

Printed Materials: Colette Katsikas, Essentials http://www.shopessentials.net/

Elizabeth and Michael: Wedding Trailer

2010-07-31T10:54:00.042-04:00

Congratulations to Elizabeth and Michael!

They were married June 26th at Drew Methodist Church in Carmel, a gorgeous stone church overlooking Lake Gleneida and celebrated with a high energy, dance filled reception at the Villa Barone Hilltop Manor. Music and lighting was provided by Next Generation DJ and it kept them dancing all night. On hand to take photographs was our good friend, Cheryl of Bolton-Reuter Photography.

I absolutely loved the details of Elizabeth's dress. The cross fabric and gather detail at her waist and the intricate beading all around made it beautiful and she looked stunning in it!

Check out the preview clip below which shows how heartfelt their ceremony was and how awesome their party was. The lighting at the reception was great and really added something special to the video. Not only did they have party lights and smoke effects for the dancing, but LED lighting that poured light over the walls in an array of colors throughout the night. If you want to see some beautiful photographs of this I absolutely loved the detail on Elizabeth's dress, so beautiful. wedding, be sure to check out Cheryl's blog post.

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave us a comment here and/or on our Facebook wall.

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-02T20:52:00.005-04:00

To celebrate the 4th of July weekend, we are posting a clip from Maeghan and Dan's West Park Winery wedding which featured a beautiful fireworks display provided by the winery and a great soundtrack provided by DJ Bri Swatek of Spinning with Style. Enjoy and have a safe and happy 4th of July!

If you liked this clip, please leave a comment here on the blog and/or post a comment or write on our wall on Facebook! Thanks!

Marissa and Justin - Trash the Dress Video

2010-06-21T11:18:00.011-04:00

It's finally here! I'm so excited to share our first Trash the Dress video! It was a tremendous amount of fun for all involved (though this clip looks very serious). With the footage that we shot that day, I can probably edit a second video with only shots of Marissa laughing! Hope you enjoy!

If you liked this clip, please leave a comment here on the blog and/or post a comment or write on our wall on Facebook!

Maeghan and Dan's Arrival and Prep

2010-06-07T15:58:00.006-04:00

Here is a segment from our Bridal Bailout winners Meaghan and Dan. It's been a while getting to this edit, but well worth the wait. What a fantastic wedding they had!! It all took place up at West Park Winery in Ulster County. Gorgeous location!

Originally, Maeghan and Dan were not going to have a videographer at their wedding because it just wasn't in their budget. It breaks my heart to hear this from so many couples. Video is one of the first things to be eliminated from a budget to save money, but video is the only way that you get to relive everything in motion and sound, just as it happened. So much goes into planning a wedding; time, money, research, effort... So many of the details are beautiful and precious, but not many of them last past the day itself. Pictures and video are forever and the best way to look back on your day, not just for yourselves, but for your family, friends and future children.

When Maeghan learned of our Bridal Bailout contest, she jumped a the chance to enter hoping to win the free video for their wedding. These guys were so deserving. They are a wonderfully fun, super cute, totally in love couple and I can't imagine their incredibly fun, energy packed and laughter filled wedding not being on video!!

This is the first part of several posts that we will make for their wedding. For the best possible quality when viewing this clip, please allow the video to load fully and then press play. Hope you enjoy!

Did you enjoy this clip? Please leave a comment here on the blog and/or on Facebook.

Trash the Dress with Marissa and Justin

2010-06-02T17:45:00.022-04:00

We couldn't wait for this day to come!!! We have wanted to do a trash the dress for a while now and when Marissa said that she was interested, we got very excited and began dreaming up ideas. Sometimes in a trash the dress session, bride's don't want to get wet or mess up their dress too much, but Marissa welcomed anything! Here are some videos stills from our awesome shoot Memorial Day weekend. This was a BLAST and we are sad that there will be no more shoots with Marissa and Justin. They are an unforgettable couple for so many reasons and so much fun to be around that this was like a party, not work. This is why we love our job so much! I can't wait to edit this footage!! In the meantime, enjoy these stills!

Typically a trash the dress session is all about the bride, but Justin is an extraordinary groom. He came along for the shoot and not only helped his lovely wife in, out and around the landscape, but he also came with his wedding attire so we could get him into some of the shots too. As we were planning, he seemed as excited as Marissa was to get out there again. We didn't know if we could get him in the water with her or not, but we knew that we could get him close. What a treat it was to have both of them there. Although they are still newlyweds, these two have been together for almost 10 years (this July). They are so much in love and you can see it in every shot! Just imagine what they will look like in 20, 30, 40, 50 years!

Marissa was so natural in front of the camera and knew exactly what to do. When we said that it must be natural ability, Justin commented that it was probably due to her watching America's Next Top Model. She could be the next top model! When Marissa got into the water and started splashing around she was having so much fun with it. Determined to get Justin in the water, she even began splashing at him. He decided to take his revenge from the shore.

We were so excited when Justin told us that he used to go to a park where there is a waterfall. Though he hadn't been there in years and we weren't sure what it would look like, we were so happy when we got a look at it. After Marissa climbed over to it and got comfortable, it made for some of the best shots of the day. It is even better in motion and will make a great part of the video!

These guys are so fun and very adventurous. They were willing to climb and crawl anywhere for the best shots. Marissa maneuvered the park very well in her dress and Justin lent his hand to help her and showed her the best paths to take when the terrain was rough. Everyone's legs got a workout that day. Marissa was even climbing after her dress was completely soaked and weighed a ton.

Marissa kept trying to encourage Justin to join her in the water the whole time we were shooting. She even tried pulling him in at one point (see the shot immediately below). When we reached the waterfall she was having so much fun that Justin was tempted to get in too. She was very surprised and super happy when he said to her, "Make room for me." That is the start of a successful marriage for sure. Happy wife, happy life guys!! Remember that! Look at how happy Marissa was!

On the day of Marissa and Justin's wedding, we were there for their formal photography with our good friend Cheryl Bolton-Reuter of Bolton-Reuter Photography. Even though Marissa and Justin set aside time before their wedding for formal shots, we all still felt like we could shoot them all day because they were a joy to work with, the camera loves them and we had so many ideas for cool shots. When we knew that we were going out with them again to do the Trash the Dress, we invited Chery to come along for the shoot too. It's always great when we work alongside our photographer friends. We all bounce ideas off of each other and we all come up with different shots even though we are in the same place. Here are some video stills that I shot from Cheryl's camera as she was reviewing her pictures with Marissa. I can't wait to see her post on this one too. As soon as it is up, I will add a link. (Cheryl's Photo's can be seen here)

We have to end this post with a tremendous thank you to Marissa and Justin who have been a total blast to work with over the past year. We are so glad that you guys were willing to get out in the wilderness and do this shoot with us. It will make for a really great last piece to your video. And for those of you who are wondering, yes, this dress is TRASHED.

The Importance of Wedding Video

2010-05-26T14:25:00.006-04:00

Will photographs be enough to remember your wedding?

Watch this clip to find out.

For the best viewing, allow video to fully load and then press play.

Marissa and Justin's Reception Highlights

2010-05-18T15:16:00.006-04:00

In order to watch this clip at its best, please allow the whole video to load and then press play.

For more on this wedding see:

Marissa and Justin's Wedding Day Trailer
Marissa & Justin's Wedding Day Highlights
Marissa's Bridal Prep

Marissa and Justin's Cocktail Hour

Marissa and Justin's Photo Session

Starbucks and the City

2010-05-17T13:44:00.008-04:00

This is another post of Marissa and Justin's Post Wedding shoot. These stills are from a video that we shot on Mother's Day. If you recall, it was pretty chilly that day, so after we shot for a bit, we took a break at Starbucks to grab some coffee and warm up. Crowds just love seeing a bride and groom in an unexpected place. The staff and customers that caught sight of them couldn't help but smile. Who wouldn't. They are so adorable!

City of Poughkeepsie

2010-05-13T13:54:00.005-04:00

This is the second in my series of posts featuring a post wedding session that we filmed with Marissa and Justin. These are just preview stills that I pulled from the video that we shot around the Bardavon. We shot a little bit there on their wedding day and we wanted to go back and do some more.

**Note to future brides and grooms: Make sure you leave plenty of time on your wedding day to do formals with your photographer and videographer. You will most likely find that you enjoy this whole process a lot more than you think you will. It will give your photographer and videographer some time to get really creative and you will have awesome, fun and artsy pictures and video to remember how you looked in your wedding attire. Some couples have been setting aside time before the ceremony to do this in order get to enjoy their cocktail hour with their guests and to not make their guests wait through a long break between ceremony and reception. Also becoming popular are these post wedding day session with just you and your new spouse. This gives you an opportunity to do some shots you may never have considered because you were too worried about getting dirty on your wedding day.

Walkway Over the Hudson

2010-05-12T09:34:00.011-04:00

A Post-Wedding Shoot with Marissa and Justin

This is part one of a series of posts for a post-wedding shoot that we did with Marissa and Justin. On the day of their wedding, they were so willing to be filmed and had so much fun doing it that they decided to do a series of post wedding shoots with us. This first set of shots is from the Walkway over the Hudson, the newly opened walkway connecting Dutchess and Ulster County using the old Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge. Not only are the views fantastic, but it is also very peaceful and calming to be up above the river.

We took a walk with Marissa and Justin and they got quite a bit of attention. Not only were people surprised to see a bride and groom up there, but they were shocked to see that she took her coat off. We shot this on Mother's Day and it was VERY COLD and cloudy, especially way up there over the river! Marissa was so committed to having shots done up there that she shed her fleece jacket and worked that walkway like it was 80 degrees! Because of the heavy cloud cover, it made the shots look very dramatic. For now, I only have some video stills that I pulled from the footage we shot, but I can't wait to play with the video and edit it all together!!! I can't decide if I like the color shots as much as the black and white. Black and white just really pops the clouds and increases the drama for me. Hope you enjoy!

Marissa and Justin Highlights

2010-04-27T11:47:00.006-04:00

Lauren and Brian - A Testimonial

2010-03-25T19:43:00.005-04:00

We filmed Lauren and Brian's wedding in 2007. It was a very fun wedding that happened at Anthony's Pier 9 on a Sunday in May. There were so many personal elements to this wedding; from the Disney decor to the unusual, but awesome music choices. You'll hear about some in the testimonial, but my favorite was when they all gathered on the dance floor to dance to the Cantina music from Star Wars.

Thanks again to Lauren and Brian for offering to do this video for us!

You can see more from this wedding at our website.

If you like, you can also view another testimonial video by Miriam and Mike.

Marissa's Bridal Prep

2010-03-17T11:12:00.009-04:00

All brides are happy on their wedding day and all brides smile throughout the day, but Marissa just could not contain herself for one second. She was smiling, laughing and joking around with everyone from the moment that we arrived to film her (I would be willing to bet that it was most likely from the moment she woke up, but we have no video evidence to support that).

As you watch through this clip you will notice that there is really only one moment where Marissa has a calm wash over her; when her dress is being done up and her brother walks in to see her. She tries to smile, but you can see the emotion behind it. She bounces back immediately though because she knew that when her brother arrived that Justin was waiting outside to start their photos. She was so excited to see him and in such a hurry get there that she almost forgot to put on her jewelry, garter and veil. In those moments, the bride that I thought was already giddy became consumed with such intense happiness. I hope that everyone that has been together for nine years like Marissa and Justin have can still be this excited to see each other. They are very truly in love.

For more on this wedding, see:

Marissa and Justin's Wedding Day Trailer

Marissa and Justin's Cocktail Hour

Marissa and Justin's Photo Session

Marissa and Justin's Cocktail Hour

2010-03-16T22:16:00.060-04:00

There was so much going on during this cocktail hour! It was high energy, fun and smiles from everyone the moment that they arrived. I love the song choice. It suits this party crowd very well!

Marissa said that she loved all the new details from the renovation at the Grand and was glad that it was done before for her wedding. You will see many of the details that she loves in this clip. She wanted to make sure that we didn't miss a thing.

For more from this wedding, see:

Marissa and Justin's Wedding Day Trailer

Marissa's Bridal Prep

Marissa and Justin's Photo Session

Miriam and Mike: A Client Testimonial Video

2010-03-05T22:19:00.007-05:00

Thank you to Miriam and Mike for taking the time to do this video for us!

If you would like to see samples from their wedding video, see:

Miriam's Bridal Preparation
Miriam and Mike's Highlights
Miriam and Mike's Dancing Highlights

Miriam and Mike Highlights

2010-03-05T15:53:00.031-05:00

Here are the highlights from Miriam and Mike's wedding at Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa.

For more from Miriam and Mike, see

Miriam's Bridal Preparations,
Miriam and Mike's Dancing Segment,
and Miriam and Mike's Testimonial Video

Miriam's Bridal Preparations

2010-03-05T15:53:00.030-05:00

Here is Miriam's Bridal Preparations segment. I remember going between smiles and tears when I edited this segment. From the sentimental song and the sweet interactions with the children to the scenes with her mom and the entrance of her Dad (where I ALWAYS lose it no matter how many times I have watched it). It still effects me even watching it back now.

The excitement, joy and anticipation on Miriam's face with the juxtaposition of the look on her Dad's face when he sees her for the first time in her gown. You can see the proud father in him trying to hold back the tears of the father giving his little girl away. When people ask me why we only do weddings, this is the best reason I can think of. I love watching for all these moments to happen and being there to catch them.

To see more from Miriam and Mike's wedding see:

Miriam and Mike's Dancing Segment
Miriam and Mike's Highlights

Also have a look at Miriam and Mike's Testimonial Video where they share their experience with
Beautiful Memories as well as their reactions to their wedding video.

Miriam and Mike Dancing Highlights

2010-03-05T15:52:00.014-05:00

Reception Dancing at Miriam and Mike's Wedding.

When I first met with Miriam, she was concerned that her wedding video might be lacking in dancing
because their families have a history of not being big on dancing. It just goes to show you that you never know what will happen at your wedding.

For more on Miriam and Mike's Wedding, see:

Miriam's Bridal Preparations
Miriam and Mike's Wedding Highlights
Miriam and Mike's Testimonial Video

Danielle & James

2010-02-13T16:55:00.004-05:00

Danielle and James are so adorable together that I couldn't resist adding this clip from their wedding video. If you enjoyed this clip, check out their photography session as well.

Maeghan & Dan's Dancing Highlights

2010-01-12T13:42:00.005-05:00

Here is a dancing highlight clip from Maeghan and Dan's wedding at West Park Winery. There was no shortage of people on the dance floor and everyone had a so much fun. See for yourself!

For more on this awesome wedding, you can see the post Earth, Air, Fire, and Water and so much fun.

Marissa & Justin Photo Session

2010-01-10T21:04:00.005-05:00

Love, Love, Loved it!!!!

2009-12-16T10:07:00.005-05:00

Hi Jenn,

We received our video last night and we absolutely loved it. It was just like being at our wedding again. My husband did not think we needed a video based on feedback from friends but I knew I wanted one because after everything is done, the video and the pictures are all you have to remember your wedding. Even he was impressed with the video and was glad that we had it done. I can’t wait to show our families.

Again we really loved the final video and we enjoyed having you at our wedding. You were both very pleasant and easy to work with. If I know anyone else getting married I will definitely give them your number.

Kelli

Laura & Ryan's Photography Session

2009-12-10T11:17:00.006-05:00

Laura's Bridal Preparations

2009-12-10T10:52:00.008-05:00

Kelli & Gene

2009-10-05T21:19:00.007-04:00