Lisa-Marie + Patrick: Moments Before They Get Married

When it comes to wedding video, a lot of couples struggle with whether or not it's worth it.  They wonder whether or not they'll watch it or whether or not it just duplicates photography.  Most couples who consider getting a wedding video do it because they want to have their ceremony and key moments, like their first dance and toasts, documented on video.  A lot of couples don't stop to consider the moments that they will miss altogether.  

A perfect example is the arrival at the church.  Traditionally, the bride and groom are separated, so they never get to see what the other one is doing.  The groom is waiting at the church and greeting guests.  The bride is busy making her way to the church, so she never sees the guests arrive.  The groom and guests make their way inside the church for the start of the ceremony, so they never get to see the bride exit the limo.  So now you may be thinking, "What's the big deal?  That's not important anyway."

The arrival at the ceremony is one of those moments that is under appreciated until you get your wedding video back.  In the photographs, you will most likely see a lot of poses and smiling, but the video captures the looks between the photographs and the true moments when people may not know we're there filming.  It's in the wedding video that you get to see for the first time the smiles on your guests faces as they arrive to the church to share your day with you.  You see family and friends that you may not have seen for a while, and may not have seen each other, share a moment together hugging or laughing or both.  You get to see whether the groom was nervously pacing or cool as a cucumber.  And for all the people who were inside the church, this is the first time you get to see the pure joy and excitement on the bride's face as she gets out of the limo and enters the church with her dad to marry the love of her life.

Here is an example of an arrival to share with you.  I love this clip for many reasons, but the one reason that stands out most to me is the song choice.  Lisa-Marie married a military man.  That means constant uprooting, lots of adjustments and time spent away from their families and each other.  When trying to come up with song choices, I told her to pick songs that have meaning to her.

Here are Lisa-Marie's words to me:  "One of the reasons I went with 'Home' is because to me it represented a strong union in a certain way. Patrick and I are a military family and over the years of dating we spent many years geographically apart because of it. With our marriage, now we will be moving around a lot and never really calling one place home for to long.  We joke, like most military families, in saying “ home is where the Marine Corps sends us.” I liked the tune and the words. I just found great meaning in it for us."

It makes me smile every time I watch this clip.  Hopefully, it will make you smile too.

 

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave a comment here on the blog and/or post to our Facebook Wall.  We would love it if you would become a fan while you're there too.

 

Jenn!!

Oh my gosh - we spent the whole weekend watching and sharing our wedding video and love story! We are soo soo happy with how it all turned out. Your editing skills are phenomenal, you are so talented!! Truly a professional and best kept secret. 

 
We are so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with you and Mike, and to have you both along with us on our wedding day. Watching the video brought us right back to that day, and let me see sooo many amazing details from a day that went by way too fast!

We will absolutely be sending any and every engaged couple we know your way!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Lauren and Emilio Valqui

You can see a highlight of their wedding here.

Michele + Leland: A Beautiful Fall Wedding at St. James Church and the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel

Michele and Leland were married at St. James Church, a gorgeous old stone church in the city of Kingston.  Though the day started off with a bit of rain, by the end of their vows, the sun came out and the clouds parted to reveal a beautiful blue sky.

Their ceremony was so personal and sweet.  I absolutely love it when couples recite their own vows!  It really makes a ceremony your own.  There were few dry eyes in the church during their vows and those that were had to have been fighting it back with all their might.  Their words to each other were so precious and genuine!  They're so sweet together!  You can see the love in their eyes every time they look at each other!

After the ceremony, we were excited to head off to the City of Poughkeepsie for some urban wedding photos with one of our favorite photographers, Cheryl Bolton-Reuter.  I love filming a bride and groom all dressed up and gorgeous with the historic buildings, traffic, lights and the urban backdrop of the city.  There are so many options for creative and fun shots and a ton of different textures and locations to play with.  Just wish we had a bit more time.  Maybe I can convince Michele and Lee to get all dressed up again for some more fun!  Here are some stills from the film of their photo session.

 

Just as we were finishing up the photo session, the storm clouds began to roll back in.  I love it when the sky changes like that!  We end up with the best footage because you get billowy clouds, brilliant blue skies and gray dramatic stormy clouds all in one shoot.  It makes for some great footage! 

For more from Michele and Lee's wedding, you can check out some photos on the Facebook album from Bolton-Reuter Photography.

Their reception was held in the Regency Ballroom at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel.  It was all decked out for the Fall Themed Black and White Wedding and had many personal details.  One of my favorites was the display for the escort cards.  They were placed on lanterns (their favors) which were hung on large tree branches in tall vases filled with amber marbles.  I heard several of their guests comment on how unique and eye catching this idea was.

Another favorite were the centerpieces, which were designed by Michele and created by Lucille's Florist.  They were fall colored floral centerpieces with a beautiful iron candle lantern coming up out of the center.  Such a unique detail!  They set the mood and gave the room a lovely amber glow.

Michele and Lee had a signature martini they called a "Leechele" which consisted of Stoli Vanilla and Creme de cocoa garnished with black licorice.  Perfect for the fall theme!  To serve their signature drink, they set up a martini bar.  Another hit with their guests!

Rock n' Roll!  That basically sums up Michele and Lee's rockin' reception!  Dr. Mudd, a band that is very special to the couple, provided the entertainment for the evening and kept the guests on the floor all night long.  Everyone sang along with the band as they danced and Michele and Lee each took a turn at the mic.  Lots of memorable moments and a lot of fun had by all.  It was quite a party!

One last set of details that can't go unmentioned, Michele's dress and shoes (links below).  LOVED THEM and they were the perfect choice for her!! Her dress was by Essence of Australia and her shoes, Paris Hilton.  Check out the details on both of these lovelies.

Here is a highlight clip from their wedding film to show you all the fun!

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

Production Team:
Ceremony Location: St. James Church, Kingston, NY
Reception Location: Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, Poughkeepsie, NY
Photographer:  Cheryl Bolton-Reuter, Bolton-Reuter Photography
Reception Entertainment: Dr. Mudd
Flowers and Centerpieces: Lucille's Florist (designed by Michele)
Dress Designer: Essence of Australia, Michele's dress is style D1154
Bride's Shoes: Paris Hilton (sorry, couldn't find a direct link, but they sell her line at Macy's)
 

Amy-Jo and Paul's Super Fun Wedding at Sacred Heart and Anthony's Pier 9

After being either friends or a couple, but mostly both, for the greater part of their lives (they've known each other since they were in elementary school), Amy-Jo and Paul were married at Sacred Heart Church and celebrated with their family and friends well into the night at Anthony's pier 9.  These two are so completely adorable together and a total joy to be around!  It's no wonder that when they found each other, they never let go! 

There were many cute and personalized items at their wedding.  Only some of them are featured in the clip, but I wanted to make note of a few of my favorites. 

Amy-Jo's something borrowed and something new was an anklet that belonged to her grandmother that had a new charm attached to it featuring her grandmother's picture.

There were MANY items that had their names or initials and wedding date on them, but it wasn't just the things you would expect it to be on, like invites, programs and engraved toasting glasses.  My favorite finds were on the rustic wood slice attached to their program basket, the stickers on the bottom of the Hershey Kisses and the planter box that held chocolate lollypops on their candy buffet.  That magnificent candy bar display was designed and built by the very talented Lauren from Lauren Paige Associates.  It featured just about everything that anyone with a sweet tooth could ever imagine; M&Ms, Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Licorice, Gummy Candies, Cake Pops made to look like a cake and Willy Wonka Pixy Sticks!

Amy-Jo was very excited about the props that she brought along for her photo shoot, like the frame in the photo at the top of the page, vibrant lime green umbrellas for the girls in the bridal party and my favorite one, the letters (one for each member of the bridal party) that spelled out their new status.  We worked at the side of Max from Maximillian Nucci Photography (along with his assistant for the day, Mark Kovner) to get some really cute shots with this very fun bunch!

Here is a preview clip from Amy-Jo and Paul's Super Fun and Sweet Wedding.  Hope you enjoy!

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave us a comment here on the blog and/or on our Facebook Page (Feel free to share the link there with your Facebook friends so they can see Amy-Jo and Paul's wedding too and please, don't forget to "like us" while you're there!)

Congratulations to Amy-Jo and Paul!!

 

The Productions Team
Ceremony Location: Sacred Heart Church, Highland Falls, NY
Reception Location: Anthony's Pier 9, New Windsor, NY
Day of Coordinator/Candy Bar Designer: Lauren Paige Associates, Middletown, NY
Photographer: Maximillian Nucci Photography, Kinston, NY

Lauren + Emilio: Highlights from a Beautiful Stone Church and Grandview Tent Wedding

Lauren and Emilio were married at St Patrick's Church in Yorktown, an old stone church with such charm and beauty.  After the ceremony, the couple and the bridal party did a balloon release orchestrated by Karin Hlywiak from Cinderella For A Day.

Their reception was held in the tent at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie, one of our favorite Hudson Valley locations.  What a gorgeous view you get from the tent!  It's awesome to watch the transformation from when the sun is setting and the glowing golden light fills the tent to the contrast of the night sky with the glow coming from the DJs lighting inside the tent, not to mention the lights on the Mid Hudson Bridge filling the background of our shots as the events unfold.

Between the side lawn with the stone walls and walkway at the church and the gardens and boat dock at the Grandview, we had plenty of opportunity to film the newlyweds in gorgeous surroundings.  We were alongside Cheryl Bolton Reuter for most of the photos she took that day.  For more photographs from Cheryl, check out her album on Facebook.   DJ Jimmy Lutz kept the crowd dancing all night.  Some of the best dancing moments can be seen in the clip below.  They were a happy bunch!

Here is a highlight clip from their wedding day. 

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)

The Production Team:

Ceremony Location: St Patrick's Old Stone Church, Yorktown

Reception Location: The Grandview, Poughkeepsie

Photographer:  Cheryl, Bolton Reuter Photography

DJ: Jimmy Lutz Entertainement
Day of Coordinator: Karin Hlywiak, Cinerella For A Day

Diandra + Keith: Beautiful Ceremony at Catlin Gardens

Diandra and Keith had a beautiful wedding at Catlin Gardens last Sunday.  Their ceremony took place in the lush gardens next to a pond and under a tent to protect their guests from the sun.  Guests got to have a look at some of the beautiful gardens on their way over to the tent as they crossed a pond and waterfall by bridge and moved past several fountains.  Each guest was greeted with a beverage, most opting for campaign.

Their ceremony, officiated by Reverend Naomi Fay, was very personal.  You could tell that Diandra and Keith spend a lot of time selecting songs and working with Reverend  Naomi to let their love story shine.  DJ Larry Mulligan of Much Music supplied the music for the ceremony and photographer Rose Schaller took the beautiful photographs.  You can see some of the photos on Rose's blog.

Here is an edited version of their ceremony for you to have a look at.  Hope you enjoy!

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

The Production Team
Location: Catlin Gardens, Slate Hill, NY
The Officiant: Reverend Naomi Fay
The Photographer:  Rose Schaller
The DJ: Larry Mulligan from Much Music

Anastasia and Chris: Burning up the Dance Floor at Round Hill House

It's been a while since I posted a dancing clip to the blog.  When I began to look through the footage from Anastasia and Chris' wedding, I knew this was a great opportunity to post a fun dancing clip.  There was so much activity on the dance floor and I'm pretty sure that every guest was dancing at one point or another.  One thing I know for sure, they were all having such a great time!!  This clip features the song that got the most people dancing and the platform that almost every guest took a turn on.  Hope you enjoy!

If you enjoyed this clip, please leave us a comment here on the blog and/or our Facebook Wall.  Don't forget to Like Us while you're there! :)