The Beautiful Memories 10th Anniversary Project: Kristin + Dave (+ Scarlett)

Kristin and Dave celebrate 4 years today along with their daughter, Scarlett!  Here is a little of what has been going on with them since their wedding day.

Then + Now

Kristin and Dave recently purchased a home and are in the process of moving in, painting and updating some flooring.  Everything they do is as a family, so even Scarlett is helping out.

Newest Addition to the family

Family Time

As a family, they do MANY activities together, from baking, cooking and crafting to renaissance fairs and Spartan Races.  As you can tell by these photos, Kristin and Dave take on everything they do with everything they've got and they're teaching Scarlett to do the same.

An ad from Runner's Magazine

Making meatballs and cupcakes

Kristin is a baker extraordinaire, Dave is a guy that can cook and Scarlett is their little sous chef.  We can tell you they are quite good as well, since we've had the pleasure of sampling some of their goodies.  Below is just a sample of the artistic and yummy treats Kristin creates.

Kristin's Crafty Cupcakes, YUM! Peanut Butter SnickersMounds Toasted Coconut.

Kristin and Dave have been running Spartan Races since 2012. What began as trying something new quickly turned into a fun way to spend some family time together (they do kids races too), a way to challenge themselves and to spark some friendly competition. The races evolved into more when they formed Conner's Spartans to bring funds and awareness to Lymphatic disease.

More recently, Kristin and Scarlett have begun attending Aeriel Silks classes at Westchester Circus Arts. This began with Scarlett's dream to learn how to be an aerialist and turned into a new passion she shares with her mom.  These girls are impressive, strong and fearless. They have been involved in student shows and look forward to more. Kristin notes that Dave's support has made this newest hobby possible.

  

Kristin and Dave were also a part of one of our most favorite shoots, Trash the Dress: A Post Wedding Session in Ruins, where we visited a ruin, an abandoned warehouse and abandoned train cars.

I want to end this post with a message from Scarlett. One day, all on her own, she wrote this little note and handed it to her mom. 

Happy anniversary to Kristin and Dave! They're a perfect fit for each other and they're raising a smart, sweet and strong little girl, wise beyond her years.

You can relive Kristin and Dave's memories with these posts:
Trash the Dress: A Post Wedding Session in Ruins
Kristin's Bridal Prep
Congratulations Kristin and Dave: A Preview Clip

Jessica + Micah: A Beautiful Wedding at Home in Woodstock

Jessica and Micah's wedding is one that we will not forget and a great example of why we love filming weddings.  It had everything that you could hope for; a beautiful Catskill Mountain backdrop, personal details, heartfelt toasts, lots of family and friends having a great time, a ceremony which was both serious and humorous and a sweet couple clearly in love.  The energy, love and fun at this wedding was infectious! The weather even cooperated, sort of.

It was very windy that day; the most windy we've ever encountered while filming a wedding.  This made things a bit tricky for a ceremony under a Cuppah, but there was no rain, only a rainbow, and the sun kept creeping in and out as the clouds blew quickly overhead.  It was really gorgeous!

Because they were planning from a distance, we didn't get the chance to meet Jessica and Micah before their wedding day, but the second we arrived to film on their wedding day, we felt welcomed by them and their families and, as the night went on, we learned so much about them through toasts and conversations that we felt like we'd known them their whole lives. Anyone can tell just from watching them how in love they are.  Together, they exude such joy.  It was all clear from their first dance alone. It was so fun to watch.  They danced, laughed, did a Dirty Dancing lift fake out, ended with dip, but most noticeably, they were constantly smiling.  In every first dance there is a moment when the couple locks eyes, are completely in the moment and the look on their faces is complete bliss.  I always look for that moment.  It was tougher to find in Jess and Micah's first dance, but I think I found it in this first shot.

Personal weddings, like this one, are the weddings we love to film the most and the ones that family and friends will always remember and talk about often.  I can't complete this post without sharing two more of my favorite things about the wedding, both by Jessica's Step-Mother.  One was my favorite detail from their wedding; the personalized wooden table markers.  The other was Gayle's toast.  It was not only a personal toast like the others, but it also included several items from Jessica's childhood including her favorite books and a groom that she sewed when she was 8 years old. 

 Congratulations to Jessica and Micah! Here is a look at their wedding. Hope you enjoy!

 If you watched this clip, please let us know what you thought. If you liked what you see, like us on Facebook for updates.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Location: Private Home

Photographer: Franco Vogt, Franco Vogt Photography

DJ+MC: Lou Paris, Paris Creative

Lina's Bridal Prep: Part Two

Some people ask us if doing a bridal prep on video is necessary, since there will be photographs.  My answer is always the following.  There are things you'll see in the video that you may not necessarily see in photographs.  Videographers shoot more than photographers because we're shooting 24-30 frames per second, not just only each time the shutter is released, so we may catch a moment that they miss while they're focusing, checking their last shot  for clarity or repositioning for another angle.  We're also both shooting from different angles and it won't be identical to your photographs, so a person that is obscured in the photograph may be in the video.  Last, but not least, we can't forget that the moments when you say something won't be in your photographs, only the expression, and you'll be wondering what the heck you said later.  One of those moments happens near the end of this clip when one of the ring bearers and flower girls arrive at the house as the bride and her mom are posing for photographs.  Too cute!

This is part two of Lina's bridal prep.  Hope you enjoy!

If you watched this clip, please comment and let us know what you thought.


Here is what our bride, Lina, thought after seeing her prep clip:

 "Jenn, I AM SO CHEESY!!!  LOL. I am literally crying like a kid, so ridic. I saw the clip on your website and I loved how you put everything together for the second part of the prep. I loved that moment when my dad is looking at me smiling and when our SILLY dog is like all over the place kind of "in the way" that was lovely!!!! And how you got the dog sometimes laying on the floor with his cute face on the ground! I have tears coming down and this was just one part of the whole video."


 

Dad's Got the Moves!

As I was going through some dance footage today, I came across this gem and decided to do a quick camera to camera edit.  It's been a while since I've posted a camera to camera edit or a clip with just dancing and a very long time since I've posted a bride dancing with her father.  Too long!

This is our bride, Lina, and her father.  This is not their formal parent dance, which, by the way, was an impressive waltz, but just a bride and her dad having some fun dancing. Both of them are ready for Dancing with the Stars and, if you watch the clip to the end, you'll see that Lina's Mom is ready too!   

Her Dad was on the dance floor for much of the night and it seemed like everyone wanted to dance with him.  I even commented to Lina that I wanted to put down my camera to dance with him.  So guys, let this be a lesson to you.  Learn how to dance, the ladies love it!

There will definitely be more to see from this wedding, but for now, I hope you'll enjoy watching Lina and her Dad showing their stuff.

If you watched this clip, let us know what you thought. You can comment here on the blog or on the post for this video on our Facebook wall.  To see more from Lina + Rob's wedding, please follow us on Facebook for updates.

Kristy + Stephen: West Point Wedding at Most Holy Trinity Chapel and West Point Club

In the ten years we've been doing wedding films in the Hudson Valley, last season was the first time we'd been asked to do a wedding at West Point and we did three in a row.  Kristy and Stephen were our second West Point couple.  They married on a gorgeous summer day in July at Most Holy Trinity Chapel at West Point followed by a fun-filled reception at West Point Club. 

If opposites attract, and we believe they do, these two couldn't be more suited for each other.  While Kristy spent her youth frequenting Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen and Olive Garden with her best friend thinking that was the best food ever, Stephen was away at college introducing his classmates to wine, gourmet food and his mad knife skills.  His Best Man called him "The Original Fruit Ninja".  Stephen cooks and was credited with expanding Kristy's horizons by taking her from Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Cheddar Cheese and Honey Mustard to Lamb Chops with Chimichurri.

During their ceremony, Kristy, being a teacher, thought about every response to the questions "Have you", "Will you" and "Do you" making sure they were grammatically correct, while Stephen was so eager to answer that he wasn't as concerned.  When they answered a question differently, Kristy repeated the correct response and Stephen looked out at the guests and said, "She's a teacher". It was a really cute moment.

You can tell by a lot of what they say and do that they learn and grow, as well as, have fun together.  Stephen has a signature pose, which you'll see in the video clip.  Kristy was doing it during the photo session with him, unprompted.  By the end of the night, everyone was doing it.  At one point during their photo session, Stephen was blowing on Kristy trying to distract her and she said while laughing, "You're such a child." Stephens response was, "You said yes." Her response, "I did."

There were many memorable moments throughout the day, but the one that will always stands out in my mind is the two impromptu lifts during (I've Had) The Time of My Life at the end of their reception; one by Kristy and Stephen and one by two of the guys, both are in the clip below. It's pretty common to see couples do a fake out for the dramatic lift, giving guests the idea that they might actually do it, but you rarely see anyone go up father than waist height.  The guys showed everyone how it's done, if only for a few seconds.  If you want to see more lift attempts we've caught on film, see our blog post Lift Expectations.

We hope you'll enjoy viewing highlights of Kristy + Stephen's wedding day.

If you watched this clip, let us know what you thought.  Leave us a comment here on the blog or on the post on our Facebook wall.  If you like our work, like us while you're there to follow us!

Production Team

Ceremony Location: Most Holy Trinity Chapel, West Point, NY

Reception: Location: West Point Club, West Point, NY

DJ Entertainment: DJ Domenic Entertainment, Poughkeepsie, NY

Photographer: Elissa Davidson, EID Photography, Poughkeepsie, NY

Bride's Dress: Casablanca Style #2004

Cake: The Pastry Garden, Poughkeepsie, NY

Blue Mountain Manor

We were happy to take part in a styled shoot and open house to promote a new venue in the Hudson Valley, The Blue Mountain Manor in Saugerties.  This rustic, elegant, BnB farm property offers many options for ceremony and reception spaces, as well as accommodations for getting ready. The large barn is a blank canvas that you can make your own.  The grounds offer many locations to hold your ceremony.  The day of the shoot, we used the pond, but there are several areas with beautiful trees and stunning mountain views as well.

There were three reception set-ups for the open house and we shot two of them with our lovely couple, Cristina and Nelson, so we edited two clips to show what each wedding design could look like in a wedding film.  The first clip features the barn, set up for a rustic, yet elegant fall wedding, with paper lanterns hung from the rafters and uplighting splashed on the wooden stall doors. We even got to take some really cute shots with a miniature horse.  The second clip features an elegant, romantic farm table set up under the trees with vintage place settings.

 RUSTIC BARN ELEGANCE

FARM TABLE VINTAGE ROMANCE

If you viewed these clip, please let us know what you thought. You can comment here or on the blog or on the post for this clip on our Facebook page.  If you enjoyed the clips, like our Facebook page to follow our work.

 To see more from this styled shoot, be sure to check out Jean Kallina's blog post, Styled Shoot at Blue Mountain Manor.

The Production Team

Location:  Blue Mountain Manor, Saugerties, NY

Planner:  JoAnn Provanzano, What Dreams Are Made Of, Kingston, NY

Photographer:  Jean Kallina, Hudson Valley Photography, Kingston, NY

Horse Drawn Carriage:  Frank Castella, Castle Carriage, Poughkeepsie, NY 

Vintage Rentals:  Hudson Valley Vintage Rentals, Accord, NY

Officiant:  Rev Jude Smith, Rhinebeck, NY

Bride's Headpiece:  Z Malan, Brooklyn, NY

Bride's Hair:  Beautiful Images Hair Salon, Kingston, NY

Make-Up:  Celeste Von Damon
DJ Set-up and Uplighting:  Platinum Party Events,Highland, NY 

If any of the vendors that worked on this shoot would like to use one of these clips on their website or blog, please contact us.

Jodie + Adam: Wedding with a View at The Eagle's Nest

When I met Jodie, there was something I immediately noticed about her.  She was smiling and laughing a lot.  Now, it's not unusual for brides to be happy when we meet with them, but Jodie was different, in a great way.  Her joy was contagious.  I could tell in our very first meeting that Jodie wasn't just happy and excited over her upcoming wedding.  Jodie is a genuinely and naturally happy person.  The type that makes fast friends with everyone and someone you feel comfortable with immediately.  Our first meeting lasted close to three hours because we just talked and talked.  When she left, it was like saying goodbye to someone I'd known for years. 

We didn't get the chance to meet Adam until the wedding day, but we did get a glimpse into his personality through photos Jodie and Adam's family sent us for a slideshow we made for them.  We imagined Adam as someone who liked to have fun and who often laughs, just like Jodie, and when we met him, he was just as we had imagined. 

It wasn't hard for us to see what attracted them to each other and we aren't alone.  Everything we thought was confirmed in the heartfelt toasts given at their reception. 

Jodie's aunt, who served as Matron of Honor, said, "What I admire most about my niece is she smiles more than any person I have ever met.  Jodie, you are able to find joy in situations that nobody else would find it in.  And I think what makes it so special is that there's never any meanness or guile or calculation.  And when I met Adam, he too has that type of kindness.  When it gets serious and you want to have an important conversation, Jodie will listen without judgement.  It's this non-judgmental type of attitude that really pulls people into her and again, Adam has a very similar personality."

Her best friend said, "As some of you know, at first I was less than fond of Jodie.  She was always the hot mess. She was always running late for class, taking forever to get ready and she always left Jodie items everywhere.  But as you know, Jodie tends to grow on everybody.  Her contagious smile and all her quirky sayings just really... I don't know.  You get hooked.  I'm not sure which crazy day we became best of friends, but our friendship has grown and bloomed ever since."

Her brother said, "I'm inspired by many of Jodie's qualities.  For one, she never passes up an opportunity to smile.  Throughout all the stresses in her life, Jodie always found something to smile about.  Additionally, Jodie is accepting of people, regardless of their flaws, and she finds something special in everyone.  These qualities are the reason I look up to Jodie, for they are qualities that I certainly aspire to, but don't come as naturally to me, or most people for that matter.  When Jodie met Adam, I immediately noticed how right there were for each other, but I couldn't put my finger on what made them so similar.  I have come to learn that it's these qualities; the ability to find something to laugh about when nobody else can, to find the good in people where it may not be so apparent, that Adam and Jodie share.  As I witness the beginning of this marriage between Jodie and Adam today, I'm left knowing that these virtues and this kind of love make life most worth living and most worth sharing with others."


Every word they said is true.  They are a joyful, loving, honest, silly (watch during their photo session, it's too cute) and sweet couple.  Now that you know a little more about Jodie and Adam, here is a preview of their wedding film, which hopefully displays some of their wonderful qualities.

Jodie and Adam not only share love for each other, but also love for family and friends, nearly constant laughter and good hearts; a perfect recipe for a lifelong marriage.

Congratulations Jodie + Adam!


The Productions Team

Ceremony Location: Temple Sinai, Middletown, NY
Reception Location: The Eagle's Nest, Bloomingburg, NY
Photographer: Rose Schaller, Rose Schaller Photo, Middletown, NY
DJ: Brian Stylez, Stylez Entertainment, Wallkill, NY