Thursday, April 10, 2008

Crystalin and Shane were married in Nashville on September 22, 2007. McNeal Video was their chosen videographer and was there to capture every moment. Check out their wedding details on McNeal’s blog.

I’ve included a few great still video pics taken by McNeal (below) but be sure to view the couple’s amazing wedding video. I especially love all of the “speed” effects that McNeal has added. (Not sure if that’s the correct terminology:).

Before you rule out a wedding video, view a few of McNeal’s or those of other local wedding videographers. You just might change your mind.

Enjoy!

Wedding Vendors

Ceremony: First Presbyterian Church - Franklin, TN

Reception: Jamison Hall at The Factory

Photographer: Kathryn Clement

Videographer: McNeal Video

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Your wedding is the ultimate expression of who you are. From your cake to your colors, every aspect reflects a part of your personality. Invitations are no different. In fact, they set the tone for your wedding way before your big day - they tell your guests what to expect - formal event? beach side affair? Invitations set the tone.

That’s why I love great save the dates and wedding invitations. Now, there is another option for creative brides - Video/DVD invitations.

DVD/Video invitations consists of a video of the couple inviting their guests. Simply concept but the options range the entire gamut.

If this is something of interest to you, here are the components:

1) Budget - of course everything starts with budget. Yes brides, you have to decide at the beginning how much we can/want to spend on invitations. This is your starting point and your budget will drive EVERYTHING.

2) Style - based on your budget, do you want to go all out for the invitation or do the bare minimum? There are many ways to approach this but let’s say there are two types -DIY approach / luxe approach.

3) Format

DIY:

- use still pictures and create a slideshow type production

- produce your own video (with tripod or friend videoing) and then upload the video to youtube (as these folks have done)

- send your pics to a company like Show and Tell, although I honestly think you could achieve this same look on your own

Luxe:

- add the video creation to your wedding videography package. If you don’t plan to hire a wedding videographer, you could still hire a videographer to create your DVD. Nashville wedding videographer McNeal Video created the dvd invitation featured below. What I like about this video is that it truly expresses this couple’s style.

Click here if you can’t see.

A professional video like this will serve two purposes - one you get a professionally made video to send to your guests; which makes an awesome first impression and 2) you get a chance to see your wedding videographer/photographer at work way before your wedding day. If there are any issues/problems, you know well in advance and can work to resolve the problem or hire someone else

- use professional pics from your engagement photo session

- work with a Nashville stationers like Kim at PaperKuts Studio or Cat of Carte Blanche; they both carry the Marsupial Papers line. Marsupial Papers is all about style and quality and I love their dvd invitation packaging; it’s simple yet elegant. Contact PaperKuts to learn more.

- develop something really innovative like this adorable cartoon wedding invitation below that I found on youtube

4) Packaging - how do want to present the video invitation? You really have tons of options. And, you can combine them too.

DIY:

- Place on your wedding website or blog

- Email your guests and place the link to your video and other wedding info in the email (if you have a really tight budget but want a unique invitation)

Luxe:

- Completely custom invitation from Designs in Paper (yes they do everything)

- Semi-custom invitation like these great ones from Marsupial Papers (clearly fabuluxe) or Reel Invitations, if you’re on smaller budget but don’t have time to do a quality DIY version.

Final note -

I would not rely on the digital invitations to disseminate info like directions, registry, important info in the dvd solely; you should provide a paper copy or at least a printable document. I would place this info on my wedding website, email or in a paper invitation that accompanies the dvd. (obviously not the registry info). People like to carry that type of info with them. I would also consider a save the date magnet or something that they can place on their fridge so they dont forget your wedding date.

Regardless of your budget or your style, have fun creating an ultra-personal, super creative way to invite your guests. It will certainly give your wedding an added wow factor.

Friday, March 7, 2008

A week ago, McNeal Video Blog announced a new blog author, Cheryl. Cheryl is on their videography team and based on her cute graphic (see below), I absolutely couldn’t wait to read Cheryl’s first post. Cheryl is all about the details, which reminds me of me - I can only imagine that she is a chatterbox too which makes it great for folks (like me) who want to know all the wedding details so we can incorporate interesting aspects into our own events! So, enjoy this new blog personality and this wonderful Nashville wedding. Oh - and be sure to check out the ninja photographer! I love folks who hustle to get great footage and Joey (photographer) clearly does so. (That’s a valuable skill - I wasn’t so lucky…another story.)

Jaime and Justin - March 1, 2008

Hmmm. Burnt thumbnail…..check.

Bloodblister on finger…….check.

Swollen right hand from where I caught it in my tripod (long story)……check.

This could only mean one thing. It’s WEDDING SEASON!!!!!

I’ve been looking forward to our first wedding of 2008 ever since I put away my tripod after our last wedding of 2007.

Actually, we’ve been working on this wedding since 2007, which I will tell you about in a second. But this past weekend, March 1 to be exact, Jaime and Justin were married at The Mill at Lebanon. The reception was held there too.

We’ve never had a wedding at The Mill before so I was looking extra forward to seeing what the place looked like. I love doing weddings at “new” venues.

Even though this “new” venue was a very old mill that I was told once had something to do with sheep? Hence all the pictures of sheep in such places as on the doors, etc. It reminded me very much of The Factory at Franklin. Only different. But if you’ve been to the Factory, you’ll sorta know what I’m talking about. Anyway, it’s a great place for a wedding if you want a different atmosphere than outdoors or a church or such. I liked it.

Per usual, Lynette and I went to the rehearsal the night before the wedding to get a feel for the place and where the best spots would be to put our cameras. As usual, we walked around and stood in several locations and pictured how it would look if we filmed from there, or there, or over there…..and at one point, Lynette looked at the beams that were running high over our heads, and we made a small joke to ourselves that maybe we could have Amanda stand at the end of the beams — and she would get a GREAT shot. ha ha. Then Lynette added, “well, I bet Joey will find a way to get up there.” ha ha again.

You see, Joey is Joey Pippin, our friend and photographer from Lifetime Weddings. (Ashley adds - hey ladies - Joey offers ABG brides 20%!!) We’ve done several weddings with him and we know that he will do whatever is needed to get a great shot.

On Jaime and Justin’s wedding day, it was sunny and warm-ish and we donned our black clothing and happily went to work. Lynette and Amanda did the pre-ceremony shots with Jaime, and I did the pre-ceremony shots with Justin.

Justin is a great guy. I found that out when we were shooting their music video in the fall of 2007. Both he and Jaime are very easy going and have a wicked sense of humor. We shot their music video to the song “Somewhere Out There” and it wasn’t supposed to be serious at all, but rather sappy and tongue-in-cheek funny. And the way it was shot and edited, it turned out perfectly. Jaime and Justin were so excited about showing it at their wedding reception, and had gone to great lengths to keep it a secret from everyone. Everyone thought it was going to be just another montage of baby pictures and such of the couple. But NOOOO we had more in plan for them.

And Jamie is great too. I was impressed with her flare for style. I never would’ve thought to put the colors together that Jaime used, but then again, I don’t have the flair for knowing what will work together. The reception room was decorated using Jaime’s colors of chocolate brown, ivory, and a soft violet, or plum, or purple . . . I’m not sure exactly what the color was, but it was in the light purple-ish family. Anyway, it worked perfectly together. But what really impressed me was that Jaime was able to bring in the traditional and the sentimental (for instance, using pieces of both mother’s wedding dresses in various items such as the ringbearer’s pillow), yet also keeping the feeling of warmth and Soho Hipness going. Is that a word? Well, if not, I just made it one.

And I’m being borderline sappy, but they just compliment each other perfectly. If you spend an entire afternoon shooting a video with a couple you hardly know, and the afternoon flows smoothly and everyone is laughing and having a good time, then you know you have a great couple. And we had one with Jaime and Justin.

As usual, I didn’t see Jaime until right before the wedding because I had spent all day with the guys, and Jaime and Justin didn’t see each other before the wedding. But when I did get to see her, she looked absolutely beautiful. And her dress was gorgeous and looked like it had been made with Jaime’s personality in mind. It was a fit in more ways than one.

The ceremony was beautiful, we caught everything on video just like we had planned.

Then it came time for Joey to do a short photoshoot of the entire wedding party with all the wedding guests. As mentioned before, Lynette and I shot the ceremony from the balcony level where the reception was going to be held, looking down over the wedding. So Lynette is on one side of the balcony, and I’m across from her on the other side. The only thing between us is a railing then a bunch of wooden beans. The beams we joked about having Amanda stand on. ha ha.

Well, sure enough, Joey (the photographer) hopped over the rail and casually walked across the beams and stood on a center beam looking down at the wedding party and guests.

Sure, it was a great place to stand for the shot, but COME ON JOEY!!!!

For some reason, though, I wasn’t worried. I guess because he looked totally at ease.

At one point, it did cross my mind that if he fell, it would not be a good thing. But I didn’t dwell on that thought, and just filmed it.

Joey took several shots of the wedding party and guests, directing people around so he could see everyone, then casually walked back over to the side where I was standing, handed me his camera, and hopped back over the railing. Here’s one of the photos he took. Amazing! (As usual).

Thursday, February 7, 2008

I am super excited today. Maybe not excited enough to get out of bed before 9am so you could read before heading to lunch. Oh - you don’t think I know your schedule by now? My site gets really busy between 930am and 1130am. Then - everyone leaves me and returns around 1-2pm. So, sorry that I didn’t post earlier but I guess you’ll catch me after lunch:)

Back to the excitement - so yesterday, I drove out to meet Lynette of McNeal Video. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that in the past I haven’t been a huge fan of wedding videography - you can see my post to MelissaandWyatt on the message board. I got a bad wedding video and paid a lot for something I will NEVER watch again. But, after visiting her blog and watching some AMAZING videos and reading about all of the beautiful Nashville weddings she’s covered, I was open minded but still not persuaded.

Lynette’s blog is now one of my favorite Nashville bridal blogs. It features tons of Nashville brides and the details of their wedding days. Expect to see more of Lynette’s work on my site soon but click to view the Curry & Russ wedding.

Anyway, she greeted me at the door and we instantly connected. She had Oprah showing in her office (love Oprah) so I knew we would at least be gal-pals. Well, as we chatted I realized I didn’t know anything about wedding videos. I told her my story about my horrible wedding video experience and the first thing she said was “You got your wedding video in two weeks? That was a big sign of a problem”.

Really? I had no clue that was too soon to get a wedding video. We’re brides - what do we know about what to expect, what’s good/not good. The guy I hired advertised everywhere, was a member of TWESA and came highly recommended by…other wedding vendors. I thought I’d done my homework but I guess not. Moral of the story is - do your research. One way is to check out Nashville bridal blogs and ask to speak with a bride they’ve featured on their blog. That way you can compare the work with the bride’s feedback. Don’t just take my word either. I am introducing you to folks I like but unless I say I’ve hired them, I don’t know first hand either. Chat on my message board with brides. Most of all, follow your gut - if they aren’t responsive, don’t give you a receipt, don’t return emails - DONT HIRE THEM!

OK - Back to McNeal Video…After leaving McNeal I was optimistic about wedding videography. Here’s what I learned:

1) She knows and leverages technology - Lynette has an iPhone. OK - this might not mean a lot to you but it tells me that she is on the cutting edge of technology. I asked for a calculator and she pulled out a freakin’ iPhone. Unbelievable. Even better, her iPhone houses wedding videos. BTW - McNeal offers her brides an iPhone/iPod service where she’ll put your wedding videos in a format that you can easily add to your iPhone/Pod. How hot is that!

2) She gets brides - Lynette informed me that she only does weddings - no corporate events, no parties, just weddings. So, she is 100% dedicated and focused on brides and what matters to brides. (There aren’t many videographers who focus solely on weddings.) Plus, she’s a woman (sorry guys) so she knows how important each detail is and wants to capture that.

3) She’s educates you and keeps you informed - Woman after my own heart. I love the fact that she took time to educate me. She said that a a good video should take a lot longer than 2 weeks to produce. She said that it usually takes 6 months for her to finalize a wedding video, but she gives her brides a preview in about 3 months or so. I couldn’t believe it took that long until she told me the process - how she leaves a wedding with 20 tapes of footage and then edits, boils it down to a few final DVDs. But, I love that she places her edit schedule on her blog so you know what to expect.

If you hired McNeal, please comment on this post. I’d love to hear from you and see what you thought of your video and working with them.

If you can hire someone like McNeal who really is passionate about weddings and really good, I say definitely budget for a great videographer. If you can’t hire someone great, put the money toward a super duper photographer. I would rather have a great video or great pics vs. so-so pics and video.

That’s my two cents. Off to lunch!

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Here are the final highlights from my 27 Dresses, Nashville bridal event. Plus, Wes sent the final video just in time!

The Photography:

All of the pics I’ve shared this week were captured by two super gals - April and Michele. Check out their websites to learn more. But, I’ll tell ya - they are both very professional, punctual and great to work w/. In fact, they jumped right in to help out with the event, going beyond their “expertise”. I saw April making lemonade and Michele stuffing swag bags. This may not mean anything to you now, but wait until your big day. You’ll appreciate a photographer who is willing to do double duty - from photography to keeping the flower girl and ring bearer focused long enough to get down the aisle:)

Harmony Designs Photography - April

Casual Elegance - Michele

The Videography

Pursuit Video - Wes came out to support the Nashville bridal event with only a day’s notice! He was such a good sport and did a great job editing out my chatting (and Michele’s).

Thanks to all of the vendors and brides who came out.