One of the best pieces of advice I can give to any bride or groom when looking into filming their wedding is to have good lighting at their event.  Lighting is one of the most important components of making a good wedding film an amazing wedding film.

From color washes, spot lights, lanterns, to personalized graphics and monograms, lights transform a venue and allow the bride and groom to set the mood and tone of their event.  When proper lighting is achieved, one feels like they are entering into a different world. Not only does this affect the wedding film from a cinematography standpoint, but everyone entering into this “world” picks up on the tone and the “wow factor” is accomplished.

Another advantage of lighting is that it allows the important elements of the event to stand out.  Without proper illumination, even the most beautiful flowers and delicious cake will fade into the background.  Lighting provides a third dimension to those special details that most couples work so hard to make part of their big day.

Take your wedding to the next level.  Let the lights of your event reflect the radiance in your hearts!

If you are looking to do something different for a gift registry we have some ideas for you! Now-a-days brides have a lot of the items that would typically go on a wedding registry. So what do you do? We have come across some different ideas for a unique registry.

If you are planning on going on a honeymoon but don’t have enough funds our first idea is for you. You can do a honeymoon gift registry. There are free sites such as honeyfund.com that allow you to pick different items such as meals, hotels, airfare, and fun activities that you will want to do. You can divide them into smaller chunks of money that your guess can afford and purchase for you. Guess can either pay by credit card, a paypal account, or they can choose to mail you a check. Best of all, this all just goes into one fund. So YOU can decide what you want the money to go to.  Just because someone gave you money for the expensive hotel in Paris, doesn’t mean you have to pick that if you don’t have all the funds for it.

Another gift registry idea is to give back to someone less fortunate. Instead of having people cut you checks, have your guess write a check to your favorite charity. Websites such as I do Foundation and Justgive.org will let you register for your favorite charity and guess can make a donation. If you still want gifts, the I Do Foundation can set you up with a registry that donates a percentage of the purchases to charity. Guest will love this idea and they get a tax refund.

The important thing to remember is to be creative and these days anything works!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgJX-ZJ0zcs[/youtube]

source: bridalbud

• Make sure you select a videographer that has been in business for several years. The more experience they have in weddings, the more of a sense of flow they will have for the day’s events.

• Ask for references and see a demo video before you sign your contract. When calling the references be sure to ask the bride not only about the finish product, but how they liked working with the vendor the day of. Remember you have to spend all day with them!

• Make sure that the videographer’s style is as you would like for your video. Each person is different so make sure you ask their style and if they can accommodate what you want.

• Find out it they have the latest equipment as well as how many camera’s your package would include. If there are restrictions at your ceremony site make sure they know them before hand and let the videographer know.

• Lastly, find out how long it will take for your video to come back. You might want to also make sure the videographer doesn’t need anything from you before he can start editing.

source: intimateweddings.com

The groom’s speech is usually the second speech of the reception; it traditionally follows the father of the bride’s speech.  Most grooms dread getting up in front of all their family and friends and saying something. However, this is a great opportunity to thank everyone for coming and give special recognition to those who deserve it.
That being said there are some key things that the groom need to know before he gets up to give his toast.

First off, short is sweet. You need to remember that there are a lot of toasts going on, so the toast really shouldn’t be more than 5 min. Secondly, there are some key people you need to thank you in your toast. First are the parents of both the bride and groom. Make sure you thank them separately, and thank them for raising you and your wife to the people you are today. Secondly you need to thank the groomsmen and the bridesmaids. Remember that they put a lot of time and energy into being a part of you wedding day. Thirdly is your best man and lastly, but most importantly, is your bride. These are the people you must include in your speech however you can add anyone else you would like to honor as well.

You definitely will want to add a little bit of humor but make sure that you keep everything appropriate for all of the guests who are attending. Some things you should try to stay clear of would be politics, religion, or anything about your wild night in Vegas!

Most importantly, keep your speech heartfelt, light and personal. Follow these tips and you are sure to have a successful speech on your wedding day!

Source: sheknows.com

In the midst of your wedding planning, there are several things you will ignore but please don’t let your health be one of them. On your wedding day, you want to look & feel your best and here are some tips to help you accomplish this:

- Get plenty of rest. Get at least 8 hours per night, I know you have a lot to do but if you are constantly tired you won’t be able to make good choices or think clearly.

- drink your 8 glasses of water per day.  Staying hydrated does wonders for your skin and again helps prevent fatigue and headaches.

- Take a good multi-vitamin, stress depletes the body of nutrients.

- Laugh often, it helps relieve stress because at even the best planned weddings something usually goes wrong. It will all work out and someday you will look back and laugh at it together.

- Don’t forget to purchase new cosmetics several weeks before and use them to make sure you like the colors and don’t have any reactions.

Lastly on your wedding day, smile & laugh with your friends and family. You’ll be on camera so don’t worry about every little detail at this moment. ENJOY YOUR SPECIAL DAY.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOZKM0ixITQ[/youtube]

Editors Note: Help avoid fainting at the alter by getting a good nights rest the night before the wedding, eating before the wedding, not locking your knees. . .and remembering to breath while at the alter!

Ok, I have to accept the fact that I am guilty! I have been missing in action because I have been planning my own “June Wedding”. My fiance and I are planning on “jumping the broom” on June 28, 2009 and as we have been in the middle of the Wedding Season and planning our own wedding, I felt curious to find out more about “Why June Weddings?”. In my research, I found this great article that I wanted to share with all the other brides and grooms in our shoes. Article Source: wedding-blog.net written by Lesley-Ann Graham; Image Source: StyleMePretty.

“For as long as I can remember, getting married in June seemed to be the right thing to do. That is why when an aunt of mine got married in December, I couldn’t quite understand why. Come to think of it, I never understood why people wanted to get married in June either. So where did tradition stem from? Remember that cliché all roads lead to Rome? Well, June weddings can also be traced back to the Ancient Roman times.

For one, the Romans placed special attention to June weddings because that month was the time when they paid special obeisance to Juno, the goddess of marriage. As such, getting married in June was deemed lucky. We all know how the gods of the ancient times were very much involved in day to day living. On the other hand, it was not all luck and superstition that had it going for June weddings. It also had a practical aspect to it. If a couple got married in June, it meant that if the wife conceived, she would give birth before harvest time. This translated to the fact that she would be well enough to work the fields come harvest time.
There you are – the nitty gritty stuff about June weddings. With time, however, these reasons faded into the background. People of the modern times merely held on to the tradition that June is a good time to get married and that there is no other more romantic month than this. I have been trying to come up with modern reasons for June being the wedding month. I have done research and racked my brains but to no avail. Unfortunately, I think it is all based on the age old tradition which many do not know about now.
No matter what the reason may be though, June weddings are still quite popular today (though probably not as much as before). With the month of June just peeking around the corner, countless couples are probably getting ready for their own wedding. Their reasons may vary but the fact remains that June is still the prime month for weddings. Though it may be a bit late to plan your own wedding for this June, it will only be a matter of time till the next June comes around.”

photo: pittsburghweddingessentials.com

This is a question that many brides and grooms contemplate over when deciding if they really need wedding video or not. Well, look at it this way: You can choose to only hire a wedding photographer and have your wedding day story captured moments at a time as stills. Or you could hire a wedding videographer also and have the day documented as a story with soundbytes, movement, tears dripping, your thoughts and feelings captured on film, etc.

One of our recently wed couples, Ann & James, came to us after they had seen their wedding day film and said, “Shezad, when we first started preparing for the wedding, video was not one of our priorities but now after having viewed the video, I am so glad we made the choice of capturing it on film. We worked so hard to make sure that everything was perfect, but if we didn’t get a videographer, all that hard work would not speak back to us in 10 years like the video will. The photos are great but we needed a video to complete the day.” After hearing this, I thought to myself, that this is so true!!!

Many couples choose not to document their day with video, but in years to come they will be regretting this decision because they will not have a video to share with their children and grandchildren. So don’t make this mistake. Speak to a videographer today about documenting your big day.

Don’t you wish you knew what they were saying???

Source: www.theage.com

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QujA8YYgTWU[/youtube]

Brian & Katie’s music selection for this mix:

When You Say Nothing at All — Alison Krauss
Hound Dog — Elvis Presley
The Twist — Chubby Checker
Hokey Pokey
Oompa Loompa — from Willy Wonka
Kung Fu Fighting — Carl Douglas
Chicken Dance
Grease Lightening — John Travolta w/Grease Cast
YMCA — Village People
Billie Jean/Thriller — Michael Jackson
Mr. Roboto — Styx
Walk Like an Egyptian — the Bangles
Ice Ice Baby — Vanilla Ice
U Can’t Touch This — MC Hammer
Love Shack — the B-52’s
Apachee — Sugar Hill Gang
Cha Cha Slide (Casper Slide part 2) — Mr. C the Slide Man
Cotton Eyed Joe — Rednex
Macarena — Los Del Rio
Oops I Did it Again — Brittany Sprears
Bye Bye Bye — N’SYNC
Lose Yourself — Eminem
Hey Ya — Outkast
Dirt Off Ur Shoulders — Jay-Z
When You Say Nothing at All — Alison Krauss

Here’s some advice from TrashTheDress.com: Go ahead, you know you want to. Trash it. Get it dirty. Get it wet. Roll around in the mud. Drench it in the ocean. Totally trash it. Why? … Why not? You’ve made a commitment to your husband. He’s your one and only true love, right? Then you’ll never need the dress again. And no, your daughter won’t wear it in 20-30 years.

So you have two choices:

1) Suffocate it in plastic and throw it in a closet

2) Show your husband how committed you are by trashing the dress, and get some great fun pictures while you do it!

SO ARE YOU READY TO TRASH YOUR DRESS? (leave me a comment and let me know what you think)

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/2291683[/vimeo]

I often get asked from our brides, if I have any books that I would  recommend for them in the planning stages of their wedding? And, the answer is Yes, of course. There are some very useful books out there that I often refer to and others that I have purchased for my fiancé, since we are planning our own wedding. I recommend these 5 titles, but feel free to browse through the other titles:

• The Best Wedding Reception…Ever! | by Peter Merry
• Jo Gartin’s Weddings : An Inspiring Guide for the Stylish Bride | by Jo Gartin
• Emotionally Engaged – A Bride’s Guide to Surviving the “Happiest” Time of Her Life | by Allison Moir-Smith
• 1,000 Best Secrets for Your Perfect Wedding | by Sharon Naylor
• Your Stress Free Wedding Planner – Expert’s Best Secrets to Creating the Wedding of Your Dreams | by Alison Davis
• BONUS for all my eco-friendly couples (like us) — Organic Weddings | by Michelle Kozin

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFfGhnx_WEg[/youtube]

photo credit: www.4321.co.il

Here is some advice to help a couple decide…

Lisa Light, founder and CEO of Destination Bride has outlined some of the common considerations concerning destination weddings and suggests doing the following exercise as a couple:

• With destination weddings, the possibilities are endless. Does this give you a giddy “the world is our oyster!” feeling–or a daunting, overwhelmed feeling?

• A destination wedding promises a memorable experience. Either you don’t mind facing the unexpected, and “unforgettable” is just what you’re looking for . . . or you’d rather control every aspect of the experience rather than risk the “wrong kind” of “memorable”!

• Because of the travel factor, a destination wedding typically is more challenging to plan. You see the difficulties of planning as a fair price to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Or, your focus is already beyond the wedding; you’d prefer a simple ceremony and less hassle.

With the pros and cons considered, and the guests on board, the answer to the question—Is a destination wedding really right for you?—may well be yes! “When you combine the allure of travel, a remarkable occasion, and an extraordinary cause for celebration,” Lisa Light says, “the mix is rich with meaning, memories, and opportunities for bonding.”

Read more at Bridal News Network . Good luck with planning your destination wedding Whether you are planning a destination wedding or a in-town wedding, the planning process should be FUN, so enjoy every moment of it!!! ]]> http://www.weddingaces.com/2009/03/considering-a-destination-wedding/feed/ 0 http://www.weddingaces.com/2009/03/save-the-day-kit/ http://www.weddingaces.com/2009/03/save-the-day-kit/#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:43:52 +0000 Shezad http://www.weddingaces.com/?p=1251

We understand that the stress of wedding planning is quite overbearing, especially if you don’t have a wedding planner. Here is a very simple tip to have a flawless day.

Before your big day, make an emergency bag/kit (or have someone make one up for you).  Include some of these basic items:

a water bottle, small snack, aspirin, shout wipes, a nail file, your fingernail polish, a bottle of clear nail polish, a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, feminine products, safety pins, sewing kit, bobby pins, hair brush or comb, hairspray, mints, travel size perfume. Ask your make-up artist if you can have samples of your foundation, concealer and lip color.

Include anything you may think will be necessary to have just in case.

To help you further, here is a printable checklist.

I wish you the best with your wedding planning. Hopefully, you won’t have to use anything from this kit, but in the event that you having a wedding day emergency, you will be prepared!

Professional wedding videography is rapidly becoming a preferred medium for recording and preserving wedding memories, according to a new nationwide survey of brides. The survey, conducted by telephone, revealed that brides in the planning process of the wedding do not immediately realize the impact of a professionally-produced video. Before the wedding, while brides are making plans, over half (54%) rank video as one of the Top 10 most important bridal services. However, that number increases to 79% AFTER the wedding, as brides look back and assess the individual value of each service. Before the wedding, 23% of brides view video as a Top 5 service. After the wedding, that number climbs to 42%. The value of video becomes greater after the wedding.

The survey revealed the value of video is greater with brides who use professional video services compared to those who don’t. One of the most surprising findings of the survey is the second thoughts, even regrets, among brides who decided not to utilize the services of professional videographers.

Among brides who used a friend or family member to videotape their wedding instead of using a professional, nearly half (49%) said they would hire a professional if they had it all to do over again.

As brides look back at their wedding, the survey showed that 79% of brides agree that future brides should at least consider using a professional to videotape their wedding day. Those feelings are even more pronounced among the brides who utilized the services of professional videographer’s, 95% of whom think future brides should consider using a professional videographer.

The survey results reveal professional videography has become very important to today’s brides. Its value is comparable to wedding photography, and even more valuable in some respects, according to brides surveyed. Most importantly, the survey showed that brides feel more emphasis needs to be placed on videography in the wedding planning process.

First question that we often hear, can I make my video private on YouTube or does it have to be public? Well, the quick answer to this is YES, you can make the video private but most brides don’t mind sharing their love story with the world and would prefer it to be public.

Secondly another question that we usually get is, YouTube is great but isn’t the video playback going to be low quality? The answer to this is, it doesn’t have to be…We upload High-Definition Videos on YouTube and people can play these videos back in High Definition or Standard Definition based on their internet speeds. Checkout a sample of a High-Definition Video and the same video in Standard-Definition.

Lastly, once I post this video on YouTube, how do I share this with my friends and family? Well, you can send them a direct link to your video or you can embed the code for the video on your wedding website. Another cool thing about YouTube is that it allows you to share your video on Facebook , MySpace, and other social networking platforms.

Now, you might be thinking to yourself, what if I am not Technically savy enough to post my video on YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, etc & I need some help. That’s not a problem at all. I highly recommend to ask your videographer to help you through this and if you can’t find any light, just shoot me an email. I would be glad to help. Good Luck with sharing your big day with the world using Social Media.

Click on the image to watch this sample

While they are out enjoying themselves in Hawaii, Cabo, Austrailia, or where-ever their journey takes them, they will be capturing it all on tape. Once they return from their trip, we take this raw footage, and compile a sexy, trendy, upbeat highlights reel for them to cherish and show-off. NOW, doesn’t sound exciting? Don’t worry, you only return the tapes back to the studio which you would like incorporated in the highlight reel…

We would love to hear your thoughts on this innovative offering.

* Bride & bridesmaids getting ready (better known as the bridal and groom’s prep)
* Exterior shot of church
* Interior wide shot of church
* Decor in the church
* Guests arriving
* Guests being escorted down aisle
* Groom waiting at altar
* Processional
* Father kissing bride and handing off to groom
* The Ceremony

* Recessional
* Exterior shot of reception site
* Guests enjoying cocktail hour
* Décor of the reception venue
* Introduction of bridal party
* First dance
* Blessing
* Toasts
* Cake cutting
* Parent dances
* Anniversary dance
* Guest and family dancing the night away
* Bouquet and garter
* Last dance

In Bride Wars, two best friends trash their friendship while battling for a wedding date at one of the most sought after venues in New York, Manhattan’s Plaza Hotel. This is definitely a must see for any engaged couple, as I was not only able to relate to the storyline as a film maker but also as a groom-to-be. Check out the trailer for the movie, at BrideWars.com, and make sure that you schedule time to attend this with your significant other. I would love to hear your bride wars’ experience once you have had a chance to view the film.

[vimeo width="420" height="236"]http://vimeo.com/2234940[/vimeo]

DVD Invitation Cover

1)    DVD Invitations – Are you tired of paper invitations? Create a love story music video or a film that captures your personality and use that to invite your guests to come celebrate your special day. When your guests receive a fun, exciting, and welcoming invitation, they will talk about it for months leading up to your wedding date. (Check out a sample of  a custom designed dvd cover above used for a DVD invitation)
2)    Same Day Delivery – Your guests can take a copy of this film as a party favor at the end of the night. These party favors are delivered in a customized DVD case designed with your vision in mind.
3)    Love Story Highlight – A pre-produced & polished film of your story that can be shown at a rehearsal dinner or a wedding reception for your guests to enjoy.
4)    Online Trailer – Imagine being able to send a link of your wedding day film to all of your friends, families, relatives, and colleagues who couldn’t be at the festivities…all within hours of the reception.

Shezad, managing partner, third generation producer and 9 year veteran, has production intertwined in his DNA. Shezad’s grandfather was a pioneer in the production industry many years ago. Hence, the family name Hakim. Shezad has been featured in a number of national publications for his insight and trendsetting reputation. Shezad continues to amaze his clients and co-workers with his generosity, kindness and creativity. “Our work comes from a family tradition, so we understand how important family and tradition are for you, especially on this day, your wedding day” says Shezad.  Families are a funny thing; whether they comprise of quirky relatives or deeply connected friends, unique customs or a lineage of traditions, we’d like to help capture the essence of your family on your big day. What a difference a day makes…a day when families come together and new bonds are formed; when past lives are molded together all to be captured under a camera lens.