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And Action! Choosing Your Wedding Videographer

January 4th, 2013 | Brides Up North: UK Wedding Blog

You’re nearly there… just Friday to go and then it’s the weekend. Thank goodness. Maybe it’s the weight of all those resolutions on our shoulders – or perhaps the weight of that rock sparkling on your finger – but why does the first week back at work after Christmas always feel like such a marathon (especially when there is wed-min and dress shopping to be done)?!

Speaking of wedmin, our regular guest blogger Rachel of Mosaic Brides knows just how to handle all of that - and, handily, is here to offer her expert advice to you too. After a little Christmas break she is back at her best with her two cents on choosing a wedding videographer. Get ready for your close up.

And action…

Rachel says: It may sound a little sad coming from a single girl but I’ve become totally obsessed with wedding videos.

Holly & Toan from hdmoments.com on Vimeo

At one time the suggestion of a wedding videographer sent shivers down my spine as thoughts of shaky home video productions sprung to mind but having recently taken the time to explore the wonderful world of wedding videos I can now honestly say most productions give me shivers of a different kind.

Dispelling thoughts of cringe-a-minute amateur footage, professional videographers produce seamless, high quality and personal productions which reflect the individuality of a couple as well as the true beauty and emotion of their wedding (reader warning: such productions should be watched only when armed with a box of tissues).

The Brides Up North Yorkshire Tweet Up 2012 by the amazing Steven at Forever Film

Granted a good videographer comes at a price but also provides a stunning solution to the common complaint of brides and grooms that the day passes too quickly and they miss out on important elements as they can’t be in two places at once.

While photographers are amazing at capturing wedding day magic as a timeless set of stills (and I wouldn’t swap that for the World!), videographers can go beyond static images. They capture the essence of a wedding day through both visual and audio footage to give couples, as well as their friends and family, the opportunity to look at their wedding from a different perspective and relive the special day time and time again.

Research, research and a little bit more research is the best way to find a videographer that is right for you and your wedding. Get online and watch lots of show reels/example videos on lots of different videographers’ websites to get an idea of the talent that’s out there and what they can offer. Ask yourself:

What style is the wedding video shot in?

Generally wedding videos are shot in one of two styles; cinematic and documentary. Cinematic is more posed and edited for dramatic effect and mood whilst documentary is a fly-on-the- wall style, simply capturing the day as it unfolds. While some professionals will stick to just one style others will use a combination of the two.

Tiffany & TJ – From New York to Ireland from Deneemotion Wedding Cinema on Vimeo

How good is the quality?

Watching example videos will give you an idea of the quality a videographer’s work and the equipment they use. Those who use high quality equipment should be less intrusive on the day and will produce a polished final product with clear picture, good lighting, complementary colour and crisp sound.

How much of the day is captured?

Most couples request a videographer’s services all day to document the wedding in full, focusing on the main events as well as those all important little touches. Alternatively some couples may be looking for a videographer to capture just specific parts of the day in full such as the vows and the speeches.

Anjali & Ben – Loch Ness Wedding from Deneemotion Wedding Cinema on Vimeo

How well has the production been edited?

Experienced wedding videographers will use a variety of professional techniques when editing in order to deliver a final production that flows like a feature film. Watching examples of their work will give you an idea of their capabilities. Look at how well one scene moves to another, are sound bites from the day included or is the footage just set to music? Is the music complementary or overbearing/distracting? Are any special effects?

How do they work on the wedding day?

Ask what equipment they will be using on the day and if/how it will interfere with the wedding. Most professionals use small unobtrusive, high-tech digital cameras that are lightweight, mobile and don’t require extra lighting meaning minimal disruptions to the proceedings. You might also want to enquire how many cameras will be used – while one is not generally enough to capture all the action, more than three might look like a Hollywood film set.

Amy & Tim – Highlights from Forever Film on Vimeo

What do you get for your money?

Just like photographers, videographers offer a variety of packages to suit different budgets. Look at what’s included in each package such as how many copies of the film you will receive and in what format. Most include an edited feature film showing the best parts of the day – as an added bonus some will also include the ceremony and speeches in full. Further extras can include a wedding trailer showing a snapshot of the big day and/or an engagement shoot where a couple are interviewed prior to the wedding about their relationship and what they love about each other which is then edited into the main wedding production.

Michelle + Leo from hdmoments.com on Vimeo

That’s a wrap!

Rachel is a regular guest blogger for Brides Up North, HD Moments, Deneemotion & Forever Film are all Brides Up North Featured Suppliers, but this is not a sponsored post

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Posted in Featured Supplier, Guest Blog, Wedding Videographer | Filed Under | 2 COMMENTS so far, click here to join the discussion! »

Very Significant Other: Getting Your Fiancé Involved

December 17th, 2012 | Brides Up North: UK Wedding Blog

David Lawson Studios

Let’s get Christmas week off to an all-inclusive start with some advice from our regular guest blogger the lovely Rachel of Mosaic Brides about how you can get your other half involved in the wedding planning process. And this isn’t just about getting the boys in order either, as this advice can apply to any wayward fiancé on either side of the partnership. Get ‘em involved, people! Using images from my own wedding (a groom who did as he was told FYI!) by David Lawson Studios.

Rachel says: For most of us girls an engagement ring isn’t necessary to start planning our big day, it simply signals a time to put our thoughts into action. Long before we meet Mr or Mrs Right we spend time swooning over wedding dresses, deciding who our bridesmaids will be and how we will dress them – we even think about the flavour of the sponge and filling for our three-tier wedding cake (mine’s a simple iced white cake with vanilla, lemon and chocolate layers, decorated with fresh vintage style flowers)!

By contrast our significant other may not have given any consideration to their wedding day, and for some even getting down on one knee does not prompt such thoughts. As a result it’s sometimes the case that a bride can feel alone during the planning process when her partner takes a back seat and utters those three frustrating words "I don’t mind". But with many couples ditching traditional weddings in favour of more personal affairs, it’s never been more important that input comes from both sides to achieve a day that’s a reflection of both of you.

David Lawson Studios

So, if your husband or wife-to-be is under the impression that their duties end at the proposal, suit hire and picking a best man or woman who will plan them a send off to rival The Hangover, I suggest the following…

In the beginning

Sit down and talk. From the very start make clear to your fiancé that you want them involved with planning the wedding and the ways in which they can help.

Next, discuss your opinions on the main areas like destinations, venues, styling, size of the wedding, food, entertainment and, of course, the budget. To encourage your partner to come up with their own ideas, or to prevent them just going along with what you say, try writing down your ideas separately and then coming back together to discuss your thoughts. While you might have the same ideas on some things other areas might need compromise – it’s no good asking for their opinion and then ignoring it.

David Lawson Studios

Work as a team

Part of being in a relationship is working as a team, a quality that can be incredibly useful when planning a wedding.

Discuss which elements you can do together such as attending wedding fairs and venue visits then look at your strengths and divide some of the other jobs between you. For example, if one of you is particularly creative then take the lead in styling the venue or designing invitations, if the other is good at research they can spend time looking up venues, entertainment, transport and so on.

It also makes sense to let the person who is good with numbers handle the budget while the more ballsy of the two can take charge when it comes to haggling.

David Lawson Studios

Talent spotting

Don’t be offended if your partner doesn’t take an interest in every little thing. It may well be the case that they don’t mind (or even care) which flowers, favours or bridesmaid dresses you have in mind but this provides the perfect opportunity to involve other relatives and friends. Meanwhile your fiancé can take some time out with their side of the bridal party to pick their wedding attire.

Also allocate your other half jobs that you know will spike their interest. So if they love music leave them to look for a band or to plan the play list, if they fancy themself as the next Jamie Oliver ask them to consider food options or if they usually organise your annual holiday let them arrange a dream honeymoon.

David Lawson Studios

Keep calm and carry on

If despite your best efforts you feel that your husband or wife-to-be is still not taking an interest talk to them – communication is key in a relationship and is absolutely essential when it comes to planning a wedding.

Let your other half know that you want them to be involved and explain the ways in which you can inject elements of your personalities into the day as this might help to engage them. Equally don’t get carried away and leave your partner out – the day belongs to both of you.

There is no doubt that planning a wedding is a stressful and demanding task that can lead to arguments but it should also be a time you enjoy together. To avoid fall outs don’t talk wedding all the time. Try to have a night or two where discussing weddings is strictly off limits, giving you both a break and a chance to spend quality time with one another.

Finally and most importantly don’t lose sight of the reasons why you are actually getting married, beyond the paper pompoms and that three tired cake there should be a whole lot of love.

Rachel Parry of Mosaic Brides is a regular guest writer for Brides Up North

Contact Brides Up North to submit your business as a Featured Supplier

Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog

Posted in Groom, Guest Blog | Filed Under | NO COMMENTS yet, click here to start the discussion! »

Are You Kidding? Children At Your Wedding

November 7th, 2012 | Brides Up North: UK Wedding Blog

She’s never one to shy away from the tough topics is our resident guest blogger Rachel of Mosaic Brides, is she? Now that my Mum is just about speaking to me after our last advice post handling the tough topic of pushy parents, Rach is back to debate that age old issue of whether or not to include children at your wedding. We would love to hear your thoughts too – leave a comment at the end of the post to contribute your own two cents.

no-kids-allowed

Image credit: www.sodahead.com

Rachel says: The debate of whether to invite children to a wedding is one that rattles on, for there is no wrong or right answer – it’s a case of personal preferences and individual circumstances. The decision is ultimately down to the bride and groom who will need to approach the sensitive subject with care.

While some couples’ worst nightmare would be a child crying throughout the ceremony and running riot at the reception, others could not imagine their big day without the little people in their lives there to celebrate it with them.

Who to invite

Initially couples should decide if they’re inviting children to the wedding or not.

The venue or style of the wedding may make this decision very straight forward for some couples. For example brides and grooms may select a venue that doesn’t allow children full stop. Alternatively, they might have planned an evening celebration followed by a cocktail party in an exclusive bar/restaurant that would not be suitable for children.

If your chosen venue is child friendly the first thing to look at is numbers. First draw up your adult guest list and then see how much it would increase if you were to invite children. While for small families this might just add a handful of extra guests others can rack up more than 30 additional invites. The question now is can your venue cater for this amount of guests and does your budget stretch far enough to cover the costs?

If not more consideration is needed. Can you slim down the guest list by using an age cut off, such as over 12s only? Alternatively you could invite children from the immediate family only, or just those who you are closet to. For example you might have a close relationship with your best friend’s children but may have never even met your cousin’s offspring. Though it can be difficult to explain to perplexed parents you can just invite the children who you consider to be your nearest and dearest. You may also choose to just invite the children who you have selected to be part of the wedding party i.e. flower girls, bridesmaids, ring bearers.

Another consideration is babies. Parents of newborns in particular may not be able to leave their baby with a sitter due to feeding constraints as well as separation anxiety. Therefore you may need to make allowances in these situations.

Bride-and-groom-kids

Image credit: www.beautyandthegroom.com

How to address invitations

Once you have made your decision the most challenging part is to come – how to address the invitations.

Unfortunately it’s not unusual for guests to assume children are invited or to challenge your decision when they discover their child has been excluded.

If you aren’t inviting any children it may be worth pointing this out on the invite with a line stating it is an ‘adult only ceremony/reception’.

Meanwhile if you are inviting select children you should list their name on the invitation to make this clear or include a separate ‘child invite’ within. When inviting full families you can address the invitation to the parent(s) and family.

If you do come up against a guest who either assumes their child is invited or wants to know why their child has been left out you can explain that you have done so because you need to limit the guest list for practical not personal reasons.

DIRTY_HANDS

Image credit: www.a-to-z-of-manners-and-etiquette.com

How to cater for children

If you do choose to invite children you might want to think about how to keep them entertained during the day so parents and little ones alike can enjoy the celebrations.

During the meal be sure to seat parents with their children and serve the young ones their meals first to keep them happy. You may be able to save money and heartache by choosing a kids menu for the younger children of pizza or hotdogs so they eat the food rather than pushing it around the plate. Older children may prefer to be treated like an adult and would therefore prefer a smaller portion of the adult meal.

For entertainment you could have a kids’ room with toys, games and crafts overseen by a hired babysitter so parents can let their hair down and enjoy the party knowing that their children are in a safe and fun environment. Alternatively you could give the children goody bags with a present, puzzles and colouring pencils or hire a children’s entertainer. For outdoor ceremonies garden games and activities can be great fun for both adults and children, whether you choose to hire a giant Jenga set or go all out with bouncy castle.

In the evening discos and/or live bands will keep guests of all ages entertained. You could even request a few songs that you know will appeal to your younger guests – after all what’s a wedding without a child sliding across the dance floor on their knees?!

What do you think Brides Up North?

This is not a sponsored post

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