Scott + Brittany | Sonoma Community Center + El Dorado Kitchen Wedding
Sometimes you just need a pretty pink wedding to drool over. This isn’t your ordinary wedding, in fact it’s not even a typical wine country wedding in my book. This wedding took on a fresh approach to all things Sonoma, utilizing some of the hidden gems of their small charming town. Often when we film weddings in Northern California’s expansive wine county, they are held at grand vineyards or private estates but for Scott and Brittany, it was all about being Sonoma Natives and showcasing the fabric of their rustic home.
The day started off with the couple getting ready at the beautiful Lodge at Sonoma, followed by a first look at Scribe Winery in a unique abandoned historic hacienda on the outskirts of the property. Their intimate ceremony was held in the humble yet adorable Sonoma Community Center, the day was then rounded out by a festive and foodie reception at the El Dorado Kitchen, a favorite dining spot among locals in the Sonoma Square. The spring weather was perfect and the ambiance of the restaurant’s courtyard was an ideal location for this perfectly planned party. This wedding was designed and coordinated by A Savvy Event, another amazing and local Sonoma company. We just love all the pretty details that we get to shoot at their events!
We are so thrilled that we could be their to capture this fun-filled and emotional day in Brittany and Scott’s life. Today we are sharing their wedding film, and we hope you enjoy! You can read the couple’s reaction to their wedding film here.
This wedding was especially fun to film because we got to work alongside one of our favorite photographers who just happens to be a good friend! Magic happens when we have this kind of team work. Check out these beautiful photos from Milou and Olin
Scott + Brittany’s wedding recipe:
Wedding Cinematography: LoveSpun Films | Wedding Photography: Tinywater Photography | Ceremony: Sonoma Community Center in Sonoma, California | Reception + Catering: El Dorado Kitchen in Sonoma, California | Event Coordination: A Savvy Event | Floral Design: FleurEssence Floral Design | Officiant: A Friend | Wedding Cake: Sweet on Cake | Wedding Stationery: forever heyday | Music: DJ David Carvalho | Chalkboard: Courtney Cargile Custom Chalk | Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero via Starlet Bridal | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka
While planning a wedding, it is not uncommon to look for ways to save money, especially since the costs can add up so quickly. There are of course all of the necessities, the dress, the venue, the flowers, the food, a photographer…but when it come to a videographer, or wedding filmmaker, it is often at the bottom of the priority list. It’s a bonus or luxury item if you will. I know it was when I got married some 15 years ago (yikes! I’m old, LOL) and ultimately I did not have room in my budget for this luxury and decided the photos would be enough. If there was one thing I could do over about my wedding it would be to go back and hire the videographer I was considering and make it work some how. This is ultimately the reason I initially starting filming weddings for friends and family, I didn’t want them to have the same regret I did.
After our client’s hire us, work with us, and receive their wedding film, I often wonder if they felt it was worth the expense. Here is what a couple of our recent brides had to say:
From Karlen:
“It was really important to my husband and I to pay for our own wedding– the costs of weddings can be astronomical, and we certainly did not want to burden our families. Danny and I were mindful of our budget throughout the entire wedding planning process, and to be totally honest, the one expense that we thought we could cut was a wedding filmmaker. We were so focused on making the wedding day perfect that– at the time– it seemed much more important to put our money and energy into the actual event. Eight months later, the guests have all gone home, the flower arrangements are dead, my dress is dirty and stuffed in a garment bag in the back of my closet. While I have amazing memories from our wedding weekend and gorgeous pictures (thank you, Patrick Moyer), nothing can transport you back to your wedding day like film. My husband and I cried the first hundred times we watched our wedding film, and we’ve watched it at least a hundred times since. LoveSpun caught so many special moments that Danny and I missed in the excitement of the wedding day. We cherish our wedding film– we have loved showing it to friends and family who were unable to join us at the wedding; we will watch it on every anniversary, and we can’t wait to show our future children this celebration of love that LoveSpun captured so perfectly.”
Karlen and her bridesmaids walking the gorgeous grounds of The Biltmore Four Seasons in Santa Barbara. Photo by Patrick Moyer.
From Brittany:
“When I first met with my planner I was on the fence about having a wedding filmmaker because I didn’t think it was in our budget. I’ll never forget what my planner said. She didn’t have a filmmaker at her wedding and her dad died a few years ago. She said that if she could go back she would have hired a filmmaker because she so badly wants to hear her dad’s speech, see him walk her down the aisle, etc. All those moments you want to relive, you can’t do it in photos. You can remember them because of the photos, but you can’t relive it without video. After her speech I was sold! We immediately booked LoveSpun and I am so happy we did.
I tell everyone to hire a wedding filmmaker – it’s the best investment. Photos are very, very important, and you should hire a photographer you love, but you should also find room in your budget for a wedding filmmaker. I was able to hear my vows, see my first dance, and see our first look all come together on film. I do not remember my wedding ceremony. I couldn’t even tell you what our vows were – but to hear us say those words to each other. It’s incredible to have that film that totally showcases our love. I cry every time I see our video. It was absolutely one of the best investments we made for our wedding day.”
We thank Karlen and Brittany for sharing their thoughts with us and our readers for this topic. We are so happy that you love and cherish your wedding films!!!
What are your experiences? Were you on the fence about hiring a wedding filmmaker but now relieved you did? If you are planning your wedding, what are your biggest concerns about hiring someone to film your wedding? We would love to hear your feedback or answer your questions.
Thanks for stopping by for a little LoveSpun! ~ Jessica
Danny + Karlen | Biltmore Four Seasons Santa Barbara
Last summer, we had the pleasure of filming this beautiful wedding at the Biltmore in Santa Barbara. Karlen and Danny chose this gorgeous venue because of it’s beautiful outdoor areas with lush vegetation and large sprawling trees coupled with it’s grand historic architecture and ocean side location . Its magical location tucked into the coastal nooks of the California Riviera made it a wonderful choice for this elegant seaside soiree.
It was an absolute pleasure working with this lovely couple and we are touched by their sweetness and hospitality. One of my favorite moments from this wedding is a sentimental story told by the maid of honor in her toast about how Karlen new Danny was “the one” after just one date. Karlen and Danny’s is a great love story and an even greater celebration of life, passion, and family. We hope you enjoy watching this full length Highlight Wedding Film.
If you have been keeping up with our blog, you might have noticed our latest “Tuesday Tips” is all about finding a photography and videography team that can work well together. Karlen and Danny had a fabulous photographer, Patrick Moyer, who couldn’t have been more gracious to work with. We highly recommend Patrick and Rachel. Not only were they friendly and great to shoot alongside, their work is stunning and truly speaks for itself. Please check out these beautiful images.
Karlen + Danny’s wedding recipe:
Cinematography: LoveSpun Films | Photography: Patrick Moyer | Floral Design + Linens: Fleuretica | Event Design + Planning: Plumblossom Events | Ceremony Location: Four Seasons Biltmore | Reception Location: Coral Casino | Lighting: Ambient Event Design | Music: Jordan Music Entertainment | Wedding Dress: Ulla-Maija Couture “Laetitia” | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids Dresses: The Dessy Group | Groom’s Tux: Isaia
Karlen + Danny | Santa Barbara Wedding Film
We are incredibly thrilled that this lovely Southern California coast side wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty yesterday. It’s always an honor to film such amazingly beautiful weddings and even more of an honor to see these weddings showcased for the world to see. We will be featuring their wedding film on the LoveSpun blog later this week along with some stunning images from Patrick Moyer Photography. In the mean time you can swoon over this beautiful wedding over at Style Me Pretty.
Image by Patrick Moyer
April 23rd, 2013 in
Featured,
Press |
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Tips for Hiring a Good Wedding Filmmaker & Photographer Team
If you are planning your wedding, you have probably thought to yourself…”what if my photographer and videographer don’t get along?” Most of us have probably heard a horror story or two about how a videographer refused to work with the photographer on the wedding day and ruined the pictures, or how a wedding videographer had to fight for position because the photographer thought their shot was more important. We even have our own stories from challenging shooting days where the footage was not as good as it could have been.
Why does this happen? Sometimes the professional you have hired is looking out for their best interests instead of yours. They are more concerned about the end result of their own work even if it means blocking the shot for the videographer or photographer. To me this is unacceptable behavior within the wedding industry. Ultimately, every professional you hire should have your best interests at heart. If you hired a professional photographer, it’s obvious that you want amazing photos and likewise if you have hired a wedding filmmaker or videographer, you want your film to be the best it can be and these two teams should work together to make sure that is the result.
As wedding filmmakers, we of course want our footage to be stellar, but not at the expense of ruining the photographers shot. I absolutely LOVE beautiful photos and we want you to have the best photos possible so we would never purposely ruin a photographer’s shot. In fact, as a rule, we try to be in continual contact with the photographer throughout the day to discuss positioning and camera placement so we don’t get in each other’s shot. There are so many fabulous photographers out there that feel the same way and approach shooting alongside a wedding filmmaker with this same amount of respect and teamwork. They too would never want to purposely block or ruin the filmmaker’s camera because they want you to have a beautiful film.
{Sharing the angle} Photo credit: Twin Lens Photography
So what can you do? If you have decided that you want both a great photographer and a great wedding filmmaker to capture your wedding, ask for referrals.
If you are already considering working with a photographer, you can let them know that having a wedding film is also very important to you and ask if there are any companies in particular that they work well with. If their reaction is negative from the get go, such as they mention they don’t really like working with videographers, they might not be a good fit for you. If it’s important to you, it should be important to them as well. On the other hand, if they are a team-player they should be able to give you a few options of people they enjoy working with and do good work.
If you have decided on a particular wedding filmmaker and need help looking for a photographer, make sure you give them an opportunity to refer photographers. We absolutely love it when we are asked who we recommend. We have worked with some of the industries most noted and respected photographers and we won’t be shy about who is also great to work with.
On the wedding days that we get to work with awesome photographers, who also respect our craft and work together for the greater good, it’s a magical outcome!
With wedding season 2013 just around the corner we thought we would share our tips for getting the most out of having a professional wedding filmmaker at your wedding.
Every bride & groom wants to feel beautiful, happy, and most importantly, relaxed on their big day. We want our clients to have the opportunity to do their part in making sure they can get the most out of their wedding film investment by following some pretty straightforward tips to ensure that we are able to capture the prettiest footage possible.
Juli + Conor, an example of an amazing couple who’s wedding fell in line with all of these
suggestions and their photos and film turned out wonderfully. Photo by Scott Andrew Studio.
So here is the LoveSpun rundown…
- A Pretty Place to Get Ready When picking out a location to get ready for your wedding, look for a spot that is beautiful, free of clutter and if possible, one that has plenty of natural light. Also request that your makeup artist and hair stylist set up in front of a natural light source instead of a bathroom with florescent lighting. {Trust me, natural light is way more flattering to your skin.}
- Neat and Tidy Delegate bridal party members to help keep your getting ready room organized and clean. This will make you feel more calm as well as make a pleasing back drop for pictures & your wedding film.
- When music is not your friend Most brides love to have their favorite tunes playing as they get ready for their big day. {I totally get that, I’m a huge music-junkie…BUT} When filming your getting ready footage, keep in mind that we cannot edit music out. If we capture a special moment of audio that would be great for your film but an obnoxious song is in the background we may not be able to work it into the film. At the very minimum, turn the music off when you’re putting on your dress for any exceptional reactions from your parents and friends.
- Keep the Sanctity Remind your wedding party that chewing gum and talking to each other during the ceremony can detract from the attention of your guests and that it doesn’t look good on the film or in pictures.
- Walk Slowly For the ceremony, the bridal party and especially the bride should remember to walk controlled and gradually down the aisle. This is your time to shine, your guests want to have a good look at you, and it helps us, the filmmaker and your photographer, to capture the moment.
- Schedule enough time for photos and filming Family photos and portraits can take a while so make sure you not only allow for this in your time-line, but also have enough time for romantic shots of just the two of you with your wedding filmmaker and photographer. We suggest 15-20 minutes in addition to your formal photography session to get some beautiful eye candy for your wedding film.
- Take your time to dance Sometimes for whatever reason, couples choose to cut short their first dances, having the DJ fade out the music in the middle. From our standpoint we love to film the first dance from different, unique angles and look for tender moments. It’s hard to get all that in 90 seconds so why not just enjoy the moment and your time in the spotlight.
- Light it up Reception lighting can sometimes make or break the look of your wedding film. It’s a great idea to hire a professional lighting designer to add ambiance to a room but keep in mind that different colors of up-lighting can make skin tones look strange. Lighting that is too bright around the edges of the room can make the interior look dark. Even out up-lighting with spotlights on the dance floor and head table. If a designated spot for toasts or speeches can be picked out ahead of time and then lit properly, it will make all the difference in the world.
- Have guests unplug for your wedding This is a NEW one to the list for 2013 and it’s a big one! It may not seem like a big deal that friends and family have iphones, ipads, or big DSLRs on hand to snap away till their hearts content during your wedding, but at what cost?
Everyone wants to be the first to Facebook, tweet, and Instagram your wedding. At one of our most recent weddings, so many guests stepped into the isle during the first kiss & recessional that our back camera angle was almost entirely blocked by guests holding their phones. Our lovely couples invest in us to capture these special moments, yet it makes our jobs really challenging when guests don’t respect the job we’ve been hired to do.
This image shows how a stunning wedding can be tarnished by the look of guests backs and cameras.
Photo credit Rebekah Hoyt Photography
So what can you do? A simple announcement before the ceremony begins would definitely help or a cute sign at the wedding could also do the trick. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of other opportunities for friends and family to get their snapshots BUT during this once-in-a-lifetime moment, going unplugged keeps the sanctity of the wedding and brings the focus back on you and this amazing commitment you are making to one another.
Here is an article with lots of different ways to tactfully ask your guests to put down their devices and enjoy the wedding.
Thanks for reading our tips for a great wedding film! We hope you have the best wedding ever!
Chip + Candice | As seen in Bridal Guide “From the Heart: Candice & Chip in Guerneville, CA ”
This has to be one of the most unique weddings we’ve had the chance to film, and what a fun weekend it was! For our lovely couple, Candice and Chip, the weekend was all about sharing the things they love with the people they love. They kicked their wedding weekend off with a welcome Bar-B-Que and campfire complete with homemade pies, S’more making essentials, lots of good company and time spent reminiscing.
The next morning, the couple shared a quaint, simple ceremony amidst a canopy of trees that was followed by a scrumptious brunch for their closest friends and family. After brunch, guests were invited to get comfortably dressed and join them in an afternoon of competitive outdoor games and socializing. Friends and family played corn hole, bocce ball, table tennis, and even cards and backgammon. Artisan vendors were even on hand to offer freshly scooped ice cream, hand rolled cigars, and if you needed a tension breaker from all the competition, there were even massage cabanas set up on property.
Candice and Chip had their first kiss when they were 12 & 13 but separate schools, and lives that let down different paths, kept them apart until 23 years later when they reunited. A Bob Schneider concert in Carmel by the Sea on was their first adult date with each other after not seeing each other for all those years so it was only fitting that this wonderful wedding weekend was topped off by an intimate Bob Schneider concert under the evening stars and dense redwood forest. He even sang for their first dance. It was certainly a dream wedding that Candice, Chip and their guests would never forget and we feel so fortunate that we could be there to witness such a fun and memorable event. We hope you enjoy this peek at their amazing wedding weekend.
Candice + Chip {Dawn Ranch Lodge} Guerneville, CA from LoveSpun Handmade Wedding Films on Vimeo.
I always love seeing all the beautiful images that come from the gorgeous weddings we get to film. Check out the following shots from two talented photographers, Damion Hamilton and Shawna Yarbrough.
This event was meticulously designed and executed by Celebrity Event Designer, Sasha Souza. Sasha’s concepts are awe-inspiring and a delight to film. I especially loved the ribbons that flowed down from the trees around the property which added so much romanticism and magic to the space. The coordinating ceremony and brunch decor was truly delightful, and the florals, simply stunning. We are so honored to work with such talented designers and their exceptional staff!
Chip + Candice’s Wedding Recipe:
LoveSpun Films | Sasha Souza Events | Studio Seven | AEC Marin| Wedding Ministries | Three Twins Ice Cream | SusieCakes
Thanks for stopping by for a little LoveSpun!
April 5th, 2013 in
Destination Weddings,
Sonoma County,
Wedding Films | tags:
Bay Area Wedding Filmmaker,
Destination Wedding Film,
Handmade Wedding Films,
LoveSpun Films,
Northern California Wedding,
Northern California Wedding Filmmaker,
Northern California Wedding Videographer,
Wedding Cinematography,
Wine Country Wedding |
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Nicole + Hiten Wedding Film | Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Today we are excited to share with you the handmade wedding film of Nicole and Hiten. The best thing about what we do is to be able to witness people on one of the happiest days of their lives and capture the once-in-a-lifetime moments that fleet too quickly. To be able to document and preserve such an amazing part of humanity, I am always humbled and reminded to love deeply those most important to me.
In this wedding film there are two moments that stand out to me specifically and they were the moments that had me choked up a bit during the edit and even as I watch back now. Hiten, the groom, in his closing speech for the evening described the moment Nicole, his bride, walked down the isle towards him and how the memory was made in his mind, I chose this as a narrative to show his actual reaction to her and how he silently says to himself “Oh my God.” I’m sure every girl would love to be able to relive the moment where her groom sees her for the first time and I feel so honored to be able to capture such amazing moments. The other moment that stands out to me is when Nicole is sitting during the ceremony and looking over at Hiten she mouths the words “I love you,” then looks down trying to hold back tears. At that moment during the film, I can’t help but feel my heart and eyes swell.
I hope you enjoy watching this sentimental and emotional wedding film
as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Wedding Film {Nicole & Hiten} Ojai, Ca from LoveSpun Handmade Wedding Films on Vimeo.
Nicole + Hiten’s wedding recipe:
Cinematography: Love Spun Films | Photography: Lacie Hansen | Location: Ojai Valley Inn & Spa | Creative Direction + Floral Design: Kate Holt of Flowerwild | Wedding Planner: La Fleur Weddings & Events | Invitation Suite + Wedding Day Paper + Production: Amber Moon of Pitbulls and Posies | Wedding Day Calligraphy + Poem Artwork: Chelsea Petaja of Oh My Deer | Invitation and Envelope Calligraphy: Kelle McCarter of DesignsGirl | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Wedding Decor+ Rentals: Elan Event Rentals | Linens: La Tavola | DJ: Michael Antonia of The Flash Dance | Wedding Dress: Junko Yoshioka | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair + Makeup: Mar of TEAM Hair and Makeup | Lingerie: Claire Pettibone | Men’s Suit: Bar III | Men’s Shirt: Calvin Klein | Men’s Shoes: Bruno Magli
Nicole + Hiten | Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Wedding
As if we weren’t over the moon already about having this gorgeous wedding featured on Style Me Pretty, we are even more thrilled that this lovely wedding is being showcased in the latest issue of Magnolia Rouge, “a cutting edge inspirational online wedding magazine, … with the very best in the international industry.” To see Nicole and Hiten’s emotional and beautiful wedding highlight video, make sure to visit the feature on SMP or check back tomorrow when their film will make it’s debut on the LoveSpun blog. Thanks for stopping by!
This glamorous outdoor wedding can be seen on pages 38-49 in the latest issue of Magnolia Rouge.
Nicole + Hiten’s wedding recipie:
Cinematography: Love Spun Films | Photography: Lacie Hansen | Location: Ojai Valley Inn & Spa | Creative Direction + Floral Design: Kate Holt of Flowerwild | Wedding Planner: La Fleur Weddings & Events | Invitation Suite + Wedding Day Paper + Production: Amber Moon of Pitbulls and Posies | Wedding Day Calligraphy + Poem Artwork: Chelsea Petaja of Oh My Deer | Invitation and Envelope Calligraphy: Kelle McCarter of DesignsGirl | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Wedding Decor+ Rentals: Elan Event Rentals | Linens: La Tavola | DJ: Michael Antonia of The Flash Dance | Wedding Dress: Junko Yoshioka | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair + Makeup: Mar of TEAM Hair and Makeup | Lingerie: Claire Pettibone | Men’s Suit: Bar III | Men’s Shirt: Calvin Klein | Men’s Shoes: Bruno Magli
Nicole + Hiten | Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Wedding
We are so thrilled to be able to share this next wedding! It’s a beautiful event with deep cultural influences and eclectic stunning details, washed in the golden sun of Ojai, California. We are honored to have worked with an amazing team of wedding craftspeople, I mean just look at these gorgeous images by Lacie Hansen Photography! We are excited to be debuting this new wedding film over on Style Me Pretty today! We hope you enjoy!!!
Photo credit: Lacie Hansen Check out the full gallery, it’s amazing!
