I had so much fun designing this wedding. When Jessica called me and said, "Old Hollywood, Glamour, Grandiose, Black, Silver..." I went ballistic with excitement! We had so much fun pulling this one together and I think this video shows it perfectly.
Vintage styled church pews and benches, moss filled Oak trees, a peach wing backed chair, honey candy filled mason jars, Amaranthus, white hydrangea and peach garden roses, white panel sheers and pool blue linens, 3 wedding cakes (one with red velvet), a lantern lit path to dinner, a flower girl with loads of tulle, a bride and groom so full of love. This is the perfect southern wedding and I adore it. The wedding planning and design that went into this day was an experience that I am so grateful to have had and I am so happy to share this iheart film with you.
If you're looking for where to rent vintage styled furniture for your wedding, here are 2 resources that we recommend. Please keep in mind that most of these boutique rental companies rent direct only to industry professionals on behalf of brides. Keep in mind that each company is going to have completely different and unique collections: Ellas Vintage Rentals All Things Vintage
Most of the destination weddings we conceptualize and plan are at tropical and or beach locations. However, its quite often that our clients want their guests to enjoy what the islands and beaches offer, but they don't want the aesthetic of their wedding to reflect that. At least not at every event. Rather, they're looking for something that is true to them and their personal style. Nicole & Steve's wedding is a perfect example of this. I'm so excited to share these videos with you & showcase this pretty wedding at Hyatt Coconut Point. This was one of those weddings where everything just fit perfectly...
Thank you iheART films for sharing this trailer you produced. It brought back so many memories and I love that I got to see things that I didn't get to see that day. You may have noticed that I said videos in the last paragraph. That's because we have a foto video produced by Luminaire Foto (who took amazing photos too)! You'll notice right off the bat that foto video is really different than traditional wedding films. Its made from individual photographs, so it doesn't incorporate the sounds of the day. Its unlike anything I've ever seen. This is my first time being able to share one of their foto videos and I have been anxiously awaiting! I can't wait to hear your reaction, so be sure to leave a comment.
Our last wedding of the summer! Liza and Todd and their guests came from St Louis to Naples to believe it or not- cool off! It was 10 degrees cooler here at Naples Beach on their July wedding day. This is a great short highlight produced by Seaglass productions. The weekend was amazing from the rehearsal dinner at the dock, to the welcome reception at Tavern on the bay, Golf at Tiburon at the Ritz Carlton Golf resort to finally the wedding at the beach resort. Enjoy this really cool highlight reel. We have; about 20 times!
We are really excited to share with you one of our favorite weddings from last fall. This destination wedding was four days of absolute celebration!
Bari & Rob's wedding was held at South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, Florida. "Fun" would be an understatement. I'm pretty sure I was the sickest I had ever been in my entire life that weekend, but the happiness that there was surrounding this couple and the amazing wedding team we had kept me going strong. What you're viewing is a directors cut, created by AMC Video, which of course I love and have watched 8 times and cried (happy tears) at least the 1st 5 times. I really hope you will enjoy it as well!
First let me say that this bride & groom have a huge place in my heart. Second let me say that this directors cut is hands down the best I have ever seen for a few reasons. I'll let you watch and then read below for an explanation. The groom is Clint Wiley of None Other. The bride is Lauren Wiley, an amazing wedding vocalist. The wedding took place in Savannah. Besides the fact that two of my best friends are the bride and groom, this directors cut is anything but typical. This video is what I would consider artwork in its truest sense. Rob of AMC video, you have outdone yourself. How you managed to intertwine Clints live serendade into these moments is just beyond me.
For best results, hit play and then pause immediately. Let it buffer and then start when its all done. So you know that I like to educate as much as possible. Here is what I have to say about this video that everyone needs to know: Giving your videographer time to capture moments is imperative. This can be in the hours before the ceremony, the day before the ceremony, or perhaps best, the day after the wedding. Pick the right song for your directors cut. It has to have meaning, and be powerful enough to capture and highlight all the great moments of your wedding. Be certain that your videographer and photographer have a working plan so that they don't interfere with each other. When it comes to wedding video, you do have to ask questions if you're going to compare apples to apples. Ask about HD, ask who does the editing, and ask how much input you get. Ask how much live "real" wedding you get and how much audio is laid on top of live moments.
**Update: The song Clint is singing is Unintended by Muse
I promised a great ending, and here it is! The directors cut from AMC Video. This is one of my favorite directors cuts ever. Here's why. We were able to get some great video, completely uninterrupted by having Rob come in early, prior to the photographer. That way he could just capture some truly candid moments that are usually missed. He was able to bring some equipment that allowed him to stay out of the way, but really catch what was going on. I was more than astonished by what he created. Makeup never looked quite so pretty going on as it does here. Just so peaceful- the way it should be. This video is exactly what you want to be able to look back and remember- how much you really enjoyed the day with all its movements and sounds.
Nearly every single Wedding Budget planning discussion goes like this:
Me: Should we budget for video?
Bride: No, I'll never watch it. Or I'll watch it once.
Groom: If we get HD video I have to get a PS3 so we can watch the Blu-ray disk. Yeah, we want it.
Me: The most common "thank you for insisting Kelly" that I have received over the last 6 years is to get video. Have you seen a good wedding video; one produced in the last 2 years? Watch this and then let me know.
Bride: They're all cheesy and have country songs.
Me: Just watch.
Bride: Okay, we'll consider and let you know.
Groom: PS3.
I swear this is true, nearly 100% of the time, ask any of my brides who said yes to video:
after the ceremony...before they're even at the reception... Groom: That was so fast, what did I say? at the end of the night... Bride and Mother of the Bride: When do we get the video? I can't wait to see it. and when they see the directors cut online... Bride & Groom: This is the best thing ever. We just keep watching it over and over. and when they get the video... Bride & Groom: Thank you for insisting Kelly. Me: Did you pick a country song?
What is your company name and profession?
AMC Video Productions. We film weddings and events. We specialize in high definition and luxury event videos. We love what we do and are passionate about our work in the wedding industry.
What’s your name?
Should I know anyone else from your company?
My name is AnnMarie Epple. My husband Rob is my partner. You might even see Lee, Matias, Jaron and Steven, our videography team. Behind the scenes are our editors Christa, Shannon and Laura. We are expanding all the time as our business keeps growing.
Where do you do weddings?
We capture weddings everywhere! Most of the time you can find us in Naples, Sanibel Island, Captivia and Marco Island.
Weddings are such a happy time! We love to be a part of such an important event and watch the process unfold from the early planning stages to the wedding day.
What your clients most often commend you on?
“WOW, your work is amazing”. Many people think that video is what is was 10 years ago, long and boring. (My own wedding video is like this!). However video has come a long way and a good video company should be able to capture the day with creativity and tell a story that is different from any other. Every day we hear from clients how they searched and searched for a video and how our work stands out above the rest. That is what keeps us going. The day we don’t hear those words, we know its time to find something else to do!
Best piece of advice for brides & grooms?
Take your time, and check out lots of vendors. You will see a big difference in quality. Shopping by price is not a good idea. In the end, you will be disappointed if you do not find the right vendor for your big day! Ask to see a full length sample of a real wedding video. From what we hear, this is a good way to see what you are actually getting, and you might be surprised at what you see. Don’t settle for a one camera package, ask for 2 or 3 for multiple perspective, better creativity, and safety! Is HD available? We have been delivering HD for years now. Everyone should be shooting HD. The difference is amazing! We are all ready taking steps to upgrade to the next big technological changes.
What is one thing that makes working with new clients easier?
It is always great to meet with a bride or groom and actually here what their vision of what they would like captured. This way, we know what they are looking for in a finished product. No two videos are the same. Every person has a vision, and we like to customize video to exactly what our brides and grooms want.
What is the craziest request you’ve ever received? Or
What is the craziest thing you saw happen at a wedding?
Requests that we get all the time ---“Can you please remove all footage of the girl in the red dress? We do not want to see her in our video!” We have our local brides come to our studio for a preview before we make the final cuts – so we are hearing this more often then you would think. Long distance brides get mailed a preview DVD before the finals are cut. This way they are able to work with Rob on the final product and have exactly what they want.
Crazy stuff – we have seen lots of it!! Belly dancers, monkeys, giraffes, sword cake cutting and brides and grooms jumping in the pool to name a few!
What is something you hope to do in the near future?
We are planning on doing a lot more travel beyond south west Florida, servicing discriminating brides who want more then just a video with a lot of coverage.
Special just for you!
Anyone who reads this blog post is eligible for a FREE upgrade to High Definition with Blu-Ray DVDS as long as we are available for your date!!!
I got together with Impressions Photography and AMC Video to produce this short video of some tablescapes several weeks ago. Here is my honest opinion when it comes to DIY. It is not easy and it is very time consuming, and isn't always less expensive. However, if you are having a very small wedding, perhaps just a table or 2, it can be worth your while and really fun. For these tablescapes I picked up all the candlesticks, cylinders, and vases from Homegoods. The roses are from Sams club, which you can order online.
If you aren't going the DIY route, looking at DIY projects you've found online at places like Wedding Bee, Style MePretty, and Snippet and Ink can be great to bring to your florist, wedding planner/designer, and stationer for inspiration! Oh my gosh, I nearly forgot the amazing cake! Kakes by Karen let us borrow this modern creation from her studio bakery. I have to admit, I had a very difficult time trying to pick just one cake. She's so talented. And NO, I do not recommend DIY wedding cakes- ever!
Seriously, this is so cute I can't stand it. I just wish I had thought of it 1st. I adore working with Ashley & Sam for 2 reasons: Pure talent and awesome people. We had a blast with them at Writer Bride's wedding, Ladies and gentlemen,
I watched an HD wedding video the other day. "Hmmm, this doesn't look any different from the video I watched last week." So I called Rob at AMC video to get the scoop. I was shocked (actually a little angry)to find out that not some, but most HD wedding videos aren't actually truly HD. This is a problem considering so many of my clients have been asking for HD for the last 2 years or so. Well, perhaps I should change that statement. Most of our grooms ask about it. I think a short list works fine on this occasion because honestly, technical stuff is not my thing. So- here's the list of requirements for a true HD video experience:
1. Your video must be shot with an HD camera 2. Footage must be edited in an HD format 3. The edited video has to be burned onto a Blu-Ray disc 4. The disc must be played by a Blu-Ray Player 5. The tv must also be HD
And there ya have it. Take one of these pieces out and you're aren't watching a truly HD wedding video. If you're making the investment for this higher quality video, make sure you have all the elements to actually experience it! ★COMMENT ALERT: Really great comments on this post, please read
"This is so beautiful", I think I said that about 43 times during our tour of this magnificent Naples property. Mediterra is a departure from our regular wedding venues because it's a country club; but this is not your run of the mill country club by any stretch of the imagination. I had nothing but feelings of grand elegance from the moment I entered the gates to the Jasmine ivy growing throughout the porte cochere. Once inside we were greeted by Mary Ann Shea, the Events and Catering Manager who was gracious enough to give us the scoop on this beautiful venue. I think the most jaw dropping spot was the ceremony location. Complete with a Romeo & Juliet balcony, long paved path, and fountain. Unfortunately I was only able to get a couple of photos, but trust me- this is absolutely a place to put on your short list. I'm really looking forward to planning a wedding out there. Here's a link to some video AMC took at a recent wedding they covered at Mediterra: Enjoy!
I am forever telling clients to get wedding video. First response: I'll never watch it. I'll bet you $10 bucks you will. And even if you only did watch it once, you will be so glad you have it. 2nd response: They're cheesy. Not anymore they aren't. In the 80's and 90's, yep, they were bad. Now though- holy cow. The cheese has left the building. Technology has caught up and boy is there a huge difference. 3rd response: They annoying and they follow you around with that bright light, and the interviews are stupid. First question I hear post wedding, "Was the videographer there? When do we get the video?" Every single time. So much for obtrusive and bright lights responses. Ha!
Here are the top 4 pieces of feedback/favorite things I get from clients who do get wedding videography: 1. Getting to hear dad's/Best mans toast one more time is priceless. 2. Actually seeing and hearing how excited groom/bride was just before leaving to walk down the aisle. 3. Hearing us take our vows, because we don't even remember it, it happened so fast. 4. Seeing myself walk down the aisle and the actual progression of groom seeing me. 5. Watching everyone party on the dance floor together. Friends and family, the music makes all the difference.
And on the other end, there are the others who will want to see it. Think ahead. First hand I can say that if you have kids, the night you break out your wedding video is bound to be a family movie night that you will never forget. I know my kids haven't stopped laughing yet. We might have to break ours out again tonight come to think of it.
So anyway, yes, Arnie from A/R Video sent me Sugar Brides wedding video this week. They had a tradtional Jewish wedding that incorporated nearly all of the Jewish wedding customs and traditions into their day. Because the Tish, Veiling and Ketubah signing happened privately, while the wedding guests are being seated for the ceremony, I didn't get to see attend these events. I was so excited to see how wonderfully they turned out! Hearing everything their families had to say was just awesome. Everyone was so excited.
How lucky am I to be a destinaton wedding planner? Not only do I get to plan ceremonies & receptions, but I get to plan festivities! Here's a quick list of some of my all time favorites:
Casino nights- always a huge hit. We started doing these in 2005 and they never get old. You can do something as simple as a Poker table or 2 or go all out and add a roulette wheel, black jack, and craps. Be sure to get dealers- they make all the difference.
Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Tastings- YUM. 'Nough said. The trick to these events is to have a pro there to talk about what tastes so good. For wine you have a sommelier; cheese a Maitre Fromager.
Sunset, dinner, or lunch Cruises- We do these constantly because its one of those events that everyone, young or old can enjoy. You can cruise to nowhere, or cruise to somewhere fun.
Mini Carnival- casual fun is all the rage. A totally laid back party with nothing but the stuff you aren't supposed to eat but love to eat. Pizza, brownies, ice cream, chicken fingers, french fries, cotton candy, popcorn, doughnuts...you name your favorites. Try it on a manicured lawn Add a bunch of pillows, outdoor blankets, and a DJ and you have quite the shindig. Have some games available to like Cornhole, volleyball/badmitten and horseshoes.
Karaoke- This is the one party I wish more people would do. For some reason when people get away from their normal enviornment and into the celebration mode, the fear of singing aloud disappears. Don't believe me? Think about it, when you're at a wedding and the band or DJ is playing an awesome song- doesn't everyone sing along...really loud? YEP, they do. Now imagine if that's what is supposed to happen. That's right..it's even better. It's hands down the best wedding weekend party. If your budget can swing for a karaoke band- DO IT. Oh, and this one is a must have on video.
I have a good 4 weddings to catch up & post about- its been a great spring season! But we've got 3 more still to come before we wrap it up and have a few hours to get all the great photos posted. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at Cool Calm Cheerful Brides GORGEOUS Scottish wedding at South Seas. It was one of the largest destination weddings we've done this season(just under 200). I'll be posting more about this incredible wedding really soon. I can't say enough about Rob and the crew over at AMC Video. These directors cuts are just amazing. How they manage to get 8 hours of fantastic wedding into this 3 minutes is beyond me. Here's the link to the video
Last April I had the pleasure of coordinating one of the grandest destination wedding weekends ever. It was grand on many levels; it was the combination of top notch wedding professionals, incredible locations, and families and friends that were beyond amazing. Vanessa & Greg had a church ceremony in Naples followed by an unbelievable reception at the Ritz Carlton Naples Beach. This morning, the gang at AMC Video sent me the directors cut. Yep, I started my day sobbing like a baby. Have a look at this video. Warning though- turn up the volume and take out a tissue. Rob- thank you so much for sharing this cut!
1st let me explain the photo. Julie is beyond comical. I think I was dropping off her invitations or something, and it just so happened to be halloween. She required that I wear the glasses to look appropriate next to her in her Rambo costume.
Video. It's usually the 1st thing couples cross off their wedding budget, and the 1st thing I ask them to reconsider. Why? Because if you don't have video you can't see yourself walk down the aisle. You can't hear your Best Man give his hilarious toast again. You'll never see what your first dance looked like with that great band you hired playing in the background. As I see it, videography is as important as Photography. So then why do some many couples nix the idea? Because they saw a really bad video from 1995. One camera, big blaring light, little or no editing, and probably on vhs. Videography has changed so much in the last 10 years that you really have to see it to believe it. The one downside to the new technology is the length of time that it takes to get your video. The editing process literally takes months. So the newest trend is getting a package with Directors Cuts and Preview Trailers. These 3 to 5 minute edited segments are ready to roll just weeks after your big day and are uploaded to the web for you and your guests to enjoy. Here's a great one I got from AMC video. What's great about it is that it's completely and totally custom to this particular wedding. It's not the typical song choice. Julie & Phil got married last December in Bonita Springs. Julie was the happiest bride I have ever seen. The woman never stopped smiling! Their reception was all about the party- non stop dancing. The dancefloor was packed the entire night. When I say the entire night, I mean that 1/4th the guests never even ate dinner because they were too busy dancing. And the song Rob made this cut to was one of the biggest hits that whole night. The crowd literally went nuts- everyone was singing along, "Meet me at the altar in your white dress..." So as you can imagine, this cut is , while not for everyone, is completely and utterly Phil & Julie. When you have some time, check out some of AMC's other samples on their website. They have dozens of samples showcasing some of the different elements and styles there are to choose from these days.
I cry at every wedding. Seriously, every single one. And its always at the same times: When I see my bride in her dress. When I see the look on the grooms face when he sees his bride the 1st time. The 1st dance. The father of the brides toast (and sometimes the dance too). When I have to say goodbye.
Saying goodbye is the worst though. I can't tell you how many times I have sat and outright sobbed with a bride. I do get attached to my clients. Usually we've been working together for nearly a year or longer on the most important day of her life! How could I not get attached? So yeah, I get pretty excited when the photographer releases the pictures. And I can't wait to share them with everyone and hang my favorite in my office. And I just love when they get video and the videographer sends me a copy. I get such a kick out of watching everyone so happy. I pop popcorn, call in my girls, and we watch together. Emily (she's 4) doesn't understand why I cry when I watch the wedding dvd's. But she does love to dance along with the reception highlights. Madeline (she's 8), she cries with me. I guess we're both romantics.
Not all, but most of the weddings I get to plan are 3 or 4 days of events. Here's the typical line-up: Usually the weekend starts with the rehearsal dinner, (Thursday) Followed by a welcome reception (Thursday) A spa day for the gals and a golf or fishing tourney for the fellas,(Friday) Perhaps then a sunset cruise, luau, casino night, or the newest rage- Karaoke parties (Friday) Then of course the wedding ceremony, reception, and after party (Saturday) And then it all has to come to a close with a farewell brunch... (Sunday)
As you can imagine, there are just tons of memories to capture with all this fun stuff going on. In 2005 I started to notice that more and more of my clients wanted to have all their events documented with professional photography and videography. And really, it kind of makes sense. You figure, when else in your life are you going to have all the people you care about and enjoy the most spending the weekend with you doing nothing but fun stuff? I had a wedding weekend, and I would give anything to have a few really good photos from our welcome reception and video of our best mans speech. One of the neat things I've noticed about these weddings where we've had everything covered is that by the time you get to the wedding, the photographer and videographer visually "know" everyone, and because of that they get amazing shots during the most important 6 hours (ceremony-reception). Here are a few tips if you're considering going this route: 1. If you're going to have your photographer cover all or few events, make certain that your photographer is a not only a good wedding photographer, but also a good photojournalist. A photojournalist doesn't ask for things to happen, they photograph what does happen and most important, they photograph unobtrusively. 2. Book the whole weekend at once. The last thing you want to do is call your photographer a month before the wedding to ask her to cover the casino party only to find out she's already booked on another wedding for that day. 3. Book the videographer for anything that's going to be big on sound and/or movement- obviously anything where there will be speeches, toasts, or bad singing (ha!). 4. Take advantage of all this documentation- share it. In addition to your wedding video, have the videographer create a 15 minute highlight dvd of the best moments from the weekend to give to your family and wedding party. You can also have your photographer send the videographer some of the photos to add to the video highlights.
One more thing, this is an "extra". Adding something like this can throw your budget WAY off. If you can't swing the whole weekend, maybe just pick one extra event to cover.
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