Love Story Media Blog

Bling Bling!

2012-01-19T01:38:00.000-08:00

Our promo video from the 2011 Bling Boutique Bridal Show, held at the Rosewood Georgia Hotel in Vancouver. This was the second year of a wedding show created by Harumi Suzuki. It was a lot of fun and a great chance for brides and grooms to interact with some of the finest vendors in the city. And to sample some extremely yummy sweets and hors d'oeuvres. Be sure to join us this year for Bling 2012!

Sisi ♥ Peter ... Highlights

2012-01-11T20:13:00.000-08:00

It's so great to meet new people, that you would never meet in your every day life. It's fascinating to take a look at someone else's life and how they view themselves; and their take on wedding traditions is a great starting point. Sisi and Peter booked with us very last minute, for their December 28th wedding. They did not have any family on hand and only a few friends. This video will be their way of telling their parents they are married, so they wanted a video that would give them the "fairy tale, movie style wedding." We did our very best to give Sisi and Peter just that.

It was a very short day, capped off by a long drive to Mount Seymour for a photo shoot. The weather got the better of us so the photo session was very brief. But as always we attempted to capture beautiful footage throughout the day and had no trouble putting together this highlight video. Hope you enjoy it.

Ishita ♥ Deepak ... SDE

2012-01-03T12:35:00.001-08:00

Six shoots spread across a week, encompassing two religions and leading up to an incredible New Years bash, this is Ishita and Deepak's wedding. We're very happy with this edit, the flow and the perfection of each shot. My favourite shot is the one of Deepak's hand offering rice to the Sacred Fire, perfect movement with the transparent pillar sliding into the foreground as the fire sparks up.

Our final wedding of 2011, and the first wedding we have done with Countdown Events. Hopefully the first of many.

We would like to thank all our clients from the past year, for making it possible for us to do what we love! We can't wait to share you full length videos with you and meet you again in 2012!!

Ravneet ♥ Raminder ... SDE

2011-12-29T23:16:00.000-08:00

Does one's body become stretched from staring too long at the stars? Raminder's physique and posture suggests he looks upwards the greater part of the time. In fact, he works at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre here in Vancouver and through a telescope or on the planetarium's dome he has guided many a visitor on a stellar walk. That museum became the reception venue for his and Ravneet's wedding just after Christmas.

During the ceremony, Ravneet and Raminder spent the majority of the time with their heads bowed, eyes closed. This was a very long ceremony, no doubt, but one where every passage read by the Granthi and every note performed by the ragas carried so much weight. The ceremony was at the Sikh Academy in Surrey, a new temple that we really enjoyed filming in. There is quite a bit of light - enough for me to use my trusty 24-105 lens - and perfect slider platforms on either side of the guru. Also we were able to get perfect audio using one output from the sound board. That always makes my day.

Ravneet was extremely bright and chipper throughout the morning, and immediately called herself a bridezilla for making one small request. She and her friends fed on doughnuts and tried to keep inappropriate jokes to a minimum while watching the clock as they struggled with the chunni. Ravneet was so happy when we incorporated a few clips from her maiyan recorded by a friend. And it was funny to see how crazy people can get when the person filming them is someone they know!

The space centre is a great venue, and it was used perfectly for this wedding. Food was served in a beautiful space downstairs, keeping the exhibition space and planetarium upstairs just for dancing and the speeches and performances, respectively. Raminder begged to have the end time of the event extended, commenting that one hour of dancing is really not enough. There was just enough time for everyone to get down, despite a fire alarm and evacuation caused by the DJ's smoke machine! This is the second time we've had this happen at a wedding, and it's a great way to end the night!

Shivani ♥ Samir ... SDE

2011-12-15T20:23:00.001-08:00

America is a place so crammed with creativity that even the most diverse and unique personalities might feel as if they are commonplace. Shivani is a fascinating person, both extremely talented and extremely generous; both creative and humble; and on top of that a true American girl. Up here in frigid Canada we see America on TV and movies all the time, and think we are just seeing a Hollywoodized version. Not so. Shivani is a sorority girl and proud of it; she loves life and knows how to live.

Shivani created an event fully thought out and tailored to her and Samir's vision. The ceremony itself was choreographed well in advance, and at the rehearsal my mind boggled and I wondered how it would all come together. How? Perfectly. Strikingly. Movingly.

Samir has another sort of personality that fascinates me. The casual but incredibly bright person. How can he be so off hand and seemingly half asleep, yet so present and on top of things? From his quiet preparations to the impressive promenade to the ceremony, he morphed into a very large personality from an almost invisible one.

I could add much more but I'll skip to the ending: the moment when we played the SDE at the reception. Shivani turned and looked at me about one third through; I didn't know why so I waved. Then she turned to me again and I realized why. She wanted me to see that tears were rolling down her cheek. She has been a fan of our work for quite a while and had been looking forward so much to that moment, after the event had passed and she could look back through our cameras. I was touched too.

Honoured at the BC Wedding Awards

2011-12-02T15:29:00.000-08:00

A couple nights ago the entire BC wedding industry headed to Red Robinson Theatre to close out the season with the ultimate celebration. Hors d'oeuvres were consumed and gowns and suits were displayed as we all caught up and shared stories from the year. I got to hang out with some of my favourite people until settling into my seat for the show.

The Wedding Videography/Cinematography category came up and we were one of three finalists. Can you say tension? Have you ever been so nervous that you just wanted to move on and didn't care about the outcome? Yes, that was me. Having won last year, I felt like it wouldn't happen again. But in the end, the name announced was "Love Story Media"!!!

I can't really describe how it feels to be honoured in this way, with the whole wedding industry on hand. We are more excited than ever for our future weddings. Here is the video we submitted, Alden and Steven's stunning Whistler wedding.

Naveen ♥ Jeevan ... SDE

2011-11-29T15:21:00.000-08:00

Sports analogies can make sense anywhere. How is a wedding like a sport? There are rules to follow, but only because they are rules. Meanwhile you get to do basically whatever else you want, however you want. Indian weddings are loaded with traditions, rules and requirements. It's no wonder that the majority of couples need to be guided through the many parts of their wedding, until finally reaching the point where they can switch to more western garb and kick it at their reception.

Naveen and Jeevan stressed to me how non-traditional they hoped their wedding would be. Jeevan, who simply described himself as a "sports guy," wasn't too thrilled about having to wear a turban, and as you'll see chose not to grow a beard for the wedding. First time we've seen that. However, you can sense his excitement and nervousness as he gives the rundown of the day and calls the ceremony "game time." The cars revving and idling provided the perfect ambience for the moments before Jeevan leaves for the temple.

Naveen's prep was much more calm, and almost tense until her uncle had an emotional moment. He told Naveen about the first time he saw her, when she was small enough to hold in his hands. Both he and Naveen had to pause and collect themselves. It was a dark, overcast morning, but suddenly the sun and one narrow window aligned and I was able to capture a beautiful moment of Naveen with the light falling on her face.

There are a lot of shots in the video that I love, but I'll just write a bit about the slomo ring shot about 1/3 through. Chermaine and I positioned the rings on one of the tabla used during the ceremony. We created some movement with Jeevan's wedding band and recorded it at 60 frames per second. Over and over. We dropped it, spun it and rolled it again and again until capturing what you see here. When it falls, you hear the actual sound of the rings colliding, slowed down and pitch shifted by 250%. The rings jiggle like wrestlers on a canvas mat. Sports analogies always fit.

Nicole ♥ Matt .. Next Day Edit

2011-11-19T18:35:00.000-08:00

I feel like my life has changed gradually and I've become less European and more Canadian over the years. I was born here to Norwegian parents, and it took me a very long time to absorb the fact that I am not European but rather Canadian. My city is not Bergen but Vancouver. Finally, largely as a result of finding a home in the wedding industry; as a result of finding friends and inspiration in this wonderful work I try to do in videography, I feel like I've arrived and settled.

But then you meet someone who makes you look back to who you were; perhaps to what you've left behind and need to rediscover. Nicole and Matt are capital "E" European. They are at home and successful here in Canuckland, but they are on a different, older, and perhaps more profound wavelength. From Nicole I received a rarity: well-written e-mails full of clever turns of phrase. For their honeymoon, she and Matt went not to Cancun or Hawaii but to the Danube River.

At the wedding, the written word - that is, the hand-written word - was put on a pedestal. I imagine a few of the guests struggled a bit to actually write on the postcards and on the map after typing and tapping their way through so many correspondences.

Stepping into the Wedgewood Hotel in the morning was like entering a dimension I didn't know existed in Vancouver. It was slightly odd and yet comforting. Inside, the diction, the furs, and the makeup all felt classic and old world. In addition to creating the ur-garter, Nicole's mother took the dress-tightening role. When she asked Nicole how tight she'd like the dress to be, Nicole answered, "Like the 18th century." I had to stop filming.

Melia Sorenson and I took turns sharing some of the tighter spaces during the prep. As always, it was thrilling working with her. And really, it's just a good sign when a client has hired Melia to take their photos. Her work is so arty and striking... and yes, old world. Roaming around Stanley park with her and M&N was perfect with the weather and colours at their fall peak. Then came the excitment of scrambling to just the right location to take advantage of a last-second sunburst.

Another slice of a different time was Stanley Park Pavilion, Nicole and Matt's reception venue. It's a dark, woody space that resides in our gorgeous left-of-central park. I've never seen it glow and sparkle like it did with the stunning decor installed by Tanya and Kezia for this wedding. At the end of the night we experimented with light and shone every beam available at the mirror ball that hangs from the SPP ceiling. The result was a glowing light puncuated by 80's rotating sparkles. And in a baby city like Vancouver, sometimes the 80's is old world enough.

Sylvia ♥ Justin ... Maui

2011-11-05T18:24:00.000-07:00

This was the wedding we had been anticipating all year. When I watched 127 Hours back in January I stayed in the theatre during the end credits. I instantly knew that the credit music - A.R. Rahman's "If I Rise" - would be the song for the Hawaii video. Looking back the song has a lot of meaning given the lyrics and the connection to the story of 127 Hours: that you can't move forward without leaving a part of you behind. But that there is always the hope of a new beginning.

The intro segment of this video is about being lost and then finding your place; about belonging. The ocean meets the land, and the lantern, the light bulb and the cable all find their partners or places. And new beginnings in the Haleakala sunrise and a sapling growing from a decades old tree.

In an earlier post I described needing something to trigger inspiration: this time it was the wedding venue, Olowalu Plantation House. The materials, textures and what I perceived as the history of the place suddenly struck me. I felt like there would be no rules to the filming; that it could be just an inspiration piece based on the objects and images I found. I felt like I was making a Terrence Malick film.

The journey to making this video was very stressful and challenging. We were barely able to film the wedding given that our equipment arrived literally 30 minutes before the ceremony. Luckily we had with what we needed to cover the prep and tea ceremony. It helped that everything is gorgeous in Maui. And it was also great to film another wedding in the most amazing circle of friends. This wedding follows on Nancy & Peter, Queenie & Tim, Janis & Jon's weddings and more from this super friendly and fun group.

With this video, I think I'm pretty close to knowing my true style: simply to push people's emotions over the brink into pure joy and happiness. Justin and Sylvia thank you for taking us on this journey with you.

Joy ♥ Preston ... SDE

2011-10-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

I still get nervous before weddings. Before every wedding. I just did a count and I've filmed over 110 weddings. But I still feel like I can't really be sure how a given wedding is going to turn out. Which videos are going to be the ones that really stand out.

This wedding came at a sort of hinge point: the day before our trip to Hawaii. There was so much to sort out the previous week, and my friends know how crazy the Friday before the wedding was. But when I showed up at Joy's parents place Saturday morning, I felt ready and inspired. Relaxed. It helped that Ellen was the photographer.

Also brilliant was the fact that Joy had hired Jayna and booked her celebrity package - meaning that Jayna would be at her side throughout the day keeping her drop dead gorgeous. I told Jayna that I would write the following in this blog entry: Even if Jayna was a terrible makeup artist, I'd still recommend that brides hire her. Because... she is amazing. She'll take great care of you. She will be your advocate, your cheerleader and your most honest voice to help you navigate what is a very challenging day. But guess what. On top of all that, she IS a phenomenal makeup artist. Hire her.

The wedding speaks for itself: gorgeous. The couple: so wonderful, so sweet, and so inspiring. Traipsing around Steveston with Joy, Preston and Ellen was like a photo walk - just pure creation and fun. I found myself filming a bee with a wide angle lens, and that shot is my favourite in the video.

This day felt like a farewell just before our departure - and in other ways - and it was wonderful to share it with Joy, Preston, Ellen and Jayna. Thank you.

Miranda ♥ Patrick ... I'm the lucky one

2011-10-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

"Patrick, today I stand before my closest family and friends, to promise to love you, respect you and support you. People may think that you're a lucky man. But I know that I'm the lucky one. I get to spend the rest of my life with a man whose patience, integrity and humanity inspire me. Your smile warms my whole body. I promise that I will laugh with you and cry with you, and share everything that life will bring us. I will cherish you as my husband, but not only as my husband; as my greatest partner in life."

There's not much I could add to Miranda's vows. They made Patrick cry so be careful watching. It was wonderful to film another Mah sister wedding. Like Judy and Derek's wedding, it was in October, and again we got to hang out with two amazing families. I felt a little like a member of the family myself, sharing a wonderful day with familiar faces and voices. And... again we got a parking ticket!! Is that considered good luck by anyone?

Hats off to Chermaine and Cedric, who filmed the first look, photo shoot and ceremony on their own while I was attending the Bling wedding show. Cedric, on Steadicam, even stole my favourite shot. But I'm fine with it.

Ka Wai ♥ Ed ... SDE

2011-10-20T19:19:00.001-07:00

I've told quite a few people that at every wedding, there is a moment when I feel deeply touched emotionally. Honestly we do film many many weddings and let's just say there are patterns - there can be a sameness after a while. But it never fails, at some point during the day I'll find myself moved. To the point that I can go outside myself and experience what I'm seeing as a brand new person. I've found that this is truly what motivates me. For better or worse I'm not motivated by what is normally considered important.

At Ka Wai and Ed's wedding, the moment came during the ceremony, when the whole congregation sang together. I am not a religious person, but it was overwhelming. A mass of people singing with conviction and belief is hard to resist. At moments like that

Ed introduced his own symbolic element into his wedding, handing out swords and leather wristbands emblazoned with the names of his groomsmen and best friends; those who had "fought" alongside him for Ka Wai. I had met Ed at Ivy and Gordon's wedding last year, and similar to their wedding he wanted a crazy, high energy reception. He definitely got it. Perhaps he didn't bargain for being chased around Fairmont Pacific Rim with bottles and glasses full of "refreshments."

Speaking of FPR, dontcha love the opening shot? Signage is so fun. The intro is a little overboard epic, but I think it somehow works: it matches that serious expression that is so often on Ed's face, and contrasts perfectly with Ka Wai's hilarious comment. Yes she and her girls were in no rush at all, as if time didn't exist. Ka Wai and her sisters are definitely a unique bunch.

Ed and his fellow crusaders were put through a myriad of games, that began with Ed signing away his life. Ed's legal friend - who you'll see later wiping the sweat from Ed's neck - advised him that contract was indeed legal, but that he was signing it under duress. All this under cover of umbrellas with rain beating down. But the weather as it so often does turned magically and became dry and finally partly sunny during the funky photo shoot with Blue Olive.

I'm happy that I was able to tie a nice bow on the video with the shot of Ka Wai and Ed on the balcony of their hotel suite. The room itself was so gorgeous that bride and groom suddenly decided to hold their tea ceremony there. But not before relaxing and enjoying some time as husband and wife.

Irene ♥ Ali ... Highlights

2011-10-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

We have met some of our favourite clients through the amazing Nancy Chen, whose wedding we filmed back in 2009. Irene and Ali are no exception. I always love meeting and chatting with couples, and the meetings often go overtime because we keep finding great stuff to chat about. Hanging out with Irene and Ali was a blast. A lot of time was spent at the JJ Bean and the Starbucks at Main and 14th.

These two met through friends at UBC, and it was a natural choice for them to have their photo shoot at that campus and their wedding at the University Golf Club. Part of the photo shoot with the unbelievably nice Scott D Johnson took place in a secret stand of trees where several study hours were squandered. There's one shot in the video that could be someone's point of view during those days.

Irene finished her studies just before her wedding, and as is common for those who have just completed a stressful period of their life, she promptly got sick. Poor Irene lost her voice. She tried to speak as little as possible during the day, and desribed her voice as a "frog voice." To me it just makes the excerpt of her speech we included extra touching.

Ali is in the midst of his engineering studies. At one meeting, Irene cracked a joke about having a shot in the video of Ali studying the blueprints of a camera while opening the device up, and proceeding to electrocute himself. I later found out that this is a factual thing that happened to Ali. I've never heard of anything like that! So funny.

After their speech, Irene and Ali introduced what they described as their "cheesy Iranian wedding video." They had gotten officially married in the home country and had a very unique video produced. They told me earlier that the whole point of the Vancouver wedding was the the video we would create for them. Irene and Ali, I like how you think!

Behind the Scenes of the Fall/Winter Perfect Wedding Magazine shoot

2011-10-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

Elegance. Grandeur. Beauty.

Filmed at the Vancouver Art Gallery, this video takes you behind the scenes of the Fall/Winter 2011 Perfect Wedding Magazine shoot. Photographer David Fierro creates sumptuous romantic imagery that must truly be seen to be believed. Make sure to pick up your copy of Perfect Wedding Magazine.

Four of the top Wedding Planning & Decor companies in Vancouver installed their work at the gallery, displaying four stunning visions of wedding perfection.

Bling Boutique Bridal Show

2011-09-29T15:09:00.001-07:00

For our 100th blog post, we'd like to invite you to join us at the 2011 Bling Boutique Bridal Show at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia. It's this coming Sunday, October 2nd. Mingle with some of the leading vendors in the wedding industry. We're a friendly bunch! We had a powwow at the Rosewood a while back, and I put together this video to show the newest old hotel in Vancouver just as it being unwrapped. Seems like a stunning place to hold a wedding; I cannot wait to film a first dance in the ballroom!

Hope to see you on Sunday! You may need to hunt for me; if you see someone prowling around with a huge camera, that's me!

For more details on the show, please visit the Bling Boutique Bridal Show website.

Alden ♥ Steven ... A Whistler Wedding

2011-09-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

We were not able to share this video since filming it back in March, and believe me it has been hard keeping it a secret. We had to keep the video under wraps while the wedding was being considered by Martha Stewart Weddings. This week we received the news that MSW would be featuring the wedding, and our video has been shared on the Martha Stewart Weddings Blog. Very very exciting.

Every wedding has a theme. Something that inspires and unifies every aspect of the planning and design. There's no better way to create a theme than flying literally everyone in to your favourite winter getaway to celebrate with you. Planner, decorator, band, photographer, and all the guests made the trip to our world-famous ski village for Steve and Alden's wedding. It could not have been more lavish or perfect, with a wall of lights that became a starry sky as the light faded during the ceremony, jaw dropping decor set off by pine cones and hot toddies at the reception, and mini-lanterns to help the guests find their way to the after party at the Four Seasons Residences. And finally matching UGGs for the girls to keep warm on the trek.

Given Alden & Steve's connection with music, and music videos, there was just a teeny bit of pressure to get this video right. I actually struggled having TOO MANY sweet shots and perfect sound bites. The amazing song by Barcelona (iTunes link) helped a lot. As did the incredible mood set by The Cheeseballs!

Bergan ♥ Patrick ... SDE

2011-09-27T22:48:00.001-07:00

I almost feel like it's a cheese factor when certain shots in a video link with lyrics in the song we've used. Listen for "where this road is going to lead me, " "turn the page" and "down this road" and notice the shots at those moments. These are definitely not intentional or even wanted really, but when they happen I feel like I'm on the right track with my editing choices.

And you know you're watching a Love Story Media video when 80% of the shots have lens flares. Hey, well, the sun was there so we had to use it. There's also a pretty interesting lens flare in the final shot from the reception. And speaking of weather, Bergan and Patrick lucked out with some very dramatic clouds during the photo shoot. Photographers will appreciate that the clouds came pre-graded :)

We decided to come along for some of the photos at Iona Beach though that was not the original plan, and B&P just attacked it with us. They were ready for anything, including climbing and descending the precarious stairs of the tower for some gorgeous images. Bergan even asked Patrick to stay behind so I could get a shot of her epic train as it poured down the steps. I included an extra long shot involving an airplane that Cedric is very proud of.

I do want to make sure to mention Raymond and Jesse, who are always so so great to work with. If there are nicer and more energetic photographers out there, we haven't met them. And we can always count on beautiful photo shoots with them on the vendor list.

Looking back on the edit, I'm amazed that I survived without including any bride-putting-on-white-dress shots. It just didn't need to be there - though there are some absolutely stunning shots that Bergan will have to wait to see in the main feature. I believe we did include enough details of this very unique dress, as well as a detail of Patrick's very cool tux. Note the cut from the collar of his tux to the close-up of his face. His chin appears in the first shot but not the second. When you cut between two shots of the same subject without changing the scale, you shouldn't include anything shown in the first image in the second. In this cut, there's no overlap between the two shots of Patrick whatsoever. That makes me happy!

My favourite element of the day was Patrick's blindfold. He needed to wear it so that he could travel with Bergan to the church yet not see her until she appeared at the end of the aisle. Some people think of everything!

Behind the Scenes with Amanda Wood

2011-09-27T16:09:00.000-07:00

I first met Amanda Wood while filming a wedding in 2007. She was performing at the reception, and without being sure why, I stole some time from covering the actual reception mingling that was going on to capture four complete performces of jazz standards by Mandy. I was hooked. Her voice, her style and her charisma made it obvious: she was a rising star. We connected after the wedding and I sent her a DVD of the songs I captured, and soon after, she hired me to film an engagement at Crush Lounge.

Fastforward 4 years and Amanda is releasing a brand new album of the most singable, hook-filled contemporary jazz you'll ever hear. Think of her as the female Michael Buble. And as the girl next door. As I told Mandy throughout the process of making this video, her personality is so winning that it should be the centre of any marketing campaign for her music. And so I made it the centre of this behind the scenes video, filmed while Amanda was putting the finishing touches on her new, gorgeous album, "On My Way To You."

Kamal ♥ Deepak ... SDE

2011-09-23T22:09:00.000-07:00

Two cultures meeting. It can lead to war. Or love.

Kamal and Deepak are the second couple we've worked with who had a double wedding. But unlike Tim and Dilshad, both their weddings happened on the same day. Make no mistake, it was a long day. Following several other long days. By the end of the 4th night and the end of the video, Kamal really appears ready for bed. We were as well.

Deepak is a top notch man, efficient, dutiful, and always upbeat. Maybe this is what it's like working with the best kind of actor; someone always at ease, always looking sharp. He constantly deferred to Kamal, saying, "It's what she wants."

Kamal is a forceful woman seemingly made of some type of Indian steel. There's a very hard but warm look in her eye. Together, K and D will move mountains.

Vivian ♥ Chris ... SDE

2011-09-07T17:21:00.000-07:00

Vivian and Chris were united on a fine day in September, when the first leaves began to curl and amber, hastened by chilling gusts of wind. Sun scorched rooftops hid rushed preparations for the coming nuptial, such as playing outdated Nintendo games and sipping from a near endless supply of mead.

Really this was a very interesting day, with Viv's family an assortment of people seemingly and in some cases actually from the Hong Kong television world. They were all ready for their close-ups, even when they weren't ready. Over to Chris' prep and omg the game was afoot. I was pretty sure I'd need to bleep some of the utterances for the SDE. There were not only liquids but solids as well, with Chris' mom telling us to eat then leading by example.

Ceremony and photos were a blast but the reception topped everything. Honestly usually the reception is anticlimactic - all the big stuff is done and from a visual standpoint it's just people sitting around eating. Not at this wedding. At this wedding they were standing around drinking. Totally different. Then the 80's music kicked in. Do these people pose in front of mirrors memorizing the lyrics and coming up with random insane moves to go with the music? They must. My stomach hurt after filming for a while, I could not stop laughing. Way too fun. Yes I will help myself to the midnight snack = giant pile of McDonalds hamburgers. Perfect night. With the grumpy Law Courts staff looking on what a riot. Maybe the expletive- and puke-image-filled video put together by the groomsmen had something to do with that.

But I digress! It was an awesome day filled with funky artsy people and beneath all the silly craziness Viv and Chris really really love each other and put on an amazing party for their friends. I hope the video - along with the awesome Junk of the Heart - captures the vibe of this day.

Angela ♥ Cam ... SDE

2011-09-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

Day 1 of our two wedding weekend was the uber chill Angela and Cam. They invited us to relax and enjoy the day with them. Angela even told me to take breaks whenever I wanted/needed. That's against my religion but I appreciated the offer!

Ang and Cam - or "Camgie" - have been together for ages. Ang mulled the idea of not even bothering with a wedding since it was just a formality for them. But having all their family and very closest friends come together to celebrate and more or less chill together made it more than worthwhile.

Exchanging compliments all day and imbibing fluids all day these two really set out to enjoy the day and I have to be honest that had an impact on the first dance. While dancing, Ang commented that Cam should switch to drinking water. I think Cam replied that this sounded like a strange idea.

Whatever they are doing, it's working, and the emotions that went on during the speeches was memorable. The photo shoot took advantage of our local forests, beaches and most of all sunlight. I did some sun worshipping myself in this video, with mayybe just enough lens flares! And Ang and Cam's lovely Kits house provided the perfect backdrop for the first part of the day.

Jen ♥ Geoff ... SDE

2011-09-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

This was such a fun one! Some couples are so different and quirky and in Jen and Geoff's case sarcastic and self-deprecating that it's hard to get a read on them. What would impress them? How can I make a video that's hip enough for them? What type of song would be un-lame enough? It's funny that in the end, everyone turns out to have a heart of gold.

I was lucky enough to shoot this wedding with Ellen; we've shot quite a few together this year. We chatted just after the ceremony, and she told me that she cried during the ceremony. I said, at which part? It was the same part where I sorta lost it. After the ceremony and during the signing, Jen's choir got up to sing a couple of songs. Suddenly Jen ran up and joined them and they launched into "Mr. Wonderful" obviously dedicated to Geoff. Finally Jen returned to Geoff to sing the final chorus. Wow that really had an impact, and if there was a dry eye in the house I'd be shocked.

Another highlight of the day was the food. Not the actual food maybe but how it was presented and enjoyed. Scones and sandwiches were proffered during the prep and enjoyed by Jen most of all - *after* her getting her makeup! Scrumptious! There was a well-timed visit to McDonald's. The video ends on Jen savouring her wedding cake, which I think is fitting. But best of all was the groom cake. I don't think I can describe it, suffice to say that it was the ultimate man-cake and looked totally insane being wheeled out in the ballroom at Sutton. Geoff commented, "That is all kinds of awesome." I tried to make a video worthy of that type of comment!

Maggie ♥ Arthur ... SDE

2011-08-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

Maggie we love you. It's weddings like this that make all the hard work and grinding worthwhile. What? Grinding? Hard work? Yup. Wedding videography is hard. Some of those in film production would scoff at what we do, but think of it this way: For up to 12 hours at a time, we have to turn randomness into art. We have to make millions of decisions. And we have to practically film and edit at the same time, and come up with a show-stopping 4 minutes of content that spellbinds an entire reception. Ok, maybe it's really just me that expects all that, but that's where we set the bar.

And the number one thing we can ever receive in return is a simple comment like: "I can't stop watching your videos." or, "Your videos make me cry." Go back a few blog posts and you'll see that that's "why we do what we do."

Soon after discovering Love Story Media, Maggie and her friends/future bridesmaids bought stocks in Kimberly-Clark. This allowed Maggie to pay for her wedding despite a heavy kleenex investment. Sorry Maggie, I'll sent over another pallet soon.

So for this video we had our work cut out. I chose the most emotional song in my "SDE collection" and headed over to Maggie's. It was a truly beautiful day with one of the most stunning ceremonies I've witnessed. Ok it was really hot too. Way too hot. My steadicam vest got all icky. Anyway.

Next on the agenda was a killer photo shoot with Ellen, mostly at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. I'm sure Maggie is enough of an LSM fan to pick out two shots I referenced from one of our vids from 2009.And finally a gorgeous reception at Kirin Richmond.

Sooo... what about the groomster? Arthur is Mr. Cool Cat. So chill and easy going. Unflappable. So maybe that's why the emotional centre of the day was where he almost lost it during the door games, when asked why he loves Maggie so much.

Linda ♥ Anthony ... SDE

2011-08-28T18:57:00.000-07:00

Life is chaos, and happiness is embracing it for what it is. There was a lot of chaos to go around at this wedding, and most of it was really great.

Not so great were a vase being smashed on the walkway just before the ceremony and two other hiccups that caught Linda off guard. But she was very chill about it, finally saying "I guess what they say is true. Things don't always go exactly the way you want."

At the other end of the spectrum, Linda and Anthony come from two loud, rambunctious families, who basically took over during the morning and for a lot of the reception. The two hotel suites at Pinnacle at the Pier were crowded and noisy, full of hugging, hand shaking and excitedly chatting people.

There was a wrenching emotional moment during the tea ceremony when Linda's brother asked Anthony to take good care of her. Both brother and sister had to fight back tears.

The reception was more or less overrun by drinking and loud chatter. The speeches were almost drowned out and we had a very interesting showing of our same day edit. We chose to use Linda and Anthony's much preferred song, which led to many of the younger guests actually singing along and finally getting up and cheering before the video ended.

Craziness, but I could not wipe the smile off my face. Chaos is so fun.

Colleen ♥ David ... SDE

2011-08-28T15:38:00.000-07:00

When I write these blog entries I'm trying to capture something about the couple and who they are. But for some reason it's impossible. Hopefully I say what I really want to say in the video. Colleen and David were wonderful to meet and great to have as clients and friends. There's something about bright, open, fun people that I really dig.

They were a joy to work with on the day; on "my side" with Colleen and her girls there was an awesome chick flick vibe with everyone hanging out and enjoying a nice hair and makeup sesh. My fave shot is the crane down on the two bridesmaids in a hair-doing-train if you know which shot I mean. Oh and Jayna Marie was there so I knew it would be a fun, chill morning.

Colleen was so chipper and Dave was... well, Dave. I hope his emphatic but warm nature comes across in the video. And he provided some very "unique" sound bites :) And the man loves his music!

I just have to give a huge shout out to Evan/Flowerz. I've admired his work for quite a while but this wedding really blew my mind. The decor was incredible, jaw dropping and perhaps best of all *perfectly* suited the Convention Centre. The callas looked amazing and the glass "thingies" were pure art.

The night ended with the SDE and then a Jewish wedding ceremony. Technically a Jewish wedding can only happen on a Sunday but David and Colleen decided that 9pm was close enough to being the next day and went for it. Their friends crowded around and I could tell how much it meant to them to see their best friends get married once more.

Vivian & Chris ... Highlights

2011-08-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

Vivian and Chris' lovely Brock House wedding!! For this video, we did not have to do a same day edit, so we spent the whole evening hanging out with Vivian and Chris, their guests, and Melody and Eric of Melody Davis Photography. It was really relaxing and fun! Of course we were filming and working but it's nice to enjoy a wedding as a semi-guest sometimes!

I was having a conversation recently and was asked, having seen so many couples and weddings, have I learned anything about what makes a couple so good together? What makes it work? First I said that you can never presume to know anything about someone else's life, unless you really know them. But then I said that basically some couples just have "it." They just click. When you see them together, you just know.

But let's get this out of the way: Chris describes himself as "boring." I have to admit I've never heard someone say that about themselves. "I'm the boring one." Vivian had said just before that Chris is "the creative one." Hmm. I think I can say that whatever the glue is that hold two people together, Vivian and Chris are covered in it. So sweet together. And a little silly too!

Preeti & Manpreet ... SDE

2011-08-19T15:50:00.001-07:00

Preetinder and Manpreet met at a conference and carried on a long distance relationship right through to their wedding. Manpreet is a very tech-informed person and saw no issue with proposing to Preeti via skype. And of course frequently and happily took the short flight from Silicon Valley to Hollywood North to visit his beloved. Of the two, Manpreet is definitely the arty one. Definitely metro. So I can identify! He listened to the tabla performance with his eyes closed, drumming the rhythms on his knee as you'll see in a special shot in the video.

Preeti is always poised and always great to talk to, with that perfect mix of humor and seriousness. She transformed from an everyday gal to a princess for her wedding, but was only too happy to go back and really revel in the reception performances.

It helped that said performances were so fun and energetic. I don't really know this for sure but I think that being from the real Hollywood or thereabouts helps create some naturally talented performers. And that includes Manpreet himself, who got up and performed to a song written for a girl named Preeti.

The cutest moment happened somewhere on the road between the two doli locations after the ceremony. Preeti was absolutely wiped out and dozed off in the car. Manpreet waited a little while and then woke her up. I'm surprised his doesn't happen more often!

Arlene & Roman ... SDE

2011-08-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

Chatting with Arlene and Roman before the wedding, I heard a lot about the filipino traditions that would be incorporated into the day. From a purely selfish videographer point of view, the more "content" that'll be available to us the happier we are. I turned to Roman and asked what Czech traditions they were planning on including. He said he'd have to think about it. I didn't find out what it would be until the night before.

Let me just stop and say that editing a SDE is pure craziness and yet great things happen. Having the moment where the plate shatters right at that pause in the music is perfection, but I can't take any credit for it at all. It just happened that way. Thanks One Republic!

Anyway, Arlene is nothing if not resourceful and used the sweeping up component of this Czech tradition to put Roman to work. She stood aside and watched and laughed as he swept up the shards of the plate. I had to laugh ... and get a shot.

One of my favourite aspects of wedding videography is rubbing elbows with other great vendors. And I do like to give them each their moment when it's appropriate. Of course CC got a lot of screen time with the sumptuous bouquets and perfect decor - that worked so well in Horizons Restaurant. But I couldn't resist the Elsa Corsi product placement right off the top. I set up the rings with the box and did a medium shot with a 50mm lens. Then repeated the shot with a 100mm macro lens. Cutting from the medium to the close-up makes it pretty unmistakeable: Elsa was here!

Arlene made a last-minute trip to Jeweliette at Seymour and Georgia, and they specially opened the store so she could make her selection. I think it made her day.

I could go on and on. I'll just mention something that I keep doing in these videos: a reference to that private moment when the dress goes on. Doors closing and opening seem to have some kind of special meaning.

Reilley & Branden ... SDE

2011-08-11T16:14:00.001-07:00

She came down the aisle... and was so beautiful that... he fainted.

From a wedding filled with words to a wedding filled with music. I first met Reilley along with her parents and younger sister. It was impressed upon me right away that music would be an important component of the wedding. There would be several performances and Reilley herself would be playing violin during the ceremony. During the ceremony! Little did we know at the time the degree of concentration that would require.

Reilley is a person of strong conviction. She told me that immediately when she saw Erin's work she knew she had to hire her. The same applied to our videos; there was just no other option. As a hesitant, indecisive person I really admire someone who can just lock in on a decision and stick to it.

The day was modeled on the Royal Wedding earlier this year, with seemingly a doo-wop influence on the groomsmen's shoes. The tiara and Branden's tux were impossible to miss. Unfortunately it was such a muggy day and the church was a little underventilated, so one of those two items became a problem. The road of marriage is tough, and sometime the road to marriage can be rough. Doors were opened, buttons were loosened and Reilley took center stage and did not look back.

After a fun refreshing photo shoot with Erin we headed to Swan-e-set and were treated to an amazing non-music performance by Reilley, Branden and the bridal party, then some pretty stunning musical ones shortly after. We incorporated musical instruments throughout the video, and as a huge fan of classical music there is something special about a beautiful instrument. Also as a fan of structure it felt right to begin and end with a piano. The "88" encompassing all.

Michelle & Aaron ... SDE

2011-08-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

I love epic weddings, and I love sweet weddings. This wedding had both. The video begins with a reading from the ceremony, and when we played the video it totally threw off Aaron, who thought he was getting a totally different type of video than the uber sweet one we produced. This guy's voice is movie-trailer epic. It just had to go into the video. I found a short instrumental piece to create the background, and segued from that to David Choi's over the top sweet track when the reading segues from the "nevers" to the "always."

And the video segues into pure sweetville! Michelle has kept a journal and made the page with her August 1st 2011 entry available to us. Her gift to Aaron was a storybook version of their life together, fully illustrated and hard bound. They found big gold letters spelling "I DO" which we were happy to use in the video. Especially after Michelle arranged them so they didn't read, "DO I?" Great job Michelle ha ha.

Looking back, it was a day filled with words. The reading, the journal, the I DO, the overseas phone calls, Michelle's dad providing colour commentary while I filmed, and the JUST MARRIED foam letters on the car. Note to future grooms: if you drive an Audi you may need to pick up some industrial strength adhesive. Eventually it read JU T MARRIE. Cedric and I rocked out getting crazy driving shots along Arbutus and Burrard Bridge.

Need more sweetness? The first photo location was the bridge walkway at Waterfront Station, where Aaron first asked Michelle out. It was a crazy photo shoot with the amazing HN Wedding. Edison creates this incredible energy that has crowds forming and cheering. Seriously. This photo shoot was so epic I actually considered changing the song for the SDE. We first worked with HN Wedding two years ago and love every opportunity to shoot alongside them.

What else can I mention? My favourite shot is the behind the altar shot as everyone stands at the ceremony. So epic! But sweet too ;)

Amanda & Dino ... SDE

2011-08-02T12:13:00.000-07:00

Two reasons why I love filming weddings are the built-in emotion of the day and the creative freedom I have as a videographer. I've often thought of doing promotional or "corporate" videography, but honestly I don't want someone in a suit telling me what to do. Someone in a bridal gown however… Let's face it - Amanda likes being in control. She sent me numerous very long e-mails in the weeks and months leading up to the wedding. I like to read e-mails on my blackberry, but when an e-mail doesn't fit in the screen I leave it for later. I left all Amanda's e-mails for later.

But don't get me wrong, I love input! Input = inspiration. Especially since on the day of her wedding, Amanda was super sweet and totally open to and enthusiastic about my ideas. She even let me get the funky dress-over-the-head shot I've never ever gotten before. Amanda was just so cheery and in love with being a bride. Strutting around coal harbour and thrusting her bouquet high into the air. Cute.

This was a day that began with iPad skyping from Italy and a lot of somethings blue. Even the candied almonds were robin's egg blue. Tasted good too. And during the photo shoot, there was something cylindrical. Cedric and I needed to refuel so we hit up a hot dog vendor, and he immediately offered free dogs to the bride and groom. He then told us we "had" to do a shot of Amanda and Dino munching the same hot dog. This led to a lot of comments from the bridal party, some romantic, some not.

Dino? Great guy. Super awesome. I loved his speech; great to see a guy who's willing to be open about his emotions. Makes me feel like I'm not alone!! And like Amanda his energy and exuberance throughout the day was phenomenal for the video. I got several shots of him skipping along, and he just went ahead and made "the jump" off of the burrard bridge pedestal without being asked OR begged by the photographers.

Speaking of, Jasalyn and Jason you rock!!! Can't wait until the next one.

DV Award for Wedding/Event Videography

2011-07-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

Following on winning the BC Wedding Award last year for Best Wedding Cinematography, we are now the proud recipients of the Spring 2011 DV Award for Wedding/Event Videography. I am so proud of the video below. And spent a very long time labouring on it (read more here) it's great to have the video recognized. But above all we are honoured to receive the DV Award and look forward to joining the competition again later this year.

Lisa & Ryan ... SDE

2011-07-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of "Underpromise, overdeliver"? It's a great way to ensure that your client is happy with the result of your work. However, I have to admit my approach is more, "Overpromise, overdeliver." At client meeting I get pretty pumped and start to envision the wedding and the SDE. And it's important as well to generate that excitement in the client.

Lisa was pumped from the get go. Getting video was a priority for her, it was just a matter of getting Ryan on board. I have to admit, I enjoy when someone is holding off on their enthusiasm; like, ok you can talk the talk but can you walk the walk. I really like proving myself ha ha.

Well, now we can count Ryan as a convert. He came right up to me after the SDE showed, butted into a conversation to tell me how much he loved the SDE. Made me pretty happy!

A big thing for Lisa was including Michi, her ridiculously cute dog who provides the intro comments. The surprise of the night was a belly dancer, who tore up the place and danced embarrassingly with most of the men.

Oh and working with Gina of Butter Media yet again was a blast! The photos were super fun as always.

Irene & Ryan ... SDE

2011-07-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

As a videographer I have to admit that often I'm more concerned with "vibe" and mood than story. My company is called Love Story Media, and it's true that our "classic" videos are based on the story of the couple as told through soundbites, vows and speeches. But there's something so overwhelming about emotion all by itself that it can be a lot more fun using a video to just create mood. Each shot builds up the feeling and by the end of the video I'm hoping there's both a smile and tears on your face.

Irene and Ryan ... how can I put it ... What an upbeat and happy vibe! The constant smiles and laughter! Their voices - just so cheerful! At our last meeting Irene asked me to use this incredibly catchy song by Craig Smart. It turned out to be the perfect match for the bubbly, poppy vibe that was happening on this day.

The groomsmen were standouts in the morning, treating the door games like an Olympic event, or some kind of MIT challenge. For their song performance, they marked up the lyrics they were given and proceeded to make photocopies before starting to sing. They fanatically passed seaweed and gnawed at bananas. Ryan commented, "I don't want to know why you're so good at that."

The gifts - love pre-weddings gifts! - were a lot of fun. Hey and anytime an Apple product gets unwrapped it's a great day. And I can guarantee that the video above is looping on that iPad right now!

Great working with Derek of Generation Photography again, and what a nice surprise seeing Margaret Lai, Irene's MUA!

Niralee & Amit ... SDE

2011-07-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

Coming at the end of a three wedding weekend, this was such a beautiful and refreshing day at Swan-e-set. Sometimes in the middle of a ceremony it just hits me how beautiful and wonderful it is. This was our first Hindi wedding ceremony. Something about the words and the little ceremonies really got to me. So beautiful. The setting was just unbelievable. Alicia from DreamGroup did an outstanding job and a lot of jaws dropped when they saw the ceremony setup.

We met Niralee and Amit for the first time at their wedding and both they and their families were so warm and welcoming. Wish we had had more time with them!

Thanks so much to Amish Solanki for his help and inspiration throughout the day.

Stephine & Mike ... SDE

2011-07-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

Stephine and Mike are not the most rambunctious crazy couple but they have that calm ease of being with "the one." Together they just look so relaxed and happy. Stephine predicts that Mike is having a rough morning, perhaps losing it a bit. And indeed, when he takes his position at the church all the assembled guests notice he has mis buttoned his jacket. Cute moment.

The whole day was very warm and friendly, from Stephine's family happily watching us do detail shots in the morning - love the bouquet - to the guests we interviewed at the reception. Also warm was the weather, with perfect time lapse clouds we took advantage of all weekend.

The night ended beautifully with Mike's brother performing along with a recorded track at the reception. It's always great to see someone passionate and so intense about performing. And visitors to this blog know how much I love to capture people playing music. But that'll have to wait for Steph and Mike's main feature.

Great working with Derek of Generation Photography - and we will again the coming Saturday!

Christina & Jesse ... SDE

2011-07-02T02:43:00.000-07:00

Certain weddings have "epic" written all over them. We continually reach for our wide angle lenses to give it that feeling of grandeur and to take it all in. And we dig for a piece of music that will match this incredible vibe.

800 guests, a jammed schedule of events, and a Maserati... hmm that smells pretty epic. But most of all, Jesse and Christina's incredible home, which like the dress a couple of blog posts back became a character in the story.

Jesse and Christina were amazing to work with and took great care of us. There were videographer and photographer feedings throughout the day. I can honestly say it helped the video! I had only managed one hour of sleep and the samosas really kept me going.

The best moment of the night came when the song for the grand entrance began playing. Ohh it's an 80's song... and... huh? Why would they want to use "Jesse's Girl"? Ohhhh. Sweet.

It was amaaaazing working with Ellen of Hong Photography again!! Can't wait to see her photos!!

Mimi & Aaron ... SDE

2011-06-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

Personalized vows. Everyone should do it. Often couples ask me to give them advice, to give them a recommendation to help make their wedding video - or even just their wedding - better. I say, "Be yourself. And make your wedding about you. Bring out your personalities through all the details of your wedding." Mimi and Aaron planned their wedding for a year and a half solid and did not need much advice. But my eyes lit up when they told me they were writing their own vows.

We met up before the wedding and Mimi mentioned that only about half of her guests would be present at the ceremony. That and the early time frame for playing the same day edit meant that we should focus on the ceremony. And on those beautiful personalized vows. So while editing my first move was to lay down the audio: one song each with their vows overtop, broken up to allow the piece to breathe. Then I built up the images, cutting to them speaking their vows at key moments. As always, the editing came down to the wire, but having a structure to begin with really really helped.

Working with Ellen of Hong Photography was as always fantastic, and we both enjoyed getting shots of Mimi's super cute dog Kobe in his tux. We had focused on him for a little while in the morning, but Mimi asked us, "Should we get some more shots of Kobe?" Important little guy.

And I can't not mention the film connection here: Aaron is an actor and has an amazing production company and has now gone on to direct his own films. With his talent, drive and outlook, this is someone who will go all the way. Especially with Mimi at his side.

Ray & Jinny ... Highlights

2011-06-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

Would it be weird to devote an entire blog entry to a dress? Ok some dresses are just un-be-lieve-a-ble. The moment Erin Gilmore and I saw Jinny's dress our eyes popped out and our jaws dropped. Whatever is going on with those glitzy jewelly things really works and the dress is a stunner.

However, there were other things at this wedding. Such as the non-subtle colour scheme of hot pink and neon green. A pig instead of a cake. Surprise fireworks. A surprise proposal (Jinny's brother). A surprise birthday party. Also there were the perfect pair venues, Fairmont Pacific Rim and the Convention Centre. Erin Gilmore. Oh and I loved Jinny's shoes, which Erin described as ballet slippers, but yeah not your ordinary ballet slippers.

So endless eye candy and a tightly knit group of friends came together for an unforgettable wedding. Ray got a little intense towards the end coordinating the fireworks barge, and it had been a long week of logistics and details that finally came to a perfect conclusion when the first bang went off and brought Jinny out of her seat. Ray is sort of a James Bond type, with all sorts of tricks up his sleeve and a knack for the completely unexpected. I'm sure he'll keep Jinny guessing and on her ballet toes for years to come.

Music by Florence and the Machine (iTunes link).

One of the most touching moments of the day came at the very end of the reception. Just after the fireworks, Jinny's brother Simon invited his girlfriend out to the balcony to enjoy the view. Watch and see what happened after that.

Maria ♥ Mario ... SDE

2011-06-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

When we are doing a same day edit, the day goes by very quickly. Today was no exception, despite filming over 16 hours. This was one of those special weddings where we feel totally included and part of the family right from the beginning. Between all the many many moments and locations we covered today, Maria & Mario did everything in their power to make sure we felt welcome and were having fun just as much as their bridal party. We also appreciated having so much input from the bridesmaids and groomsmen, not least the impromptu mandolin dance in the middle of the photo shoot.

The day was absolutely packed with eye candy, photo locations and "stopovers" at various stores for refreshments. Insanity on the limobus... Kudos for the stop at Fairmont Pacific Rim, where the partying continued while Maria had her hair done. There was just enough time to squeeze in a brief photo session.

Taking the photos was the amazing Dave Custodio. He is a busy man and does not need my plug here, but it's been great working with Dave and Danny over the years. So much fun running around being irresponsible and getting endless great shots with these two. They are absolute pros.

Assisi, Fairmont, Law Courts; all great venues, but the best was the one built by Mario Cirillo: the amazing home he made for himself and Maria. Here's hoping we can make that two day party a reality heh heh.

Cindy ♥ Greg ... SDE

2011-06-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

We first met Cindy and Greg at Cynthia and Ed's wedding last year. From the moment they saw C&E's SDE they knew they wanted to book with us. They even told us they were not going to bother shopping around. I have to say, it really is inspiring when a client has total confidence in your work.

Saturday was a perfect day, and the inspiration level got boosted even further when we arrived at Cindy's suite at River Rock Casino. Great relaxed mood there, with Cindy and the bridesmaids casually preparing one of the most gruelling sets of door games ever devised. Watch for the wasabi squirting out of the yummy sour candy. A couple visits to the porcelain altar were made, believe me.

Cindy's dress and just her mood were so light and refreshing and filming her and her "rock" Greg was a joy throughout the day. And we finally got to shoot with Miranda of Blue Olive! So so much fun, and I really have to tip my hat for the jaw dropping photo location she found.

And for those who don't understand, in the beginning Cindy is egging Greg on, telling him to chase her. The hunt is on!

Music is of course by The Smashing Pumpkins. Finally got to use this perfect song! (iTunes link.)

Mei ♥ Danny ... SDE

2011-06-05T21:41:00.001-07:00

Let's be honest: a lot of weddings are all about the bride. Her dreams for the wedding all come to the fore and the groom is pushed into the background. Sometimes literally to the background if you see what happens in some photo shoots. When it comes to wedding I guess men are sometimes reduced to out-of-focus arm candy.

Danny's profile pic on Facebook is himself on his yellow Ducati. At our first meeting, Danny told me that his motorbike was "kinda like my bride dress." A detailed construction-avoiding route to Mei's house was planned, and Danny recruited 12 bikers to ride with him along with three vehicles on the journey from Burnaby to Richmond. The morning was chaotic, with riders arriving and being prepped and wired with radios, and bikes and cars being mounted with our cameras. First wedding I've been to where we were an hour behind schedule after an hour of the itinerary.

There's always a leap of faith as we attach our cameras to a moving vehicle… How will the shot look? Will the vibrations be too much? Will the camera still be there at the next stop?

In the end the cameras (a 5D with a 24mm lens and a GoPro HD) were just fine. However, Danny's radio somehow fell out and was crushed, one of the grill mounted dolls was lost, and a rider who shall remain nameless was separated from the pack after the ceremony. It may not be worth mentioning that my hair got mussed a little while leaning out the window with an upside down monopod as we ripped along at 100 km/h. And the wind was deafening.

Also hard to ignore was the walkie talkie chatter. It was hilarious to hear Danny and his best man calling each other "Iceman" and "Maverick" like it was the most natural thing, and Cedric recorded an awesome soundbite that helped form the intro section of the video. With help from Lucky, Danny's arowana.

The survivors of the morning enjoyed an absolutely gorgeous wedding at Mayfair Lakes. This was our first wedding at this lovely location and our next is this coming Saturday! Mei and Danny had been watching the forecasts, and gradually the prediction for Saturday improved as the week wore on. In the end it was a nearly cloudless day with a slight breeze and more than enough sunlight for photos and sunburn to go around.

Music by Atomic Tom (iTunes link).

Samien ♥ Chris ... Highlights

2011-05-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

It's becoming more common for couples to book with us not having met us, just on the basis of referrals and the work on our blog and website. Connected to that, it's becoming common for young couples to be so busy that they barely have time to breathe in the course of a day. Vancouver is now officially a big city, and not that easy any more to succeed in, and certainly not easy to buy property in.

The result is couples like Samien and Chris, who are so tightly knit together and so very much in love that the casual observer would think they've known each other for life. I actually felt envious when meeting them for the first time just before the wedding. The love they obviously feel for each other is the stuff of movies. And did we ever hit it off! We could not stop talking about everything under the sun and honestly discussing the wedding itself was just the icing on the cake. Plus, we met at Caffè Artigiano which was a bonus!

For this video I went for a very classical elegant feel. I used a great song I'd been saving I even changed settings on the camera to allow the lenses' natural vignetting to come through. Look at the corners of the frame and notice how they're a bit shaded. This vignetting gives a slight antique feel, which I though suited the vibe of this uber classy wedding. I also love how the video begins and ends in Farsi, thanks to Chris' mastery of that language - in additional to French and Italian! Hmm, maybe he's not as busy as I thought.

It was SO great to catch up with Gina Chong at Butter Media, my closest colleague and one of the nicest people on the planet. From setting up the first look to the photo shoot to sharing the tight spaces during the ceremony, she was, as always, a joy to work with. And her recommendation to Samien and Chris was how we found each other, so thanks Gina!

Finally I should make special mention of Cedric Yu, who has filmed the vast majority of weddings with me over the past year and a half. His resourcefulness, tirelessness and amazing detail shots have allowed our videos to continually improve. The ring shot that closes this video is, I think, the best one he's ever done. Notice how the shape of the ring matches the outline of the flowers. See more of Cedric's work here.

Decor provided by the amazing Wedding Design Studio. A lot of great comments on this one, so nice work!

Johanna ♥ Jojie ... SDE

2011-05-08T06:06:00.001-07:00

You can't always finish what you start. Johanna could not finish her mondo slice of pizza. And not being a fan of the spotlight, she did her best to sabotage the first dance by suddenly hugging Jojie like it was over and signalling "Cut!" Nice try!

The ring bearer spent the morning shrieking uncontrollably, and hence was tuckered out when the ceremony rolled around. You can see he's only too happy to go back to sleep while his dad bears the rings on his behalf. Big show, no results.

And often, wedding plans are difficult to turn into reality. The big exciting dreams can get too overwhelming, and in the end many couples trim the fat and simplify their weddings. Not Johanna & Jojie! The 10 per side bridal party? Yup, they did it. Giant blue school bus instead of limo? Check.

The idea was to be a rock band on a tour bus, with the groomsmen being the band the and bridesmaids being the groupies obviously. From the slick Reservoir Dogs shades to the actual rock performances at the reception with a full drum kit, oh yeah they were a rock band with crazy mask-wearing groupies.

So just like the Canucks are going to (eventually) eliminate Nashville, Johanna and Jojie got married and finished what they started on their very first date, the moment Jojie realized that she was the one.

Why We Do What We Do

2011-04-29T23:43:00.001-07:00

As the 2011 wedding season truly gets underway, and after weeks of depriving all those lovely followers of this blog, I wanted to share some insight into why we do it. Why we come back year after year trying to top our previous work. Why each approaching wedding is a combination of inspiration, excitement, and a bit of nervousness. Rather than struggling to find the right words to express it, I'll simply share the following video. At Moet and David's wedding last year we created one of my favourite SDEs ever. Someone quickly set up a camera to capture the couple's reaction as they saw their video for the first time.

This reaction is why we do what we do.

Amanda ♥ Kevin ... Highlights

2011-02-26T08:12:00.000-08:00

Ah, the wedding industry. There are certain places and faces that keep coming up; and grateful we are as they are so awesome and intrinsic to our BC wedding milieu. Take Swan-e-set. We filmed FIVE weddings there in 2010. Crazy. But there's no end to the ways to film a wedding there, and we always look forward to going there!

The "face" in question is that of Brent Sheppard. He presided over the very first wedding I filmed professionally, and I have lost count of how many LSM weddings he's been a part of. He's super fun, AND he knows how to wear a tie.

So we do love the sweet repetition in this industry. But sometimes you need to change it up, yo. So for this wedding I brought along a super 8 camera and snapped off a few shots. Please watch for the grainy and gorgeous shots here and there, and ask me about how you, too can have a "super 8 wedding."

I also got a little carried away with car shots at this wedding, apologies. There's something about shiny objects that move. I will not apologize for the crazy blue car shot, which I happily risked my life to get.

All in all, this is one of my favourite videos!

Christine ♥ Dennis ... Highlights

2011-02-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

I had a great and very long chat with Christine and Dennis back in January 2010, where they shared some of their plans for the wedding. Christine excitedly described her search for a glittery dress, and her lack of success thus far. In the end, she chose to have the glitter applied directly to her skin. It was almost a sci-fi look but in a good way :)

The sparkles even found their way into the sky during the first dance with an amazing fireworks display that had everyone whooping and cheering. It was such well kept surprise that I didn't know about it myself until just before the first dance. Don't tell Sarah Shore of DreamGroup I didn't read the itinerary! Thanks Lisa of Ophelia Photography for clueing us in. You can see her photos here.

Every table was adorned with a vase with one fighting fish, but luckily when Dennis had his "Greek moment" he happened to smash a non-fish-containing vase. It took him a few moments to collect himself and yell, "Opa!"

Christine and Dennis are one of those couples that define for their friends what a REAL relationship is, and left no doubt in anyone's mind that they are prepared to out-cute and most definitely out-kiss all comers.

Alexandra ♥ Adam … Highlights

2011-01-23T09:28:00.001-08:00

{ Alex calls herself our "biggest fan" and indeed generates a good portion of the hits drawn by this blog. She has had unbelievable enthusiasm about the process of creating the video and has sent numerous e-mails about imagery and music. I'm really looking forward to hearing your comments Alex! }

It's always an honour to be chosen to film someone's wedding, but sometimes the honour is particularly intense. Alex and Adam have been together for practically forever. They've been friends since they were small. I think when you meet someone, and for as long as you love them, you carry a piece of who you were when you met. Perhaps this explains the extremely cute and childish tricks and games A&A play with one another, such as Alexandra's trademark fakeout-kiss that Adam likes to fall for, over and over.

The venue on this day was Hatley Castle, located just west of Victoria on Vancouver Island. When I found out where the wedding was happening, my mind raced to figure out how to best utilize the location. And to be honest, I was just in love with the word "castle." While we were filming, the grounds seemed to come alive with creatures, as you might see in a Disney film - or perhaps a Miyazaki. Bumblebees, hummingbirds, and peacocks flying and roaming around. You may even see a happy centipede if you watch closely. In the end, the castle itself became one of the important characters in this film. And how fitting that, like Alex and Adam's love, the castle has been around longer than anyone can remember, and will remain forever.

As an experiment I spent quite a lot of time on the sound for this video. The majority of the sounds in the first half are not the real sounds but were added to enhance the visuals. There is wind, bumblebee buzzing, hummingbird humming, a distant peacock call, a scissor snip and a a variety of jangling and tinkling sounds. Put on a pair of headphones and see what else your ears can discover.

Speaking of ears, the song is To Build a Home by The Cinematic Orchestra. It's one of those beyond perfect pieces I've been waiting to use; now the moment has arrived! Similar to the title of this song, I feel like I built this video brick by brick as you would a castle, given how much planning and care went into it and how structured and perfect I tried to make it.

Giovanni ♥ Ashlee ... "Tony" and his Principessa

2011-01-11T00:02:00.000-08:00

I first met Ashlee and Giovanni in early 2009, at a small coffee shop in East Vancouver. "You must really hate Starbucks" I commented, since Giovanni had specifically chosen this indie cafe which was right next to one of the ubiquitous roasters. "Gotta look out for the little guy" was Giovanni's response. These two are so caring and considerate in every facet of their lives. They are so loved by their friends and take fabulous care of each other.

And by now they should definitely know how. Ashlee and Giovanni are accomplished actors, and on this day finally got truly married, after having done so countless times already on stage. They had some trouble escaping their own fame though, with TV cameras chasing them up the steps of the church.

Couldn't have asked for nicer weather or venues, plus an overall warm vibe matching the golden hues of the evening sun.

See the photos here.

Best Videography Award at BC Professional Wedding Awards

2011-01-02T02:22:00.000-08:00

One month ago today, the 2010 wedding season was brought to a close at The Professional BC Wedding Awards, held at District 319. A horde of your beloved and hard-working wedding pros stood elbow to elbow, munching hors d'oeuvres and catching up after a particularly busy year. Then came the awards presentation.

We were so happy to see our friends Felicia Bromba and Dan and Kat Stone win their well-deserved awards. Suddenly it was time for the videography award, and we were stunned and ecstatic when "Love Story Media" was called. It's been a crazy year, and nothing could have capped it off better.

So we'd like to take this opportunity to thank all our wonderful couples, who have been so fun and inspiring to work with. You are the ones that give us the chance to do what we love, and we thank you.

In case you haven't seen it, here's the video we submitted, the highlights from our first wedding of 2010.

Amrita ♥ Vik ... Highlights

2010-12-29T19:56:00.000-08:00

The pic above says it all: bouquet in one hand, kleenex in the other...

During the speeches on day 2 of Amrita and Vik's wedding, there were several references to Vik's hockey talent/addiction and one reference to the ceremony being on Boxing Day ("No refunds!"). But what everyone could attest to is the love that Amrita and Vik share for one another. Vik is a man of few words, and he only needed a handful to declare his feelings for Amrita and bring himself to the verge of tears.

For me it was a wedding that started with torn pants and ended with a cupcake smeared on my car, with an extremely generous pair of families rounding out our 40th and final wedding of 2010.

Thanks to Chermaine Wu and Amish Solanki for their amazing contributions. Amish is primarily a photographer, but when I had the good fortune to hire him as a cinematographer I knew he'd come up with something special. If you are searching for a photographer, I challenge you to find someone more creative and talented than Amish.

Sandy ♥ Pat ... To Entertain

2010-12-05T04:33:00.000-08:00

"The thing that we love most in life is to entertain." This one sentence from Pat's speech perfectly summarizes what this night was: quite simply the perfect reception. Those fortunate enough to attend this event, which followed a wedding in Mexico, were absolutely spoiled with amazing food, drink and entertainment. No expense nor effort was spared to make the night unforgettable.

In life, it's important to pursue your passion. I often wonder if people really know how deeply I care about the videos I create, and how every detail has been carefully chosen, often agonized over, before I consider a video complete. Pat runs a bartending company called Liquid Bartending, and clearly he shares the same passion for his work. It was awesome to see him rushing the last details of the event into place with his bartending team, and then switching into party mode and thoroughly enjoying the night.

Kudos to Jasalyn Thorne, who is so talented and pleasant to work with, and to Harumi Suzuki, truly an amazing wedding planner.

Cindy ♥ Fabio ... Trailer

2010-12-03T23:49:00.000-08:00

Surprisingly, there were a few weddings this year where we did not do a same-day-edit! So a handful of couples have had to be extra patient waiting for their highlight videos. This one was quite an intense day, with two ceremonies and a photo shoot avoiding both rain and security at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Cindy and Fabio seem to enjoy a challenge and smiled through it all.

Justin ♥ Laura ... Highlights

2010-11-06T03:32:00.001-07:00

There are a couple of things we should own up to, things we do over and over in our videos. Not that we won't keep right on doing them, because they work! One is the moving camera and how it interacts with foreground and background elements. The big limitation of video is that it's two dimensional. Moving the camera immediately adds depth to an image as different objects move at different rates. Movement also gives everything an emotional resonance. Which is great, because to me every place and every object has some sort of sentimental meaning and I love how the movement of a steadicam shot can convey it.

The other thing I'll mention is the ring shot. It's become our go-to video ending shot. The one in this video is one of my favourites. The typewriter at Laura's parents' was a must-use, and suddenly it occurred to me that J (Justin) and L (Laura) are almost side by side among the keys, and that K would be the logical spot for the engagement ring. Perfect. Just for extra added geek-appeal, J K and L are three of the most commonly used keys while editing in Final Cut Pro, with L being forward, J being reverse, and K being stop. Fitting, as from now on the promise symbolized by that ring in the middle will keep Justin and Laura from ever drifting apart.

The second to last shot is sort of an homage to I-can't-remember-which Jane Austen film adaptation, which closes with an identical butt-grab. Anyone know the film I'm referring to?

The song is Don't Let Me Fall by Lenka, a wonderful song by a wonderful singer.

Laura ♥ Enzo ... In case I need to cry

2010-10-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

On the morning of Laura and Enzo's wedding, we felt like we had walked into a movie. Enzo - THE most thoughtful and warm-hearted person you could meet - was directing traffic, ensuring all of the TEN (10) boys and men were on time with their preparations. The atmosphere was so perfect that pretty much anything we filmed looked great. Even Enzo mis-buttoning his shirt, which is not shown here ;)

You can see in the video what we witnessed at Laura's. It's a moment that was just made to be filmed. I didn't even know what was happening until halfway through. I got pretty close to the card and shifted focus to Laura's face, and at this moment an absolutely huge teardrop fell from her face. I didn't even realize it was a tear until watching the footage afterwards. This emotional reading became the main storyline for the video, connecting to the "Proteggi questa casa" plaque at Enzo's parents' place.

One of my favourite shots is Laura's sister putting the garter on Laura. You can't see what's taking place because of the sofa that is in the foreground. But that's what makes the shot so perfect: sometimes not showing something is the best way to show it.

The ceremony is shown with a small selection of longer shots, to convey the awesome space that is St Francis of Assisi, and to match with the mystique of the music and the priest's words to Laura and Enzo.

Supipi ♥ Simon ... SDE

2010-10-19T20:53:00.000-07:00

I first met Supipi at a wedding in October 2008, where she was the maid of honour. It was great to film her own October wedding two years later. I've decided that "early fall" is my favourite time of year. Check out the amazing time-lapse near the end of the video, with some picturesque fall leaves in the foreground. Cedric brought his motion control dolly system and pulled off a kind of shot you won't find in a lot of wedding videos! The camera is moving DURING the time-lapse.

It's a funny thing that happens while I'm filming, someone looks right into the camera and it looks OK. There's something called the "fourth wall" meaning the gap between the people in a video or film and the people watching. If someone looks into the camera it tends to "break" the fourth wall. We no longer feel like we are watching something that happened, rather it seems artificial; we become conscious of the camera.

However, Supipi looks directly into the camera twice in this video, and these are two of my favourite shots. The directness of it and the feeling that she is in control of her own image is really powerful in my opinion.

Dilshad ♥ Tim ... The Double SDE

2010-10-04T21:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the stars align. I had a feeling that this was going to be one of those times. Dilshad and Tim booked two full days of filming for their two weddings. Yes two weddings. So, two wedding videos. I decided that two same-day-edits were in order, hence this 7 minute double SDE.

Both weddings were "full on," with every detail from Dilshad's sari to Tim's cuff links 100% personalized and loaded with meaning. Of course it didn't hurt that Tanya Peters/Milestone Events and Ellen Ho/Hong Photography were there!

Or that Tim and Dilshad were so into the video-making process and even rearranged their itinerary to show the video a bit later on in the evening. Showing this film at the reception was just unbelievable and was followed by a standing-O. Like I said, the stars were aligned.

Oh, and my collection of epic/cinematic middle eastern-flavoured music has been plundered so I welcome suggestions for more great tunes. The piece in the Indian SDE is Peter Gabriel's The Feeling Begins.

Have a look at Part I of Ellen's photos from this wedding, so so so beautiful.

Gelaine ♥ Edward ... Highlights

2010-09-28T03:33:00.000-07:00

At a consultation this year, one of our clients described our videos as "charming." She said, "You actually show people smiling. Your videos are so happy." While I think LSM definitely has a serious side, and many tear-inducing videos, it's true that we have a real affinity for those cheerful and intensely happy moments in life. Life is truly short and such moments need to be enjoyed.

So when we met Gelaine and Ed - at their wedding, as everything had been done via e-mail up to that point - we knew we'd be on the right wavelength. Very sweet and cute but with an intense creative side. Ed created the graphics for all printed matter at the wedding - from their portrait canvas to the itinerary - and also chose the designs for the rings.

During the morning I asked Gelaine if she had the rings. She handed over these oddly shaped objects. Seeing my confused look, she said, "These are the rings." As you'll see in the final shot, these rings are not round. You'll also notice Ed taking a moment to absorb how the ring feels on his finger. Apparently his hexagonal ring is quite comfy. I'm envious.

Cindy ♥ Eugene ... Highlights

2010-09-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

I first met Cindy at Carolyn and Kevin's wedding in July of 2009. She was so energetic and hyper that I had to ask, "So when is your wedding?" I'm not a fan of marketing while filming someone's day, but this was one wedding I did not want to miss. Cindy and Eugene dragon boat - Eugene competitively - and I'm guessing that anything lower intensity would leave them craving more adventure and unable to focus on everyday life. On her own wedding day, Cindy did not disappoint, and her wonderfully high-strung nature is on display in this video. Maybe even as much as the uber-cute puppy!

Kevin ♥ Andrea ... SDE

2010-09-19T05:05:00.001-07:00

It was a little over a year ago, at Jennifer and Wilson's wedding, that we first started thinking cinematically while filming a wedding. Cinema is telling a story using visual pieces; or conveying a mood or expressing an emotion. Those pieces or shots only make sense in the context of the shots before and after. The pieces acquire meaning as the sequence of shots is viewed. Even the most abstract and bizarre shot can be totally appropriate given the right context.

At Kevin and Andrea's wedding I think we've taken the next step: thinking about the meaning of each shot, and choosing compositions that say what we want them to say. A good example is the scarf being suspended over Kevin's head. His eyes are the only part of his face visible, and they are looking up as the scarf is spread above his head. It's not too hard to imagine what he's thinking. Showing just his eyes connects with something taking place above him and beyond his control.

Or the shot of Kevin putting on his jacket, alone and small in a huge space. Or the shot of Andrea wincing slightly as she squeezes on another bangle. Her head is on the "wrong side" of the frame which underlines her slight discomfort.

These are split-second unplanned decisions that only make sense after the fact. But hopefully this kind of thinking will become more prevalent in our videos, so that we are telling the most specific and visual story possible.

Allure Boudoir Promo Video

2010-09-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

Ever since I first worked with Ellen Ho at Carolyn and Kevin's wedding in July 2009, I've been an admirer of both her work and her incredible panache for marketing. It's one thing to be talented but it's another to be rewarded for the amazing work you do. I give Ellen full credit for having it both ways. So I was flattered that she approached us to create this promotional video for the boudoir segment of her business.

Ellen assembled an amazing and talented team, and put them all together in her French Couture Loft one day this spring. The result was an inspiring creative experiment that was one of the highlights of 2010. I'm very proud to release the "end product" of this stunning photo shoot.

Be sure to visit Ellen's boudoir site for more of her work.

Jenn ♥ Perry ... Highlights

2010-09-11T02:15:00.000-07:00

We filmed Kristin and Tyler's wedding on New Year's Eve last year, and upon seeing her sister's video, Jennifer decided she'd have to have a video done as well. I've mentioned before on these blogs how wonderful it is to rejoin the same family and friends for another splendid wedding, being happily surprised throughout the day by familiar faces. My memory of Perry was of his incredible dry wit in his role as MC for K&T's wedding. On this day he again kept us all laughing throughout the day, and was literally Jennifer's rock. After looking forward to her own wedding for so long, Jenn was one of most excited and jittery brides ever. This self-described "bridey-bride" has been obsessively checking this blog since her wedding, so I'm happy to say Jenn that your wait is over!

The song is Looking for Someone by Sarah Slean.

Moet ♥ David ... SDE

2010-09-06T03:49:00.001-07:00

I'm not going to write anything about this one. Just watch the video. We had such a great time today and I absolutely love the video. Maybe our best SDE ever.

The End.

Watch the video ;)

p.s. Thanks so much to Moet and David for including us in your beautiful day.

Tina ♥ Nico ... SDE

2010-09-05T02:37:00.000-07:00

My notes from my first meeting with Tina and Nico include the following. "Tina: straightforward, no b.s. Nico: creative type, loves to dance." That's all. Having now gotten to know them a bit better, I can confirm my first impressions, and add that Tina is unbelievably nice and Nico is way too much fun.

I can't tell you how many times Tina said "Whatever" when we were discussing her video. "Just do what you need to do." Sometimes that's exactly what we like to hear - it means we can do what we know will work the best. Tina was so easygoing today that she even cheerfully vacuumed up the bits of paint after I ever so slightly dinged her wall with our slider. Sorry Tina, please send me the bill.

"Nico: loves to dance." This line is what made me pick the song, I'd Follow You by Andrew Ryan. A sweet opening followed by some very danceable rhythms. I think it suited today perfectly. Not least the "awkwardness" of the groom prep.

Loretta ♥ David ... Highlights

2010-09-01T21:23:00.000-07:00

Loretta and David were totally ready to book with us at their first meeting. In fact, Loretta knew exactly what she wanted: no full length wedding video, just a short highlight video. "Just like the ones on the website, I like those," she said.

So we were able to create maybe our most cinematic video ever, not having to worry so much about the conventional coverage that would be needed for a longer edit. It did take a long time to place all of the shots and create the non-chronological storyline you'll see in this video.

As David mentions, Loretta did most of the work planning this wedding, and the awesome Jen Opsahl of Hello Bella Events put it all together on the day to create a picture perfect wedding. And also toughed it out in the rain to give Loretta the outdoor wedding she MUCH preferred.

Janis ♥ Jon ... SDE

2010-08-29T04:18:00.001-07:00

I have to admit that one of my favourite aspects of weddings is the bride's costume changes. She can represent several sides of her personality with her various dresses worn during the day. I don't mean it as a negative when I say a wedding can be a performance, with the venues being stages for that performance. Our whole concept of wedding videography is film-production-in-a-day, so "costume design" is key.

Part of the performance is remembering to be in the moment and actually take in what is happening. If you haven't yet been married you may not realize how much changes in those few short hours on your wedding day. It can be too much to absorb. (P.S. you should hire a videographer.)

The other part is to share who you are, through every detail of the "production design" of your wedding. The bubbles, the bird cage and of course the dresses were some of the details that made this wedding so sweet. After the last change, I had to ask Janis where she had found these amazing dresses. "I had them custom made," she answered. This kind of thing just inspires us all the more to create something special for our lovely couples.

And regular readers of this blog will understand the shot of the huge platter of bisque ;)

Faezah ♥ Anjum ... The Reception

2010-08-25T01:04:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year I blogged Faezah and Anjum's Henna Party and Ceremony, and now here's the reception from that weekend. This was our first chance to work with Lisa Gregory, and to be honest I've never seen the Fairmont Waterfront looking so sumptuous and well put together. The whole night was a beautiful tribute to the happy couple and especially their families, capped off by some awesome dancing, fun and food.

Right as Rain { my car accident }

2010-08-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

The things we do for our clients! Last Thursday the 19th I was driving west on Kingsway on the way to a wedding rehearsal at Fairmont Pacific Rim. Just after the point where Kingsway feeds into Main Street, a vehicle in the left lane veered slightly into my lane. Then it suddenly crossed my lane and I could not avoid smashing into the side of the car. The collision and my reaction to it forced my car to the right. I saw a fire hydrant through the windshield. Just a horrible split second later I smashed into it. The car filled with smoke and big yellow blobs, which turned out to be the air bags. At that moment I froze and assumed I'd be trapped in the car. But when I tried the door it opened. So I jumped out and headed for the sidewalk. Then I remembered that i had some equipment and got that from the trunk.

All the emergency vehicles came very quickly and the whole thing turned into a community event as you'll see. There were a lot of spectators taking pictures and video, but I still felt pretty silly filming my own demolished car and the wreckage I made of city property. By the way, if you drive down this part of Main, look east and you'll see this whole stretch of sidewalk cordoned off. The pressure of the water actually lifted the pieces of the sidewalk up.

Needless to say the car is a write-off and I'll be getting a brand new vehicle - thanks ICBC. Not really worth it but it did give me a good story to tell and a chance to use my favourite Adele song. And yes I am now "right as rain" so don't worry!

Ariana ♥ Dean ... SDE

2010-08-22T05:05:00.000-07:00

Easily the best part of creating an SDE is showing it while the DVD is still warm from being burned and experiencing the video with the guests and the bride and groom. I'm always surprised by how different the video feels as opposed to while I'm editing it. And there are several shots that surprise me, that I had totally forgotten about! There is so little time to create an SDE that often I haven't really watched the video myself until it goes on the screen.

Like the song says, Dean takes great care of Ariana. A small example is the block and a half walk they took from their apartment to one of our meetings. Maybe there was just the slightest chance of rain, but Dean was sure to bring an umbrella for that 2 minute walk. Dean seems to give every detail of his and Ariana's life his fullest attention at all times.

Ariana is an amazing makeup artist and I felt that a shot showing her applying her own makeup was more than welcome in this video.

And yay we got to work with the super-awesome Ellen and Brian of Hong Photography today. And also enjoy Colin & Upright Decor's perfect calla lily centred decor.

Nadia ♥ Eddie ... SDE

2010-08-15T04:42:00.000-07:00

FIlm production in Vancouver runs the gamut from the shoestring budget indie to the over-the-top Hollywood production. On the shoestring end, At Queenie and Tim's wedding a few weeks ago, we witnessed a music video being shot handheld through the sunroof of a 70's VW van. That had to be some shaky footage! Today we spotted a deadly looking black car with a crane mounted on top, being escorted around DT Vancouver by a motorcycle cop. The black car was filming a grey luxury sedan following it through traffic. Fun to watch. Expensive.

Well, Cedric and I pulled out something even more affordable than both of the above: a GoPro. You can see a brief shot from this (Nadia and Eddie waving from the trolley) in this video. Looking back I'm amazed at how many ways we mounted cameras and made them move today, all while putting together what may be our best same-day-edit yet.

So where does Love Story Media belong in that spectrum of Vancouver film production? Watch the video and you decide.

Huge thanks to David and Danny Custodio for introducing us to Nadia and Eddie. Here are two photographers who literally stop traffic at every wedding and regularly produce jaw-dropping work

Nancy ♥ Dave .. SDE

2010-08-08T03:19:00.000-07:00

Here was a wedding where every detail was perfect and beautiful. From the super-talented make-up artist Charisse Mae to the stunning dress and shoes and above all to the incomparable photographer Jana Vackova, every aspect was carefully chosen. We really felt like we were among the "chosen" wedding vendors today!

Dave and Nancy are so easy going and really were great to have on the other side of the camera. So upbeat and ready for any pose and always looking great. And of course some really powerful emotions that came out during the ceremony. And when we played this SDE which was great!

It was super-awesome running into some happily married LSM couples - three to be exact - and catching up with them. Add the unbelievably rowdy reception and it was an unforgettable night.

Full credit to Dave for finding the song, "Amazing" by Andrew Allen.

Queenie ♥ Tim ... Highlights

2010-08-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

A very wise videographer once said, "It is all in the anticipation." I think he meant that it's the interplay between what you think is going to happen and what actually happens that creates your experience of a given event. Anticipation definitely played huge role in this wedding, not least in the moments before the ceremony. The atmosphere in Canadian Memorial - jammed with guests on both sides of the aisle - was overwhelming. The nervous chatter gave way to a hushed silence before the ceremony got underway. It was an amazing moment.

Queenie and Tim have been together for a very long time - since high school. How's that for anticipation? Both they and all those close to them have known for quite a while that they would tie the knot. But as in a great novel or movie, where even if you know the ending, it's the process in reaching that point that is fascinating, every moment carried a great deal of emotion and meaning.

The morning was jammed with events, enough for at least two weddings all by themselves. Multiple tea ceremonies as well as other traditions in three separate locations. I'll add that the lavishness of all these proceedings was breathtaking.

The photo session with Roger and Holly of Union Photography was gorgeous, and as always it was TOTALLY AMAZING working with them all day long. Have a look at the gorgeous photos here!

Thanks to Queenie and Tim and everyone who played a part in this wedding for making it unforgettable and for creating the overload of great moments for us to capture. If you look closely you'll see almost all of the same people - including Q&T - in Nancy and Peter's video in the previous blog post!

Nancy ♥ Peter ... Highlights

2010-07-30T00:27:00.000-07:00

This wedding was a standout in so many ways, but I think I can render it for you with two simple factoids. One is the amazing food, which we hard-working videographers appreciate more than you can know. Special props to the lobster bisque and ice wine.

Two is or rather are Nancy and Peter. The nicest people ever. Think of the nicest people you know. Multiply the niceness by about 10. Throw in an amazing sense of humor and some irrepressible energy. Okay you are getting the idea of these two. Nancy and Peter, you really rock, and yet you carry it so well!

I've cheerfully laboured over this video and now I'm ready to release it to the public, as I think it conveys some of what this perfect wedding was.

And as a bonus, here's the amazing photo shoot with Roger Mahler of Union Photographers:

Ivy ♥ Gordon ... SDE

2010-07-25T23:20:00.000-07:00

At the consultation and meetings before the wedding, Ivy and Gordon came across as pretty quiet, reserved people. I was actually a little unsure what to expect on the day, and just thought it would be a "normal" wedding. On the way to the getting ready locations, a song came on the radio that I've been wanting to use in a same day edit for a long time. ("Sweet Disposition" by the Temper Trap) I mentioned this to Cedric, and said, "but it would have to be a really high-energy wedding, and today is not going to be that." Then after the totally bonkers door games, Cedric and I had the same thought: yep we can use that song.

We showed the SDE at about 9:30, and included just the very start of the reception in the video. Trust me that this four minutes does not at all convey the insanity of the reception, with small groups of people marauding with wine bottles and making sure everyone was drinking "enough." And we've never been in the presence of nicer people, who were SO helpful and friendly throughout the night.

Click here for Raymond and Jessie's stunning photos from this day.

Abby ♥ Kurtis ... Highlights

2010-07-25T21:44:00.000-07:00

A self-described crazy couple from Alberta, Abby and Kurtis met on the way to Las Vegas on a "reading trip." Likely story ;) For their beautiful Vancouver wedding, they chose Ron Basford Park and Performance Works on Granville Island. It was a perfect overcast day, with the boys crammed into a little suite and the girls luxuriating in the penthouse at the Granville Island Hotel. Then it was one of those perfect moments when Abby walked down the aisle to "Here Comes the Sun."

This video owes a lot to the amazing photo shoot with Leslie of Sakura Photography, and of course to the awesome work of Tanya Peters of Milestone Events. But most of all to a certain "craziness" that was on display all day.

Shermineh ♥ Ali ... SDE

2010-07-19T04:33:00.000-07:00

Filming three weddings back to back has its plusses and minuses. We did it twice this month, and it makes for a gruelling weekend - and yet there is the added bonus of weight loss. Everything hurts and you're barely conscious - and yet by day three everything is so automatic that shot after shot just happens and the day is a thrill. What you're about to see is day three.

Sherm and Ali are so fun and easy to be around, and every second of today was awesome. As my ears ring from The Reception of the Endless Dancing - these people are in good shape! - I think back to both Ali and Sherm being so calm and themselves in front of the camera all day. This is what we love.

We had originally planned a fairly generic pop tune for the SDE, but as the day (and the awesomeness) progressed I dug into my library and found something a bit more mysterious and, yes, epic. I think the switch paid off; it was so great watch Sherm & Ali watch and enjoy this video.

Tara ♥ Alex ... Sealed Words ... SDE

2010-07-19T04:32:00.000-07:00

Urbane, hip and sophisticated are three matching words that well describe Tara and Alex. Tara is an interior designer, and rose to the challenge of creating an amazing environment in Performance Works and coordinating the entire day with a wicked shade of green.

Alex is so cool that I didn't expect a ton of emotion during the ceremony. Particularly since he and Tara had their first look earlier in the day. But no; Alex was overwhelmed by the moment seeing his bride arrive down the slope of Ron Basford Park.

And then after the ceremony, Tara and Alex sealed away letters to one another to be opened and read on their tenth anniversary... a beautiful moment.

William ♥ Julie ... The Windows of Heaven

2010-07-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

We were particularly looking forward to this day, for a couple different reasons. First and foremost of course are Julie and Bill, who were so great to talk to right off the bat, particularly with Bill bringing his graphic design background to bear on an analysis of the Love Story Media logo!

Also, we had a feeling this day would be a respite of sorts - this was the third wedding in three days, and a drive out to Minter Gardens just past Chilliwack seemed like the ideal way to close out the weekend.

But as always we were unprepared for how touching and momentous this wedding would be. Here are some of the moods and images from that day.

Ellen ♥ Jon ... Right beside you ... SDE

2010-07-05T21:38:00.001-07:00

One of the dilemmas in planning a wedding is music. Traditional or edgy? Live or recorded? DJ or friend with iPod? Ellen and Jon bypassed this whole problem. It must be great having a friend who will teach himself how to play violin just so he can perform the processional music for your ceremony. Jon was a little nervous about this though, and that practice session that starts this video is the result!

As for the song choice for this same day edit, we had a chance to see Ellen and particularly Jon partying pretty hard at a wedding a couple of weeks ago. But I had a feeling that something truly heartfelt would be called for on their wedding day.

Just want to mention the tea ceremony that was held after the ceremony at White Rock Baptist Church. It was almost a "meta" tea ceremony, with a comprehensive lesson in culture and language thrown in for free. After the usual tea ceremony had concluded, everything got flipped around and younger family members served tea to Ellen and Jon. Very sweet!

Then followed a beautiful photo shoot which allowed us to break in our newest lens and work on our tans.

Thanks Ellen and Jon for including us in your day!

Simi ♥ Rob ... Smile Robbie! ... SDE

2010-07-04T03:46:00.000-07:00

According to weddings.iloveindia.com "The Sikh wedding rituals are elaborate and vibrant." True, but a bit of an understatement. It's a great strength that the Sikh culture is so embedded in the wedding traditions that Sikh weddings are world-reknowned for their length and lavishness.

The downside is that it can become an ordeal for the happy couple who, well, just want to get married. Clearly Robbie was feeling the burden of the months of planning and long days of celebrating as the video gets underway with his maiya ceremony. But that big, warm smile is gradually unveiled and then flashed over and over.

Simi and Rob put so much confidence in us to capture their wedding, we made sure to create a same-day-edit worthy of them and that trust. And one that was much longer than any SDE we'd done up until then. Just to extend the wedding a little more ;)

Lilian ♥ Henry ... In the same place at the same time

2010-06-28T18:39:00.001-07:00

One of the themes of many of our recent weddings has been couples that do not live in the same city or even time zone. Long distance relationships almost seem to be the norm. Being able to be so far apart for months or years really demonstrates how close their hearts are.

Of course this distance just makes it all the more sweet when the wait is over and the wedding day arrives. In Henry and Lilian's case, the wait is not quite over yet with Henry still a ferry ride away for the time being. But from now on, the "tortoise" will do all his journeying with his "hare."

... and click here for more info about Japa Dog ;)

Miran ♥ Corey ... She doesn't even drink coffee.

2010-06-18T03:23:00.000-07:00

It's always flattering to be hired by a couple that works in film or media. Miran and Corey work in animation and met in their first class at VFS. They are quite clearly the perfect match for one another, and Corey's homebrew aromatherapy has tied them more closely together still.

See Jeanie Ow's photos from this wedding here.

Cynthia ♥ Ed \\ May 23 2010 \\ SDE

2010-05-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

Cynthia and Edward's best wishes box pretty much tells the whole story. You can see this colourful box made out of lego near the end of the video below. It even had a little swing-away slot also constructed from lego. Nearby was a table with a massive pile of smarties boxes, containing only red and pink smarties; just beside the head table, there was a big basket full of Kinder surprise. Plus, Edward's last name is "Toy." Cool.

These and other details show how much fun Cynthia and Ed are, and how young and warm their hearts are. Ed took some time out to text and even take photos using his little red cell phone, and it was not at all out of place. If you were at this wedding, you'd totally understand.

And another plus, it was SOOO much fun working with Gina of Butter Media. We have shot A LOT of weddings together and it's always a blast to work with her.

Sara ♥ Jared \\ May 21 2010 \\ SDE

2010-05-22T04:06:00.000-07:00

I really expected this to be a tender and touching day, and it was. This was the big reason for choosing the song, one of my favourites, "Make You Feel My Love" by Adele. The small reason was that the forecast called for rain. I probably shouldn't say this but I secretly hoped for some drops to make the song click a bit better. All those mentions of storm, rain and wind...

Oh well, can't complain about the always stunning Garden Birch Terrace at Swan-e-set and the epic journey everyone has to make to get there. The bridesmaids actually practiced the walk once they had put on their shoes. They pulled it off, but the ring bearers ... not so much!

I was truly humbled by the emotions Sara and Jared have for one another and expressed today, and tried to fit as much as possible into this same-day-edit.

And be sure to check out Jamie Delaine's oh-so-gorgeous shots from this wedding.

Banafsheh ♥ Kevin \\ May 1 2010 \\ Trailer

2010-05-22T03:56:00.000-07:00

I guess I can officially say that we do a lot of weddings. One of the best parts of this job is meeting incredible people you never could have imagined. B and Kevin are like two firecrackers in a jar. Let me leave it at that and just note that the highlight of the night for me was when the Persian Knife Dance morphed into the electronica robot dance cake cutting session. The song you hear in this trailer was exactly what was playing at this moment, and it was awesome.

Faezah ♥ Anjum \\ May 15 2010 \\ Highlights

2010-05-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

There is something special about arriving at a wedding and feeling as if you've entered a completely different world, and perhaps a different time. Faezah and Anjum's wedding contained a lot of firsts for us, and it was challenging and exciting keeping up with all the things we'd never seen before. Everything from traditions to textures and from foods to fabrics pushed us to try new things with our cameras. Here are the highlights from the Henna party on Thursday.

And here is a short trailer from the Nikah ceremony on Saturday.

And have a look at Jamie Delaine's amazing shots from the Henna Party.

... And here are Jamie's beautiful photos from the ceremony and reception.

Sharan ♥ Hanish \\ March 19-21, 2010 \\ Highlights

2010-05-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

It's not exactly heartening to be asked while dragging yourself to the car after the final day of an epic event, "Did you enjoy our miniature Indian wedding?" What? Miniature? We're tired!

As much as they tried to downplay it, Sharan and Hanish's wedding was beautiful and big in all the important ways. There were two families from distant continents joining for an incredibly warm and relaxed celebration. There was a crew at work at Sharan's family's house, seemingly around the clock, keeping everything flowing and everyone fed. And there was Scott of SDJ Photography who did amazing things with light during our tour of Hycroft Manor. Miniature? I'd say grand.

And finally, everyone made us so welcome and did everything possible to help us create this video. Especially Sharan's dad, who was tireless in keeping us informed and energized throughout the weekend.

Warren ♥ Bernadette \\ March 26 2010 \\ SDE

2010-03-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

Warren and Bernadette gave their guests three chances to shower them with stuff: it started with silver streamers as they walked down the aisle, then bubbles during the first dance. Then WB topped it all by departing through an arch of sparklers leading from the hall, down the stairs and to the car at Westwood Plateau. Then there was a classic moment when the fire alarm went off. I guess it's the equivalent of church bells ringing after a ceremony, but a lot more... hot.

There were 5 specific shots we were asked to incorporate in this video, and my favourite is the doors opening to reveal Bernadette. We kept the focus on Warren to emphasize his reaction, and if you watch his shoulders you can see a shiver run through his spine. And how epic does Bernadette's giant veil look out of focus in the background?

A couple tips of the hat, first to Leslie of Sakura Photography; we calculated that this was our fourth wedding together in the past half a year - so great working with her again! Second, the amazing Joel at Westwood Plateau, who couldn't have been more accommodating and helpful. With his help were finally able plug into the WP wireless system - so we had perfect audio all night!

Winnie ♥ Brandon \\ Trailer

2010-02-09T22:19:00.001-08:00

We loved this wedding so much. So gorgeous all day: Beautiful dresses, colours, locations, weather, and most of all, people! Inspiration in every direction. This was Cedric's first wedding, and he got some great set-up footage as well as some superwide balcony shots during the ceremony.

The UBC Boathouse is such a great venue; seemingly any shot including those curving pieces of metal looks cool. The only drawback is the seagulls are quite loud, but I can't complain, they really added to the visuals of this video.

It was great working with Justin of Hyperfocus, and you can his photos from this wedding here.

Tali ♥ Benny \\ August 9 2009 \\ Trailer

2010-02-09T12:16:00.000-08:00

So what kind of couple hires Love Story Media to film their wedding? Any kind, really, but surprisingly many of our clients themselves work in media or film production. We like to think it's because we appeal to how they like to create themselves. We always hope to create the video you would yourself if you weren't too busy getting married.

Benny is a highly accomplished and creative animator and filmmaker, someone who never runs out of ideas. Luckily, the amazing Tali can run right alongside him, as you'll see in the video.

Filmed in Richmond and at Temple Sholom in Vancouver.

Flashback \\ Jacqueline ♥ Maury \\ Trailer

2010-02-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

There are a few weddings from last year that we'd like to blog, and first up is Jacqueline and Maury's wedding at the University Golf Club. With due respect to all our weddings, this had to be the most emotional ceremony we've filmed. The very personal and heartfelt vows - with tears raining down - made this part of the day unforgettable.

And at the opposite end of the night, during the first dance Jackie and Maury tore up the dance floor, even inviting their salsa group to join them and help put on a spectacular show.

Add to that an amazing photo shoot with Leanne Scherp of LS Photography and, yeah, we had fun. By the way, here are Leanne's shots from this wedding.

Kristin ♥ Tyler \\ December 31 2009 \\ Highlights

2010-01-04T01:34:00.000-08:00

Yes we were there until midnight, and no we didn't mind at all. Right after the bouquet toss, party paraphernalia were distributed and at midnight the room absolutely exploded with confetti. Fun, and as we say, "great for video."

Tyler's ring and Kristin's bouquet both incorporated family heirlooms, and in his speech, Tyler basically made everyone cry with his tribute to his family. But that just made the partying that came afterwards all the more sweet.

So here is everything else that happened that day! It was great working with Jen of Hello Bella - who went for 22 hours straight including flipping the room at Sutton in 3 hours - and meeting Erich Saide, the first photographer to out-gear us in a while.

Kristin ♥ Rob \\ Oct 3 2009 \\ Highlights

2009-12-10T00:04:00.000-08:00

Firstly, a quick note that, despite what it may say in the following video, there is nothing "easy" about planning a wedding. If it was easy for Kristin to put together this amazing day, it was because she had help from the phenomenal DreamGroup Productions.

Everyone knows that photography and videography are two very different things, but one of the big lessons of our four years in wedding videography is how much we share with photographers. Not just in terms of composition and light, but also in telling a story using images only.

Where we differ is in the use of motion and sound. Anyone following this blog knows how much of a role motion plays in our videos, with steadicam shots running through every one of them. This video shows just how potent the sound of a voice can be. And how much of a narrative it can create, giving meaning to what we hope are some pretty striking images.

Thanks to Camille and Chadwick at Jonetsu Photography for being so fun and inspiring to work with. They blogged their amazing photos here.

Dorothy ♥ Andrew \\ Oct 3 2009 \\ SDE

2009-12-09T23:55:00.000-08:00

One of the more common questions we receive from couples is "Who chooses your music?" I'm never quite sure if this indicates we have great taste, or terrible taste, in music, until the couple assures me it's the former. Great and unique music is very difficult to come by, and we'd have a much easier time if our brides and grooms weren't so, well, great and unique!

Not only did Dorothy and Andrew not want the typical schlocky wedding music, they specifically requested we avoid romantic music. There was a back and forth for weeks until finally we settled on this song, one of Andrew's favourites. It went well with D&A's other request for the video: that we capture the energy and the vibe and stay away from the "beauty shots." Natalie still went ahead and got an amazing ring shot that fits right in.

Diana ♥ Binh \\ Nov 21 2009 \\ Highlights

2009-11-25T11:19:00.001-08:00

This was our last wedding of the season and we really wanted to pull out all the stops. The main challenge in this case was the ceremony, at Ryerson Church. This church is tied with Canadian Memorial for the darkest church in the Lower Mainland. Also the one with the most restrictions on how you can shoot. So we set up 5 cameras and used the best possible lenses to be able to film in low light. It was great having so much coverage in place when that huge tear welled up in Diana's eye.

But the fun part of the day was the roast pig, both filming it being hacked away at and eating it. Incorporating some of the ambient sounds here was a must.

I think it's obvious what the fun part was for Diana and Binh. At the end of the night, Binh confessed that the entire day was just a prelude to the reception. They definitely know how to party!

DreamGroup's Brock House Wedding Show

2009-11-16T17:28:00.001-08:00

It was très fun being at the Brock House Show this year, here's a little morceau.

Super 8 || Sue + Rob's Photo Shoot

2009-11-14T21:32:00.000-08:00

I'd like to bring out a video from the spring to show another lesser known feature of Love Story Media videography: Super 8 film coverage. Super 8 - or any film - has many advantages over digital. Colour is more flattering and high contrast light is handled better. Each film frame is unique and lends an organic feel to the footage, whereas digital is sometimes too perfect.

Of course digital is very convenient to work with, and less expensive than film, but every photographer and videographer has a warm place in their heart for "the real thing."

We offer super 8 coverage as an add-on to our digital coverage. We shoot two 3-minute rolls over the course of the day, and mix the footage into the edited video.

Have a look at this photo shoot, with Jasalyn Thorne, from Sue and Rob's wedding in April. (Jasalyn's photos can be seen here.)

And here are the highlights, with even more Super 8 footage:

Gina and Chris || Love Story & Wedding Highlights

2009-11-07T00:27:00.000-08:00

Gina and Chris' wedding today gives me the excuse to share one of our little known services with you: the Love Story.

The Love Story is a chance for you to tell your story in your own words... and for us to put together a touching and eye-candy-filled entertainment for your reception guests. These videos are typically 6-8 minutes long, and are the perfect thing to show just before you are introduced, or just after your slideshow.

See more of our Love Stories here.

By the way, Gina and Chris are photographers specializing in wedding photography; their company is called Butter Media. We've shot many weddings with these two and they are our FAVOURITE photographers. It was so fun and almost surreal to see them tie the knot, but such an honour to be on the other side of a camera capturing it all.

Post-Wedding Show Model Shoot

2009-10-25T21:32:00.000-07:00

After the "real" shoot and fashion show was wrapped at Brock House last Sunday, Brian Noppe and I took a few models down to the beach for some fun times. It was a bit dark for our taste at that point, but it was definitely a great de-stresser! There are also a few shots from the fashion show itself. Enjoy!

October 17th, 2009 || Judy + Derek = Mah Love || SDE

2009-10-18T02:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, wow, seriously, this one was fun. So much work went into this wedding, and Derek wound up being dubbed a "groomzilla." But everything was so beautiful and charged with emotion. Even my $50 parking ticket couldn't take away from what a sweet day this was!

If only I could share footage from the reception... Cedric and I were blown away and grinning constantly - what a fun evening! But this SDE was shown right at the start of the reception; we went straight from the ceremony at So.Cial to Continental Seafood Restaurant in Richmond to do the edit.

So many details became a part of this video, such as the groomsmen's Youtube lesson and the sister of the bride's curling iron burn, necessitating the mango frozen juice container! Also, there's a reason for the shot of the white wedding dress overlapped with the traditional Chinese dress... think layers!

... thanks Leslie from Sakura Photography for help with the "door shot."

And here are the highlights of this wedding: