The OurWeddingDay Blog

Is a Videographer Right for My Wedding?

OWD — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:11:33 -0400

Celebrity weddings and glamorous bridal magazines are a lot of fun, but nothing’s more helpful than learning how real brides plan their big day.

Meet OWD's Real Brides: real OurWeddingDay.com Brides-to-be sharing their experiences. It’s not about the “right” way to plan; it’s about each bride planning the wedding that’s right for her

Jenn from Jefferson Valley, NY writes:

To video or not to video? That is the question.

My fiancé is a big "home video" guy. His parents before him were also believers in home video. No one in my family owns one. I’m not the biggest fan of being photographed to begin with, and the idea of being videoed simply gives me the shivers.

Surprisingly, when I broached the subject with my honey, he didn’t really feel strongly one way or the other about having the whole affair videoed. To be honest, I’m still going back and forth on it. Maybe we should tape the ceremony. Maybe we should tape the whole thing. Maybe… maybe… maybe.

I know for sure that we need a still photographer. Over the summer we were invited to a friend’s step-daughter’s wedding. I contacted the bride and asked her for any recommendations. She forwarded me her photographer’s name. Prior to meeting the photographer, I was emailed a link to her Flickr page so I could see her body of work.

Upon meeting with the photographer my fiancé and I discovered that her wedding package was different that most of the others that we’d seen at the bridal shows in the area: Instead of having us select a specific number of poses to have her put together into a wedding album for us, we’ll get a CD of all of the shots that she and her assistant take – between 500 and 700 – along with the rights to use them. Armed with those CDs, we can then make whatever we want using an online service like Shutterfly or Snapfish.

The photographer will be with me and my girls while we’re getting ready at my parents’ house in a town 20 miles away from the wedding. Her assistant will hang out with the men at our house while they’re getting ready. Then both photographers will be at the wedding and reception.

Prior to the wedding we’re to have provided her with a list of all the posed shots we’d like along with the names of the people involved. UGH! Here’s the part I’m not looking forward to at ALL! I’m really not a fan of having my picture taken. I don’t feel like I photograph well. The idea of having to sit/stand for almost an hour is making me itch already! I probably should get in touch with the photographer and tell her, and see if she’s got some words of wisdom or something, huh?

But, as to the first question, I think it’s a "no." Having a still camera follow me around is frightening enough. I think adding a videographer to the mess will just drive me bonkers.

Whaddya think?

How to Hire the Right Chicago Wedding Videographer

OWD — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:49:34 -0500

We just updated our Chicago Wedding Guide with a new article about hiring the right wedding videographer in the Windy City!

Unlike photographers, who rely on posed shots and periodic candids, videographers film almost continuously. A good Chicago wedding videographer will cover your big day in discreet fashion, so as not to appear “in your face.” Many churches, however, forbid filming during the ceremony (as do some reception sites), so check ahead to avoid surprises.

Before you start interviewing, you should know that there are two general types of wedding videography: Photojournalistic (“documentary”) and Cinematic. The first style presents your day in a news-like fashion, with an un-edited look that can translate to about three hours of film. The second type is more like a motion picture, with heavy editing and more “direction,” and a finished product that’s usually about 30 to 60 minutes in length... Check out the full article here.

And if you're not planning on marrying in Illinois, check out one of our Wedding Guides: Baltimore, the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Houston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Chicago.

Partnership & Planning

OWD — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:28:36 -0400

Real OurWeddingDay.com brides, sharing their personal planning experiences.

I’m rather excited today. I just confirmed that Jonathon and I can get the second set of engagement pictures taken on Friday. They are low-key and informal. We aren’t even taking a real photographer, just a friend who is good at photography and understands how to photograph us well. But these engagement photos are special. I wanted to do something really nice for Jonathon. Boys don’t get into weddings the way girls do. Thus, I contemplated how to make the whole event special for him as well.

That’s what I really want to talk about. The special engagement session I’ll show you next week. But most brides have this notion that the wedding is all about them, it’s their day and they have been imagining it since they were young girls. I imagined my wedding a bit as a child as well, but mostly it was just me and some guy and big dress and punch and little girl dreams. I have grown up and I also know that marriage (and the wedding) is about TWO people. So, I have tried very hard to include Jonathon in the planning process.

We had weekly meetings when we first started planning. We discussed every detail. He put in many comments, said no to some things, and had great ideas. Often I was surprised how great and romantic his ideas were. He helped me pick the venues, the guest list and even went to the florist with me. He helped pick our color scheme. He helped with the invitations, the dress (and while he has seen the dress he hasn’t seen it on me yet and I don’t plan for him to see it on me…. until our wedding day), the entrance, the music.

That is what a marriage is about… a partnership from the beginning. Plus, wedding planning is a whole lot more sane when the groom has veto power. Big poofy pink and hearts is probably not most guys thing. I’m really proud of my man. He has been the best and most involved groom I know. He is invested in the wedding with more than money. It shows, he cares about the wedding and what goes on. Do you have an involved groom?

Oh and the engagement pictures? Well, it’s a surprise for him and you.

-Amy

My Dream Wedding, Despite My Budget

OWD — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:39:32 -0400

You learn a lot about the wedding industry while you plan your wedding. Some brides learn more than others because they have more time, are pickier, and want things a certain way (without paying a certain price) that is more than some countries GDP.

My budget (and advice) is on the table today. Like most girls I have been dreaming of this day since I was about 15. I mean, wedding magazines have littered my room since that day, and at almost 27, I have had a while to dream big. But I also have a sense of financial responsibility that I can’t shake because of some fantasy. Thus, enter sensible dreaming bride budget.

The very first thing I did was decide what the most important thing to me was. It was easy. Wedding photography is the one part of your day that you will see again and again. You will have pictures around your house, albums that you will scour again and again. Your children and grandchild will pour over them. I still look at my mom’s wedding pictures. Thus, I knew I wanted to get this right. So, I went to town looking for a photographer that I loved. When I found the photographer I signed and love, her prices were a bit high. However, we talked and came to a conclusion on things I could live without (like online ordering) and things I had to have (a CD of the digital negatives with reprinting rights). I spent about 38% of my budget on her.

The next things I knew I wanted were easy. I wanted fresh flowers (but I would have my mom arrange the centerpieces and buy wholesale to save on the cost), nice invitations, and a sit-down dinner. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy in my family. I grew up in a region of the south where fake flowers, a buffet, and cheap invitations were the order. But I knew what I would like. And on our $8,500 budget, I knew I would have to work hard to get what I wanted.

Next week, I’ll tell you how I got letterpress invitations, a sit down dinner, and a bouquet with roses and ranunculus without breaking the bank.

-Amy

Flash of Genius?

OWD — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:31:54 -0500

Rush Hambleton, a 33 year old entrepreneur, has developed a "computer-based kiosk" for wedding receptions, and is looking for $500,000 to turn his concept in to a business.

The idea is that people deposit their camera memory cards into the kiosk as they leave the reception, and the photos are transferred to a thumb drive that the bride and groom can take home.

Rush says he got the idea when he got married and he left the wedding reception on a vespa scooter and his photographer missed the shot...BUT his friend got a great picture.

Let's see if this idea takes off! Check it out over at The New York Times.