Weddings by SML

THE NEXT STEP IN OUR JOURNEY - COME FOLLOW THE THREAD

2011-07-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

To all who have supported and been a part of the Weddings by SML family for the past 8 years. . . . THANK YOU so much!!! It is because of you that we have had the opportunity to film so many incredible couples and share so many unbelievable stories along the way. Storytelling is what we do and over the past 7 months, we have been reflecting and creating to come up with a new name. . . . a new image. . . .and a new brand. Something a little more reflective of who we are, what we do, and how we can apply that to your story.

Thus, you can now find us under the studio name "Threaded Films". In addition, you can follow the thread at www.WeAreThreaded.com. All future blog posts and features will now reside at that site in "The Fray". However, we will always keep this blog right here so we remember where we came from.

So, here's to all the fun we had with Weddings by SML, and here's to all the new journeys we are about to embark on with Threaded Films! See you at the new digs :-)

-Steve and the Team

Ashley + Ian + Postcard = Thank You for the Thank You

2011-06-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

Everytime we get one of these in the mail, we feel we have to say thank you for the thank you. So here it is. Ashely + Ian. . . . . thank YOU for the thank you :-)

Brooke + Jason // Everything Sounds Better in Italian

2011-05-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

Brooke + Jason have over the top personalities in all the best ways imaginable. Brooke is caring, genuine, thoughtful, gracious, and can laugh at just about anything. In fact, we found her laughing all day and taking it all in with a big smile on her face. Jason is a little more subtle in his overthetopedness (yes that is now a word). But, when we saw the watch he was rockin' as a rad wedding day gift from Brooke, we knew this guy had a personality as large as the watch itself, and he didn't disappoint.

The day after the wedding, these two set off for a country made for romantic getaways with a culture and history that is over the top in so many ways. . . . Italy. So what better than to incorporate little tastes of Italy through the wedding day like with Jason's custom Italian kicks and perhaps a reading or two in Italian during the ceremony??? Sure, why not!

Oh, and to top it all off, Brooke and her father busted out perhaps the craziest over the top father daughter dance we have ever filmed at a wedding, so kudos Brooke and Bill, you win the "craziest over the top father daughter dance award ever" from the guys here at the studio! Your magical performance is now externalized in this post just inches below this text. Enjoy :-)

While the wedding was over the top is so many fun ways, it was also very down to earth, real, and great to be a part of. For that Brooke + Jason, we thank you and you'll see that this trailer has a slight change of pace from some of the recent posts. The pacing is all done with intent to reflect the personality that is Brooke + Jason. And just remember, when all else fails and you are at a loss for words, no matter the situation in life. . . . . . just say something in Italian, it tends to fix everything.

A very special thank you to Louis and Erin Palos of Palos Studio. Having known one another for years and never having had the opportunity to work together, this was a real treat for us and we can't say enough great things about Louis and Erin. Great photographers and great people as well. Also, thank you to Eric Morales from Extreme DJ for not only keeping the party rockin' but for being as helpful as he always is with all the technical aspects of the day.

Brooke + Jason

Craziest Over the Top Father Daughter Dance Ever

Angie + Jason // An Extra Innings SDE

2011-05-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

One day, two people were introduced by coincidence at a San Francisco Giants baseball game during a corporate outing. The game may have finished in 9 innings, but Angie + Jason could have continued their conversation all night. The rest is history and we thought it only fitting to give this Same Day Edit a name that played off the first time these two met one another.

We were so honored to be a part of their day and have the opportunity to share this Same Day Edit Saturday evening at their reception in front of all of their family and friends.

A VERY special thank you to Cassandra Santor from Cassandra & Company Weddings. When we are under the pressure cooker that is the Same Day Edit, it makes our lives so much easier to be in the company of a great Event Planner, and Cassandra and her team are fantastic.

Edward + Ashlee // I Love Her Man

2011-05-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

When we are a little child and all we know is the comfort of a bedtime story or the sand in the park around the corner from our backyard, we learn to ask a simple question for all of life's mysteries. . . . "Why?"

Oh yes, the ever annoying questioning of the smallest minute insignificant things from a parent's perspective, but for the child, the question is so incredibly justified. Seasons pass and as we grow and begin to figure out things on our own, we gain so much through our own problem solving skills and deductive reasoning, but we find ourselves asking such an important question less and less often. . . . "Why?"

As a creative studio, we make an attempt to ask the question, "Why" every time we film a scene, compose a shot, choose our lighting or color tone. Shot selection in all of our edits is always done with purpose and intent and as we tinker with scenes and fine tune each piece, we are still asking "Why" and making sure it can be answered.

And when two people decide to formally and legally join themselves in one of the greatest covenants that life has to offer, unfortunately there can be so many answers to that question because life gets complicated.

For Edward + Ashlee, their lives are complicated, just like everyone else. There are commitments and obligations and all of the complications that we all experience, but fortunately for them, none of those things were the answer to the simple question, "Why?"

. . . . For Ashlee, the answer to the question is multi-faceted, but the root to the answer revealed itself on her face as she sat and wrote her card to him and again as she approached Eddie for the first time on their wedding day. For Eddie, the "Why" was quite simple, as it should be. Perhaps the title to the post will clue you in on his reason, as so beautifully explained by the Best Man in the trailer.

A RAD shout-out to Nick Radford from Nick Radford Photography. With a last name like that, how could he not be awesome??? Seriously though, great guy and working with him was a pleasure. Special thank you as well to Nikki Page from Elegant Weddings as well as Michael Palacios from Progressive Sound Productions for their assistance throughout the day!

Ashley + Ian // The Key to Every Man's Heart

2011-04-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

Ian marches to the beat of his own drum. no seriously. . . . . . any guy who eats an Elvis Sandwich (Peanut butter, Bananas and Bacon) in lieu of a formal reception dinner on his wedding night marches to the beat of his own drum.

So it is no surprise that he chose Ashley because she is witty, caring, and can hold her own. The perfect compliment to Ian. . . . a witty, yet caring individual himself. While he and the boys kept the jokes coming all day, we know that his love for Ashley is undeniable.

At our first consultation, it was made very clear by Ian that wedding cinematography was not high on his list of priorities, but Ashley knew it needed to be a part of their day and thus, the challenge was born. We knew that this shoot was going to be unique in that these two have such a fascinating chemistry and Ian and the boys wouldn't disappoint, so we couldn't disappoint them. What we didn't know was how well some of the story lines were going to play out, and for this trailer, it was the reoccuring theme of keys.

The guests were all given keys with their place cards as they sat down for dinner. Ian opted out of a wedding ring and had a tattoo of a key placed over his wedding finger instead. Ian gave Ashley a key necklace as his wedding gift to her. . . . and Ashley's wedding gift to Ian??? Well, let's just say it is the key to every man's heart, lol. . . . and if you don't believe me, check out the trailer and you decide for yourself.

It was great to work again with Jesi Haack from Jesi Haack Design. If you recall, we collaborated with her on Melissa + Eduardo's wedding last summer. Also, a shout out to Janel Conlan from Focus Photography because she is always creative and a BLAST to work with. Mai from Bunch Studio rocked the florals and Eric from So-Cal DJ brought the beat.

A Change is a brewin'. . . . . . .

2011-04-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

The Project that has been kept under wraps for months. . . . . . is slowly brewin' to the surface. . . . . . and while we can't show you just yet, we have to build some anticipation, right????

Weddings by SML is undergoing a major change, and in a good way. Same crazy crew and same focus. . . .

But a new name, a consolidated direction, and a lot of cool changes in store just around the corner.

Stay tuned. . . . . .

Chris + Meredith // Read Before You Look

2011-03-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

Having met a little over 8 years ago at a college back east called Dartmouth, Chris + Meredith began a journey that has now committed itself to a lifelong adventure together. . . .

As we had our final meeting with this wonderful couple, they mentioned the idea of writing letters to one another and exchanging them before their first glance. Being that we are suckers for emotion, we suggested the option of reading the letters at the first glance, but before they actually saw one another. The opportunity to build up the suspense as they stood back to back and took in each other's words from the heart was something we had to take advantage of.

Set against the beautiful mountain backdrop of Palm Springs, this wedding boasted not only a beautiful venue and a breathtaking locale, but a fantastic pair of families now joined through the love and connection that is Chris + Meredith.

A Very Special shout out and thank you to Vanessa Preziose of Vanessa Preziose Photography for rockin' it and allowing us to share the shoot alongside her all day.

Katey + Bryan // A Circle of Prayers

2011-03-16T16:40:00.000-07:00

The Power of Prayer. Often times unnoticed, overlooked, underestimated. . . forgotten. With a day filled with overwhelming emotion, strict schedules, and full blown chaos at times, Katey found time to pause for prayer. Katey + Bryan are spiritual in all aspects of their lives, and it was stressed that this was going to be a large part of their day, so we were prepared.

With this trailer, we wanted to take a unique approach simply because we found certain elements in Katey + Bryan's day to exemplify who they are and what they stand for. Most times in our trailers, you will see many aspects of the day. . . from preps to the reception, we show a variety of scenes involving countless stories. However for Katey + Bryan, we focused on 3 specific scenes that told a very important part of their story, as these three scenes were defining points in their day.

First we begin with Katey, her Mother and Aunt, and her Cousin, Kacey. As the afternoon began and the nervous tension began to grow, they huddled into a tight circle to pray for the ceremony and the remainder of the day. This single event showed not only how tight knit this family is, but also their dedication to their faith and unyielding devotion to the sanctity of the day at hand and the vows that Katey + Bryan were about to take.

We transition to Bryan as he sits in his hotel room hand writing out his vows to Katey. Bryan is "genuine" as described by Katey and it is most evident as he meticulously wrote down every word that he would later recite to Katey in front of all of their family and friends. Patiently, word by word, he worked his pen over the textured paper (which he also used to hand write out various notes on the gifts he gave to Katey) knowing that the meaning behind the words he was writing were nothing less. . . . than genuine.

And finally, we arrive at the exchanging of the vows on the altar. While this moment is often important and defining in most couple's days, we found it to be even more so with Katey + Bryan. Katey had told us how nervous she was for this moment when we met prior to their wedding (as she almost cried just thinking about it) because Katey + Bryan were hand writing their vows to one another. We knew that the vows would be difficult to get through and we focused on this scene as the third segment for this trailer because it shows not only how passionate Katey + Bryan are for one another (as they both fought back tears to get through the vows), but that they know they can't always get through the toughest of moments on their own. Sometimes it takes the love of family and friends. . . and in some instances. . . the power of prayer.

There are so many other layers to Katey + Bryan that we cannot wait to share with them in their feature film, but in the meantime check out their trailer!

A very special thank you to Eric Morales from Extreme DJ Services for his help at the wedding reception!

And here is Katey + Bryan // A Circle of Prayers:

Our Approach

2011-02-18T18:01:00.000-08:00

I could spend hours writing a novel on the thought process that goes into our films and how we approach the wedding day. . . . but why not just show you. We are so thrilled that we finally had an opportunity to reflect on everything and bring this to life. Hope you enjoy :-)

Miss StrikeForce 2011 Presented by Rockstar Energy Drink

2011-02-07T15:42:00.000-08:00

As another great year is beginning to unfold, we are gearing up for some amazing stories that we cannot wait to share with you! In the meantime, we have been continuing to work with some corporate clients that we love to post on the blog from time to time.

Rockstar Energy has nominated Kelli Hutcherson to become Miss Strikeforce 2011. Strikeforce and Rockstar teamed up for a photo-shoot to launch the 2011 year and here's the cinema side.

A Friendly Disclaimer** - This vignette features a model wearing a very suggestive outfit catering to a male crowd, thus the imagery from this edit may not be suitable for the kiddos. No Nudity, but don't say I didn't tell you so. . . .

Enjoy :-)

Jason + Dina // An Abstract Approach

2011-01-26T13:15:00.000-08:00

This one is most certainly interesting. Whether you like it or not, hopefully you can watch this and say, "I've never seen any other wedding trailer edited like that before."

Jason + Dina had such a unique and aesthetically beautiful wedding that we wanted to take a unique, albeit abstract approach to their trailer. The inspiration for the stop-motion like feel is two-fold centered around the belly dancing (which was a very large part of their day, thus an important part of their film) and the song choice for this edit. We always like to show the viewer the day in a way they never thought was possible, so we are proud to say this edit keeps within that thought process that ultimately, drives us to do better work each and every time.

We are constantly asked where we find our music choices and while the answer is a well guarded secret, there are just some songs that are no brainers, even if many have heard them before. Florence and the Machine is already very well known (and rightfully so). Fortunately, this song has not hit mainstream yet, but it most likely will very soon. At least we can say it was here before it was on the radio, lol.

In any case, we encourage you to check this one out a few times as the first time you watch, it may be sensory overload, but pay close attention as even though the edit in and of itself is unique, there is still a story to be told. . . . Jason + Dina's story. Truly a passionate couple whose energy and enthusiasm was reflected throughout the evening, most noticeably in the incredible dance sets that took place throughout the night.

DISCLAIMER: First time we've ever had to do this to a trailer. If you have ANY adverse reactions to stop motion or constantly jittery footage, DO NOT WATCH THIS TRAILER. The rest of you. . . . Enjoy!

Weddings by SML Wins 2011 Bride's Choice Award

2011-01-25T10:30:00.000-08:00

We just got the news that Weddings by SML has received the WeddingWire Bride's Choice Award in 2011 now setting three consecutive years that we have received the distinction!

What this means is that Weddings by SML stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

Truthfully, the reason we get these awards is because of our couples and the fantastic reviews they have left us over the past few years. Thank you so very much to all who contributed and we are truly looking forward to some big things in 2011 :-)

Stay tuned. . . . .

Tony + Chrystal // The Gift Giving SDE

2011-01-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

While January is usually a time for winter sports, snow storms, and hot cocoa, here in beautiful Southern California, we keep rockin' the weddings! Tony + Chrystal invited us to be a part of their day as laughs and vows were shared along with an unusual invitation for the groomsmen. . . . .

The girls got ready at the salon and as Tony made the final touches, his parents gave him a traditional Chinese blessing as they placed his jacket upon him to send him off.

Special thanks to John from VIP Events for his help at the reception and also a shout out to Kristy Walker from Studio Verite. Kristy is a great photographer and so fun to work with as well! Filmed on location at the Grand Tradition in Fallbrook.

No snow at this wedding, just a ton of fun and a wonderful couple! Here is the Same Day Edit we showed at their reception on Saturday night.

P.S. - Did somebody say photobooth??? Of course we couldn't resist. Our favorite is the Bottom left.

Ted + Lisa // The "Trapp" Shoot

2011-01-04T10:12:00.000-08:00

As we welcome in 2011, we start January off with a Bang, lol, literally. And the jokes are not going to get any better, so please don't hold your breath. Let's just say this shoot was so much fun to be a part of and we couldn't wait to pull the trigger on this one. . . . ok I'm done now.

It seems as though every year, our couples look to outdo one another as it pertains to their activities for the morning of the wedding day. Golf outings with father and son. . . . .5K runs and Yoga on the Beach. . . . so when Ted + Lisa showed us their list and it said "Guys to go Trap Shooting", we were sold. ha! Not to mention the pun of the phrase (Ted's last name is Trapp) was too knee-slapping funny to ignore.

We don't get the opportunity to follow a storyline like this at every wedding, but Ted + Lisa's day wasn't like every wedding either. Filmed on location up north in the sleepy seaside town of Morro Bay, let's just say that we stuck out like sore thumbs. As we went to grab some footage of the small town shops, locals were curious to say the least, but when we informed them that we were there for the "Trapp Wedding", they looked at us with a face that said, "Oh, the Trapp Wedding! Why didn't you just say so in the first place???"

Anyways, back to the storyline. . . . .Ted + Lisa are anything but ordinary and their sense of humor proves that point. While they don't take anything in life too seriously, they did have a plan for their day. Lisa mentioned at one point in the reception that "It takes a village", referencing what went into the planning of the wedding. That had more meaning than either of us realized because as we began to edit, we saw that theme over and over again in the footage, even culminating in the final shots of this trailer where family members came together at the rehearsal to put the decorating touches on the small church Ted + Lisa were to be married in. Grandma dropped flower petals on the runner that Ted had been on his hands and knees to tape down. Aunts and Uncles, Cousins, and friends, all rushed last minute to put the final touches on the church so it would be ready to go the next afternoon for the ceremony.

From sunrise to sundown over the 3 days we shared with Ted + Lisa, everyone surrounded the lucky couple and their sense of humor and willingness to laugh at each other and themselves even showed its face during the vows. While Lisa feels this word can be cheapened by its overuse, there truly is one word that describes the wedding weekend that was Ted + Lisa. . . . . amazing.

A special thank you to Paul Thompson from Escape Entertainment. Also, a special recommendation for anyone looking for a gem of a find in Morro Bay. If you want to treat yourself to a fantastic dinner on the water, goto Windows on the Water, where Ted + Lisa's reception was held.

Janelle + Scott // As Featured On Wedding Chicks

2010-12-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

So. . . . . . the lovely ladies over at The Wedding Chicks asked us to take part in a crazy concept wedding shoot gone real. That's right, this shoot was originally going to be a concept spread (where they dress up a wedding, but have models as stand in Bride and Grooms), but then they found a REAL B&G, and in only 3 WEEKS, this wedding came together for real!!!

The details at this wedding were beyond off the hook, and lets just say my personal favorite was the patio heaters, so be sure to pay close attention to those! I'm posting the trailer here, but you can check out the FULL wedding as it is featured on Wedding Chicks with all the AMAZING vendors that were a part of it, by clicking HERE.

Thank you again Amy and Jocey for inviting us to the shin dig and here it is. . . . Janelle + Scott // As Featured on Wedding Chicks.

Becky + Mark // The Pastor's Daughter

2010-12-07T13:13:00.000-08:00

Opposites attract. Clear and simple. One of the undeniable truths of the universe. Just as gravity pulls objects towards the earth and inertia will keep an object in motion; just as air smells cleaner after a good solid rain and trees shed their leaves in winter only to re cultivate them again in the spring, opposites will always attract to one another.

Becky is flat out corky and fun. While we haven't known her for years, you can tell instantly when she comes in the room. There is a gaping smile just waiting to surface and it is when she is around her childhood friends that the personality truly comes to life as demonstrated by the "gift" that was given to her by Amy, her maid of honor, as the girls got ready.

Mark is calm, cool, collected. Not that he doesn't have fun (the guy used a mechanic's shop creeper for the garter remover), but he definitely balances Becky out. He is clearly the one for her and most certainly her opposite.

Becky's father is a Church Pastor. As you will learn in the trailer, he has presided over many weddings, but walking his own daughter down to the aisle to then preside over her wedding was a special moment. To say that it added a very personal dynamic to an already emotional ceremony would be an understatement.

A very special thank you to Kimi Wislocki from Perfect Planning for all of her help with orchestrating the day's events. Also, a shout out to Stefanie from Studio EMP who brought out the best in Mark and Becky and whose imagery is stunning. Finally, a big thanks to Steve Shanahan from Honored Occasions for keeping the evening rocking. . .always fun to work with Steve!

It was such a joy to share in Mark and Becky's day and there are so many elements we cannot wait to share with them in their feature film, but in the meantime, here is a sneak peak. . . .

Jamie + Michael // A Ceremony Within the Ceremony SDE

2010-11-13T08:21:00.000-08:00

Mike's father, also Mike, is a Colonel in the United States Air Force. So when he stated that the planning that went into this wedding was the best he had ever seen, it meant something. He was not only referring to the wedding, but all of the activities surrounding it.

Jamie + Mike live the life of a military family. As Mike is a Major in the Airforce, they are bound to the life that it brings, including the relocation from time to time. So for the wedding, family and friends joined them from all over the country, thus Jamie planned out activities for everyone. From shopping at South Coast Plaza, to Yoga on the Beach, to a 5K run the morning of the wedding, there were activities all weekend.

This is not to say that the wedding was not every bit as structured and as we arrived to the ceremony rehearsal, it was very evident that this couple was not messing around. As Jamie + Michael and immediate family arrived, Jamie quickly began going through her wedding notebook approving itinerary and details as Mike and his brother, Brad quickly took to the Sabre Ceremony. In military tradition, a special ceremony is performed at the end of the ceremony service that involves ushers, very real swords, and the bride and groom. Brad, the lead in the service took the honor very seriously and the two probably spent 25 minutes rehearsing and perfecting what was to take place on the big day. This became a driving thread in their Same Day Edit as you'll see.

As the morning of the wedding came, the two set out for split activities with family and friends. Mike lead the 5K run while Jamie's good friend led a Yoga instruction on the beach. From there, the rigid timeline began and helped to unfold what was a most memorable of days, and one that definitely shined during the Ceremony within the Ceremony.

A couple MONSTER points of mention. First, Kathy Nosek from A Divine-Occasion Wedding and Event Planning. This woman is incredible and her execution at any event is second to none. Thank you to her for helping us to deliver what was truly a fun presentation for all that evening. A second shout out goes straight to Chuck Wansley and The Chuck Wansley Band. If I was getting married tomorrow, these guys would be performing at the reception. Unbelievable. The only word to describe them and they made the Same Day Edit happen without a hitch, so thank you to them as well! Finally, our new friend, Pepper Nix from Pepper Nix Photography. Photographer and crazy like us, need we say more?

And here it is as it was shown to everyone at the reception las night. Jamie + Michael // The Ceremony Within the Ceremony SDE

Sarah + Jeff // Don't Jinx It

2010-11-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

We love backyard weddings. The details. The intimacy. The uniqueness of the venue. There is so much that can be learned about a couple at a backyard wedding just by the thought that goes into every aspect of the day.

Sarah + Jeff decided to make their wedding happen in Jeff's parents' backyard. To say that every detail was attended to would be understating the event. Jeff and his grandfather filled in the swimming pool with a plywood base that can be seen during the rehearsal footage. The alter was also hand made. Photos throughout the house were filled in with pictures of the lovely couple and to top it off, dinner consisted of a made to order pasta bar (let's just say we gave that part specifically two thumbs up) and mashed potatoes in martini glasses.

As we arrived to the house, the rain from the morning was just beginning to let up. No sooner than the rain stopped, the sun cranked up about 14 notches. It was as if two completely different weather forecasts had collided. Perhaps it was simply fate as it never rains on a bride's big day in Southern California. . . .

As the day wore on, we began to focus some of our attention on all the work that was taking place behind the scenes. The dance between the Catering Crew, the Bartenders, and the Event Planners was almost choreographed. Although we don't show it in the trailer, it will reveal itself in Jeff + Sarah's final film and it was a very organized chaos to say the least.

When all was said and done, this wedding was hands down one of our favorites this year. Jeff + Sarah, married in his parents backyard, but not a backyard wedding by any stretch of the imagination.

A very large shout out to Lisa Moon from Lisa Moon Events. As always, she worked her magic on the big day, as well as at the rehearsal :-) Also, a very special thank you to Justin from Generations Entertainment for making our life easier once again at the reception! Krista Jon from Downtown Flowers ROCKED the florals as you will see, and Rog and Lyndzee from Ellsworthphotography were so great to work with as well!

And now, Sarah + Jeff. . . enjoy!

Scott + Brigitte // the Scigitte SDE

2010-11-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, Happy Halloween!!! Belated or otherwise, always a fun holiday and an opportunity for children and adult children alike to give into the practice that is dressing up like a complete idiot and candy binging. . . guilty as charged.

Moving forward, we switch gears to Scott + Brigitte (who will be referred to from this point forward by their true power couple name, Scigitte).

Our crew lives for juxtaposition, the concept of placing two things together that you wouldn't normally see and making them more interesting because of it. If you watch our films, you know that we look for it in everything we do. So when Brigitte contacted us for her wedding day to take place on Halloween, you know we were instantly sold.

Before you jump to conclusions, however, this was not a wedding you would expect on Halloween. These two are not creatures of the night or costume hounds just waiting for October 31st to get married. . . . just a couple that stands firm in their faith and the belief that things happen for a reason, and ultimately a puzzle can only be put together in one way (to be explained in the SDE).

Scigitte has a crazy long backstory that involves several twists and turns that incorporate finding their faith, losing one another, rekindling, and vowing not to EVEN SHARE A KISS until they were married. It almost goes without saying that the Same Day Edit was going to have to end on that first kiss, right???

Scott began the day golfing with his father. A last outing as a single man looking for those fatherly words of advice, which he later shared with one of the guys on his car ride to the venue. Brigitte sat quietly at her friend's house, putting together the final touches for the florals, which she had done ON HER OWN for the entire wedding day.

A day that is so infamous for demons and devils, candy and scares, horror and fear. . . it was the ultimate juxtaposition for Scigitte. Demons and devils??? We saw an angel fairy princess flower girl. Candy and scares? We saw laughing, good food, and an overwhelmingly sweet candy bar. Horror and fear? Not on this day. . . . Only love, laughter, and an unyielding dedication of Scigitte's devotion to their faith.

It wouldn't be fair to proceed without first thanking two UBER-RAD vendors! First, Janel Conlan from Focus Photography. The definition of Rad Photographer, and amazingly sweet and cool human. Thank you Janel for always being so great to work with. Second, Justin from Generations Entertainment made the SDE possible. Thank you for allowing us to work through your soundboard all evening and for keeping the party rockin'

And now, Scott + Brigitte // the Scigitte SDE

A Tribute to my Wife

2010-10-19T10:28:00.001-07:00

As a child, I hated the rain. Rain meant no recess, no outdoor activities, no playing hockey on the cul de sac after school. Rain meant cold and wet. Wet socks. Wet clothes. Wet backpacks. Rain made me take an umbrella everywhere I went. Rain sucked.

My wife, Jackie, LOVES the rain. To her as a child, rain meant her favorite sweatshirt, a cup of hot chocolate, the fireplace, and a good book. I never liked to read.

As I've grown older, rain doesn't bother me as much anymore. In fact, as the storms usher in the winter, I almost welcome the rain as a refreshing change to the scorching sun of the summer. With rain comes fresh air and new seasons. A clean slate and an opportunity to reflect. Now that I'm no longer a child, I find myself becoming more like my wife and on that note, this is what we saw outside the studio this morning as we were editing away. The rain reminds me of Jackie, and that is reason enough to post this clip, a tribute to her.

Miss Rockstar Energy AMA Motocross

2010-10-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

In a continued effort to share some of the projects that we work on outside of the wedding world, we decided to share another Rockstar shoot with everyone out there. This one took place at Suzuki's factory and involved Danielle, Miss Rockstar Energy AMA. It can be found on Rockstar's website and we would be lying if we said it wasn't any fun to put together. Enjoy :-)

Keren + Pieter // Love

2010-10-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

Soulmate. By itself, a word that is defined as somebody whom one has a feeling of deep and natural affinity with. But, there is so much more as we all know. A soulmate is the smile when you aren't having your best day. A soulmate is the off beat giggle when you tell a joke that really isn't that funny. A soulmate is the eyes you look into every morning knowing that this is the one. Keren + Pieter are soulmates.

We know this because of the way they connect every time they see each other. The way they look completed by simply being in the presence of one another. It's funny that we use a piece of audio in this trailer that is mumbled by Pieter as he gets dressed for the ceremony. "I'm really lucky. I've got everything I want and everything I could possibly need." In a society that focuses on "things", sometimes the one "thing" that is most important is easiest to see on the wedding day.

As Keren got ready for the day, a day which she scheduled around the USC football schedule, she watched her team via streaming online while sharing a laugh with the girls as they did hair and makeup, and ultimately a prayer as they prepared for the ceremony. The guys, on the other hand, got dressed over beers. Beers that Pieter's brother couldn't separate with as he made the trek from one end of the hotel to the other to deliver Keren her gift from Pieter.

And as the two opened their gifts, "things" if you will, they both were excited and said "wow" and "pretty", but it was the moments just before opening the gifts when they were reading the cards, hand written from one another, while fighting back teary eyes that showed what "thing" is most important on the wedding day and every day for the rest of their lives. Love.

A very special thank you to Courtney Toney from Joyful Weddings and Events for her help in orchestrating such a wonderful day. Also a shout out to our friend Jasmine Star from Jasmine Star Photography. Always great to work with good people on these shoots and Jasmine and Courtney rock!

Robert + Tina // Cheese Lines Do Work

2010-09-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

There's nothing more rewarding than being able to show our friends such an important day in their life in a way that it is seldom seen. When Robert + Tina approached us to film their wedding, we were honored and yet nervous at the same time. The pressure always seems to be so much greater when it is people you have known for the better part of a decade. The fact that they trust us to tell their story just ramps up the heat in the boiler room that much more.

8 years ago, these two began their courting. . . a courting that started with, well, let's just say not Robert's best line. Then again, now that we think about it, they are married, so perhaps it was his best line? In any case, Robert + Tina's passion for life, friends, and family made this wedding pop and we would be lying if we didn't say we are proud of this one. Congratulations to the newlyweds and we simply couldn't resist making the cake toppers the still screen shot for your trailer :-)

Christie + RJ // Tale of the Teacher

2010-09-22T11:16:00.000-07:00

In constantly striving to develop every couple's story and unfold their day as it happens, we often stumble onto unexpected threads. In the case of Christie + RJ, it was the handkerchiefs that Christie gave to her mother and grandmother prior to the ceremony while she was getting ready.

A small and simple gift, yet such an emotional moment that had to be included in this trailer. As you can tell by the title, Christie is a teacher and found her Matron of Honor through their profession. As you'll see, RJ doesn't mind helping Christie out in getting the classroom ready either. A wise husband indeed :-)

Congratulations to Christie + RJ and just wait until you see the feature film. . . . .

Jill + Jamar // A Studio Backlot SDE

2010-09-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

One element that certainly caught our attention when we first were contacted by Jill + Jamar was the answer to the question, "Where is your reception going to take place?" When the answer was CBS studios, we were intrigued. . . . very intrigued.

Such a unique setting for a wedding and the imagery. How cool to be in a residential neighborhood on this block, and then downtown NYC on the next? Once we met with Jill + Jamar and saw how easy going and incredibly sweet they were, we were sold. And yesterday, in front of friends and family, we were thrilled to share this SDE with them.

The day began at MAC with a little makeup session, which became the bookends to the edit. The girls then traveled to the chic Belamar Hotel in Manhattan Beach where Jill became acquainted with the perfect wedding day accessory, which also happened to be her wedding day gift from Jamar. Another element of the day that we felt should be included in the edit was the travel. While the ceremony took place in Manhattan Beach, CBS studios is in Studio City. For anyone who doesn't live and/or work near LA, the commute between these two cities is 35 minutes without traffic, but one good accident and it can easily mushroom into a 2 hour commute. Travel was definitely an element to the day, thus an element to the SDE. Finally, we arrive at the reception, where the venue is truly unique, but the details laid out into this wedding easily overshadowed any studio set. From the floral to the cake design, this wedding was to the 9's, so we wanted to show some of the labor that went into the setup.

Jill + Jamar, what a wonderful day that was shared by all and we truly are honored to call you one of our couples! Congratulations and we hope you enjoyed your Same Day Edit!

Melissa + Eduardo // Boy Meets Girl

2010-09-09T10:47:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when we are filming, there are those moments where you go, "wow, that was awesome". In the case of Melissa + Eduardo, that moment came during the Best Man's toast. Ramon decided to explain Melissa + Eduardo's story in a very simple, broken down fashion that was so effective, it became the driving narrative for this trailer.

When we met with Melissa + Eduardo, one thing that stood out is their calm and laid back feel.Calm. Cool. Collected. They are so easy going, so we choose the song in this trailer for its easy going nature.

They decided to have their reception at the Red Horse Barn in Huntington Beach and it couldn't have fit these two and their personalities any better. Horses are calm.cool.collected. As Melissa + Eduardo walked through the stables, the energy just fit the setting. As the shave ice refreshed the guests (Melissa's family's business), the tasty barbecue dinner filled the bellies. And what better way to work off dinner than with salsa lessons?

A very special thank you to Jesi Haack from Jesi Haack Weddings. Creativity doesn't begin to do this girl justice. If you are even considering a DIY style party, call Jesi. Enough said.

Also, sincere thanks to Amelia Lyon from Amelia Lyon Photography for being uber-easy to work with and for helping to setup some really great imagery!

Congratulations to Melissa + Eduardo and we sincerely thank you for your generosity, love, and faith in our work. . . . and the shave ice :-) Enjoy!

If you are in Lisbon, goto GoCar!

2010-09-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

So just a few short weeks ago, the wife and I were in Europe. Yes, we know, rough life. But hey! What's the point of living if you don't live, right? So, one of many stops landed us in Lisbon, Portugal. Some of the friendliest people we have ever met that don't speak English.

So go back to our first anniversary. Jackie (wife) and I took a quick flight up to San Francisco where we were first introduced to GoCars. Basically, you ride around looking like a tourist in a fun little neon yellow go-cart. There is a satellite guided tour that tells you what you are looking at as you drive by certain places. The nice thing is it also tells you where to turn next. The GoCar looks something like this:

Jump forward to a couple weeks ago. Turns out there is a GoCar in Lisbon! So, naturally, what better way to see a city when you only have a few hours than to jump in one of these fun little go-carts!

One fun thing about Europe is they don't use Lysol. So. . . . . .when you put on their helmets, what do they do to sanitize them???? Make you wear fun blue little hair nets. They look like this:

Underneath the world's coolest helmets, they look like this:

When driving the go-cart, they look like this (note the bridge in the background, NOT the Golden Gate Bridge! more on that in a minute):

here are some of the sights to be seen in Lisbon:

So then, we stumbled upon a peculiar bridge. Turns out the same company that built the San Fran-Oakland Bay Bridge (not the Golden Gate), constructed this bridge in Lisbon in 1966, some thirty years after the Golden Gate. It is considered the sister bridge to the American version and literally looks IDENTICAL. It is called the 25 de Abril Bridge to commemorate the date of the Carnation Revolution of 1974 in Portugal. Check it out!

Unfortunately, our time spent in Lisbon was short lived, but we certainly were able to make the most of it thanks to GoCar! Made some great friends with Patrick and Leonel (the GoCar guys!) and thank them very much for their hospitality in Lisbon!

Burt + Lily // A Beachside SDE

2010-09-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

Two great people. Perhaps keeping it simple is best. Burt + Lily are truly generous in all that they do, so when 400 or their closest friends and family showed up to see them exchange vows, it is no surprise to us that there was a huge outpouring of love and support.

Filmed and edited on location in Huntington Beach, this edit incorporates some of the storyline of the day. The girls discussed placing for the ceremony over pizza and the guys pointed out the engravings in the wedding rings.

You'll notice a very cool part of the Persian ceremony in which women grind sugar over the heads of Burt + Lily. In Persian tradition, this is to symbolize how their lives will be filled with sweetness and happiness.

A very large shout out and congratulations to Burt + Lily!

Tracie + John // The Life in the Years

2010-09-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

Living like Lincoln. The first thing that comes to mind when we think of Tracie + John. There was a toast that was made by Tracie's father at the reception and he quotes a couple very choice words from our 16th president. Tracie + John live out those words every day of their lives. We would be lying if we didn't point out that we were very much looking forward to cutting this trailer. After an evening with these two, their family and friends, and more energy than could have been imagined, this wedding was busting at the seems with story and just waiting on the edit line for this post.

He likes the Red Sox. She likes Animals. He has no fear rocking manties (you'll see). She eats cereal with a fork. He needs but a simple excuse to celebrate. She used to be a competitive figure skater. This list goes on and on and the sentences only become better and better. Instead of writing and writing, we'll let you simply watch. . . . . . and watch.

A very special thank you to Lisa Moon of Lisa Moon Events for making the day so much easier. Also, thank you to Tasos Tsirtsis from LSM Entertainment for all of his help at the reception. If you need a event planner extraordinaire or a great DJ, look no further than these two!

1 Year Later, Still Reliving the Day through the Film

2010-08-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

The other day, we received an awesome email from one of our 2009 couples, Patty + Frank. If you didn't have a chance to see their trailer, you can see it HERE. In any case, as they celebrated their one year anniversary, they decided to watch their film again and we received this email, which Patty gave me permission to share on the blog.

"Hi Steve,

Frank Chu and I got married nearly a year ago and you did the videography for our wedding. We decided to watch it since our one year anniversary is coming up. I cried like a baby! You did such a wonderful job. I had somehow forgotten what a magical day it was for us and even when you mailed us the finished product (which we watched the day it arrived!) it hadn't completely hit me how incredible your footage and edits were. One year later, as Frank and I watched it, I started to feel all the emotions from that day and cried the happy tears that I didn't cry on the actual wedding day because everything was happening so fast. It was well worth the money spent and more. We are so happy that you captured our wedding day. Thanks a million!

--
Yours Faithfully,
Patricia"

It just goes to show how important a good film is once the day has passed. . . - Steve

Tom + Theresa // 58 Years in a Bottle

2010-08-11T00:39:00.000-07:00

The best things in life are worth waiting for. A proverb that has been recited and recycled all too often, yet it rings so true. Tom + Theresa had several elements of their day that reflected this notion, and we decided to center this trailer around that concept.

Theresa's mother gave her a sign that at first glance, looked pretty straight forward, but after listening to her explanation, revealed that it was more about the phrase than the sign itself. Theresa had found happily ever after.

As Tom got ready for the ceremony, his father helped him with the final adjustments and we couldn't help but wonder how long Dad had waited for this very moment.

And finally, as you'll see for yourself, a bottle of scotch, rested quietly in a cupboard, aged 58 years . . . . . just waiting because well, the best things in life are worth waiting for. Enjoy :-)

Special Thank you to Stephanie from Exquisite Events Specialists for all of her help in preparing for Tom + Theresa's day and keeping everything moving along according to plan.

Sarvenaz + Kevin // A Dream Come True. . . .

2010-08-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

When a relationship begins on the French Riviera with a first date in Cannes, where exactly do you go from there? Well, if you are Sarv + Kevin, the answer is simple. . . . all over the world!

Sarv + Kevin's photo album looks like a travel brochure for all the places you would dream of visiting. Their passion for travel clearly overflows into their love for family, friends, and life. The first thing that became clear with Sarv after our first conversation via phone was her enthusiasm and infectious excitement not only for her wedding day, but just for the moment. Sarv is all about the moment and she didn't hesitate to stop every few seconds in her beaming white gown, close her eyes, take in a fresh breath, and realize she was marrying the man who was meant for her all along.

Kevin is a Boston native, who had spent most of his professional career in the Big Apple before traveling across the country to San Francisco to be with Sarv. The two of them actually met in Las Vegas while supporting mutual friends who were taking part in a half marathon. Then, they became travel buddies on the way to a wedding in Sweden and somehow managed to plan a pre-wedding detour that ended up in the French Riviera. By the third date, they were in Monaco! We swear this is their story, we couldn't write a story this good. . . . .

Back to Kevin. Aside from his love for spicy food and fly fishing, one thing that shows is how comfortable he is around Sarv. The entire day, these two were able to have conversations with one another just through a glance. You can tell when a couple is going to make it because there is an intangible. These two have that intangible.

With such a beautiful wedding at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel and such an upbeat couple, we found it only fitting to keep the pacing of this trailer on the up and up. After all, there is no containing the excitement and enthusiasm that is Sarv + Kevin.

A HUGE thank you to Kerrie Underhill from Platinum Weddings by Kerrie for helping to make the day go off without a hitch. Also, a shout out to Vanessa from Apertura for being not only incredibly easy to work with, but for also helping to facilitate some fantastic imagery around the grounds.

Say Hello to Ben

2010-08-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

Twas' a fall evening in the middle of twilight. The sun kissing the hillside and the dust particles dancing in the fresh light streaking through the high tree line (sound of soft violins whispering in the background). He came to us in a little white basket upon a river near the far village. Wrapped in white linen, his baby tears barely kissing the sides of his cheeks. We took him in as our own and and knew one day he would learn the way (stronger violins, no longer whispering, but speaking). Not the way to the market or the way to the bowling alley. No. A much deeper and longer path that involved struggle and passion (cue epic film music here). The way which most dare not travel. Where dragons and uber-beasts feast on the flesh of the weak. The way where the sun never is seen and darkness is a close friend. The way. . . . . . wait for it. . . . . . wait for it. . . . . of the . . . . . . CINE-WARRIOR (crescendo of epic film music, now calm and bring it back my violin friends).

Through his struggles of trial and tribulation, and billions and billions of hours filming and editing, he grew. From a cine-tadpole to a cine-lizard (violins getting louder). Further he scoured the land of composition and light, bearing his mistakes like weights upon his ankles. From cine-llama to cine-buffalo (louder violins, louder!). Through the valley of juxtaposition to the hills of storytelling. From cine-gorilla to cine-beast (louder violins, louder! Louder than you've ever been in your little violin lives!). And today, August 2nd, 2010, marks the end of his journey as a child baby cine-warrior to a full grown adult pure radness man cine-warrior (crash, crescendo, wow, emotion. . . and scene).

And what, you may ask, happens when this child baby cine-warrior reaches full grown adult pure radness man cine-warrior status???

We hire him full time. It is with great excitement and enthusiasm that we welcome Ben full time to the crew and can't wait for his vision, creativity, and excitement for what we do to play out into our work over and over again.

Did he really think he could just walk in here without us putting up a formal introduction??? Welcome to the team buddy. World, say hello to Ben.

A Friday Double Post // Smile Recognition + Shutter Booth

2010-07-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

We recently attended a Canon Workshop series with the ever talented folks from Stillmotion. While we examined all sorts of technical aspects to filmmaking like lens choice, composition, lighting design, and work flow. . . . . we also had a fun little opportunity to produce a 30 second spot for Canon's new Powershot with Smile Recognition. Cool little camera. Instead of a timer, you set it up and it won't take the picture until the faces in the frame smile. Creepy. . .but cool. Check it out:

Canon Spot (Not a real commercial, please don't remove Vimeo Peeps!) from Weddings by SML on Vimeo.

As the second part of this post. . . another tasteless, shameless, and yes absurd sighting of the crew in a photo booth with Tracie + John from last Saturday. Special thanks to the folks from Shutter Booth. I must say, I have become a fan of the over sized shades. Ben prefers the Kanye look, and Dave??? Well, he just likes to wear hot dog hats. Let's just say this photo was the tip of the iceberg with Tracie + John. Easily a trailer that we can't wait to cut. . . . stay tuned :-)

Pia + Ryan // Sneakers & Shoes

2010-07-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

The key to every couple is their story. The story always defines who and what we are and even more importantly, what we are all about. Every time we meet with a couple, we look for the things that make them unique, interesting, and separate them from others.

Sure, everyone is going to share some vows or the exchange of a kiss at the end of a ceremony, but we want to know what it is it that makes a couple unique. What separates them from all others and helps to tell their story? In Pia + Ryan's case, it's simply sneakers & shoes.

You see, when we first met this wonderful couple, the first thing that stood out were the sneakers Ryan was wearing, and after a simple comment about the kicks, Ryan revealed that (at the time) he owned over 300 pairs of sneakers. . . . . not a typo. . . . . over 300 pairs. Then Pia revealed that her love for shoes was not to be sold short as she also owned shoes into the triple digit count. Let's just say that they have some serious shoe equity :-)

Well, from that point on, it was a given that the guys (and girls) would be rockin' some special footwear the day of and we were determined to tie it into their story. So you will see a fun little sequence in this trailer that takes place before the grand entrance as the guys needed to go to their car to grab their custom kicks. We searched everywhere and couldn't find one of the groomsmen, and then, at the last minute, he finally showed up. He was hanging out at the bar, who would have thought? So we inserted him last minute as you'll see. Also, a shout out to the INSANE photo backdrop (not a photo-booth, this thing took up an entire room!) and the ever talented Gregorio Bumatay of Bumatay Studio for snapping stunning imagery the day of. Thanks also to to Majell Del Castillo of MDC Events for keeping the timeline on track!

Pia and Ryan, you're style rocks and even better, the fact that you were willing to be yourselves on the day of your wedding makes us smile every time we see this trailer. Enjoy!

P.S. - All of our couples know that we are suckers for photobooths! Thank you again to Greg for shooting us these photos!

Brianne + Bill = Dancergy + A Same Day Edit

2010-07-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

What a wedding. On so many levels was this day truly enjoyable. There is nothing more rewarding than when we can say that not only has a couple been one of our clients, but they have become our friends as well. Brianne + Bill are two of the nicest, most genuine and sincere individuals we have been able to work with and it was an honor to be a part of their day!

So here's the story. . . .

Brianne is a lifetime dancer as well as dance instructor for a local High School. In fact, we first met Brianne because she used us to film some dances for her classes at school. Bill is an attorney and now. . . dancer extraordinaire. . . well at least according to the video we made for them:-)

Wanting to take their reception to the next level, we thought it would be fun to build up to their first dance by showing a fun little "Dancing with the Stars" type short directly preceding the dance itself. This way all of the attention would be focused on their first dance, which Brianne had choreographed herself! All of the guests know Brianne is the dancer, so the play was for Bill to be teaching Brianne the dance steps for their first dance as Brianne clearly had no idea what she was doing.

Needless to say, the video was a hit, and of course we filmed some of the reactions, as well as their first dance so we could show all of it here!

To take it a step further, we went in the completely opposite direction for their same day edit with a wonderful interview narrated piece that truly revealed just how in love these two are with one another.

From a Spoof Video to a dramatic Same Day Edit. From Laughter to Tears. This one had it all, and here are three different clips for you to check out.

This is the spoof video that was created for their guests to see directly before they took the dance floor for their first dance:

This is the Same Day Edit that was shown later in the evening:

This is the spoof video with reactions cut into it AS WELL AS the actual first dance from the reception (NOTE: the reaction shots are dark because we didn't want to distract the guests with lighting. So we simply filmed the reactions in the dark and bumped up the gain on our cameras. That is why you may see some pixelation in the reaction shots):

Also, I wanted to give a VERY LARGE THANK YOU to Peter Papadopoulos from Vive Entertainment for all of his help at the reception with the audio, setup, and testing of the video presentations for the evening. Truly an exceptional guy who does a great job moving the reception along! Also, special thanks to Kathleen Clark from KCP studios as well as the honorable Jeffrey L. Gunther who performed a fantastic ceremony service.

CreativeLive, Chase Jarvis + A Live Wedding {Featuring Jasmine Star}

2010-07-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

Over the July 4th weekend, I received a voicemail from a photographer by the name of Jasmine Star asking if I could collaborate on a video with her. As I first heard the voicemail, my hear skipped a beat. You see, Jasmine Star is a very well known photographer. How well known??. . .

She was voted one of the Top 10 Wedding Photographers of 2009 by peers in the industry. Top 10. . . . In the World.

Needless to say, flattered is not a word that does it justice when she contacted me to collaborate with her. and then my heart started beating again.

Jasmine is working with Chase Jarvis (HUGE COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER) and CreativeLive to host a free online seminar as she shoots a real wedding. . . LIVE. It's a crazy idea and Jasmine is just the photographer to pull it off. What an honor to create a video for such a vibrant personality with an addictive laugh and great sense of humor.

Congrats Jasmine!!! - and here is the video we produced for her:

UPDATE TO THIS POST: The other video that we created for her is now live as well. This video is Calling all couples to apply to be married LIVE in front of a massive photography community and anyone else who is down to watch! Check it out:

Eric + Heather // How Much I Love You

2010-07-08T16:31:00.000-07:00

Often times the bride and groom are asked to write their own vows to one another. Perhaps they recite what their beau reminds them of, or the thoughts that come to mind on their wedding day. We found Eric's vows to Heather to stand out on a few fronts. First, he said he wasn't going to make it through without crying, which was true, because he made it eleven words in before he got choked up.

All kidding aside, Eric decided to explain just how much he loves Heather in his vows, and we must say that he loves her. . . . . a lot.

A huge congratulations to the newlyweds and the best truly is yet to come. In the meantime, check out their wedding and his vows below!

Enjoy :-)
-Steve

How to Tie a Bowtie // A Collaboration of Greatness

2010-07-02T15:27:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, we made the decision to add a wonderful addition to the office space by bringing in two amazing photographer friends by the names of Gabriel Ryan and Carlie Renee. It's always great to bounce ideas off other professionals in the industry, get feedback from a different perspective (photo vs. cinema), and have a great time working with others on a daily basis. What better way then to move them in???

We knew going into this that inevitably we would work on various future projects together down the road, but we never thought we would have such a great opportunity just a few weeks in!

So, two weeks ago was our first collaboration. . . . .

The chic ladies from Utterly Engaged (also the creators of a wonderful little gem of a find in Tustin called The Wedding Pantry) asked us to create a tutorial on how to tie a bowtie, which they wanted to feature in Issue 011 of their wonderful, unique, and first of its kind Wedding E-Magazine. Instantly we knew two things: 1.) It had to be funny and 2.) Bailey (the boxer) had to be in the tutorial. So after an hour of filming, 45 minutes of editing, and 9 bags of dog treats later, we came up with this, and we are pretty happy with the result, if we don't say so ourselves. Maybe we are jaded because of the cute little dog in the bowtie. . . . . you be the judge.

The Twitter / Facebook Era

2010-06-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

Facebook and Twitter and us, oh my!! Never thought this would happen, but the time has finally come that we will now be giving you the ability to follow us on Twitter and be our friend on Facebook straight from the blog! Check out our hugely oversized icons to the left!!!!!

Oh yes, I know you are so excited and we are so anxious to have followers and friends. Our need for attention has reached a boiling point, so come one, come all. Be our friends and follow us everywhere. . . . . 140 letters at a time.

Seriously though, come follow us. We feel very lonely right now on Twitter. So lonely that I've posted the icon again right beneath this so you can click on it and follow away!

Christopher + Gina // Can I Keep You?

2010-06-16T20:42:00.000-07:00

We always encourage couples to go for it. Not the marriage part. . . they are already going for that; the details and the special touches, just go for it and have fun. Christopher + Gina did just that. From writing their own letters to one another for the ceremony, to the rhinestone message on the bottom of Gina's shoes, they went for it and truly made the day their own.

These two were married at the beautiful Los Willos in Fallbrook. Tucked away back in the hills, this venue offered a secluded setting for everyone to enjoy, not to mention one fun aspect was the Brides arrival to the ceremony. As everyone looked down the aisle, she came in across the lake via boat, which was cool. . . and we also had a little fun with the bouquet and the Rolls Royce.

Another aspect of the day was the lighthearted fun that both the bridesmaids and the groomsmen were having as they were getting ready. While the guys were attempting to figure out how to use suspenders, the girls were busy having sword fights with twizzlers.

A wonderful shout out to David Torralva as it was great to reunite and work with him again. Many thanks as well to Alex Grammatico from Pro Sound DJs for being so easy and accommodating to work with.

and here it is, Christopher + Gina // I Do

The Best Kind of Email

2010-06-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

We recently filmed Jen + Kevin's wedding and showed you a double highlight feature of both the artistic side of their day as well as the incredibly fun Shamrocker's set at the reception. Just this past week, we delivered their film and within 24 hours, we received this email. I like to post these kinds of emails because they tell you what a couple feels once they have an opportunity to relive their day weeks afterwards through the film:

"Steve,

We received our wedding DVDs today and it took all my willpower to wait for Kevin to get home tonight before watching it! As expected based on how amazing the highlight film was, the full length film totally blew us away. We felt like we relived the night all in 25 minutes. You guys hit on everything we were looking for. It was so fun to see all the stuff we missed, especially the footage of each of us and our attendants before the ceremony. And then to make it even better, all of the special features – the ceremony, speeches and of course the full Shamrockers performance. A simple thank you just doesn’t seem like enough to express our gratitude. Thinking about how we will share this film with our friends and families for years to come, with our children, with their children, we are so grateful to have had such a talented team capture and edit it all for us. So please know this is more than a simple thank you, this is the biggest, most sincere and heartfelt thank you from us and our family!! THANK YOU!!! We could not love our final film more or be more pleased with your work and professionalism.

All the best,

Jen & Kevin Daly"

Rolyn + Stephanie // A Big Woody SDE

2010-06-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

Rolyn + Stephanie's wedding was 12 years in the making, as Stephanie will happily tell you:-) So as the day approached and they needed to pick a song for the Same Day Edit, it is only fitting that they chose "All in" by Lifehouse.

From our first meeting, we were taken back by how easy going and just plain nice Rolyn + Stephanie were. We felt as though this really poured the pressure on because we wanted to do something unique to make their Same Day Edit stand out and reflect just how fun and cool their day was. It doesn't hurt when the ceremony is at the one and only Mission Basilica in San Juan at the Mission San Juan Capistrano. This church has Ornate written all over it and the footage from inside is breathtaking. We knew we were in for a treat with the church, but another unknown surprise was their transportation. Rolyn + Stephanie decided to go for the ultimate beach ride in a giant woody. For more info on the Bus, check out the company's website HERE.

As soon as we saw this crazy contraption, we knew it was going to be showcased in their Same Day Edit, along with all the fun footage from the Mission Grounds and the reception. A special thank you to Jan Walker and Jennifer Mildner from Magnolia's Floral Design for allowing us to film as they setup the reception venue. Also, a shout out to Mardy Divina from Your Divine Wedding.

So here it is, Rolyn + Stephanie // A Big Woody SDE. Enjoy! :-)

Jen + Kevin // A Double Highlight

2010-05-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

We were excited from the start for this wedding because we are always pumped for new venues and having never filmed at Balboa Park in San Diego, not to mention The Prado, so we were all in.

Jen + Kevin were simply icing on the cake because they are potentially one of the nicest couples we have ever worked with, not to mention they like to party. . . . all night. Kevin plays in a family band (The Shamrockers, and yes they even have a WEBSITE) and has done so for years, so it was a given that they were going to put on a set at the reception and how could we possibly leave that out, right?? So, we decided to take this edit in a different direction creating a double highlight. First, the stuff we love to do with a song we have been holding in our back pocket for the right wedding. Then, we jump into the party with Kevin and the rest of the Shamrockers.

Before we get started, a couple important notes. 1.) Will Parris from Parris Studios is a saint. That is the only word that can describe this photographer sent from the heavens to save our butts. As Jen + Kevin's shoot concluded, we left Balboa Park and beautiful San Diego only to realize when we got home that not only did we leave San Diego, we also left several batteries and chargers. Long story short, Will grabbed all the gear we left behind and dropped it off for us on his way back up to Orange County. A SAINT. . . . Thank you Will, not to mention he took the sweet photo booth pics below :-)

Special shout out to Susanne from Crown Weddings for all of her help the day of. Also, a plug to Karen Tran Florals as they were a large reason for why the footage looked so great at a stunning reception.

And here it is. . . . Jen + Kevin // A Double Highlight

P.S. - We are suckers for Photobooths. . . . thanks Will!

Jim + Barbara // The Silver Spoons

2010-05-17T16:23:00.001-07:00

Fun. That is quite possibly the easiest way to sum up Jim + Barbara's relationship, their personalities, and their wedding. These two just wanted to have a good time with some of their closest friends and family.

It was almost as though the ceremony was simply a formality and the true purpose of everyone coming together was simply to eat some amazing food, listen to incredible music, and partake in one crazy party. . . and they did.

But, first, as we are suckers for great stories, this one has a very unique facet. Barbara plays the spoons. If you have no idea what that means, don't worry, neither did we, but since it was made clear to us that she would be playing the spoons at the reception, we had to get the background info. Thus enjoy a unique trailer that has two sides, and whatever you do, be sure to stay until the end for my personal favorite shot of the day :-)

A HUGE thank you to Kathy Nosek from A Divine Occasion as she was a very big reason for why the day ran so smoothly. Also, we had the opportunity to work with Larry from Crandall Photo, be sure to check out his site for some incredible imagery!

Finally, we have filmed many weddings, but these guys really stand out. If you are looking for a top notch band, you simply have to check out Chuck Wansley and the Chuck Wansley Band. Just go to their site and click on the video. I promise they are as good as I've seen, not to mention, they are playing along with Barbara and her spoons :-)

Dave + Lindsay // The Anatomy of an Engagement

2010-05-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

We have been very lucky with the opportunity to share so many couples' stories of how they dated, fell in love, and ended up where they are on their wedding day, but never have we had an opportunity quite like the one that presented itself this week.

Dave, one of our cinematographers (and my brother), decided it was time to pop the question to his now fiance, Lindsay. So, being that we are suckers for good stories, what better an opportunity than to unfold the crazy story of what goes into a proposal. You will learn what happened as you watch, but just a couple fun behind the scenes points of interest.

1.) The ring really did arrive less than 5 minutes before Lindsay got to the house to go out to dinner.

2.) The gratuitous shot of the boxer in the back of the car is Bailey, our beloved four legged critter.

3.) Jackie (my wife) was more nervous than the guy popping the question, and was hiding on the beach along with me for the filming of the actual proposal.

4.) The majority of this film was shot and edited all in the same day (until 1:30 in the morning to be exact) so that Dave and Lindsay could surprise all of their family and friends by posting it on Facebook this morning. I'm sure they have received a few text messages by now :-)

So with cameras rolling days before, during, and after the big question, we came up with this. . .

The Anatomy of an Engagement.

A HUGE thank you to the following people:

1.) Steve Kim at Five Crowns in Corona Del Mar for letting us film in his restaurant. Such a great guy and the food at this place is unreal. Great spot for a special occasion.

2.) Eric Sahagian from Mars Jewelry. An old friend, fraternity brother, and amazing jewelry manufacturer. Couldn't have done it without you.

and thanks to the family for playing along as we put this all together. You know who you are.

Vicente + Deanna // A Sentimental SDE

2010-05-10T11:06:00.000-07:00

We took a different approach to this Same Day Edit, so be sure to let us know what you think!

In the past, we have put some funky, funny, and all around crazy cuts together for our couples and their guests to enjoy at the reception. With Vicente + Deanna, we wanted to slow it down a bit and tell a story.

So we brought Lorinda's (Maid of Honor) toast into the edit and tied into the emotion and excitement that was clearly evident at every turn of the day.

Thank you to Michelle Johnson from MichelleJohnsonPhotography for being such a plesure to work with and a very special thank you to Scott Yoffe from Entertainment Express as he was pivitol in helping us to tie everything together for the edit. Also, if you are looking for a venue for a wedding, go no further than Padua Hills Theatre. Just watch the SDE and check it out for yourself!

Jill + Matt // The Blind Date

2010-05-04T18:49:00.001-07:00

Jill + Matt are the perfect fit. A little faith in some good friends and a double date set the spark that has since created a relationship described as inseparable and meant for one another.

Perhaps my favorite aspect to this wedding was that it was simple, yet so beautiful. Jill got ready at her parents house; the wedding dress hanging in the bedroom she grew up in. We can't take all the credit for the story in this trailer as Heather Puhek from Beauty and the Beach was asking the questions, but we just happened to be there, so why not film, right???

As Jill and the girl finished up, Matt was waiting at the church with his best friend. The reception was held at the one and only Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace in Yorba Linda. As the sun touched the hillside and the day unveiled the evening, Jill + Matt were surrounded by the closest of family and friends.

A very special thank you to Gabriel Ryan from Gabriel.Ryan.Photographers. He was extremely accommodating throughout the day and gave us the flexibility to get creative with the coverage.

Gabriel also happened to be kind enough to lend us the photo you see below. Click here to check out his blog post of the day, where you will find more stunning imagery from this very talented man.

Keeping in the simple theme, we give you Jill + Matt. A simple romance. documented. enjoy.

On a separate note, I would like to give a shout out to Eric from Extreme DJ for always rockin' the reception. In fact, on this occasion, Ben and I teamed up with Gabriel and Carlie in a new tradition. For lack of a better term, I'm going to refer to this from now on as "Ghostriding the Cake". LOL, enjoy

Jason + Kristina // An Eclectic SDE

2010-04-26T10:47:00.000-07:00

What do Donuts, Kanye Glasses, Lucha Libre Masks, Cardboard Cutouts, Bobble Heads, Cinderella, and Utility Knives have in common??? LOL, this Same Day Edit of course!

Jason + Kristina is one of the most enjoyable couples we have been able to work with and their personality and style is in a class all its own. When we first arrived at the beautiful Hilton in Pasadena, we couldn't help but notice the life size cardboard cutouts of these two sitting in Kristina's suite. We simply had to find a corky way to incorporate those into the open for this larger than life SDE.

Jason, the self proclaimed King of Donuts, decided to give all of his groomsmen Lucha Libre masks and they in turn decided to wear them, which was beyond entertaining. From the "Power Up" to the Kung Fu Demonstration during the grand entrance, there was plenty of camera chemistry to go around.

As the reception ran along, the party grew larger and as the Same Day Edit was presented to over 250 guests, the footage was barely a couple hours old.

Special thanks to Joe Paxton from Atmosphere Entertainment for providing a rockin' reception, as always. Thank you also to Theresa from Hustle and Bustle Events for keeping the night on track.

And here it is, Jason + Kristina // an eclectic SDE . . .

Michael + Rachel // Unwritten Love

2010-04-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

Just days before the filming of this wedding, we contacted Michael + Rachel's amazing coordinator, Kelly from Mint Weddings (shameless plug: if you need a superior coordinator look no further than Kelly!), to go over the final timeline. It was then that we were told that Scott Russo from the band Unwritten Law was going to be singing an acoustic version of "Cailin" for their first dance.

You see, Unwritten Law is one of Michael + Rachel's all time favorite bands and what better way to surprise your wife-to-be than to bring the lead singer from the band to your wedding to perform your song for the first dance. . . . . tough to beat that one.

So as Rachel sat clueless upstairs at their ultra lounge reception for hours, Scott carefully snuck in the back door to the downstairs club and needless to say, it was an epic surprise. When looking to put together Michael + Rachel's highlights, how could we not make use of such a great performance and memorable moment?

So here you have it, Michael + Rachel // Unwritten Love

Enjoy! -Steve

From Weddings to Energy Drinks

2010-04-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

When we were first contacted by Rockstar Energy Drink to put together a concept video for their models, we were taken back to learn that they had found us because of a blog post from a wedding. . .

It is so rewarding and so much fun to take so many of the techniques we apply to weddings and bring them to life in the corporate model as well. So here is the concept video we put together for Rockstar Energy Drink. {Follow Up Note: We just filmed another feature for Rockstar, so stay tuned for another fun post :-)}

April + Casey ~ The Matron of Honor

2010-03-30T16:32:00.000-07:00

Periodically, we have the privilege of filming a sibling of a past bride or groom and it is always both a pleasure and a blast as we get to see old faces and reunite with some of our favorites.

April is the younger sister or Danielle, whose wedding we filmed several years back. Since we recently posted a fun clip highlighting the Best Man, why not give the Matron of Honor her due?

Plus, to make things a little more fun, we couldn't help but show the commotion that took place prior to the ceremony with the bridesmaids as they frantically recited their last minute rehearsal of where and how to stand just minutes before the ceremony began. . .

A special thank you to Scott Soluk with Off the Record Entertainment for being so easy to work with and helpful at the reception.

Without further adieu, April + Casey.

It Runs in the Family

2010-03-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

While I am most certainly a filmmaker, I would still consider my craft a form of photography. After all, movies are nothing but a succession of images shown one frame after another to simulate the look of "motion". So, in a round-a-bout way, I consider myself a photographer, too. :-)

Over the past two weeks, my father was cleaning out my grandfather's house and he found a few cameras that had been stored away for many decades by now. One belongs to my grandfather. It is the F-2 Nikon series for all you Nikon junkies out there. A cool camera that still works just fine I might add. My grandfather used to go to the Dodger games with a Media Pass and photograph the players back in the Koufax, Drysdale era. My father grew up in the press box at the Ravine and I still haven't forgiven him for wearing and losing, might I add, BOTH ballcaps that Don Drysdale wore during the 1963 and 1965 world series. I suppose you take those things for granted when you are a kid. He also decided it was best to play catch with a ball that was signed by the ENTIRE 1963 world series Dodgers team (for those that don't know or care, in the right condition, that ball would be worth over $10,000 today). I still have the ball, but you can barely make out any of the signatures. Another story for another blog post. In any case, my grandfather's camera is sightly vintage, but nothing like the other camera my father found in my grandfather's closet.

I must admit that I didn't think I would be as fascinated as I was today and I must say it is such a cool feeling to hold your great-grandfather's camera. I never knew the man, but I could only imagine the pictures he must have taken and how great he felt when he first held this camera.

The Eastman Kodak No. 3a - Autographic Junior Model-A was made from 1914-1926. My grandfather wasn't able to tell me what year it was purchased, but based on the fact that it is a Model A (there was a Model B and C), and the last patent on the casing shows 1917 as the date, I think this camera was likely purchased around 1918, which would make it 92 years old.

The shutter still works and the camera is in surprisingly decent condition. A little rust and the side strap is broken off, but all in all, I think it would still take a picture. Such a great little piece of history and I'm so stoked to have such an amazing family heirloom sitting in the studio. There are now 3 different generations of cameras proudly sitting on display.

My Grandfathers Nikon F-2 Series. . .

My Great Grandfather's Eastman Kodak No. 3a Autographic Junior Model-A . . .

3 Generations and their respective gear . . .

Such a Sick Family Heirloom!

A Rant {The Importance of a Good Wedding Film}

2010-03-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

As a wedding filmmaker, I feel as though our job can become a twofold approach. It is not uncommon for us to meet with couples and have the first thing they say be, "At first, we really weren't interested in having a wedding video". Back when I used to hear this, I would want to become defensive of our industry, but the truth is that over time I have learned that most couples simply don't know:

1.) the difference between a "wedding video" and a "wedding film"

2.) what a good film looks like

3.) what huge regret they will have if they don't document their day in the way it deserves to be documented

4.) They are overwhelmed by all the garbage they find combing through the endless demos they find on the internet. A montage of slow motion clips to a sappy song. . . sound familiar???

It is because of these factors that I often tell our couples to "throw every preconceived notion they have about a "wedding video" out the window", because to be honest, that phrase doesn't do our craft justice.

A wedding film is much more than a regurgitation of the days events. We are not here to show you what happened that day all over again. Uncle Joe will be more than happy to do that with his handi-cam over lunch at his house. We are here to show you your day in a way you never thought was possible. We are here to create a piece of art that not only you can watch, but your friends, your family, and even strangers will enjoy as well. There are so many facets to one day that go unnoticed and it is our job to bring those to the forefront. We are here to do what no "wedding video" can do. . . . we are here to tell your story through a film. You will laugh, cry, laugh again, then grab the tissues, and I GUARANTEE any groom who says, "why do we even need a video" will reconsider once we show you what we can do with a camera and a couple hours.

I received this card in the mail just a few days ago from one of our brides who gets it. While she may not use the lingo (film vs. video), she understands what it is we can offer that no photographer can give you. Don't get me wrong, the photographs are incredibly important, but don't tell me a good wedding film should ever take a back seat to a photo album.

When the flowers have wilted, the linens have been returned, the dress put away in a box, and the gifts have been opened. . . . all that will remain are your pictures AND your wedding film. Just my 2 cents.

Nancy + Jack // The Push-Up Parade

2010-03-19T15:02:00.001-07:00

One of the great parts about sharing the big day with our couples is we are constantly introduced to new firsts and fun traditions. With each culture comes different customs, some dating back thousands of years. The Tea Ceremonies, the signing of the Ketubah, or perhaps, henna on the palms. Each culture is different and amazing in its own way, but I think some of the Chinese traditions are without a doubt, the most entertaining to experience.

So the way it works is, Jack is to meet up with Nancy prior to the ceremony. As he approaches the house where Nancy is getting ready, he has to yell at the top of his lungs, "Hello Nancy Yip, I'm here to Marry You". At this point, her bridesmaids and friends come down and make Jack and his groomsmen answer a series of questions and perform tasks to gain entrance through the front door. Trivia is usually related to the bride and groom's relationship.

. . . . . well, for every question they get wrong (i.e. guessing which lipstick is Nancy's by looking at a bunch of lips pressed against a piece of paper, or guessing which artist is singing the song they are hearing) they have to do push-ups.

Let's just say Jack and the Groomsmen got their workout for the day, as you'll see in the clip below. Enjoy Nancy + Jack :-)

Brent + Denise // aka Brenise

2010-03-01T09:01:00.000-08:00

I feel as though I've said this 5 thousand times now, but for some reason, nothing ever gets old about vineyard weddings. I suppose that sentence deserves a, "well, duh!", however I felt the need to write the sentence anyways.

Brent + Denise, or Brenise, as they affectionately refer to themselves, set the scene for a vineyard in October. With the fall effect in full swing, these two tied the knot in one of the most romantic ceremonies we have ever been a part of. The craziest part is that the readings were so good, that we didn't even include their hand written vows to one another in this trailer. . . you have to save a little candy for the feature film, you know?

So instead, we focused on a very simple, yet powerful reading defining the concept of Marriage. For you married folks out there, myself included, this reading couldn't be closer to the truth on so many levels, so be sure to pay attention as you watch this clip. From the beautiful overflowing vines to a sneak glimpse at the officiant while he was rehearsing on a bench prior to the ceremony, this trailer incorporates some great imagery tied together with a very prophetic reading about marriage.

A very special thanks and shout out to Lane Dittoe, photographer extraordinaire for all his help on the big day and Joe over at Atmosphere Entertainment for keeping the party rockin'.

. . . and here it is, Brent + Denise // aka Brenise

-enjoy! - Steve

Josh + Leah // Good Things Come in Small Packages

2010-02-23T09:07:00.000-08:00

We posted Josh + Leah's Same Day Edit a while back, but I wanted to post it side by side with their trailer to emphasize the difference between the two. Storytelling is a big portion of what we do, and while the Same Day Edit is a great vehicle to show your guests the day in a way they didn't know was possible, our edits after the shoot are where we have the time to really be meticulous. I've posted both the Same Day Edit and the Trailer next to one another for you to check out.

The Same Day Edit. . .

Their Trailer. . .

Billy + Amy // A Winery Wedding

2010-02-09T15:31:00.000-08:00

Of all the venues that are at the disposal of any given couple, there is something timeless and so romantic about a fall wedding on a vineyard. Billy + Amy were married in style at Ponte Family Estate. I could begin to write on about all the details, but it's so much better to simply check out the trailer. . .

A special shout out to Joel and Studio EMP for being a pleasure to work with as always. True professionals with a rockin' eye for stunning imagery, check em' out!

A beautiful wedding for a wonderful couple. . . . .

Enjoy :-)

-Steve

Weddings by SML Wins 2010 Bride's Choice Awards

2010-02-05T07:57:00.001-08:00

So today was pretty exciting when we received the word that WeddingWire has just announced Weddings by SML has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards for Wedding Videography!!!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

So what this means is Weddings by SML is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada!

We are honored to be considered among the very best within the WeddingWire Network and a very large thank you goes out to all our couples for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards!!!

Here's to another fun and exciting year in 2010!

-Steve

Tina + Lucas ~ The Best Man

2010-01-25T17:13:00.000-08:00

One of the many signs of a great relationship is change for the better. When a couple can support one another and help to shape each other into the people they long to be over the course of a lifetime, that is true love.

Lucas and Tina are clearly in a great relationship. Lucas' best man gave a toast that was short and simple, but we think it is the best toast we have heard in a long time. Filled with nothing but heart felt words of honesty and emotion, it was truly an honor to have the opportunity to share it through their trailer.

While clever phrases and well timed punch lines seem to dominate the reception mic, sometimes simplicity is best.

We posted Tina + Lucas' Same Day Edit, if you missed it, check it out here. So for their trailer, we didn't want to give away too much good stuff, so in the spirit of the post, we kept it simple :-)

A very special thank you and shout out to Joe Broccardo from Broccardo Photography. Not only can he create amazing imagery, he's handy with a needle. Thimble not included. See for yourself. . .

Brian + Kimberly // The North Chapel + A Navy Wedding

2010-01-19T13:34:00.000-08:00

One of the most rewarding and challenging parts of our business is the ability to provide the ultimate keepsake of a day filled with so much emotion and tradition. This wedding was even more challenging in that Brian is in the Navy and was deployed off to Afghanistan shortly after the big day, so it goes without saying that a lot of trust was placed in us by Kimberly to document their wedding. . . . no pressure, right???

. . . . The two were married in the North Chapel at Liberty Station Marketplace. Built in 1942 by the United States Navy as a place of worship for thousands of recruits and serviceman, it was a beautiful site for a military wedding to take place.

So here it is, Brian + Kimberly!

Enjoy :-)
-Steve

Nikki + Chris // Best Friends

2010-01-11T14:18:00.000-08:00

What is it about Bagpipes? There is nothing better than watching a bride, or in this case, the groomsmen walk into the ceremony with nothing playing but a bagpipe. It simply resonates and gives me chills when I hear it. So it had to be included in Nikki + Chris' trailer.

Married at the beautiful Coto De Caza Gold and Racquet Club, Nikki + Chris celebrated in style all night long. It was only fitting that they should choose a classic Queen song, as it is clear they truly are best friends.

Enjoy!
-Steve

Mike + Christine at the Mission Inn

2009-12-23T08:28:00.000-08:00

Every year, it seems like more and more old friends are getting married and there is nothing more enjoyable than to have the opportunity to film those weddings. My friendship with Mike dates back to the fraternity days where it began as simply a Warden/AM experience (Sorry, Pi Kappa Phi Reference). For the rest reading this, let's just say that I was a "Pledge" and he was in charge of the "Pledges". Enough said.

Of all the people I met along my path through fraternity, I do have to say that Mike is without a doubt one guy that I have always had the utmost respect for. Truly a stand-up individual with all the qualities of a great man, and I was humbled that he would ask us to film his wedding.

As several years have passed since the good ol' days, Mike is still the same great guy and thus it is clear why he ended up with Christine. They are truly deserving of one another and it is clear they "dig" each other. I found this song by Incubus to be perfect for their trailer, as it is not only a song they chose, but one that is very reflective of relationships in general. . . . and to be honest, it's just fun to edit to. :-)

Enjoy!
-Steve

Randy + Michelle // Finding Forever

2009-12-10T10:18:00.000-08:00

This summer was the wedding season with a little flavor. . . . as we had so much fun experiencing new venues and hidden gems. The Kyoto Grand is no exception.

Located in Downtown LA, perhaps it simply gets lost among the skyscrapers, but make no mistake, this is a beautiful and unique venue for a wedding, and it was perfect for Randy + Michelle.

Nestled into the rooftop garden, the two were married in the most intimate of ceremonies, and we must say that Michelle was simply stunning in her dress. There was so much great footage to choose from for this trailer, but we didn't want to spoil the final film for the newlyweds, so we had to keep it short, sweet, and simple.

Here it is, Randy + Michelle.

-Steve

Heather + Richard {The Happiest of Endings}

2009-11-20T10:21:00.000-08:00

The daily grind. . . life grabs you constantly on a daily basis and pulls you in every direction. Whether it is getting up for work, or fighting traffic to be somewhere, or simply dealing with the cards you are dealt. . . sometimes we forget to stop, pause, and take a deep breath.

We stumbled upon this song awhile ago and I find it's message to be applicable in so many areas of our lives, and the wedding day is another perfect example.

To say Heather and Richard's wedding was epic simply wouldn't do it justice. From the jeweled centerpieces, to the cigar roller, to the ultra lounge after-hours party, this wedding was seeping with details. Then to top it off, they chose to get married at the one and only Rancho Las Lomas, a venue that hosts acreage as far as the eye can see covered with photo ops and animals (they even have bangled tigers). Our minds go into overdrive at this venue because there simply isn't a bad spot to shoot. Anywhere.

While planning this wedding was most certainly not an easy task, it becomes ironic that once the day arrives, there is no planning left to be had. All Heather + Richard had left to do, was stop, pause, and take a deep breath.

It is on that thought that we proudly present to you

Heather + Richard {The Happiest of Endings}

A very HUGE shout out to Lane, Amy, and Rani Lu of Amy Squires and Co for their hard work that day as well as always being so much fun to work with. Truly great photographers. Another shout out to Kerrie Underhill of Platinum Weddings by Kerrie. This wedding was amazing and there is no way it could have gone off the way it did without her there!

Enjoy!
-Steve

Jon + Elizabeth {A Boston Wedding}

2009-10-30T00:18:00.001-07:00

I first started communicating with Elizabeth almost a year before her wedding. She was looking for a distinctive look in her wedding film and was having trouble finding it locally. We must have exchanged 25 emails before her and Jon decided to take a leap of faith and put their trust into our hands for the big day.

Well, if that isn't pressure, I don't know what is, but I must say that I have yet to meet a more gracious and hospitable couple. It is so ironic that we only had to fly across the country to find them :-) When we first met with Elizabeth to go over the day's events, she was so easy to work with and she even gave us the quick nickel tour of our surroundings. . . . and when you are in Boston, you'll take anything you can get! Every building, every street, every crevice in Boston has a story. . .

Jon + Elizabeth were married in the heart of Boston, which gave them the opportunity to have their portraits taken in front of a 500 foot long reflection pond and the stunning architecture of the Church of Christian Science Headquarters (Home of the Christian Science Monitor). The scenery was jaw dropping and needless to say, our minds were running a million miles an hour with ways to shoot this one.

A couple of other fun details, Jon is an enormous Red Sox fan, of course, if you hang out in Boston long enough (and you don't originate from New York), I'm not sure how you couldn't be a Red Sox fan. So we added a few fun "sox" touches to this highlight, including iconic Fenway Park. Also, the two exchanged gifts before the ceremony. Jon coughed up the coins for a beautiful Tiffany's solitaire pendant necklace and well, Elizabeth. . . . . . she gave Jon a "for his eyes only" kind of gift (Had to promise we would shoot him opening it in silouette :-).

It was a shame we only had the opportunity to spend a few short hours with Jon + Elizabeth, but it was time well spent and we feel honored to have had the opportunity to fly over 3000 miles to document such a wonderful wedding.

A quick shout out to Catherine from Catherine Morris Photography. What fun to work with and if you are looking for a photograher in the New Hamshire area, she gets our vote for sure! She is coming out to California in February and we hope to meet up at that point to catch up!

So with much love from one coast to the other, here is Jon + Elizabeth.

Enjoy! :-)

-Steve

Josh + Leah + A Same Day Edit

2009-10-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

Contemporary, Vintage, Elegant, Raw, Flavor. . . . . . Serious Flavor.

Josh + Leah didn't miss a detail for their wedding. From the flowers to the food (oh what incredibly tasty food), nothing went to chance. Perhaps it is because Leah is a wedding coordinator. . . . you see when Leah contacted us and said she wanted to book with us because we were different than anything she had seen, well at first I was floored. There is nothing like a compliment from a fellow wedding vendor, especially a coordinator who has seen it all. Then I became extremely nervous as that is a high bar to set for a same day edit. As the clock ticked, we edited away until we came up with this, Josh + Leah's Same Day Edit.

Special thanks to Brandon Kidd from Brandon Kidd Photography. His style and art never ceased to amaze us, you HAVE to check him out. Thank you Alicia at In the Now Weddings & Events for her help with the day's festivities and one last shout out to Smog Shoppe, the ultra chic venue in LA. Off the wall imagery at every corner, a must see!

Enjoy :-)
-Steve

Jenny + Anthony // Same Old Song and Dance {not really}

2009-10-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

This past year was full of fun surprises and some of our couples surprised their guests with some wedding day choreography. Jenny has an extensive background in dance and Anthony. . . . well Anthony married Jenny, so there you go. LOL, actually we think Anthony held his own in this one, you be the judge :-)

Namsil + Jung // Surprise! You're Engaged

2009-10-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

Traditions. . .

Every family has them, and some traditions have been passed on for centuries. Every culture has an ancient rite of passage and many of them take place on the wedding day.

The Korean PaeBaek ritiual is one in which the groom's family formally accepts the bride into their home. As modern times have changed and most of the time the newlyweds don't move in with the groom's parents, so to has the ritual changed to usually include the parents from both sides. Regardless of the updates to the ritual, is still has deep roots in Korean culture and we were thrilled to be a part of it with Namsil and Jung on their big day.

With this trailer, I thought I would take a fusion-like approach mixing in elements from the PaeBaek as well as the modern day ceremony. With both elements being such a large part of their day, how could I not include the footage from both ceremonies?

You may be wondering about the title of this Blog post, but just watch the trailer, and you'll get the idea :-)

A special thanks to Esther Kim from My Bride Story Weddings & Events for both her help with the wedding day itself as well as a VERY informative site explaining the entire PaeBaek tradition. If you are interested in learning more about this fascinating wedding ritual, click here.

And here is Namsil + Jung, enjoy!

Cristina + Lucas - A Same Day Edit

2009-10-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

I constantly refer to traditional weddings with large families being so much fun to film. Lucas and Cristina have VERY large families.

From the beginning of the day, the bridal suite was buzzing with excitement as the girls got ready. We met up with the guys downstairs at the bar and they were as relaxed as could be. Even when the guys lost a button off one of the tuxes, no problem, Joe Broccardo (Photographer + Seamstress Extraordinaire) was there to take care of it. The guys were just as easy to work with as the girls and it shows in the footage.

As we got to the reception. . . . "WOW" was all that came to mind. The guys from Atmosphere Entertainment didn't dissapoint and the room was immaculate. I cannot stress what a difference lighting can make at a reception and I think you will see with the grand entrance and the first dance footage what we were able to capture. It was a no brainer that it had to be included in this clip.

It was so rewarding to pull this edit together for the reception as 250+ guests sat and watched last night. A very large congratulations to Cristina + Lucas and here's to happiness and great memories in the years to come!

Truly a special day and a special couple!

Enjoy :-)

Sean + Karen // A Twist on Formalities

2009-10-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

Sean + Karen were married in October in beautiful San Clemente. This couple tops our list in 2009 for couple with the best sense of humor. Be sure to check out the dance at the end of this clip, absolutely hilarious!

Enjoy!
-Steve

***NOTE*** - Due to the length of this clip, we recommend you press "Play", then "Pause" and allow the clip to load for a minute before continuing to view. This will ensure optimal playback :-)

Tyffani + Brad "She was cute, it was simple"

2009-10-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

The first love, everyone has one, but not often do you find it to be the same person you end up spending the rest of your life with.

As we arrived to this shoot, the first thing that caught my eye was the photo montage of these two. Pictures from over the years flooded the peg board and it was as if you could see how their relationship had blossomed with time.

Tyffani and Brad decided to incorporate their story into the ceremony, thus it was only fitting to incorporate it into their trailer as well. From living in 4 different states, to being engaged for two years, this day was a long time in the making. Not to mention the two suggested a song from The Cure, which throws a fun little spin into this clip.

Shot on location at Pacific Edge in Laguna Beach. A Special thanks Priscilla Granger from At Your Service Catering for her help with the shoot. Also, thank you to DJ Todd from E-Mobile Music for keeping the night rockin'!

And here is Tyffani + Brad, enjoy!

-Steve :-)

Frank, Patricia, and Mr. Dad

2009-09-25T14:17:00.001-07:00

I must say that this was the first time we filmed a father and daughter performing a remix dance to "Beat It", and that was just the beginning. . . .

It was such an honor to be a part of Frank and Patricia's big day. Tradition, respect, and love play such a huge role in both of their families and everyone was so easy to work with. How cool to see the parents from both sides greeting every guest that entered the room at the reception. Filmed on location at the Mission Inn, Riverside, a venue synonymous with beautiful weddings, this one didn't disappoint.

And the fact that this Bride and Groom like to dance didn't hurt either. . . . .

Here's Frank + Patricia, the Trailer.

Enjoy

-Steve :-)

P.S. - Special request from Patricia to show the entire "Beat It" portion of the dance with her father, so here it is. . . .

"Do What You Love and You'll Never Work a Day in Your Life"

2009-09-23T14:39:00.001-07:00

Confucius wasn't lying. . . . . .

One of the most rewarding parts of our job is the ability to create something that is truly unique. Our couples know that we don't do ordinary and I like to think that all of our couples are distinct in that they hire us because they are looking for something that is truly extraordinary. We go into each shoot with that in mind and when we receive thank you cards, I always like to share them because I feel that every time we receive one of these cards, it shows that the mission has been accomplished.

Just today, we received a pair of thank you cards, one from Sean + Sara, who we had the joy of filming in Palm Springs, and the other came from Ryan + Sara, who took the plunge at Padua Hills.

Congratulations to both couples and may we say "thank you" for the thank you!

Here are the cards they sent:

Ryan + Jessica - Contemporary Flair

2009-09-15T14:53:00.001-07:00

When Jessica first contacted us, she was interested in having the first glance between her and Ryan take place at the Lab in Costa Mesa. Instantly, we were in.

I think these two had one of the most emotional and moving first glances I have ever had the privilege of filming and I think it is a testament to just how deeply in love with one another Ryan and Jessica are. We had a blast not only putting together a killer photo session with Janel Conlan from Focus Photography, Inc., but also simply partaking in such a great day with two very gracious and fun loving people.

Congratulations again to Ryan and Jessica and enjoy the trailer!

-Steve :-)

Cooper Acoutin - Past Groom - Future Superstar

2009-09-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

So this post has NOTHING to do with weddings. . . . . . . well, that's not entirely true, you see, you'll remember Cooper from two other clips that have made the blog. He was featured in a Save the Date video with his now wife Lauren, and we posted their trailer a short while ago as well!

Cooper is a drummer and that's all he wants to be, forever. He even formed a company (Acoutin Custom) which fabricates custom drumsets. If you get into a conversation with him about drumming or making drums, he will happily tell you that drumming is what he wants to do, forever. It goes without saying that this is most certainly why he was put on this earth.

It also goes without saying that he is good, really, really good. . . and I was honored when he asked us to put together a drum solo video for him with the intention of building a reel/business card for the industry.

So we got together late on a Monday night and filmed into the wee hours of the morning until we arrived with enough tape for two songs. This is the remix he laid down for the Jay Z song, "Run This Town". We also put together a killer video to an Eminem track, but for the sake of keeping this blog G rated, I haven't posted it here (lyrics to the song will not be found on the Disney channel). If you would like to view the Eminem track, just email me and I'll shoot you the link :-)

Cooper Acoutin, you are a talented man, and all I can say is don't forget about us little people when you become famous. . . . .

-Steve :-)

Ryan + Sarah - Perfect With Many Imperfections

2009-08-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

When we first met up with Ryan and Sarah, it was evident that their day was going to be all about having a great time with family and friends, and they didn't let us down. As the thermometer cracked 101 on a blistering Sunday afternoon, Ryan and Sarah were married at the stunning Padua Hills Theatre. If you are looking for a venue that offers nothing but Kodak moments everywhere, this is the place. Special thanks to David from David Torralva Photography for being so easy to work with, too!

Perhaps one of the best parts of the day was the newlyweds toasts to one another. Unfortunately, since this is a trailer, you won't see most of what they said, but we simply had to include how Sarah summarized Ryan with such a simple phrase. (. . .the title of the post kind of gives it away. . . )

We pride ourselves on creating unique films that fit our clients. Ryan and Sarah made it very clear that they wanted their film to be upbeat, crazy, and all about the moment and just embracing the atmosphere of the day. So be warned, this edit is not for the sappy human, in fact, if you want to harness a box of tissues and some comfort food, may we suggest you scroll down a post or two to another clip.

This one is all about two things. . . . love and fun. . . . oh and maybe the glow sticks at the reception!

Enjoy!

Steve :-)

Stay Tuned. . . . .

2009-08-21T14:19:00.000-07:00

Off to Boston

2009-08-12T00:17:00.000-07:00

Whenever we have the opportunity to travel to share our couple's stories, it is truly a great experience and this one should be no exception.

We are thrilled to be spending this weekend in Boston for Elizabeth and Jon's wedding. Can't wait to get some amazing footage around the historic city and experience such an exciting wedding in such a spectacular place.

Stay tuned. . . . .

-Steve :-)

We LOVE the LOVE!!!

2009-08-07T16:45:00.001-07:00

Just this past week, we received a couple very nice thank you cards as well as some goodies from our past couples. Amy and Ben (who is a Navy Seal) were way too kind in not only sending us some bad ass Navy Seal Stickers,

but a SWEET Navy Seal Polo as well!!!!

Finally, Amy and Ben were kind enough to send a very nice thank you card, too!

which left me no choice but respond in SIGN language. . . (sorry the jokes don't get better)

Also, we received a wonderful thank you card from Allison and Rob for the Same Day Edit we did for them. If you didn't have an opportunity to check it out, click HERE to watch thier SDE. This is the card they sent

A very special thank you to Ben + Amy and Rob + Allison for all the Love! It was a pleasure to work with both couples and we can only hope to have many more just as awesome as the four of you were!

-Steve :-)

jake ♥ kiki - The Highlights

2009-07-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

One of the most intriguing aspects for me about the wedding day is the history and strong family traditions and values that are ever present at each shoot. When Kiki's father spoke about what it meant to him to give his daughter away to Jake, it simply reinforced my belief that a strong family is such a great foundation for the beginning of a marriage.

It was evident both on their wedding day as well as the rehearsal dinner that both Kiki and Jake come from very tight knit and strong families. Traditions played a big role in this wedding and they were exemplified in all the details. From photographs of grandparents in a locket on the bouquet, to a grand entrance capped off with their college fight song, Jake and Kiki didn't miss a thing.

My personal favorite to this highlight is the Vespa parked out in front of the Balboa Bay Club. While we have the opportunity to share in many couples' special day, I have never seen a Bride and Groom drive off at the end of the night on a Vespa, and as they say, "Just when I think I've seen it all. . . . . " you get the idea.

A very special thanks to Jim Kennedy from Jim Kennedy Photographers. We randomly had the opportunity to work together twice within a month, so that was definately a treat as he is always a pleasure to work with!

Also, thank you to Lisa Moon from Lisa Moon Events for moving the evening along just as planned. A good coordinator is worth her weight in gold and Lisa is a great coordinator!

So here are the wedding day highlights from jake ♥ kiki, enjoy! :-)

Erin + Greg - 7 Years, but Worth the Wait

2009-07-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

Erin and Greg went to high school together. For whatever reason, their relationship didn't blossom until much further down the road, but as anyone who was at the wedding would tell you, their love for each other truly has grown over the years into a foundation for a marriage that will last a lifetime.

These two decided to have the party in style at the Ritz in Dana Point after a beautiful ceremony at St. Edward's in Dana Point. With so many of our recent clips reflecting a slightly faster pace, we decided to slow it down a bit for this trailer. We found a great song for Erin and Greg and we hope you like it, too!

A special shout out to Joel Eckman Maus from StudioEMP! Thanks for being easy to work with and we hope to have the privilege of shooting with you again!

Erin + Greg, enjoy!
-Steve

Allison + Robert - aBadKad Same Day Edit

2009-07-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

This one was unique from the start. First off, a HUGE shout out to Allison + Robert for making this wedding their own. I have never seen lemons, limes, and oranges used as centerpieces on tables, and it totally rocked!

Second, I have to say that the father of the bride stole our heart with his Mint 46' Cadillac. As soon as we saw that car, we knew it was going to be a part of the SDE, hence we reference the license plate in this post.

Third, the watch that Allison gave Rob as a wedding gift was sweet, and let's face it Rob, you can never go wrong with Diamond Studs for the bride, never seen a bride who didn't like those. :-) Funny that the two of them got the same card to go with the gifts, as one bridesmaid said, "It must be a sign!" Be sure to pay attention for the shots of the gifts in the SDE.

And Finally, a huge shout out to the crazy cool vendors who helped to make last night's presentation a success. First, thank you to Kim Sanders and her team from Art With Nature as we were in their hair trying to get some fun ring shots with their fruity centerpieces for awhile!

Second, thanks to Tracy Norred from Serendipity Images Photography for letting us have our way with the lovely couple and being so easy to work with. And finally, a shout out to John from After Dark Entertainment for arranging the audio for the SDE. These presentations can't go off the way they do without help from DJs like John!

So without further ado, we bring to you Allison + Robert - aBadKad SDE. . . .

Enjoy!
-Steve

Lauren + Cooper - The Rock Trailer

2009-07-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to use this song in a trailer since the first time I heard it. Already being a HUGE Kings of Leon fan, I had to find the right wedding to use it in, and here it is.

Having done our first shoot for the save the date back last year (you can see it HERE), I feel like I've known Lauren and Cooper forever already, and to see the day finally come, and in experiencing it with the two of them and their incredibly gracious families, I have to say how perfect the day truly was.

We started at the Waterfront Hilton in Huntington Beach and made our way to the Newland House in Huntington (hidden gem of a location by the way). Being that Cooper is in a rock band of his own, I figured what better than to pick up the pace on this trailer and bring you a wedding in a way you probably aren't used to seeing it.

A very special thanks to Wendy Walker for all of her help at the reception, not to mention I have to give a shout out to her Vintage Mic as well! Andrea Martin from Something Blue Stylists also brought her flair to the day with a great hair and makeup session for the girls as well.

Hope you enjoy!
-Steve

Danny + Krystal - A Photo Fakeout

2009-07-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

When Krystal and I were chatting on the phone for this Same Day Edit, her idea was to start with photographs to give the guests the idea that it was going to just be a photo montage, then we would come in with the Same Day Edit and give everyone an idea of what went on throughout the day!

Love the bridal prep shots in this one and we ended with a fun little stop motion piece that I hope you enjoy. Krystal also had a couple photos that she wanted to add at the end as well, what a fun wedding and a great family!

P.S. - I LOVE Mariachis

Enjoy!
-Steve

We Love Thank You Cards

2009-06-30T11:20:00.001-07:00

As I always say, the most rewarding part of this business is the joy we bring to our couples. Nikki and Josh were so easy to work with and I thought I would share the card they sent us. :-)

In case you didn't have an opportunity to check out their trailer, you can view it HERE.

Sean + Sara Heating Up Palm Springs

2009-06-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

When the thermometer hit 106 as we entered beautiful La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs, I was a bit concerned about the day. Fortunately, we brought extra water bottles and Sean and Sara brought some personality to a wonderful wedding.

I found it so perfect that the officiant mentioned that sometimes in marriage, "it's the little things that are really the big things". I found that to be so evident all day as detail after detail was planned to a "T". There was so much footage from this one that I was somewhat overwhelmed as I sat down to put together this trailer. You'll notice a fun touch at the end that gives a shout out to the candy station, because in all honesty, it was one of the hits of the reception. Who doesn't love candy?

A special thanks to Jim Kennedy from Jim Kennedy Photography for being so easy to work with and also shout out to Jenna Ball for keeping everything rolling right down to the minute. Always a pleasure to work with great vendors!

And here it is, Sara + Sean, enjoy!
-Steve

Why the Photo-Booth Rocks - Reason #423

2009-06-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

So I was totally bummed because I took the greatest Photo-Booth Pictures with David and Melissa at their wedding back in January. I got back to the studio the following Monday and sure enough, I couldn't find the picture. I LOOKED EVERYWHERE.

Well, as time would have it, the picture finally popped up this past week when I opened a zipper I completely forgot I had in my camera bag.

And there you have it, reason #423 why the Photo-Booth Rocks - Because they allow you to find cool hide-away zipper pockets in your camera bag. (. . . . ok I know, not a good reason, but hey, why do you think it is all the way down at #423 ???)

P.S. - My favorite is the one down in the bottom right corner

What a great couple to work with!
- Steve :-)

Nikki, Josh & Tivoli, Too!

2009-06-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

What a fun couple, and a truly a pleasure to work with! Nikki and Josh were married at Tivoli, Too! in Laguna Beach. The song from this trailer says it all with these two. Just a relaxing laid back way to start a new life together!

Here's the trailer from their big day.

Enjoy :-)
-Steve

Lauren + Jonathan {a beach-town wedding}

2009-05-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

With wedding season in full swing, we have so much footage on the hard drives just waiting to jump on the blog. . . the trick is finding the time to make the posts happen.

Having said that, here is a Gem from a truly generous easy going couple. . . .

Lauren and Jonathan were married in Laguna Beach at St Catherine of Siena with an amazing reception at the Island Hotel in Newport. It's easy to find the motivation to cut a film when you can clearly see that a couple is very much in love as is the case with these two. While we are hard at work on the full length film, here is the trailer from the day.

A very special thanks to Mike Carcano of Carcano DJ for all of his help at the reception. Plus, Eric Cotter from Jim Kennedy Photographers was great to work with as well!

On a side note, pay special attention in this one to some more great footage from the Canon 5D Mark II. You'll notice it in the ring shots and the final clip of the invitation. So exciting to have this great piece of equipment in our arsenal this year.

Enjoy! :-)
-Steve

Kent and Michelle - Save the Date

2009-05-06T14:59:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is about Wine Country, but for some reason, it is one of the most relaxing places on Earth. The vineyards, the fresh air, the open space, all of it just brings out the greatest vibe. So when Kent and Michelle told us they wanted to film their Save the Date video in Temecula's Wine Country, we were in.

If you have never heard of a Save the Date Video, this is a great opportunity to check it out. What better way to spread the good word than with your own customized DVD inviting your guests to Save the Date!

Enjoy :-) - Steve

Mark and Alison {How Sweet it Is} A Same Day Edit

2009-04-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, my sincerest apologies for neglecting the blog as of late. We have been gearing up for "Wedding Season" and I feel like I haven't been posting enough recently, but rest assured, this is the first of many to come in a short period of time!!!

Having said that, I couldn't be happier with the following Same Day Edit to get the season kicked off right!

Mark and Alison were married in Carlsbad at the beautiful Saint Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church with their reception following at the Crossings in Carlsbad. We had the privilege to experience the day first hand from the champagne lunch with the girls, to the fondue fountain desert at the reception.

This same day edit is especially fun because we had the opportunity to interview the newlyweds before the wedding and get their take not only on the wedding day, but how they met, a thought or two about the baby pictures, and also some thank you's and warm words for the guests as everyone watched the presentation at the end of the night!

A HUGE shout out and thank you to the one and ONLY Amy Squires of Amy Squires and Co. Her work is second to none and we had such a blast working with her as well!

This was also our first shoot this year with our newest toy. . . the Canon 5D Mark II. Nothing like a 22 megapixel still camera that can also record High Definition Video at 1080P, and give us the opportunity to explore the world of 35mm lenses. (and if you didn't get that last sentence, it's okay. . . just watch the clip below and enjoy the ring shots :-)

Here's to the start of a jam-packed summer of fun weddings! - Steve :-)

Weddings by SML wins an Accolade Award

2009-04-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

Not that awards really matter when it comes down to the nitty gritty of the wedding filmmaker, but I'm not going to lie. . . it is cool. :-)

Truly an honor to be recognized by our peers as a production house that is putting out noteworthy pieces that ideally reflect well on our industry as a whole and where we are trying to take it. We were honored to receive notice that Erin and Greg's Save the date video was not only fun to film and edit, but it also was worthy of an Accolade.

If you haven't had an opportunity to check out Erin and Greg's Save the Date, you can view it HERE.

If you have never seen a save the date video or simply don't know what it's about, you HAVE to have one! Give us a call to get more information! They are a blast to shoot and truly a unique way to get out the word about the big day!

We've Started another Company geared for Young Families!

2009-04-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

There are two types of families in this world:

TYPE A (aka, my family) - Takes HOURS upon HOURS of endless footage of kids when they are young. . . you know. . . that shot of the toddler playing with their toys on the carpet for like 45 MINUTES!!! Problem is, no one ever watches this stuff, and then it just sits on a shelf in a closet for like 20 years! My Mom must have 187 hours of footage of my brother and I growing up. . . .

TYPE B - Has 3 pictures of the kids growing up (all taken by friends at a Bday party). Simply never took the time, or didn't have the resources (aka camera) to take the videos/photos of the kids when they were all tiny and cute. . . .

So, I have found the solution! Enter Family Bliss Films. . . . . . rather than explain what we do, check out the video below, and if you like. . . . goto www.familyblissfilms.com for more information!

And yes, we still do weddings, too. . . I promise! :-)

The Elhaj Family from Family Bliss Films on Vimeo.

Weddings by SML announces FREE WEDDING FILMS

2009-04-01T15:15:00.000-07:00

lol, I wish. . . . April Fools. . . . :-)

OK, so I couldn't think of anything better, but in the spirit of the day, I couldn't resist.

-Steve

Trash the Dress in a Ghost Town - Part 2

2009-03-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

It took me longer than originally anticipated to get to this clip, but I wanted to get it finished to show you how AWESOME Brandon Kidd's photographs are! If you haven't seen Part 1, you must watch that first ( just 2 short posts below this one :-), otherwise none of this will make any sense!

But here is Part 2, Behind the Scenes of our shoot with Brandon Kidd and his killer photography!

Sometimes it's the little things

2009-03-18T12:53:00.001-07:00

Just received this card in the mail and thought I would share. Toke and Angie were such a great couple to work with and we wish them all the best in the future. If you would like to see the original post from their wedding last year, click HERE.

Trash the Dress in a Ghost Town - Part 1

2009-03-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

I'm really proud of this one, perhaps my favorite film to date, maybe because it's a little off the wall. . . . like me.

Trash the Dress, a concept that usually makes couples run for the hills, but in the case of Kimi and Geoff, it made them run for town. . . a ghost town to be exact. . .

I had the privilege of teaming up with the very talented Brandon Kidd of Brandon Kidd Photography, who managed to lock down a KILLER location. A very special shout out to the vintage vineyard truck which we found abandoned in the weeds. Just one of the many antiques left for us to feast our imagery upon in this gem of a location.

In any case, this is part 1 of a two part series. In part 2, there will be a behind the scenes look at the shoot itself including some of Brandon's stunning photography. -Steve

2010 - Year of The Short-form Edit

2009-02-27T11:12:00.000-08:00

This year Weddings by SML is in a transition to the Short-form edit. Traditionally, brides have always expected to see their wedding film in a "documentary style" meaning, the film would be anywhere from 45 minutes to 1:30 in length.

The film would show the day in its entirety with the ceremony taking up a large portion of the film (depending on the length of the ceremony). Needless to say, when friends come over, there is fast forwarding and constant jumping to the "fun scenes". After all, sitting through a 1 hour Catholic Mass ceremony doesn't always make for the greatest cinema. :-)

Inevitably, the "fun scenes" were the montages and cinematic portions of the day (Ex. Bridal Preparations, Post ceremony footage with the Bride and Groom, etc.), which personally, I love not only to shoot, but to edit as well. Well, as our commander in chief likes to say, the time has come for change, not only in the way we shoot, but the way we edit the final film as well. . .

enter, the Short-form edit. . .

The concept is simple, "Deliver a final film that not only will entertain the bride and groom, but also knock the socks off the friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else dying to catch a glimpse. So, while we have been speaking with clients who booked their weddings with us for 09 in 2008 about the concept, here is an extended highlight, which takes on the look and feel of a shortform edit. Easier to let you press play then explain in text. . .

As we edge closer to 2010, we will ultimately make the jump into delivering only shorform edits ( 20-30min in length ) to our clients as a final delivery package. Keep in mind the video below is an EXTENDED HIGHLIGHT ( only 16 min ), however, the taste, touch, feel of it is very comparable to a full length Short-form Edit (once again 20-30 min in length).

PLEASE NOTE*** THIS VIDEO IS ALMOST 17 MINUTES LONG. FOR OPTIMUM PLAYBACK, PRESS PLAY, THEN PRESS PAUSE, LET IT LOAD, AND THEN PRESS PLAY AGAIN.