Wednesday, July 31, 2013

White Orchid Wedding | Ashley + Tyler | Fort Myers Wedding

Remember Ashley and Tyler, the cute couple who we did the love story video for?  Well, here is their movie trailer.  These two are adorable and we are so glad we were part of their wedding day.  Congratulations Ashley and Tyler.  xo



Team of Wedding Vendors:
Along Came Stephanie - Wedding Planner 
Set Free Photography - Photography  
Mobile Sound Entertainment 
Hope Artistry - Make up and hair 
Kakes By Karen 
Niche Event Rental 
Jamie and Jacob - Catering 
The White Orchid - venue
DM Paper Designs

Sunday, July 7, 2013

South Seas Resort Wedding | Michelle + Luke

On Saturday June 22, 2013 Michelle and Luke had a beautiful destination wedding at South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island.   They were wed at Sunset Cove and then guests boarded on a trolly and headed over to the West Lawn for the one of the prettiest tent reception's I have seen.  This wedding was so much fun that all though later on it was pouring rain out, I don't think the guests and our couple even noticed as they danced NON STOP under the tent all night long.  Thank goodness for wedding planners.  A big congratulations to our new couple and thank you for sharing your day with us.  Movie trailer to follow...stay tuned.  xo


We enjoyed working with:
Weddings By Socialites
Hope Artistry
Island Events 
One Love Photo
Floral Artistry
Kakes By Karen
DJ Jim Gable 
Bash Booths
Dr. Dan Lamey
Sperry Tents

South Seas Resort Wedding | Michael + Samantha

Michael and Samantha came down from Pennsylvania to South Seas Island Resort for their destination wedding on Friday July 5, 2013.  Samantha looked beautiful and Michael was a very handsome groom.   We enjoyed working with Impressions Photography and Black Tie Entertainment.  Congratulations on your wedding Michael and Samantha.  We wish you many many years of happiness. xo
Check out their pretty cake :)

Marco Island Marriott Wedding | Sean + Edina

On Saturday July 6, 2013 Sean and Edina said their vows on the Palms Lawn at the Marco Island Marriott Resort as 130 friends and family watched. This night was fantastic and Sean and Edina definitely had the time of their lives.  Sean gets the award for our groom that danced the most ever.  And, he was quite the dancer.  We wish these newlyweds all the best and thank you for sharing your wedding day with us.  xo

We enjoyed working with:
Marco Island Marriott - John
New Ground Photography
Mobil Sound Entertainment 
Grace Lakes Florist 

Fiddlesticks Country Club | Lauren + Chris

Lauren and Chris were married on Saturday June 29, 2013 at the Church of The Resurrection in Fort Myers, Florida and later had their reception at Fiddlesticks Country Club.  Lauren looked amazing and check out how handsome Chris looks in his uniform.  It was a perfect day.  And not even a single rain drop.  Congratulations Lauren and Chris.  We can not wait to share your movie trailer.  xo

We enjoyed working with:
Weddings By Socialites
Matt Steeve's Photography
Hope Artistry
Signature Florals
Masons Bakery
Paris - Band

WOODSMOKE CAMPING RESORT

Here is a video we made for Woodsmoke Camping Resort in Fort Myers, Florida.  I am ready to pack my bags and move.  Who's with me? 

Woodsmoke from iheART Films on Vimeo.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Confessions Of A Videographer | Do you need a wedding planner

"Is there really a difference in a wedding with a wedding planner then one without one"?  The answer is yes.  A big difference.  "Is it worth it to hire a planner"?  Yes it is.  "Do venue coordinators replace a planner"?  No.  "If I already hired all my vendors, I don't need a planner since I have done all the work all ready".   Nope.

Okay that being out of the way, we are big believers in hiring a wedding planner if you couldn't already tell.  Not only do these weddings look nicer, but they run so much smoother.  For both the bride and groom and all of your vendors.  We are thrilled to have a planner with us on wedding day.  Someone to coordinate the day so we can focus on doing our job's.

Lets start with the looks better part first.  Well, go though my blog and pick out the prettiest weddings and most likely there was a planner.  Planners have a way of making everything look better, it is what they do.  They pull it all together for you.  Now, if you are a bride sitting there thinking,  I can do it all myself.  Well, maybe, maybe not.  On your wedding day, do you really want you or your mom running around setting up all your  details?  Or better yet, your bridesmaids out in the heat setting up your ceremony site and tables?  Venue coordinators are not the same as wedding planners. 

Lets talk about timing.  Who is in charge of the flow of the night?  This is a common scenario - We go to the DJ and ask what's happening next.  They have no idea.  Then you ask the photographer, they don't know.  There is no time line, and even if there is, there is no one there to make sure that everyone is following it. Or that it even makes sense.  What door are the introductions happening?  Where are the toasts taking place?  No one knows.  This makes for bad photo and video.  We like to be prepared.

Is cost a factor?  I say it shouldn't be.  And here is why.  Having a planner can actually save you money.  That's right.  Besides the hours of overtime for your photographer and videographer since nothing is on time, they can also work magic for you in lots of other areas.  I can not count the number of times we had 1 -2 hours of overtime because time was wasted and nothing was on time through out an evening.  A good wedding planner is worth every penny!

Scary fact for me, but I have been shooting weddings since 1999.  Where does the time go?  I have been to over 1000 weddings.  How many times have I heard a bride say they didn't need a planner and they really did?  Too many.  Have I seen my share of wedding day mess ups that a good planner would of turned around?  Unfortunately.   In the past few months let me tell you all the things we saw that a planner might of (most likely) saved the day on....
  • A cake table with sugar ants all over the cake. 
  • An entire chuppah blown down from wind as the bride is coming down the aisle.  One we saw happen mid ceremony too. 
  • Guests passing around a mic during the reception doing unplanned toasts for 1 hour and 10 minutes causing photography and videography to run over and require overtime.  A planner does the dirty work and takes the mic away from drunk guests for you.
  • Guests, bride and groom at a outdoor ceremony site as a storm comes in with no where to run for cover from a serious down pouring of rain.  A planner has back up plans and monitors the weather closely.
  • A photographer unable to make it to the ceremony (they were from Miami trying to make it to Marco Island) so the first half the wedding had no photography.  A planner probably could of found someone to cover it with a few hours notice.
  • An outside wedding and as soon as it turns dark it is pitch black where the toasts are taking place and no one can see a thing.  Hey, how about a lighting plan? 
  • Many times we have seen photo booths at receptions not being used the entire night because they were placed in locations where guests had no idea where they were.   
  • An officiant wanting to skip cocktail hour so they can do a  dinner blessing and leave quicker.  The officiant actually had almost had the resort ready to do so.  Who is in charge of your wedding? 
  • Photo and Video sitting down for 5 minutes for a break - out of the view of the wedding, and the band decided to do parent dances without telling anyone.  Planners make sure all vendors are ready for all events. 
  • Flowers not set up yet as guests are standing at ceremony site waiting to sit down and ceremony was suppose to happen 10 minutes ago.  
  • Parents NOT in the room when toasts, cake cutting or parent dances are announced. 
We have seen planners work magic too.  For instance,
  • A outdoor ceremony and a reception site changed an hour before the wedding due to 40- 50 mile per hour winds.  A planner handled it all.   If you are outdoors you really need a planner.
  • A wedding cake falling apart prior to the reception, and no one from the venue wants to touch it - as it slants to one side and is slowly falling down.  A planner quickly took care of that. 
  • Out of a certain liquor in the open bar that you must have?  No problem, the planner handled that. 
  • Your DJ has had too much to drink and needs to be fired, mid reception.  Yup, I have seen that. 
Sure, most weddings are wonderful and most of the vendors we work with are awesome and extremely professional.  We love all of the venue coordinators we work with week after week.  However, things happen....and that's why we love working with wedding planners. 

 When my own daughter Anna gets married some day, will I hire a planner?  Oh heck yea! We work with some amazing wedding planners here in SW Florida.  We would be happy to recommend you to some of the very best.  Please check them out and learn what they can do for you.