"Did you get our RSVP?"
"I need directions to the church!"
"When is the bridal shower?"
"Can groomsmen pick up their tuxes yet?"
"I don't remember where you're registered!"
Coordinating the details of your big day will be stressful enough, why make it worse by fielding all of your guests' concerns on your own? A new trend rapidly gaining popularity is the personalized wedding website. Like a computerized personal assistant, these sites allow you to do everything from manage RSVP's online to post pictures after the wedding for your guests to enjoy. It will most likely cost you a small monthly subscription, but it is well worth it. Top features you receive are among the following:
Personalized web address
For example, "julieandmark.com" or "marklovesjulie.com". This feature makes your site both personalized and easy to remember.
Personal stories and photos
Perfect to share the story of how you met and got engaged, this feature allows family and friends to learn something they might not have known, while introducing the two of you to guests who might not yet know you very well.
Introduce the Bridal Party
Guests always want to know who you've selected as your bridal party, and now you can let them know with a page dedicated to bios and photos of your special group.
Online RSVP
Saves time, money and the stress of slacker guests who forget to mail response cards! Guests can RSVP to your wedding right on your site, and you can keep track of who has responded and who hasn't (via mail or online) when you log in. Many sites will send you an email immediately after a guest responds. This is also an easy way for guests to select their meal, if needed.
Quizzes and Polls
Can't decide on a first dance song or honeymoon location? Have visitors help decide with an interactive poll! Or, see how well your friends and family know you with a quiz.
The possibilities are endless. Customizable pages where you can list travel and lodging options for out of town guests, registry information, directions, who's who of your vendors, calendars of events and more are at your fingertips. Layouts are customizable to match the theme and colors of your wedding and you can even have your page play music. Here are some examples of this great interactive tool:
http://www.georgeandkelli.us/
http://www.arunlovesjeannie.com/
(both through Wedshare)
http://www.katiewedspatrick.com/
http://www.matthiasandvanessa2008.com/
(both through eWeddings)
WedSimple example page
Good luck and happy planning!
April 29, 2008
Brian Bergman, DJ
Located in Montgomery County, Maryland, Brian Bergman is a good friend of Video Express and fellow member of AWP. He is an energetic guy who is great at getting any party going! More than just a DJ, Brian always tries to keep the crowd entertained and motivated to move. Many of Brian's brides even opt to have him bring giveaways for their guests to correspond with different songs - think top hats for "New York, New York", maracas for "Hot Hot Hot" and sunglasses and harmonicas for the Blues Brothers. Dancers are also an option, though Brian isn't afraid to hit the floor himself! Brian also takes a friendly, personal approach to his business and enjoys getting to know each individual couple. He describes his style in his own words below:
"I'm an interactive DJ that does weddings, along with bar/bat mitzvahs, corporate and private events. I always meet face to face with potential clients prior to a booking decision being made, which allows us to see if we have a fit and should work together. I also coordinate numerous times with my clients prior to their event, and then run the event from start to finish the day of. I tailor my style to the client, but enjoy most being able to entertain and motivate the crowd."
Brian Bergman, DJ
Weddings * Bar/Bat Mitzvahs * Corporate & Private Parties
301.590.3991
DJBrianSB@comcast.net
Thanks to Ron Jones (Jones Photography) for the photo!
"I'm an interactive DJ that does weddings, along with bar/bat mitzvahs, corporate and private events. I always meet face to face with potential clients prior to a booking decision being made, which allows us to see if we have a fit and should work together. I also coordinate numerous times with my clients prior to their event, and then run the event from start to finish the day of. I tailor my style to the client, but enjoy most being able to entertain and motivate the crowd."
Brian Bergman, DJ
Weddings * Bar/Bat Mitzvahs * Corporate & Private Parties
301.590.3991
DJBrianSB@comcast.net
Thanks to Ron Jones (Jones Photography) for the photo!
April 28, 2008
Katherine & Stewart - March 29, 2008
Katherine & Stewart were married March 29, 2008, at Trinity UMC in McLean, Virginia with the reception following at The Arts Club of Washington, D.C. Jon was their videographer and managed to get great footage despite the strictness of the church. Many churches have very stern rules when it comes to videography and photography. We are often challenged to abide by the officiant and coordinator's wishes while still producing a quality emotional video. Looking at the video clip below, you'd never be able to tell that Jon had limited movement and location during the wedding. He did a wonderful job making the church wedding coordinator feel comfortable enough with his presence to allow him good positioning for the ceremony.
Jon says that his goal when videoing weddings is to make a family heirloom movie that will be enjoyed for years to come. He wants every bride to be proud to show off her finished video. Katherine and Stewart's video is no exception! Take a look at their slow motion summary, posted below.
Please note that the default size of the video player is designed to provide the best possible viewing quality. Full screen viewing is not recommended. To view our footage in full broadcast quality, please contact the main studio in Silver Spring.
Katherine & Stewart from Video Express on Vimeo.
Jon says that his goal when videoing weddings is to make a family heirloom movie that will be enjoyed for years to come. He wants every bride to be proud to show off her finished video. Katherine and Stewart's video is no exception! Take a look at their slow motion summary, posted below.
Please note that the default size of the video player is designed to provide the best possible viewing quality. Full screen viewing is not recommended. To view our footage in full broadcast quality, please contact the main studio in Silver Spring.
Katherine & Stewart from Video Express on Vimeo.
April 21, 2008
A Word of Thanks
We recently blogged about the wedding of Carol Turner and Avi Klein that took place March 1, 2008 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Carol was kind enough to write a nice letter of recommendation to Washingtonian Magazine about Video Express and send us a copy, as well.
"I found VEP straight out of the Washingtonian Wedding Guide. I called and spoke with Mark and Julie Bargeski, the owners, and I was immediately impressed and hired them on the spot. While they have a lot of videographers who work for them, I was lucky enough to have Mark shoot my wedding. We received the video two weeks after our wedding and i was BLOWN AWAY! My family was reluctant to shoot a video but my husband and I were so convinced that we ended up paying for it ourselves. Well, we were right. The video is beautiful. Mark was completely unobtrusive and was able to capture the entire wedding so we will be able to show it to our children! The montages he made were beautifully cut and as a television producer working in Hollywood, I am very critical!"
Thank you for the kind words, Carol! We hope you and Avi enjoy both your video and new life together for years to come.
"I found VEP straight out of the Washingtonian Wedding Guide. I called and spoke with Mark and Julie Bargeski, the owners, and I was immediately impressed and hired them on the spot. While they have a lot of videographers who work for them, I was lucky enough to have Mark shoot my wedding. We received the video two weeks after our wedding and i was BLOWN AWAY! My family was reluctant to shoot a video but my husband and I were so convinced that we ended up paying for it ourselves. Well, we were right. The video is beautiful. Mark was completely unobtrusive and was able to capture the entire wedding so we will be able to show it to our children! The montages he made were beautifully cut and as a television producer working in Hollywood, I am very critical!"
Thank you for the kind words, Carol! We hope you and Avi enjoy both your video and new life together for years to come.
April 16, 2008
Princess for a Night - Donate your bridesmaid dress
Have an old bridesmaid dress you swore you'd wear again? Instead of letting it collect dust in the back of your closet, why not donate it and help a local girl look like a princess on her prom night?
Until April 25, 2008 (only ten days left!), drop off drycleaned and gently worn dresses at any of the five locations listed below. Over three days in May, girls from Fairfax County public high schools who can't afford prom dresses will able to come and select one from the donations - for free! All formal dresses are accepted for the drive, but bridesmaid dresses are especially desired; they are often bright, intense colors and have pretty details like beadwork, embroidery and sashes. Shoes, jewerly, handbags and unused make-up are also encouraged. Items can be dropped off at any of the following locations:
* Edison High School, main office (5801 Franconia Rd., Alexandria). Monday through Friday 7 AM to 4 PM.
* Annandale High School, main office (4700 Medford Dr., Annandale). Monday through Friday 7 to 3:30.
* South County Secondary School, main office (8501 Silverbrook Rd., Lorton). Monday through Friday 7 to 4:30.
* Gold’s Gym (7770 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria). Monday through Friday 4:45 AM to 11 PM, Saturday 7 AM to 9 PM, Sunday 8 AM to 9 PM.
* Hitched Bridal Couture and Creative Planning Salon (1523 Wisconsin Ave., NW). Tuesday through Thursday noon to 8, Friday 11 to 6, Saturday 9 to 5.
Source: Washingtonian Magazine
Until April 25, 2008 (only ten days left!), drop off drycleaned and gently worn dresses at any of the five locations listed below. Over three days in May, girls from Fairfax County public high schools who can't afford prom dresses will able to come and select one from the donations - for free! All formal dresses are accepted for the drive, but bridesmaid dresses are especially desired; they are often bright, intense colors and have pretty details like beadwork, embroidery and sashes. Shoes, jewerly, handbags and unused make-up are also encouraged. Items can be dropped off at any of the following locations:
* Edison High School, main office (5801 Franconia Rd., Alexandria). Monday through Friday 7 AM to 4 PM.
* Annandale High School, main office (4700 Medford Dr., Annandale). Monday through Friday 7 to 3:30.
* South County Secondary School, main office (8501 Silverbrook Rd., Lorton). Monday through Friday 7 to 4:30.
* Gold’s Gym (7770 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria). Monday through Friday 4:45 AM to 11 PM, Saturday 7 AM to 9 PM, Sunday 8 AM to 9 PM.
* Hitched Bridal Couture and Creative Planning Salon (1523 Wisconsin Ave., NW). Tuesday through Thursday noon to 8, Friday 11 to 6, Saturday 9 to 5.
Source: Washingtonian Magazine
April 14, 2008
Understanding Wedding Videography
It is easy to feel overwhelmed and confused when meeting with videographers; many couples have little to no video experience and are entering a completely foreign aspect of event planning. It is a good idea to read about common terminology and aspects of video before you speak with any videographers. We have compiled a glossary of terms you're likely to hear to make the experience a little easier.
A-roll: Refers to the main camera footage and main videographer.
Authoring/Burning: Process of burning your final edited wedding video to DVD and/or DVD master.
Audio Mix: Style of using a combination of both natural and pre-recorded sound (often background music) in editing; common in documentary style videography.
B-roll: Refers to secondary camera/camera person and resulting footage.
Capture/digitzation: Process of loading raw footage onto computer for editing.
Chaptered DVD: A DVD with a main menu similar to Hollywood-released DVDs; often called "scene selection", pre-set chapters like Preliminary, Ceremony, First Kiss, and Cake Cutting make the navigation of your DVD both easy and personalized.
Cinematic: A highly-edited style of videography often consisting of staged shots and pre-recorded music and sound that presents the wedding video as a crafted story.
Digital Effect/Transition: Effects added to video in post production; for example, black and white, letterbox/widescreen, color and exposure adjustments, slow or fast motion. Digital transitions are fades and flashes that dissolve between different shots and important moments, usually signifying change in sound or location.
DV/Digital Video: The current standard video format. Allows for very clear capturing of images and quality video in low light. Does not lose quality during the duplication process and holds up very well over time.
DVD: Digital Video Disc. The replacement for VHS and Analog tape, this format is playable through a DVD player or computer. Retains high level of video quality.
Editing: The process of putting together your wedding video. Includes dissolving between takes and transitions, deleting unwanted scenes, audio manipulation, addition of background music, switching between camera angles, titling, credits, and rendering the final version to proper format for DVD burning.
High Definition (HD) Video: Newest video format. Offers the highest possible image quality but is not yet the industry standard. Can be very expensive for Brides and Grooms due the the fact that video companies have to buy and learn totally new equipment (cameras, editing software, HD DVD's and DVD software, DVD burning roms, etc) to fully produce an HD wedding video. Many consumers also still have standard definition DVD players and TVs, making watching a video in true HD not yet a reality.
Highlight Reel: A short video summary of your wedding showcasing the most important and emotional moments. Commonly uses effects like black and white and slow motion for an artistic look.
Master: The final edited version of your video on either DV-Cam digital tape or a Data DVD for storage use only. Video Express masters to Data DVD.
Non-Chaptered/In-house DVD: A DVD that, when put in a player or computer, immediately plays from the beginning of the video and has no pre-selected chapter markers or menus.
Non-Linear Editing (NLE): The industry standard of editing digital video via computer editing software. Common programs are Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid or Avid Express, and Final Cut Pro (for mac users only).
Photo Montage: A common way to open wedding videos, photo montages usually consist of pictures of the couple from birth to engagement and are set to music.
Post-Production: Refers to any work done to your video after the wedding. I.e., capturing, editing, burning, etc.
Render: The process of compressing the edited video and audio tracks of your wedding to one final video file to be burned to DVD and master. Common formats are .avi, .mov, and .mpg.
Thank You DVD's: A short mini-DVD that includes your photo montage, highlight and credits to use as a Thank You gift for bridal party, family and friends.
Unmanned camera: A stationary camera set up on a tripod that is used for alternate angles in editing and audio recording.
Don't be afraid to speak up during your consultations; a good videographer encourages questions and will more than adequately explain anything you might not understand. It is beneficial for both parties that the couple fully comprehend all aspects of the video process to avoid confusion during or after the wedding.
Good luck and happy planning!
A-roll: Refers to the main camera footage and main videographer.
Authoring/Burning: Process of burning your final edited wedding video to DVD and/or DVD master.
Audio Mix: Style of using a combination of both natural and pre-recorded sound (often background music) in editing; common in documentary style videography.
B-roll: Refers to secondary camera/camera person and resulting footage.
Capture/digitzation: Process of loading raw footage onto computer for editing.
Chaptered DVD: A DVD with a main menu similar to Hollywood-released DVDs; often called "scene selection", pre-set chapters like Preliminary, Ceremony, First Kiss, and Cake Cutting make the navigation of your DVD both easy and personalized.
Cinematic: A highly-edited style of videography often consisting of staged shots and pre-recorded music and sound that presents the wedding video as a crafted story.
Digital Effect/Transition: Effects added to video in post production; for example, black and white, letterbox/widescreen, color and exposure adjustments, slow or fast motion. Digital transitions are fades and flashes that dissolve between different shots and important moments, usually signifying change in sound or location.
DV/Digital Video: The current standard video format. Allows for very clear capturing of images and quality video in low light. Does not lose quality during the duplication process and holds up very well over time.
DVD: Digital Video Disc. The replacement for VHS and Analog tape, this format is playable through a DVD player or computer. Retains high level of video quality.
Editing: The process of putting together your wedding video. Includes dissolving between takes and transitions, deleting unwanted scenes, audio manipulation, addition of background music, switching between camera angles, titling, credits, and rendering the final version to proper format for DVD burning.
High Definition (HD) Video: Newest video format. Offers the highest possible image quality but is not yet the industry standard. Can be very expensive for Brides and Grooms due the the fact that video companies have to buy and learn totally new equipment (cameras, editing software, HD DVD's and DVD software, DVD burning roms, etc) to fully produce an HD wedding video. Many consumers also still have standard definition DVD players and TVs, making watching a video in true HD not yet a reality.
Highlight Reel: A short video summary of your wedding showcasing the most important and emotional moments. Commonly uses effects like black and white and slow motion for an artistic look.
Master: The final edited version of your video on either DV-Cam digital tape or a Data DVD for storage use only. Video Express masters to Data DVD.
Non-Chaptered/In-house DVD: A DVD that, when put in a player or computer, immediately plays from the beginning of the video and has no pre-selected chapter markers or menus.
Non-Linear Editing (NLE): The industry standard of editing digital video via computer editing software. Common programs are Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid or Avid Express, and Final Cut Pro (for mac users only).
Photo Montage: A common way to open wedding videos, photo montages usually consist of pictures of the couple from birth to engagement and are set to music.
Post-Production: Refers to any work done to your video after the wedding. I.e., capturing, editing, burning, etc.
Render: The process of compressing the edited video and audio tracks of your wedding to one final video file to be burned to DVD and master. Common formats are .avi, .mov, and .mpg.
Thank You DVD's: A short mini-DVD that includes your photo montage, highlight and credits to use as a Thank You gift for bridal party, family and friends.
Unmanned camera: A stationary camera set up on a tripod that is used for alternate angles in editing and audio recording.
Don't be afraid to speak up during your consultations; a good videographer encourages questions and will more than adequately explain anything you might not understand. It is beneficial for both parties that the couple fully comprehend all aspects of the video process to avoid confusion during or after the wedding.
Good luck and happy planning!
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