A New Age of Videography

Whether you are planning a wedding or other special event, as you work down your list of necessary elements, how far down your list is videography? I'm sure it comes after decor, catering, entertainment and even photography. True, all these elements are important in the making of a successful event, but what comes to your mind when you think "video"?

Recently, I heard and watched a presentation by John Deaver, from MainStreet Productions, where he discussed and showed examples of wedding videos from just ten years ago and today's video -- night and day. No more scenes rolling along with friends waving or holding a microphone to wish you well. John pointed out that a client should never expect the film quality of yesterday when, with the technology available today, a professional can produce a keepsake that will be around for generations to come. I would never get into the technology part of video production, but have you seen (and heard) MainStreet's videos (www.mainstreetav.com)?

Another unique service that filmmaker Nick Weeks, with SnapLife Studios (www.snaplifestudios.com), is offering in addition to his fully edited films is a Same-Day Edit. For the SDE, Nick takes what he had filmed throughout the day of preparation for the wedding or other event up until a point somewhere into the evening and edits it on the spot. He will continue to have a second camera rolling to capture the remaining portion and end of the event. But, Nick takes what he has filmed, edits it, puts it to music, so your guests can view it near the end of the event. How's this for service? Your guests will love it as they witness your day as it progressed. They even get excited if they are captured in the scene. It's such a special way to end the evening.

My point here is to stress just how important an event or wedding filmmaker can be on your list of necessary event professionals. As you watch your film through the years, you will continue to see things and people that you did not actually witness during the evening. Remember, those cameras are capturing scenes that you were not a part of, and including people that you were not able to spend very much time with.

You should take a look at that list of priorities and consider moving your videography up several spaces. It's a move you will never regret.

What's The Difference?

In my Interviews with brides every week, I'm forever hearing the terms, wedding planner, wedding coordinator, wedding director and wedding designer. Granted, "wedding planner" is the one most recognizable among the newly engaged couples, their parents and friends. However, a "planner" may not be what some brides and grooms are looking for.

I recently had a bride call me and ask if I could coordinate her wedding. "Of course," was my reply. She indicated that she had been in a friend's wedding recently and things were pure chaos because no one was in charge and none of the attendants knew where to be or when to be there. As I described my day-of coordination package, we both began to realize that a wedding coordinator was not what she wanted. She was looking for someone to "direct" her ceremony. . . a wedding director.

This case of mistaken identity is not unusual. Some wedding planners do just what the term implies: they assist the bride and groom in planning the details of their wedding; i.e. booking venue, vendors, transportation, lodging, etc. This can be done from start to finish or on a consultation basis, whatever the couple needs. The planner is not coordinating at this time, she is not designing at this time, nor is she directing at this stage of the game.

However, as that anticipated day draws near, the planner becomes a coordinator too, under most circumstances. She must now coordinate the plans of all vendors, out-of-town guests, transportation to coincide with those of the bride, groom and their parties. This is where all those hours spent planning pay off. Timelines must be developed, schedules for all those involved must be organized and communicated, and all details gone over dozens of times. The wedding week-end cannot be over coordinated. The planning stage is over!

Where does the wedding designer fit into this picture, you may ask. Well, not every wedding planner/coordinator is blessed with designer talents and skills. A good planner knows this and can enlist the services of a designer early on. If a bride and groom want a special theme or design to make their day reflect who they are or what their tastes are, a designer is the one to do this. Most times the floral designer possesses the ability and experience to do this. If the planner/coordinator has the vision of what the couple want, and can communicate this to other vendors, that works fine. It may be a case where the planner has the vision, calls in the floral designer who can put the elements in place, contracts a lighting designer to add effects, and orders the right linens to balance out the picture. But they will eventually have to put their heads together to get the desired results.

Now, the only question remaining is "where does the wedding director fit in?". If the ceremony takes place in a church or other house of worship, most of the time there is an in-house wedding director. If this is the case, the coordinator is at the church only to make sure the set-up is complete and for the moral support of the bride and groom. She may assist with getting the bride ready for pictures and assist the photographer with getting everyone in place, but that is pretty much the extent of her duties there. The church wedding director organizes the processional and recessional. However, if the ceremony is not in a church, this leaves the coordinator to direct the wedding, which any experienced coordinator is equipped to do. This just needs to be decided early in the planning process.

Whether you are hiring a planner, coordinator, designer or director, just be sure and communicate clearly what you expect. This needs to be spelled out in the contract so there are no last minute surprises between you and the one you hire. Some planners try to do it all, so be sure also that you know how she or he will be getting all this done. Does she have an in-house designer, will she be the one on site at the rehearsal, will you get a diagram or drawing of the venue as it will be set up? It takes a team of specialists working with the bride and groom to plan, coordinate, design and direct that special day. Nobody can do it alone.