The day could not have been any more gorgeous with blues skies surrounding the Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club. The highlight film touches on the importance of Jess’s Mom, who had passed away before her daughter got married. Matt really found the special touch to make his bride’s day extra special. Also, make sure not to blink during the sand ceremony for a comical moment between the two.

We got to work with some great professionals as we paired with Jane from Iris Photography for the during the 2011 wedding season. Mark from Hard at Play’s DJ Service did a great job of keeping the crowd on their dancing feet all night long, while Teresa Mango added the softer, more beautiful ceremony music via her harp. And, Ann Long Designs created the elegant floral pieces seen throughout the wedding.

The staff at Stevens Jewelers is always very knowledgeable and extremely helpful in purchasing that perfect engagement ring, wedding band, or special wedding day gift for your soon to be husband or wife. They combine an honest approach with a vast selection of jewelry that has customers coming back year after year. Before I began filming weddings, I chose Stevens Jewelers for my wedding rings. And now, after seeing their work first hand each year, I still recommend Eric and his company time and time again. Every bride and groom that I cross paths with that uses Stevens Jewelers is thrilled with their experience. You can reach Steven Jewelers at their new and expanding website: stevensjewelers.com.

Within the Family Film, it is our goal to hear the children speak, play, and be the kids that they are. In the Smith Film, we spent some time inside their playroom where Colin loves to hang out, and outside in their pool where Summer likes to hibernate. We were also able to capture some softball and baseball action to help round out their film. And to clarify, the Smith’s are diehard Red Sox fans, but Colin had some good fun teasing his Dad in Family Film. Thanks to Songfreedom for giving us a variety of good music to put behind these films.

There is something precious about hearing a child’s voice, watching them play, and capturing a moment in time that will soon be lost. We often take pictures and video of our families, but we rarely piece them together into a treasured keepsake. The Family Film does just that! As time passes too fast and your children become young adults too quick, the Family Film captures your family as it is today.

Our first family video is what inspired it all – The Podworski Family Film. After getting some new equipment in the spring of last year, I shot a variety of video of my daughters at ages 5 and 2. Everyone who saw it wanted to have a family video done with their children. The Family Film below is the last half of the original version, as we had a little more footage than usual with the camera and children living in the same household. Nonetheless, it’s the first of a few films we will release this week showing how precious families can be on video.

This Connecticut wedding video started with two awesome preparations with the boys having breakfast and playing bocce, while the girls just had a fun, energetic vibe throughout the morning of make-up and hair in Monroe, CT. The clip below starts at the end of the ceremony at St. Mary’s Church in Stamford, CT and takes us to the Surf Club in New Rochelle, NY for the next part of the wedding video. Although rain was around for much of the day, we caught a break for a quick photo shoot by the ocean in New Rochelle during cocktail hour.  The ceremony section demonstrates how we overlap portions (homily and unity candle in this case) of the ceremony to make the film more entertaining to watch. The post-ceremony segment of the film captures the receiving line at St. Mary’s, and the cocktail hour, reception details and the photo session at the Surf Club in a fun, re-energizing style.

The day was a breeze, as we got to work with some great vendors including Image Photography and Top Notch Music Productions DJ Service.

The goal of any bride is to look her absolute best on her wedding day and Dani can provide that for Massachusetts and New England-based brides. What makes her different? Her mastery of airbrush makeup, skincare, and false eyelashes is what separates her from others. In February, I watched Dani take our beautiful bride Emily and make her look simply stunning. You can see the end result of Emily’s makeup in the movie trailer that we created for her, or on Boston photographer Lisa Rigby’s blog. The thing I love about Dani is that she believes in not only making women beautiful, but also giving them the knowledge and know-how so they can make themselves beautiful. This “effect and empowerment” philosophy was what makes Dani unique.

Dani’s work speaks for itself and it has been trusted by numerous high-end clients. Her impressive list of celebrity clients include Vogue Editor Anna Wintour, Niki Taylor, Jenny McCarthy, Anita Baker, Daisy Fuentes, Oscar-winning director Katherine Bigelow, and Steven Tyler. Her work has also been featured in numerous magazines including InStyle, Allure and Boston Weddings.

1. I proposed to my wife at sunset in Newport, RI with a chocolate lab puppy wearing a ring around its neck. If you want the longer version, just ask me the next time you see me.

2. I love my coffee. I usually drink a hot cup in the morning and a cup of iced in the afternoon.

3. I’ve played ice hockey since I was 4. I referee and still play on occasion.

4. I am dog-lover at heart. I have had two Labrador Retrievers since college, but am currently waiting for the right time to add another chocolate pup to our family. I do walk my neighbors two chocolates when I get the chance. So, if you are including your pooch in the wedding plans, we are a great fit for you.

5. My primary assistant, Anne, interned with me when I worked at WWLP-TV22 in 2001 and we have been friends ever since. She has been shooting weddings with me for over 6 years now.

6. My favorite foods are seafood and pizza. I have a wicked sweet tooth too. For dessert, I’ll take a chocolate molten cake with vanilla ice cream any day of the week.

7. I have skydived, parasailed and snorkeled. I have never jet-skied or gone down a zip line, but I want to.

8. I completed a Half-Ironman Triathlon (1.2 mi swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run) and two marathons. My training has slowed down since having children…

9. Girls. Girls, Girls. I grew up as a teenager in a house with two sisters and a Mom. Now I have a wife and two daughters.

10. I am the homemade pierogi-maker in my family. I have kept my grandmother’s amazing recipe alive…

Most people who deliver a 5-minute toast will have talked for 3-4 minutes too long. But, not this dad’s speech. Marco’s toast took 150 people on a roller coaster of laughs and tears, while doing the most important thing of all – telling the bride and groom’s story. Telling stories about the couple during the toasts is one of the top ten things that I recommend you try and suggest to improve your wedding film. His opening story of meeting his now son-in-law Shaun tells a lot about how these newlyweds didn’t appear to be the right match on paper. These types of stories help us as filmmakers create films that bring out the personality of a newly married couple. Parts of this speech were spread out over the complete cinematic wedding film, but this is the speech in its entirety…

Great vendors we worked with at this event were Jennifer Corridan Photography and Greg Bedard DJ Entertainment.

Emily and Andrew were married in the elegantly decorated Governor’s Room at the Four Seasons, with Lotus Designs Flowers giving the room every beautiful touch imaginable from flower petals down the aisle runner, to a variety of candles romanticizing the room, to breathtaking floral arrangements near the front of the aisle. Officiant Elly Jackson did a wonderful job telling the story of Emily and Andrew, which was the backbone of the ceremony and the movie trailer below.

After the cocktail hour, guests moved into the Four Seasons Ballroom for the reception, which was even more spectacular with Susan B. Lowell Lighting Design illuminating the room perfectly. Greg Hodges of 5 Star Events DJ led the couple in with an energy-building introduction that even included a surprise from the father of the groom. Greg’s music created a fabulous atmosphere for the guests all night long. We were so blessed to work with even more tremendous vendors all day and night, as Philip Deschamps and the catering staff at the Four Seasons Boston were great. Lisa Rigby of Lisa Rigby Photography (pictures attached to link) was just a pleasure to work alongside, and the cake from Icing on the Cake was beautiful and delicious (yep, I had to try the red velvet tier at the end of the night). Helping Emily look her best were Lindsey B. of Jorgo Salon (Hair) and Dani Wagener (make-up), while her dress was a design from Kenneth Pool.

Music provided and licensed through Songfreedom.

I got the opportunity to work alongside Greg just a few weeks ago at the Four Seasons in Boston. He set the mood right away as he introduced the wedding party with an energy-building pace that got the reception rocking with the entrance of the bride and groom. Early in the evening, we had a conversation of what type of crowd was in the ballroom that night. His music choices got people right out of their seats after dinner, and now I have a great dance section for my wedding film. Finally, it was easy to see the care he put into the couple and their wedding reception as his 4-page information sheet was extremely detailed and organized.

Greg has also earned the respect of a few of my cinematography colleagues as well. We have had conversations about who the top vendors are to work with at weddings and Greg’s 5 Star Events is right at the top of the list. Greg was also voted Boston’s #1 Disc Jockey by Boston’s A-List in 2011. In addition to their DJ services, Five Star Events offers uplighting services.