The Essential Moments of a Wedding

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The Essential Moments of a Wedding
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• The Essential Moments of a Wedding should be
  captured to cherish for a lifetime. As wedding
  DJ's in CT we've been to quite a few weddings and
  we have learned a thing or two over the years.
• One important observation we've made is that
  going into a wedding, a couple may be so caught
  up with the moment that they forget to specify to
  their videographer the moments that they want to
  capture for posterity.
• Even if your Uncle Henry is using a camcorder
  from 1980, these are the moments you need to
  capture to make any wedding video complete.

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1. THE ENTRANCE

• Some wedding parties are huge. Don't sweat every
  person in the party unless they are very young,
  very old or very hungover! ) The main people you
  always want to get is THE PARENTS, THE BRIDE,
  THE GROOM.

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1. THE ENTRANCE

• Now the last one may sound silly but don't
  forget, he's usually the first person at the
  altar after the officiant! Try to get the
  Parents, or Grandparents (remember VERY OLD!) as
  they are entering. This day is just as important
  to them as their children. Plus, they are usually
  the one paying the bill! FLOWER GIRLS, RING
  BEARERS AND JR. BRIDES AND GROOMS are cute,
  adorable, and BEST OF ALL, unpredictable. And
  they are also VERY YOUNG. These moments often set
  their wedding video apart from everyone else's.
  They are not part of the ESSENTIALS, but they add
  alot of character, fun and tender family moments.

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1. THE ENTRANCE

• Noone would miss THE BRIDE she is the
  centerpiece of the video AND THE ENTIRE DAY. Keep
  in mind at this point, the seats are filled with
  family friends straining to get a glimpse of the
  beautiful bride. Please be respectful and try to
  stay out of the way. And if the bride and groom
  paid for a PROFESSIONAL VIDEO, you should be
  mindful of the videographer. The soon-to-be
  newlyweds didn't pay to see the back of your head
  twenty years from now.

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2. THE CEREMONY

• Whether a low key affair or a traditional
  wedding, the officiant can take the ceremony in
  many directions. If it is at all possible, try to
  have a word with the officiant first, to get an
  idea what he/she will be doing and it's helpful
  to them to know who you are. These officiants are
  professional men and women with a lot of
  experience. I think you'll find most of them easy
  to work with if you keep your distance. I find it
  best to lay back and enjoy the services.

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2. THE CEREMONY

• A STATIONARY CAMERA set up at a distance is an
  ideal set-up. And a good microphone should pick
  up all of the couple's words. You can get an
  OMNIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE from many sites on the
  web. The couple could have written their own
  vows, there could be a special religious portion
  of the ceremony or perhaps there is a remembrance
  of a loved one who is no longer with us, the
  Stationary camera will capture it all. There is,
  however, one moment you must capture--

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3. THE RING

• This one is a tough shot to get. My advice to you
  non-professionals out there is to arrive early
  and find out where the couple will be standing,
  maybe bring a friend to stand in the spot where
  you believe the two will exchange rings. Pick a
  spot where you have a clear shot and wait for the
  moment to happen!

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3. THE RING

• I know I'm stressing how important this shot is.
  If you can't get it, it's not the end of the
  world. That doesn't mean if the Bride's back is
  to you and Aunt Fanny stood up with her
  disposable camera and blocked your view, it is
  NEVER, EVER OK to jump on the altar, run into the
  aisle or push kids out of the way to get the
  shot. Remember, everyone is there to see the
  ceremony, not you jumping around and distracting
  everyone. Be discreet. Can't stress that enough.
  If you miss the ring, you can get a shot during
  the recessional or later at the Reception? Did
  someone say Reception??

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3. THE RING

• Don't put down your camera yet, Uncle Henry! You
  and Aunt Fanny are going to the reception where
  there are a few more ESSENTIAL MOMENTS to capture
  to make your wedding video complete!

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4. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE WEDDING PARTY

• Now is the time to loosen up. Now is the time
  people will expect you to run on the dance floor
  with your camera rolling, especially if it's a
  high energy, fun party. Some weddings won't have
  a PROFESSIONAL MASTER OF CEREMONIES introducing
  the wedding party some may have a banquet
  manager of family member introducing the party.
  Either way, this is a great opportunity to see
  everyone in their dresses and tuxedos in a more
  casual climate. Trust me, it's better when
  everyone is relaxed walking in. Try to hype them
  up before they enter the room! Tell them to play
  to the crowd. It's not everyday everyone is
  together and dressed to the nines! Show them off!

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5. THE FIRST DANCE

• This typically happens right after the
  introduction but sometimes will come after
  dinner. It's the first time the couple will dance
  with each other in public as HUSBAND AND WIFE!
  It's a nice touch of romance and music for you
  wedding video! Remember, don't get up to close.
  That's why there is a zoom button. Let them have
  their moment but capture it from a distance! This
  is also a GREAT TIME to turn the camera on the
  crowd, get people's reactions, especially family
  members and close friends. Often they are feeling
  emotional due to the joy of the occasion and
  their reactions will add heart to your video!
  Also, keep rolling if there are any dances
  involving the COUPLE AND THEIR PARENTS!

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6. THE TOAST

• When someone grabs a microphone and starts
  talking about their best buddy finally settling
  down or their sister growing up into a beautiful
  woman on her wedding day, the toasts can be
  humorous, touching and sentimental or down right
  disastrous! Not every BEST MAN or MATRON OF HONOR
  is typically a public speaker and standing in
  front of a big crowd of family and friends can be
  a bit overwhelming. It's a good idea to let them
  know to speak directly to the BRIDE AND GROOM and
  speak directly from their hearts, and that helps
  to ease the process. Don't get in their face. You
  want a shot of the person giving the speech as
  well as the BRIDE and GROOM'S reaction to the
  toast.

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7. CAKE CUTTING

• This time honored tradition can be a sweet as the
  cake they are cutting or resemble the food fight
  scene from "Animal House". Either way, beware of
  flying pastry!

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8. BOUQUET AND GARTER

• Another tradition of weddings is the tossing of
  the BOUQUET to an eager bachelorette or the
  throwing of the GARTER to an eligible BACHELOR.
  This is often preceded by the GROOM removing the
  Garter from the Bride's leg. Here at BIG POP
  PRODUCTIONS, we break it down this way!

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8. BOUQUET AND GARTER

• THE GROOM REMOVES THE GARTER (PLAY SOMETHING SLOW
  AND SEXY)
• THE BACHELORETTES HIT THE FLOOR ("GIRLS JUST
  WANNA HAVE FUN")
• THE BRIDE TOSSES THE BOUQUET
• THE BACHELORS HIT THE FLOOR ("WHO LET THE DOGS
  OUT?")
• THE GROOM THROWS THE GARTER

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8. BOUQUET AND GARTER

• We end with the Bachelorette who caught the
  bouquet getting the Garter placed on her leg by
  the Bachelor who caught the Garter. I personally
  like to "U Can't Touch This" and I add a little
  bit of a comic twist which really gets the crowd
  involved! This is video gold and you should mine
  it for all the fun and good memories this moment
  will create.

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9. THE BRIDE AND GROOM LEAVE

• Some receptions end with the BRIDE AND GROOM
  leaving amidst a flurry of rice, bird seed or
  bubbles. A good spot to stand back and record is
  near the limousine or car the COUPLE will be
  driving off in. Again, you want to steer clear
  from being an obstacle for any of the wedding
  party or the drivers and especially any
  PHOTOGRAPHERS trying to get any last minute shots
  of the happy couple.

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9. THE BRIDE AND GROOM LEAVE

• If there are any decorating plans of the vehicle
  before the COUPLE exits, some footage of that can
  be really funny, capturing the culprits and they
  write, draw and hang things off the car! There's
  a nice way to send off our Newlyweds into the
  rest of their lives!

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10. WELL WISHES

• One bit of video I enjoy shooting is the well
  wishes from FAMILY FRIENDS. This can be done
  throughout the evening during dinner, outside the
  ballroom or outside of the venue. A simple
  request to people to wish the COUPLE well in
  their lives is a nice touch, allows the family
  and friends to participate in the video and will
  provide years of good feelings as the COUPLE
  watches their videos and remembers the sentiments
  and good feelings generated by their loved ones
  on their most special of days!

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10. WELL WISHES

• This may be just a brief outline for what you
  want to capture to make your video the BEST AND
  MOST PROFESSIONAL, and can be used as a guideline
  for what you need to shoot. Remember, if you are
  going to shoot the video yourself, stay discreet,
  get your shots and remember extra batteries and
  microphones!

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Thank you
Maggie Sottero GabrielleMaggie Sottero
GailMaggie Sottero GatsbyMaggie Sottero
Geneva