I HAVE A CINEMATOGRAPHER!!!

WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!

It was just a few weeks ago that I thought I wouldn't be able to afford a cinematographer. Today I can officially announce that Jon from Well Spun Weddings will be filming my wedding! I entered this contest a while back and even though I didn't win, Jon loved my entry and offered to do my wedding at cost. At first I thought it was a huge scam and didn't even want to respond to the email. I googled Jon, his company, and read all the reviews I could find... and finally I called Jon and after talking to him, I knew it was meant to be.

To be honest, everyone at WSW has been so A-MAZING! I don't know anything about film or filming a wedding but Jon was just super patient and super nice. He explained things that I hadn't even thought about (ie. getting there early to get time lapse film of sunset/sunrise... yea, that's how they do that! I just assumed it was all canned film!) and was just really easy to talk to.

Much like the moment when Julie (my photog) said she was a ninja, I knew Jon was "the one" when he said "I really like to plan down to the minute. From the time I leave the house to the moment I get back on the plane." L.O.V.E. He's even beta testing a program that would allow all your vendors to sync up their various wedding day schedules into one document which you could print and review! If I get my hands on the program, I'll be sure to see if I can pass it along ;)

I really couldn't be happier. I know they haven't actually DONE anything yet, but based on my experience thus far I couldn't recommend them any more strongly!

Here's what I learned about hiring a cinematographer:
1. Make sure that you really like the people who are going to be there the entire day! It doesn't matter if you hate your florist or your caterer, if they do a good job, but your wedding planner, your photographer and your cinematographer, they will be there for the most intimate moments of your big day so you want to make sure that they aren't a black cloud but an extra star helping YOU shine bright :D

2. Ask questions! Don't be afraid to ask, if even you think they are stupid questions! If they aren't willing to answer even your stupidest questions now, who knows what it'll be like once you get closer to the day!

3. Do your due diligence! Don't just take their word for it, google is your friend. Double, Triple, Quadruple Check! It's your wedding and your money, make sure its what YOU want, at a price YOU can live with, for services YOU want!

4. Be yourself! Let them know who you are so they can know what to expect and how to meet your needs. It's a two way street so don't make it too hard on your vendors.

I guess that's all...

I've posted these videos before but just in case you missed them I certainly feel they are worth re-posting!

Mexico from Well Spun Wedding Films on Vimeo.

Melissa & Rodrigo from Well Spun Wedding Films on Vimeo.

After the week I've had, I really needed this! It's been one of the most exciting developments of the entire wedding planning process...What has been your favorite moment in the wedding planning process? Have you had any unexpected surprises?

Too good to be true...

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BLArGH. It's been a rough week... I'm drowning in work and this weekend is the MPRE which I obviously didn't have time to start studying for until Wednesday. Also earlier this week, there were mudslides in Costa Rica which obviously immediately led to a series of nightmares... the last thing I need is to bury all my closest friends and family in deathly Costa Rican mud.

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Also this week, my lovely FI wrote a wonderful article about the current border dispute between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. While I am not concerned about the mudslides, or the cross-border conflicts since the wedding is still 7 months away, I can't help but realize that I don't have wedding insurance... what IF something does happen in the next year that actually makes my wedding impossible!?!?

Then I got this kind of amazing email from Christine Best from Well Spun Weddings. We entered this contest last month for free wedding cinematography, and we didn't win... BOOOO :( But Christine loved our application so much that she offered to film our wedding for a nominal editing fee plus travel expenses.

This video totally made me cry. I've never heard this song but it is so sweet. Not to mention all the tears shared by the bride and her family...

HD wedding film from Well Spun Wedding Films on Vimeo.

This one gave me goosebumps... I LOVE this song. I have never mentioned this (because it was a horrible source of embarrassment growing up) but I grew up in a karaoke family. What do I mean by that? I mean that karaoke has been a part of my life for as long as I remember...at birthday parties, new years, graduation parties, yes, highschool AND college! My mother is Chinese! It's not that weird! hehehe.

The point is, I have a lot of amazing memories of late night Chinese New Year parties at my grandma's house where my dad (a large Bill Cosby-esque Nigerian man) is (slightly intoxicated) and singing this song as my mom blushes and sways along with him giggling like a school girl. It really touches my heart... I can only hope to one day have a relationship as sweet and loving as my parents'.

Puerto Rico from Well Spun Wedding Films on Vimeo.

Mexico from Well Spun Wedding Films on Vimeo.

I haven't read the contract yet or really figured out what the total expense will be for us but on its face, it looks amazing and I'm super excited.

I'll try to schedule a conversation with them for next week and let you know how it goes :D

Happy Friday!

Let's talk cinematographers

When I got engaged I knew right away that I had to have the best photographer my money could buy. To be honest, I had never thought about getting a cinematographer. The reality is that I hadn't seen that many wedding videos. When I thought about it I just figured that my wedding video was just going to be the video that my husband would accidentally tape over in 10 years, leading to a huge fight that would quite conveniently be resolved in 22 minutes... Yes, I watched a LOT of sitcoms and yes I recognize that we do not have (and will never again have) a VCR.

Moving on... I don't really have a TV so I miss out on a lot but eventually I did stumble across the Subaru Outback honeymoon commercial:


It was really game over. I've been stalking wedding videos for about a week now...

Here are two videos that really touched my heart, gave me chills, an just flat out brought tears to my eyes.

April + Adam's Xcaret Wedding Highlights Film from Joe Simon Films on Vimeo.

Literally everyone one of the videos on this website really takes my breath away. I love the combination of music and actual words from the ceremony.

When I spoke to my photographer to see if she had worked with any fabulous cinematographers she told me that she hadn't made any real connections in Costa Rica but that she loved SharkPig. I mean who wouldn't love a company called SharkPig!!

Then I saw this video on Once Wed and knew I had to post it! Doesn't this video remind you of the Wonder Years or that video of Vada's mom in My Girl.

James & Tiffany Super 8 from Shark Pig on Vimeo.

Turns out, I love the feel of Super 8 Film. It also turns out that it's super expensive... sigh. Champagne taste on a tap water budget :(

I couldn't figure out how to post the rest of the videos so here are a list of other cinematographers that I love:

* Paper Tape Films
* Hello Super 8
* Lola Video

So here's the question: Obviously a GREAT cinematographer is SOOO worth it, but if you can't afford a really great (Super 8 Film, in my case) cinematographer should you just put the money towards something else? Maybe more hours with your photographer? Or is any video better than no video???