Seven tips on planning your wedding!

With over 10 years in the Wedding industry, one Videographer shares his hints and tips for making your special day run as smoothly as possible. 

Killian Mulcahy from www.VideoStory.net.au

1)  Preparation is key

When it comes to booking your wedding services, try and be as early as you can. For the venue, celebrant, photographer and videographer and many other services, it’s ideal to book twelve months in advance to secure what/who you want. It’s not uncommon for these services to have spots in their diary taken so far in advance of a wedding day and you want to avoid the unfortunate situation of deciding on a professional services company, only to be disappointed.

2) Be like the early bird, go get the worm

On your wedding day, get ready early. You think you have loads of time but often that’s not the case, so prepare for unexpected delays. There’s nothing wrong with being early but being late makes your day seem a little rushed and even risks the unsettling of your plans. Tradition says the bride can be fashionably late, it’s ok to be 5 minutes late but when it’s pushing the 30 minutes to 1 hour mark that’s a different story!

It’s your big day, which you are paying a lot of money for, so make sure you start on time and everything else should fall into place. By starting on time you get the maximum value from your service providers like your venue, photographer, videographer and band etc.   

3) Keepin’ it simple is sometimes less stressful

The simple truth is this: if you’re not naturally an organised person, then keep things simple on your wedding day. Don’t channel the Amazing Race when it comes to the event planning and avoid committing to high maintenance items. Just let the focus be on enjoying your celebration with loved ones. Think of the big picture and consider swapping any stressful, grandiose plans for something simpler but make sure you also like the simple things you choose…

4) Don’t be afraid to put forward your ideas to your providers

The main point is this: your wedding is your special day which celebrates you and your partner’s love. Your wedding service providers are all part of the plan towards making this happen. Think of them like mini fairy godmothers who all want to work in with your grand plan, making your wedding dreams come true.

With this in mind, don’t be shy in communicating your vision. Furthermore, good suppliers aim to please you with their services and are pleased when you share any specific ideas you might have. Don’t be afraid to ask for things you would like and share your ideas! But remember they are professionals and have been to many weddings, so if you ask them if your ideas will work they will have a good idea of the timings involved and if they have the capability to complete your request!

5) Sounds silly but make sure you actually like who you are hiring

When it comes to weddings, people have many recommendations to help you. Often this is of course helpful, but just make sure you genuinely like who you have hired. This is especially true for your celebrant, photographer and videographer. If they’re going to be a part of the furniture on your special day then you need to feel comfortable working with them and have faith in their abilities. Do your own research, be honest and work out what you actually want.

6) Get industry recommendations from suppliers 

Picture by 'Photography by Riccardo'

Ask your suppliers who they recommend, they cross paths with other industry professionals all the time. They know about people and, if you ask them, they’ll probably be happy to tell you honestly their view. Don’t be afraid to seek information from suppliers you’re already in contact with. 

Wedding planning can often seem overwhelming so it’s an easy shortcut to ask your suppliers who already work in the industry if they have any recommendations. Just talk to them, they don’t bite and if they do then perhaps you should reevaluate using them!  

7) The best time to book a supplier …

This is a common question for people planning their weddings, “When should we book someone?” The simple answer is, when it feels right! If you like them, their style and their price then don’t hesitate because if you wait another three or six weeks they could be booked by someone else. Most suppliers will hold a date for a few days to give you a chance to make your mind up.

I hope this guide has provided 7 practical tips for organising your wedding, to find out about Video Story Geelong please visit  

www.videostory.net.au

Pictures kindly supplied by: 'Photography by Riccardo' http://www.riccardo.com.au/

Video Story's First Birthday

A Busy First Year at Video Story Geelong

As it approaches Video Story Geelong’s first birthday, I thought I would share with you some of the highlights along the way...

I can’t believe that it’s been almost a year since Video Story Geelong was launched the Geelong Bridal Expo in July 11. It’s been choc-a-block, lots of weddings and TV work and even a documentary.

So, without any further ado, Happy First Birthday to us and hope you enjoy this retrospective post which looks back on our first year…

July 2011: Weddings and Expos

It was in July 2011 when Video Story Geelong first debuted at the Brides Wedding Expo in Geelong. Perhaps it was the ‘luck of the Irish’ or perhaps sheer fate, but the only reason Video Story Geelong even got a chance to display at this show was because another videographer pulled out.

So, with the help of my wife Kay, Video Story Geelong had to organised itself a stand. A few trips to Office Works, Spotlight, Snap Printing mixed with some creativity and we were ready to go! Luckily, Kay’s pretty handy with crafty stuff and together, I think we made the stall look pretty decent, although it will look very different this year.

In any case it was a tight squeeze to get it all ready in time. We had literally just arrived in Australia to live from Ireland weeks before, which didn’t leave much time for designing and printing fliers and getting everything in order before the expo but it all went really well. 

At the expo, we wanted Video Story to get people’s attention so we had a really great sale offer: the first 10 people to book would receive their wedding videos for $1000. As anyone looking at wedding video quotes knows, that was a unbelievable deal.

I remember getting a phone call late on a Saturday night at a party from a couple who didn’t want to miss out, neither did I, it was all very exciting. Something I never expected to happen so soon, happened in a few weeks later. I was turning down work, I couldn’t believe it, people wanted to book Video Story but were booked out for certain dates.

Soon after the Expo I bought all my equipment. I’m not kidding! I bought all my equipment new here in Australia. That way if something happened over here I could simply take it back to the store which is a lot easier than trying to work with Irish bought equipment!

So I spent about 4 hours at Videocraft in Melbourne, where I surely drove the sales assistant mad but probably mad in a good way because I left with lots of gear.

The Wedding Season

Pretty soon it rolled into wedding season and before I knew it, Video Story turned it’s cameras on and we were in business.

I have been filming weddings for about 15 years so I’m no novice but there was something about filming my first Australian wedding here which brought on an unexpected twinge of nerves. I think it was just doing my job in a new environment and a new country, which made me nervous, the nerves disappeared as soon as I pressed record, it was like riding a bike it all falls in to place when you turn the pedal.

In some cases bookings happened much closer to the wedding date than I was accustomed to, at the end of October I had just one wedding booked for the month of November but by the end of November I had recorded five! I guess I was new and had dates available, we’re already nearly booked out for November 2012. In Ireland, 90% of bookings are made 1 year in advance.  

Made in Geelong, the Documentary...

While all this was going on, there was also something else I began to work on. I decided to take a course in documentary film making at RMIT, which I started at the end of August.

Soon after finishing, I made a documentary for the Geelong organisation “Made in Geelong” (which you can see here if you’d like)

This experience was really interesting. I was still a newbie in Australia, it was great to meet some locals at Made in Geelong. For instance, I met Geelong artist and entrepreneur Rod Moore who I would end up working with for my first TV project and I met Anna Kosmanovski a professional writer who re wrote my website.

Video Story goes on TV

It turned out I would work with Rod, and his wife Sue, on a TV series for Channel 31 called Plein Air Painting. We filmed a pilot episode in Queenscliff and hoped for the best. Next thing we know Channel 31 wanted to air a season of it, starting December! Well did we work hard to produce the series on time as C31 liked it so much they wanted to air it right away.

That lead to another hectic schedule for the following 4 months as we filmed 13 episodes of Plain Air Plainting TV. It brought us all around Victoria and we had a great time shooting.

Aussie Summer

I was really busy from January to April with loads of beautiful weddings and we also had Plein Air painting still on the go. In the middle of an Aussie summer this videographer coped reasonable well with long days shooting outside in the sun considering the pale skin!!  I must say I became very fashionable with my wide brimmed hats, shorts with white legs sticking out the bottom and of course I had lots of sunblock and icy cold water to keep hydrated. I’m now accustomed to filming in the warmer weather. 

Main highlights

I’ve really loved  starting up Video Story Geelong, it’s been a wonderful business venture, very busy, hard work and  good times.

I’ve thought about some highlights along the way!

-          Receiving my first booking was a definite highlight!

-          Getting my work on TV was a brilliant

-          Working with Brides and Grooms is a part of the business I really enjoy

-          Meeting the people of Geelong and surrounds

It’s been a brilliant, big and fun-filled year at Video Story and I look forward to what this next year brings. This is a good chance for me to say thank you to all the clients who booked me, everyone in the industry I worked alongside and those who supported Video Story along the way and who continue to support Video Story.

The contrast in Irish and Australian weddings.

Video Story's first year in Australia

As a wedding videographer with links to both Ireland and Australia, Video Story’s Killian Mulcahy has been intrigued to observe some of the differences between a typical Irish and Australian wedding. Killian is from Ireland (as you will be quickly be able to work out if you chat with him on the phone!),  he and his Australian wife recently moved to Geelong, Australia. So what were Killian’s observations after filming wedding videos in both countries.

Weather

Although the Irish climate is substantially colder than the Australian climate, there isn’t usually much difference in bridal fashions between the two countries, men arrive in suits and the ladies wear evening dresses rain, hail or shine.

 Video Story Website

The Ceremony  
Another big difference is timing. Generally, Australian weddings have a faster pace while Irish weddings are a longer affair.  The average Aussie ceremony runs for 20 minutes, an Irish one is much longer and usually goes for at least one hour, including a full Catholic mass.

While in Australia, many weddings are held outdoors, in such places as leafy gardens or stunning sandy beaches. Celebrants read beautiful ceremonies about the Bride and Groom's life and journey together, touching on wonderful stories and how they fell in love. Irish ceremonies and venues are predominantly unchanged: most weddings are held in a church and conducted by a local Priest or Minister, although equally touching ceremonies it's the variety of venues and locations that's different. 

For a wedding to be held in a venue other than a church in Ireland the venue must be approved for ceremonies and the County Registrar of Births, deaths and marriages, who is appointed by the Irish health service, is the only official able to marry a couple in a Civil Ceremony.

Whilst in Australia the number of guests can vary from intimate gatherings to a very large gathering, in Ireland weddings are always big with two to three hundred guests as a standard number.

In Ireland the Bride and Groom will always walk straight down the aisle after the ceremony to great applause and then stop at the front door to greet all the guests and they leave the church and receive their congratulations, a noticeable difference for Killian in Australia, is when the Bride and Groom after the cermony greet the guests as they walk down the aisle.

Ongoing festivities

At an Australian wedding, when the reception package has run it's time and the band begins to unplug their equipment, that’s usually around the time when the Bride and Groom wave their sweet farewells to everyone and the wedding has come to a close.

Yet, not so in Ireland! In fact, that’s usually the time when the dancing is just getting started! An Irish wedding couple along with their guests will be continuing to celebrate long into the morning, never one to miss a party, some even go home the following morning with the post man, there really is no time limit on the reception. 

It used to be the case that the couple would leave early but more recently they realise that there is a lots more fun to be had and the DJ usually kicks in at 12:30am to play for about 2 more hours, with the resulting sing song in the residents bar, tells Killian.  He says last time they were at an Irish wedding as a guest they retired from the sing song at 3am to go back to the hotel room for a cup of tea and wedding cake!

Dancing

Dancing is a big part of any wedding but especially so in Ireland! The band helps create a fun and inclusive atmosphere, as Killian describes.

The band is usually very interactive, finding out who’s birthday it’s been lately or who’s from what part of Ireland and they incorporate this info into the night, it’s just great fun.  

While at Australian weddings, the dancing can take a while to warm up, in Ireland the dancing is almost woven into the DNA of the wedding, including an elaborate and sometimes dizzying dance move called the Paul Jones, where of a circle of women holding hands and dance in one direction, while an enfolding circle of men dance around them, in the opposite direction. When the music stops after about 30 seconds you dance with the person opposite you for a few songs, it's a great way to mix up the crowd. 

How the day runs

A really interesting point of difference between Australian and Irish weddings is the time they are scheduled to begin.

In Australia, weddings can begin within a variety of different times, such as 10am, 2pm, 4pm or even 6pm but in Ireland weddings always begins between 1pm or 2pm.

Also, in Ireland the Best Man may have a busier workload: he’s also the MC on the day, as well as getting the groom to the church on time!!! The variety of the Australian weddings really impressed Killian, he says it's great to go to new venues, new themes and see new ideas for each wedding here in Australia. 

The structure of the evening is also a little different. Irish weddings have a four course dinner followed by speeches. Then everyone leaves the function room and retires to the bar, lounge, foyer or goes for a walk. Band then sets up in the function room and the hotel clears the floor ready for the dancing to begin, this process usually takes 1-1.5 hours. Where as in Australia the pre-dinner drinks, meal, speeches and dancing is all interwoven usually into a 5 hours reception package.

Photography

Although every wedding is different, Killian has noticed the quintessential Australian wedding photography style is more candid than back home.

Also, from a photographer’s or videographer’s point of view, the conditions in Australia are brighter and in most instances, flash isn’t even needed at all.  This means an Australian photographer/videographer has greater possibilities to work with on the day, especially the evening light that has a beautiful color and casts wonderful shadows on the background, the sky is usually blue and around the Geelong/Ballerine region the photos often take place on a beach or near the sea,  he loves his new working environment and working in the sunshine!

Some things remain the same

Whether it's an indoor Irish ceremony officiated by a Priest, with snow falling down outside, or a sunset Aussie wedding along the beach with canapés and candles, the truth is this: the excitement of the wedding remains the same! Everyone loves a wedding and it’s always a pleasure to be part of a couple’s big day, Killian reflects. People come along to a wedding dolled up, happy and looking forward to a good time, "that’s a fantastic atmosphere to work in," says Killian, to wrap up... 

Visit Killian's website at www.videostory.net.au to view his latest weddings and find out more about Video Story or give him a call on 0468 328 283 to hear that lovely Irish accent!

A fly on the wall: choose video for your wedding!

From capturing unexpected details to protecting your precious memories in the years to come, professionally capturing your wedding on film is a must.

The details: from facial expressions to ‘the whole story’

Having your wedding presented on video is so meaningful because it captures all the little details of your big day which only film can reveal.
A huge amount of clients tell us things like - “it was brilliant to see Mum and Dad’s joy throughout the wedding day” and “I actually got to see what everyone was wearing!”.

For the Bride and Groom, who are concentrating on the ceremony, the photos and greeting guests a video is a wonderful way to share with them the wider scope of their day. Video highlights the subtle details like facial expressions, ribbons on the car and of course all the fun and excitement of your special day.

Personally, we at Video Story Geelong love the surprise – and delight – that clients tell us they experience when they watch their wedding video especially for the first time, noticing all the things they may have missed and reliving the romance and excitement of it all over again.

Post wedding: three things remain

If there’s one thing we know, that’s weddings! We’ve been filming them for over ten years and have worked out that when your wonderful day ends and life gradually settles back into a routine there are three things which you have left:
These are:
• Your photos
• Your video
• Your memories

Your photos and video will stand the test of time, but memories can fade.

That’s why it’s so good to have a Video Story video, because as soon as you start watching it, the day will rush back in vivid detail. You’ll remember the details, how special it was, who celebrated it with you and all those things.

Film is a powerful memory trigger and I can tell you firsthand, that when my wife and I sit down to watch our own wedding video, we really enjoy the memories in detail every time we watch it.

Your anniversary, a bottle of wine and your video makes for a lovely night.


The music

A video rekindles memories in great detail, plays the sounds, displays the visuals and, when edited to music that’s meaningful to you, brings out the emotion. Music, a powerful memory trigger, is used advantageously to replay and remind you of the good times.

When you give us a song to feature in your video, we always try to use it in a way that suits your taste. For example, if you select a slow ballad or a pop tune, then we’ll edit your footage accordingly.

Create your own reality TV, for the biggest day in your life

Let’s face it, most people generally watch a lot of TV and movies, Yeah? Why not add your own movie to your personal collection?

When filmed and produced by Video Story Geelong, your video could be like a documentary, romantic comedy or reality TV show all rolled into one with YOUR wedding as the feature!

Some people think that a wedding video rolls on for hours and hours but we just use all the best bits and highlights and edit them into a one to two hour DVD. So, the next time you want to watch a romantic comedy, just think – you could watch your own romance on film instead! Popcorn and all.

Like peas and carrots: a photographer and videographer

A photographer, on their own, provides you with photos and a videographer, on their own, provides you with videos. So, isn’t it natural that you have both there on your special day.

There’s a lot of people who think that if they book a photographer then they don’t need a videographer or vice versa but both services are stand alone packages. We believe both services complement each other and we work well alongside the photographer, whilst always aiming for different points of view, we ensure your photos and video looks unique from each other.

We’re the fly on the wall, we’re ‘behind the scenes’ capturing the action that presents you with all the happenings on your day, we even include the shots of the photographer taking shots of you!!

So if you’re considering a video for your wedding, check out Video Story!

When you work with us, you’ll receive a full length DVD of your wedding (1-2 hours of your day) and also get a 5 minute highlight video, perfect for sharing on Facebook or with guests who were not able to attend.

We work to your preferred style of music and taste and would love to capture your special day for you on film. It’s your special day, about you and about your partner, so why not enjoy it in the years to come with a Video Story Video, capturing memories to last a life time…

Contact us at www.videostory.net.au or join our Facebook page to keep up with the latest blogs...