Yes it is titled Banana Bread.  I wouldn’t say it does not have anything to do with banana bread but i will say that is not what the movie is about.

To sum it up, it is a story about redemption.  I think you will find it delightful.  At least the 150 people that showed up at Sea Turtle Cinemas on August 25, 2006 did.  That’s right, I premiered it on the big screen and got an overwhelming applause.

Well, I would like to invite you to view the trailer and then, if you are so inclined, to purchase a copy of your very own.  I have it available through creataspace and amazon.com.

Banana Bread has been official selections to two film festivals around the country.  Click here to learn about the film festivals.

The movie is 17 minutes long but worth every penny.  Plus you will be able to say, “Remember when“.

So you’ve said your vows and your I do’s, now it’s time to party like you have never partied before and celebrate with all your friends and family. Its hard to do this without music.

So do you want live music or a DJ? Both have their advantages which I will not discuss now but what I will mention is certain criteria to look for. Just because you can play an instrument or press play on tape deck, or those even used anymore, does not make you the right band or DJ.

A Band:

In a band you want professionalism, talent and a group who can really get your party hopping. I have been a several weddings where the band was playing their heart out and one or two couples were dancing most of the night. I did not know who to feel sorry for, the band or the couple getting married. Plus imagine what that part of the wedding video looked like. You can expect to pay no less than $5000 for a good band. I was at one wedding and the band was $15000 and that was a Friday wedding. (Many bands give discounts for weekday weddings.) But let me tell you what they did, they got involved with the couple, the guests, and the party never stopped. There are different bands for different weddings and different tastes so that is what you need to look for also, what type of music you like. The music will also set the mood for every stage of the event from the ceremony to the reception. And let me mention, if you get musicians to play at the ceremony, make sure they can play. I can’t fix horrible music in post production. Here are some bands I recommend: Deaz Guys – Hilton Head, Atlanta Beat – Atlanta, Bobby and the Aristocats – Atlanta, Liquid Pleasure – Rock Hill.

A DJ:

This is probably harder to find but well worth checking in too. You still want to party and many DJs think they are their just to spin records. Music is a vital part of almost anything. Think of church, movies, commercials, restaurants, etc. Can you imagine any of these things without music or with bad music? There are times where there is music and you don’t realize it but I will tell you this, if it’s bad you will know it. With DJs however its not just music you’re buying but the DJ. The DJ is the one that will keep the party going and interacting with your guests. I have scene great DJs and awful ones. I have a very good friend of mine who not only gets involved with the guests but he creates a love story as the bridal party enters. This is what I am talking about. The music and the entertainment will set the stage to your party. As I mentioned about DJs being hard to find, I have one I recommend. Jamies Porta Party – Hilton Head.

Now why is a wedding cinematographer writing about music. Well in my cinematic films I document everything that’s happening the day of your wedding. It will make for a much more fun, entertaining, memorable wedding film if your reception is fun and you and your guests are truly celebrating your wedding.

I hope this helps a little and gives you some great recommendations for your party.

Last Saturday I, Studio:43, had the opportunity to be apart of a large project for Pro-Life.  I know this can be a real touchy issue for some especially if abortion has been a chapter in ones life in any form or fashion.  As a bible believing Christian I am 100% pro-life.  For those of you who are not please keep reading.  We all have different views on all sorts of different things but we all have to live in the same world so that is ok if we disagree.

I would like to have you read this post with an open mind.

I have been pro-life for as long as I can remember mainly because as a bible believing Christian I know life begins at conception.  If you say you are a Christian and don’t believe this you can’t be a Christian.  Harsh I know but what is a christian?  Christian means Christ Like.  Christ read the bible and if you read the bible you should believe the bible.  It is all inspired by GOD and if One part of the bible is wrong than you can’t believe in any of it.  I say that to say this, Murder is wrong.

I was at a friends house and he was converting some video that happened to be talking about abortion.  It described the process of an abortion.  I wont go in detail now about that but man, after seeing that, anyone in there right mind can see its murder.

Anyway, this post grew from the beginning so what I initially was writing about is the Public Service Announcement video I worked on Saturday.  It is in the Post Production stage and believe me when its finished it will be up in this blog.  So look out for it.

Wayne Auman and his wife, very dear friends of mine, are writing these PSAs and we are trying, together, to spread the message that Abortion, Murder, ITS THE SAME THING.  Check out the website.

Well this post got a little long so I will continue this thought later but stay tuned to see the video and if you would love to donate to this project please contact me.

You’re sitting on your sofa in your living room watching a studio: 43 production on TV on a Saturday night, minding your own business and then your Best friend calls you up, tells you he’s getting married and wants you to be his best man. All you are thinking now is I have to come up with a speech, but you can’t decline, so you end up agreeing to being the best man and ultimately providing a “Knock Out” speech at his wedding. After you hang up the phone, you go straight to the net and search for Free Wedding speeches.

You get the picture? Statistics have shown that more people are afraid of public speaking then any other fears, and it is indeed a very fearful act, speaking in public, anything you say cannot be taken back, and if you say something bad, stupid, or offensive you’ll get foot “in” mouth disease.

But does looking for free speeches on the internet really help? Most of the time you’ll find some cheap tips on how to make the perfect, speech or how to say it. Or maybe you’ll be lucky enough to find one that is already made, and you’ll just have to print it. But these speeches tend to be rather, impersonal and very general, and if you’re the best man, you are expected to deliver the “Best speech ever”. I mean you don’t want the groom, your best friend, wished he had asked someone else.

I am here to say, when making speeches, the simpler the better. By reading this post you won’t have to depend on free wedding speeches off the net if you have any memories at all of your friends. And as a professional wedding cinematographer whose job is telling wedding stories, I am asking you not to look for your speech on the internet.

When asked to give a toast, what is expected is simply tell the people something about your friends, the ones getting married, how they were meant for each other and how you wish them happiness for the rest of their lives. All you need is memories and your genuine care for your loved ones. If you have tons of memories than your job is easy. If you only have a few, than pick 1 or 2 that really lets all the guests know why he is your best friend and why this couple is right for each other.

If you’re still having butterflies in your stomach about giving your speech you can follow these free wedding speech tips, they may not be ready made but they’ll surely help.

- Forget the preaching and stick to the memories

Most people give winding speeches and try to give “unasked advice” leave that to the marriage counselor or the pastor, just give them the memories. Most couples appreciate the nostalgia of a few well chosen memories. Find a funny or a touching memory you have of the couple and share it with the room, plus a few well wishes and you’re done. In addition, this makes for a better video and you will be more of the supporting cast in the couples Hilton Head Wedding Film. If you have a touching story or tip, Coastal Wedding Films can take that audio and use it as Voice Over in certain parts of the video and trust me, when the clients here that, it reinforces why you are their best friend.

- Go for short but effective, rather than long and Boring

Many of us know that a long speech is very boring. We all have been at the weddings where person after person gets up giving stupid advice or tries to be a comedian. A few funny lines are great but this toast is not about you. It’s about the couple.

You don’t want to dull the night with your talks of your childhood, and your games, with your friend. A biography is for a book, one or two memories are for a wedding.

- Write a Poem

You may say that poems are for sissies but that depends on every person’s point of view. But a Wedding is a very emotional moment even for the groom. I have scene even the biggest most manly man cry at his wedding. This is a time for a little emotion and tears and what more to provoke those dams to flow than a few well said lines in the form of a poem?

- Don’t forget to introduce yourself

A simple “Brent has been my friend since high school and I’ve never seen him so interested and devoted to a girl like Cary in all my years I have known him”. Make a basis for what you’re saying especially if you’re talking about moments in the newlywed’s life. People need to know why you are the one giving a speech and that you are not just a drunk guest wanting to talk because he saw other people with a mic.

I know that most people who read my blogs are women. So if you are a bride-to-be simply copy and paste this post and anonymously email it to your fiancée. Or email it to your maid/matron of honor. The same post applies to her.

I can also say as a person who documents weddings in Hilton Head, South Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, All over the country really, some of the best wedding videos I have produced were when great speeches and honest and sincere interviews were recorded. Because this is where the real story is and this is a memory worth saving.

Today I have a video that will make anyone cry and then want to get married in Savannah, Georgia.  Its a love story/Short Film of a cute little couple from Lafayette, Indiana.  If you go back to my last post, its the same couple in the Ceremony Highlight at the Bethesda Chapel in Savannah, Georgia.

Anyway, I had a fun day shooting with this shy couple and actually got them to open up a bit.  I think they had a lot fun too, I know I did.  My Goal is to produce more of these videos because in addition to the ceremony and reception this is a video that will remind the couple of those special little details of when, how, why they met, that usually just fades away.  Also this is a great video that can be shown at a wedding reception as an intro to dinner or dancing.  You see this video will also allow your guests to know a little more about your spouse and its a great chance for you to be a movie star in front of all your family and friends.

This couple actually went back home to Lafayette, Indiana and had a huge reception for their close family and friends who could not make the Savannah, Georgia wedding and showed this video.  Ashtyn and Ryan were stars for the evening.

I almost forgot, we also went back downtown Savannah, that night, on river street expecting to see fireworks.  Well Savannah thought it was too cold and decided not to shoot them off.  Well I gave them their own special display of fireworks.

So check out the video above.  If you would like to see a higher quality versoin of the Savannah, Georgia Love Story click here.

I have to admit, when I first heard where the ceremony was going to take place I thought it was going to be in some hall or classroom room type setting.  But when I arrived to the entrance I told my brother, Darin Nelsen, (my A list camera operator) to stop the car and I jumped out, grabbed my camera and immediately started shooting.  Then later I found out, this is where Paula Dean got married.

Savannah Georgia

Well nevertheless I got a lot of great footage.  I will post the video in my next few posts so look out for it.

What I am writing about today is sort of an exciting benchmark that the wedding videography business as a whole can celebrate about.  Wedding videographers, cinematographers, or whatever we are calling ourselves in the business right now, have done a great job educating the masses because after this last wedding I have to say I was really treated special and appreciated more than I could ever imagine.  The mother of the bride said, and I quote, “Other than the ceremony itself, you are the most important thing to me with at this wedding.”

I had to ask her if she would be willing to be my PR person.  I am serious about that.

Us wedding videographers who love what we do really spend a lot of time producing a hollywood type of production and we have felt in times past that we were the only ones who really appreciate and understand to the fullest extent what we do.  I mean clients like our videos and refer us but never before Have I ever had clients like I have had this past year in 2008 and this past weekend.  I can now say that we are feeling appreciated and our hard work has paid off.  So I say Kudos to all us wedding videographers who really work hard at what we do.

What I have today is a reception highlight that I edited that tells the wonderful story of Lissa and Chris’s reception.  This video really sets the tone of the reception and by this video alone anyone can clearly see how exciting this reception was.

The band they had was phenomenal.  They had Bobby and the Aristocats from Atlanta, Georgia.  The way they interacted with the guests and Chris and Lissa.   They actually got Grandma on stage.  That was and incredible moment.   For that one moment alone was worth having video.

Let me set the stage for you.  The band is about to break and they notice grandma having a wonderful time so Bobby invites her on stage and continues the song, eloquently adding his own lyrics to meet the mood and the action on stage,  making grandma feel, for that moment, like she was the star.  Can you imagine missing a moment like that, not having that on video?

OK let me quit the preaching and mention this wedding was a lot of fun to document and their family and friends were all so wonderful.  I have a few more weddings booked on Saint Simons Island, Georgia for 2009 and I can’t wait.  Coastal Wedding Films is located in Bluffton, South Carolina and we shoot a lot of Hilton Head Wedding Videos but we love to travel and Saint Simons Island, Georgia is a favorite now.

OK so now for the video you have been waiting for.

Well here is part two. If you have not yet read part 1 feel free to read that first.

As I mentioned in part 1 you really want to plan early and there are several reasons why. Having a Hilton Head Wedding or any Destination wedding can be demanding on the bride and groom as well. There will be unforeseen things that must take place and only time is your friend in this area. Here are some examples:

· Hilton Head Legal Documents. In most places you get married you will need legal documents such as your marriage license. You may also find that it is a 45 minute drive or more from the actual wedding site, or vacation site, where you have to get those documents. Another reason to have a wedding planner, she/he will do this for you.

· Residency requirement. Some places actually require you to have a residency requirement where you have to live in a certain place for a period of time. This could be only a few days, several weeks or more but if you arrive the day before your wedding and think you will get your marriage license and be on your way, you may end up with a reception and no marriage ceremony.

· Medical Tests some places require certain medical tests before getting married and some destination weddings require shots to enter the country. It is your responsibility to inform your guests of these requirements.

· Book Early By booking early you get everything you desire in your dream Hilton Head Wedding and more importantly there will be fewer surprises.

I keep making reference to Hilton Head Island Destination weddings but these refer not only to Hilton Head Weddings but any Destination wedding. In fact, many tips and pointers I mentioned earlier do not even pertain to Hilton Head. Remember this is an etiquette guide for any Destination wedding.

I hope these last two posts have helped you in planning your Dream wedding. I know this can be overwhelming but I must say it will be most rewarding. Going to your Dream Place like Hilton Head Island, South Carolina or Sea Island, Georgia, or Jekyll Island, Georgia or even the Bahamas or Costa Rica will only add to the memories you’ll create during the Journey of your Wedding. Your guests will even thank you, not only for inviting them to the best party ever but in many cases you got them to a Dream Location that on their own, may never have come to. You have just opened their eyes to new things and more importantly you created a memory in one of the best chapters of your life.

So, to proceed with the first destination wedding etiquette.

1.      Consider who can attend the wedding location.

Out of town weddings are preferred by couples as a way to lessen the number of guests at the events. Sometimes, when the budget is of concern the destination wedding etiquette is to set aside money for accommodations and transportation for the immediate members of the family and entourage.  But it is not always necessary as destination weddings tend to be a vacation for guests. This brings me to #2

2.      Plan early

You can’t plan too early for a destination wedding.  If you choose not to hire a wedding planner/coordinator you will be doing most of it yourself over the phone and/or through email.  You will need to take into consideration time differences when dealing with vendors, availability, and simply familiarizing yourself with the area and its wedding vendors.  This is why I recommend a wedding planner/coordinator.  Not to sound redundant but the money you will pay for one, I can almost assure you they will save you in areas you are not expecting.

Also by planning early you will be able to better inform your guests of the best places to stay, places to eat, and other sites and things to do while they are at your destination place.

For the couple a destination wedding can be a fulfillment of their fantasy. When looking for the best place to celebrate, look for these qualities:

·        Accessibility – the hotel and church or wedding location should be near the reception area. This is a destination wedding etiquette in consideration for the family and guests who need to freshen up before the reception.

·        Package – there are hotels or resorts that offer wedding packages. These are discounted rates for group bookings. Others may include the transportation. It is a destination wedding etiquette to make sure everything is taken care of.

·        Cost – destination weddings can still be costly, especially if there is a theme involved. However, the destination wedding etiquette regarding the expenses are sorted out between the bride and groom.  We are now in the 21^st century and not all weddings are paid only by the bride’s parents any more.

3.      Put Videography and Photography first

Now you know I can leave this out.  But seriously, for any special event or Hilton Head Wedding, you invest thousands of dollars and thousands of hours creating the most special day of your life.  So why put them first?  Well for starters if you want the best they always book first.  Second, you need to develop a relationship with them because they will be around you and your guests the longest and you need to make sure you have hired the best so your guests will not be annoyed.  How to find the best? Now that is another post for another time.

Also you want to put them first because the vendors you put first you also budget for and the best are not the cheapest.

I know this is a lot of information so that is why I have broken this up in to two different posts.  Subscribe to our blog for Part two.

I hope this helps you get on the right track for planning your Hilton Head Destination Wedding or any Destination wedding.