Chris and Cecilia planned a rather traditional Chinese Wedding for themselves which involved lots of really interesting rituals – like blindfolding the groom and feeding him crackers or passing a hard boiled egg from one mouth to the next. We can’t say we entirely understood it all, but it was really interesting and our camera operators worked their magic capturing it all on video. The initial preparations were at Selsdon Park Hotel in Surrey which provided a convenient gathering spot for the wedding party. This was followed by a time-honoured Chinese tea ceremony which was really beautiful.
Once completed, it was time to move on to Addington Palace for the civil wedding ceremony. Cecilia got changed into a stunning white strapless dress and was soon ready to walk down the aisle. Our couple exchanged rings, vows and kisses and before anyone knew it, they were man & wife! The weather was amenable to getting outside so we headed out to shoot photographs and video of the wedding party. They were naturals in front of the camera and it was a delight to capture it all. The time came for their Wedding Breakfast which was enjoyed all around by the guests. After dinner everyone went outside for something really special – they set hot-air balloons aloft into the night time sky! It was magical to watch them floating off across the horizon. Thank you Chris and Cecilia.
Jennifer & Stephen’s church wedding at Sacred Heart Church in West Sussex was one of those perfect late summer weddings where the sun was bright and the church gleamed in the light. All the guests took their time lingering outside on the steps before taking their seats inside the lovely stone church. Jennifer arrived at the church with a beautiful smile on her face which only got stronger as she walked up the aisle. We had one camera trained on her the whole time as she entered the church in order to capture the whole moment of her walking up the aisle to meet Stephen. After the ceremony they walked out of the church hand in hand to be showered with confetti. They climbed into the classic automobile and took off for their reception at Ramster House.
This wonderful reception venue in Surrey, was set up to take advantage of the late summer sun, so guests were able to enjoy a drink in the garden while they wedding party had photographs taken. When it came time to head inside for the wedding banquet the room was set up beautifully. A lot of care had gone into setting up all the place settings and decorations (and we were able to get some footage of it all before the guests arrived!). After dining, Jennifer and Stephen took to the floor for their first dance together – it was a beautiful moment and we are sure it won’t be their last. Congratulations guys!
Oyin and Kunle enjoyed a lovely early Autumn wedding at All Saints Mitcham Church in Surrey; with the sun shining, the wedding party were able to congregate outside in the forecourt to greet each other warmly before ushering them inside to witness the Nigerian church wedding service for Oyin and Kunle. The bride arrived in a classic car looking like a classic herself in a beautiful white strapless dress. She made her way up the aisle to greet her eager groom. After their vows and the priest’s blessing they made their way back down the aisle holding hands as husband and wife – lit up the entire way by camera flashes. The wedding party posed for photographs in front of the church and our videographers were able to catch all the good bits which happen between the static photos – as people laugh and jostle into place. That’s the beauty of video, it sees everything!
Afterwards, the party made its way to Painshill Park in Surrey for a fabulous reception in a marquee. It was time for everyone to relax and have a visit over a drink. Friendships were renewed and family reacquainted. When everyone gathered outside for one group photograph we were glad for one thing – a wide angle lens in order to fit everyone in! Thank you to Oyin and Kunle for including us in their happy day.
Nicola had a great team of supporters – her mum and her bridesmaids – to help her in her preparations for her civil wedding to David. The Mitre Hotel was buzzing with their energy as they went about making her look beautiful. As all their guests started to arrive to All Saint’s Weston in Surrey, it was shaping up to be a wonderful day. David, his best man, and groomsmen were all polished and ready to roll when Nicola made her grand entrance – alighting from a white taxi cab and marching up the aisle to the sounds of the choir wafting from above. After the ceremony, with great big grins on their faces, they were showered in flower petals and good wishes on the front steps of the church. It was a happy moment for all.
The gardens of Hampton Court Golf Club were a spectacular setting for wedding photographs and we couldn’t help but getting some footage of the majestic swans as the floated across the water. Meanwhile the golf club was all set up for their wedding reception and the guests eagerly awaited the return of our newlyweds. They didn’t let them down – cutting the cake with a sword and giving a very enthusiastic first dance. Nicola and David are a wonderful young couple, full of life, and we thank them for letting us be part of their day.
I’m currently reviewing raw footage from from several wedding videos we filmed last Autumn – Dawn & Jason who were married at Bickley Manor, Kent and Nikki & Steve who married at Frimley Hall, Surrey. Both were on the same day, a day when we also filmed our first civil partnership (so called “gay wedding video“) at Goodwood House, in West Sussex. I have to admit that purely from an editing perspective I prefer civil weddings; the ceremonies are much shorter and are more digestible to watch. Nevertheless, I’ve always believed a good wedding video is not about coverage of a ceremony, but a documentary capturing all the events of the day. Whatever religious or non-religious values prevail over the proceedings, I believe people are the most important part of our couple’s wedding day, and for this reason I ensure Bloomsbury Films’ work has an engaging and personal quality.
When Dawn & Jason booked us, I remember Dawn saying that one of the main reasons she wanted a wedding video was for her children. She and Jason have three youngsters and so had saved up for some years to get married. I can tell from the raw footage how much the children were an important part of their day and I am sure that the finished film will as much family documentary as wedding video. I think this is exactly what distinguishes wedding videography from wedding photography – the ability to capture people’s character and not just their smiles. At one point, Dawn & Jason’s son Bradley picked up the DJ’s microphone and began to give a gurgling speech – it took everyone by surprise and was a priceless moment!
As a wedding video director, I often wonder what will people think when they see their wedding video in 10 years, 25 years or 50 years. A good wedding film will not only entertain us in the present, but will also shape the way we remember things later. Consequently, I make an effort to produce work that has an enduring and truthful quality, that captures the rich tapestry of the day and the beauty of people’s spirit. It is partly for this reason, I do not favour over use of visual effects – these may dazzle viewers, but in the long run leave us empty of what is really precious.
Perhaps this a reflection of being based in London, but perhaps also it shows the growing acceptance in our society for marriage based on love and like-mindedness, rather than seeking a cultural safety net. A particularly good example of this is Shahara & Christophers wedding which we filmed at York House, Richmond in early August. Shahara is from a Muslim Bengali family and Christopher from a traditional English one. In marrying Shahara, Christopher not only adopted a new family, but a new (Muslim) name. When I met them both months prior to their wedding, it was clear they were both very much in love and that whilst Christopher may not have have grown up in a Muslim/Bengali lifestyle, he was more than willing to adopt one.
I like their video very much, and the trailer shows their coming together well. They had splendid weather on the day and I am glad that there was a lot of opportunities for filming outdoors – which I always believe looks so much better than filming indoors! We have done several Bengali wedding videos of late including a stunning Bengali wedding in Newcastle, but this is the first mixed Anglo-Bengali marriage I am aware of filming. I therefore wish Christopher and Shahara all the very best in the future! Below are highlights from their day:
One of the privileges of creating wedding videos, is getting to know a couple at one of the most intimate moments in their lives. Whether the videographer on the day or the editor looking at footage in a darkened room weeks later, you can’t help but get involved in the couple’s story. At Bloomsbury we feel a huge responsibility for creating a film that captures our clients personality as well as the people and events surrounding them on their wedding day. It is no exaggeration to say a lot of heart goes into making each film – wedding videography just isn’t something you can do dispassionately! Although we run a studio style operation with many people involved in every film we make, each person is fully invested in each frame of the finished film.
Consequently when a film is completed, the response from our clients is very important to us! A recent example was Helen and Michael whose wedding at Easthampstead Park we filmed back in July. As you can tell from the wedding video, the couple are very popular with family and friends and this warmth was something we wanted to get across. When Helen saw the trailer she was thrilled and made us happy by showing her gratitude. It also made us smile when a week or so later she even commented on her own YouTube video expressing how proud she was; “This is our wedding and we were totally amazed by the fantastic job Bloomsbury did it was amazing!” Believe it or not, these few words meant a great deal to us and it is why we enjoy making really special films for our clients. Please have a look at the trailer for Helen & Michael’s wedding video for yourself below:
We recently finished editing an Asian wedding video for Vivek & Anneka, who got married in a civil ceremony at Ealing Town Hall in September 2007 before going to Goa for their proper Asian wedding. Afterwards they held a reception back in the UK just before Christmas at Addington Palace in Croydon. The wedding reception was well attended by over 500 guests and both the bride and grooms families were absolutely wonderful! Dan and Simon filmed the wedding with me directing, we trialled the new EX-1 camera because of its low light capabilities – very wise considering it was the shortest day of the year! The shoot went well and everybody was in great spirits, I particularly liked the speeches, bollywood dancers (with uncle joining in) and the partying! Highlights of their Asian wedding video can be seen below.
