Tuscan Destination Wedding at Escondido | Dancing Groom wows Guests

Austin, TX - Escondido

When it comes to planning a wedding, there are no shortage of seemingly infinite details to consider.  From paring down the guest list to building up a song list, the process is never truly over until the bride and groom wake up on a beach somewhere in a different time zone in a daze from all that just transpired.  I can only imagine that on wedding day + 1, the bride and the groom begin to discover and focus on the details of their lives that they have postponed during the engagement process, and begin to imagine the new details of how their lives will look together.

Around the time Whitney contacted me to shoot their wedding video, Gina Whittington from CLINK Events assured me that this wedding would be "epic," and that the details would be so exquisite that there was a good chance that the wedding would be featured in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style or Martha Stewart Weddings.

I kept Gina's input in mind and instructed the team to get as many eye-candy detail shots as possible.  Establish the rustic wedding location decor, film Whitney's unique wedding dress in the sunlight,  create smooth tracking shots across the wedding rings and the table settings, etc.

  

Kourtney and Chad got plenty of that which I requested, but also documented this wedding paying particular attention to the fleeting emotional details that come without plan or procedure - the moments that cannot be purchased and aren't carried within the pages of a magazine.

I could hint at some of those details, but I'd rather you enjoy the film and find them for yourselves.  Here's a segment where Geoff wowed the guests by dancing to one of his favorite childhood songs.

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/32538779[/vimeo]

Whitney and Geoff, when it came time to pick the detail of who would be your wedding videography team, thank you for choosing Mason Jar Films.  Enjoy!

Rustic Sonoma wedding | Michelle & Jens, the full film

The heart has its reasons, that reason ignores completely - Blaise Pascal via Marianna Esposto

Believe it or not, I've spent years waiting for Michelle to get married so I could be the one to shoot her wedding video. Ever since I created the tribute film for her mother, Maly, back in 2007, I have had it in the back of my mind that this was not my last film project for the Depres family.

Michelle's sister, Marianne, kept me posted in subsequent months on Michelle's relational status.  When Marianne would contact me regarding her latest ideas for developing a cooking show (Trained at the Cordon Bleu, Marianne once operated L'Atelier catering - now she has an Empanada truck), she would remark that Michelle's relational status was still cooking.

In the years that followed, Michelle recommended me to create wedding videos for many of her friends, but I was never able to serve any of them. Besides, I kept pining away for Michelle...to get married that is, so that I could return the to Bay Area (preferably during our summer) to get to work with her amazing family, and, ironically enough, to get to meet her legendary mother, the subject of the tribute film I created so many years before.

I had almost given up hope, but then earlier this year, I heard it through the wine-country grape vine that the time had come.

Why rush a good thing?  As Marianne presents in her matron of honor toast - Michelle "is a romantic, but she takes her time.  She is methodical in everything she does."

The timing was right for Jens as well.  After conducting a thorough "international search," he finally found his lady.

Michelle and Jens, thanks for flying me out to Sonoma to be your wedding videographer.  

Is your groom this brave? A solo dance performance surprise for the bride at this wedding!

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/32538779[/vimeo]

Straight from the Austin wedding video of Whitney and Geoff, enjoy this special clip.

In recent years, it has become quite popular to among couples to fake out the crowd by starting their first dance or their father daughter dance with a more traditionally paced tune, then transitioning into something more saucy to the surprise of the wedding guests.

The first few times this made its way to Youtube, the videos went viral.  But since then, one has to ask one's self, if one wants to shock their family and friends without going too overboard, how can they do it without imitating someone else?  With the prevalence of wedding video online, their friends are certain to recall similar shenanigans and label their latest exploits as a rerun.

Whitney and Geoff obviously thought things through, and in keeping with their unique wedding style, they made a new spin on an old (in internet years) tradition.

So their challenge is not unlike anyone planning their wedding.  How do you make an event all your own when there is truly nothing new under the sun?  How do you make your event memorable without being labeled as an imitator?

As with all great wedding videos, it all comes down to story.  Start with your story, and let the style and the surprises flow from there.

In Geoff's case, begin with a toast from a groomsman, introducing a real, specific occurrence from days of yore, and then bridge that into the funny wedding tradition.

It's more about the journey, not so much the destination.

At your wedding, how did you put your own spin on something that may be familiar from other events, making it memorable in your own way?  Let us know in the comments below.

Spicewood Vineyards | "Like Fine Wine" - Jessica & Ron, the full film

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/36292490[/vimeo]

It took me a little while to finally meet Jessica and Ron after our first contact this past summer.  Jessica has a busy, thriving career, and Ron was actively picking grapes from his vineyards before the record summer heat would swallow them up.

Over some ceviche and guacamole at La Condesa, I heard of their travels to Greece, their love of music, and their appreciation for fine comestibles.  Jessica, having lived in most time zones in the U.S., had spent some time in an ashram in India as well.  Ron, with a law degree pedigree, had successfully operated his own record label.  Between the two of them, they were planning a vintage wedding that combined all their favorite things:

music - Barton Strings was set for the ceremony, The Darin Layne Jazz Trio at Cocktail hour, and Robert Earl Keen and Dysfunkshun Junkshun (separately :->) for the reception.

food - Primizie was planning an elaborate feast to be enhanced with bottles of wine from Ron's Vineyard

travel - Spicewood Vineyards is a hop and a skip out of town, but having a wedding and reception in one location away from the city gives it that destination wedding feel.

super 8 film - Ron & Jessica thought it was best to have a good portion of their day preserved in actual super 8mm film, to give their wedding movie the authentic "wonder years" style nostalgia that they were looking for in their vintage wedding.

But most of all, it was evident that Ron and Jessica valued their family and friends, and while they wanted their union to represent their story, they wanted more to serve the people who have brought them to this place in their story.

There are those who can pick out a fine wine.  There are few others who can turn water into wine.  And when you're in the middle of a drought and there's no water to be found, there are those whose lives are like wine to others.  Jessica and Ron, your relationship is a fantastic vintage, the perfect blend, aged to perfection, and poured out to their family and friends in just the right measure.

Thank you for having us along to document the fellowship that transpires from a bottle of y'all.

<<click here to see some of the amazing official photos by Diana M. Lott>>

<<<screengrabs below are from the wedding video>>>

Event Planning and Design: CLINK Photographers: FOUR Ceremony/Reception: Spicewood Vineyards 1419 County Road 409, Spicewood, TX 78669 (830) 693-5328 Catering: Primizie Bakery: Michelle's Patisserie Tents/Rentals/Linens: Marquee Rents Lighting: ILIOS Stylists: Niki Hayes and Marie Malone Calderon Ceremony Music: Barton Strings Entertainment Booking: Emerald Entertainment Cocktail Music: Darin Layne Jazz Trio Reception Entertainment #1: Robert Earl Keen Reception Entertainment #2: Dysfunkshun Junkshun DJ/Ceremony Sound: Penguin Entertainment Florist: PRIVE Austin Wedding Videographer: Mason Jar Films Guest Transportation: Transconsultants

Park Cities Baptist | "Love Like Wine" Laura + John

Laura & John met by chance, despite how many years their friends had been trying to get them together.  They are both people who don't proceed in life without a clear vision for what lies ahead, and inevitably, they knew almost immediately that they were going to be drawn toward each other forever.  The overwhelming support for this relationship from such a large community of friends and family is one of our favorite things to see, and at this wedding, they had it in abundance.

We are sharing with you our favorite moments from their full wedding film--moments of tenderness, and moments of sheer joy.  With stunning performances from their friends at their wedding, and the live band at the reception, Laura & John's wedding will not soon be forgotten by those who had the pleasure to attend.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/30771368[/vimeo]

It was truly a red-carpet worthy Dallas wedding video, and it's time to pass out awards.

Laura and John have quite a story, and their wedding guests were more than happy to contribute to telling that story at the rehearsal dinner.  Each guest had their own little bit and piece, and woven together, we found these stories to serve as a wonderful narrative thread throughout their wedding video.

So we have to thank everyone involved at the rehearsal dinner for playing their part in this wedding film.  It wouldn't be quite the same without you!  If you gave a rehearsal dinner toast, you get the first award.

 John's parents had this handkerchief embroidered for Laura with a message of their love plus her new monogram &amp; the wedding date. What a kind present to receive from your in-laws on your wedding day--especially thoughtful for the embroidery to be a "something blue" for a bride to carry.

The 2nd award goes to Dallas Event Planners DFW Events for keeping the trains running on time.  There were a lot of moving parts to make this wedding take place, and Mary Frances Hurt, Anna Staples, and many more executed the plan to perfection.

The Grammy Award goes to Think Big and the Bulletproof Brass band.  They keep getting better year after year. Every band member could have their own solo gig where they are the featured performer, but they come together to form this supergroup that knows how to keep a party going.

Let me take a moment to praise Union Station as a wedding venue.  The (Wolfgang Puck) catering is top notch, the facilities are gorgeous, and the staff knows how to get keep you fed and watered all night long.

Park Cities Baptist Church is also gorgeous--roman columns, hand-painted scripture on the vaulted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and stained glass.  It also has a nice wide stage to accommodate larger wedding parties.

And last but not least, thank you to John and Laura.  You represent the ideals that we hope to have in every client.  While we may document your story, you are the ones that make us look good!

If this documentary inspires you to choose a Dallas Wedding Videographer, then we would be more than happy to serve your wedding videography needs.

 Laura, the bride, sent this card to John on the wedding day with the exact locations on earth where they were born and where they met, and on the other side it had the location where they got married.

White floral Wreaths on the church doors with buttercream ribbons, by DFW events