What Style Do You Want For Your Dallas Wedding Video?

Teaser, Trailer, Highlight or What?

Brides spend a lot of time trying to decide which style of dress will best suit them, but often they hire a videographer based solely on price.  There’s a lot more to a Dallas Wedding Video than most people realize.

All wedding videos are not created equal.  The term “wedding video” can be used for a wide variety of products, from a one minute teaser to a full length disc with chapters.  Some people even put a montage of photographs together, add some music and call it a wedding video.  Before a bride accepts the free wedding video offered by one of her vendors, she should be very careful that what they are offering for free is what she wants.  When the free three-minute trailer is delivered, it’s too late to go back and re-shoot.

Cinematic or Documentary?

Most of the wedding videos on our site are actually highlight videos, a short video to be shared with family and friends.  This highlight film is included in all of our packages and is provided in a downloadable format and on the final wedding video disc.  Most brides like a highlight video that includes bits and pieces of the whole day, including vows and toasts edited into a timeline that follows the events of the day.  These videos run 8-10 minutes, but it’s really a matter of taste.  If the bride prefers a musical montage of 1-3 minutes or something in-between, we have the ability and the equipment needed to produce it.

Cinematic Style is sort of a buzzword in the industry right now.  If you read descriptions of it from ten different websites, then you could get ten different ideas about it.  Generally, the cinematic wedding video is designed to be fun and entertaining, without being married to the timeline of the day.  Videographers who prefer the Cinematic Style will often emphasize their close-ups and their editing ability.  They’ll actually step into the wedding day, setting up vignettes to be performed.  They will most likely use handheld cameras of some sort and follow the bride very closely.

Though it may sound like something from your high school science class or what’s being shown at the art cinema around the corner, Documentary Style is a lot sexier than its name, at least when it comes to our wedding videos.  Documentary Style simply means the entire wedding is included in the video and it is presented in a timeline reflecting the day of the wedding.  For sure, an unedited video of your wedding ceremony, shot by your uncle, with a video camera on a tripod, from the back of the church, could be called a Documentary Style wedding video, but as much as most “Cinematic Style” Videographers might try to convince you otherwise there’s more to it than that.  A professionally recorded and produced video in the Documentary Style can be just as much fun and even more entertaining than a Cinematic Style video.

Why Not Both?

At LeniCam Video Productions we bring the best of both wedding video styles to your wedding video.  In documentary fashion, we will film the whole day and the final video will follow the day’s timeline.  We will interact with you on your wedding day, but won’t get in the way.  For instance, we usually interview the groom about how he met his intended and how they fell in love, but we’ve learned most couples don’t need yet another vendor or coordinator shouting orders at them.  We cooperate with the people the bride has hired to manage the day and get plenty of entertaining footage without having to intrude.

Some “Cinematic Style” videographers shun the use of tripods, but because we use tripods to hold the same professional grade HD videocameras used to shoot Hollywood movies, we can zoom in for close-ups as tight as someone filming with a smaller camera.  All the while our camera is out of your guests’ line of sight – not preceding the bride down the aisle.  The lack of movement assured by the tripod leads to a better quality video.  Current hand-held cameras to have automatic stabilization to compensate for movement, but as good as the technology is, it cannot compensate completely.   In addition to better quality video, many venues have rules that keep some videographers from filming during the ceremony – that’s why we say we get the shots that other videographers have to miss.

What we share with the “Cinematic Style” videographer is extensive editing.  Though we might record all the sights and sounds of your wedding day with our videocameras and microphones, we do not deliver it to you raw.  Just like much of the filming in a Hollywood movie ends up on the cutting room floor, we also heavily edit your wedding video.  We tell our brides, no matter what happens on your wedding day, good or bad, you’re going to love your wedding video – and they do.

When we’re through you’ll have multiple copies of a great video, in DVD or BluRay – and just like a Hollywood movie, you can watch as little or as much as you want, because there are chapters and menus – even alternate tracks, if you want them.  Our couples are always surprised the first time they watch our videos, because so much was going on that they didn’t even know about.

What About the Future?

Understandably, most brides are focused on right now – loving their wedding day and having a great highlight video to share with family and friends.  We think that’s great, but in the days to come we know your Documentary Style video is going to grow in value.  Entertainment is only one aspect of a great wedding video.  Another is preserving your memories for your life and for the generations to come.  There are sweet, wonderful moments that will happen in your wedding that might not be as entertaining as others, but in the years to come will be the ones you love best.

Though listening to your vows a few weeks after your wedding might not be as entertaining right now as a watching your choreographed First Dance, on your twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, when you watch with your kids, those vows will mean a lot to you and to your kids.  An awkward toast from a beloved older relative might seem out of place in some videos, but someday, when you’ve lost that relative to time, that awkward toast will be invaluable.

To be sure that your wedding video is all that you want it to be, both today and for all of your tomorrows, call us today at 972-378-0446 to set up an appointment.  We’re eager to hear about your plans.

Grace and Kyle -St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Coppell and Embassy Suite Hotel Reception in Grapevine

Dallas Wedding Video

Grace met Kyle when she was a freshman at high school band camp.  It may have been love at first sight, but in the ensuing years Kyle found more than looks to love.  “She’s beautiful, but not just on the outside,” he said when asked about his bride. Grace and Kyle were married at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Coppell.

Grace was certainly beautiful on her wedding day.  Her sleeveless gown had a lace bodice with a jewel neckline and taupe satin sash.  The elaborate fit-and- flare gown hugged her torso with a shirred organza, sported an organza decoration at the hip and then fell into layers and layers of organza petals and ruffles.  Her   When Kyle saw her his eyebrows flew almost to his hairline.

St. Anne’s is a gorgeous church with ornate decorations in gold and silver.  The nervous pair couldn’t seem to come up with the right responses during the vows, but the priest declared them man and wife nonetheless.  Then Grace had to tell Kyle it was time for them to leave.  Outside they climbed into a Hummer limo which took them to the reception at the Grapevine Embassy Suites.

The reception was a culinary delight.  Guests were treated to a buffet dinner which offered everything from shrimp cocktail to Chinese takeout.  The wedding cake was covered in swirls of white icing and topped with formed sugar flowers.  A stack of cake ball’s with a Baylor bear jumping out of the top was the groom’s dessert.

DJ James Looney kept the dance floor hopping and when the dancers needed a break, there was a photo booth with crazy props. When the evening drew to a close, the revelers waved their sparklers in the air as Grace and Kyle strolled away arm in arm.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions

One of the benefits of purchasing a wedding video package with two videographers is the pre-ceremony segment.  We arrive an hour and a half before the wedding to unload all of our equipment and set up what we need.  Then we have time to spend in the dressing rooms of both the bride and the groom.  We like to interview the bride and groom separately about how they met, what they love about each other and how they feel about their wedding day.  With these interviews we’re able to capture the people behind the wedding finery.

When we arrived at St. Ann’s masses were still in progress in the sanctuary while we set up in the chapel.  Thanks to our wheeled dolly we were able to go about our business quietly and did not interrupt the mass.

Another thing we do to get to the real bride and groom is put a wireless microphone on the groom.  This helps us capture the vows, but it also keeps us inside the conversation between the bride and groom throughout the celebration.  Many couples like to have these sentiments as part of the video for everyone to enjoy.  There are also a couple of ways for us to make these sentiments private to the bride and groom, according to their wishes.  Whether they share them with everyone or just between themselves, these endearments are often the most cherished part of a video.

We Sweat the Small Stuff So You Don’t Have To

LeniCam Video Productions – Dallas Wedding Video

Cary and Janetta – Mediterranean Villa in Arlington with a DJ Reception in Dallas Wedding video

On his wedding day, Cary was very anxious to see his bride, but everyone went to great lengths to keep him from getting a glimpse of Janetta until the ceremony.  When he finally got the chance to see her he said, “You’ve been hiding this dress from me and you’re looking pretty hot.” That’s just the reaction Janetta had been hoping for.  Cary and Janetta were married at Mediterranean Villa in Arlington.

The gorgeous Janetta wanted to look her very best on her wedding day, so she hired a pro to come onsite to do hair and makeup.  The result was stunning. Under the fingertip veil, the dark-haired beauty’s coiffure was studded with jewels.  Her strapless fit-and-flare gown started with a beaded sweetheart bodice and the beading trailed down her back.  The fitted torso was shirred and the full skirt was all of ruffles.

When the ceremony started, one of the first of the wedding party to come down the aisle was a young man carrying a sign which warned Cary it was his last chance to run.  Then a darling pair of flower girls in turquoise dresses came along spreading petals.  When the doors opened again, the elegant bride entered the room.

Mediterraean Villa provided a lovely backdrop for the ceremony with its marble parquet floors and ornate rod iron.  The front of the chapel is backlit glass etched with a fleur de lis and the fleur de lis motif is repeated throughout the room.  For Cary and Janetta’s wedding day two huge urns filled with mixed white flowers dominated the area before the etched glass.  Between the urns were tall crystal vases with orchids floating in water.  Gorgeous rod iron candelabras and crystal sconces flanked the urns.  As a final touch, all the chairs in the room were draped in white satin.

The reception space was as magnificent as the chapel and hosted a fun energetic evening.  After their First Dance and turns on the floor with their parents, Cary and Janetta cut their grand wedding cake, which was decorated with black filigree and ribbons and studded with crystals.  Cary’s groom’s cake was a yummy chocolate treat especially laced with peanut butter, one of his favorite flavors.

The DJ gathered all the men on the floor and then the groom appeared in a motorcycle helmet to lead the men in a really wild dance routine.  Later everyone was called to the floor for a group hug.  When the room emptied for the farewell, Cary and Janetta had their own private moment on the dance floor, and then they went outside for a shower of bubbles and well wishes.  A black limousine waited to carry them off into the night.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions

Like most brides, Janetta wanted tight close-ups during her vows, but she didn’t want a cameraman standing next to her all through the ceremony.  We’d faced that dilemma since we first began videoing weddings over a decade ago.  Instead of thinking up excuses to give the brides and the wedding coordinators, we custom-designed a remote control camera which would be inconspicuous at the front of the room, but would provide high quality close-ups.  Cary thought close-ups of the bride were such a great idea that groom close-ups would be a good idea, too.  So he hired us to bring in a third camera.

We also needed to be close up to capture all the precious sentiments expressed throughout the day.  Cary and Janetta would have gotten tired of us following them around with a handheld microphone pretty quickly, so we put a wireless mic on Cary’s lapel.  The bride and groom forget it was even there and we were able to include their sweet words to one another on their video.

We Sweat the Small Stuff So You Don’t Have To     

LeniCam Video Productions – DJ Reception

Marilyn and Joshua – Occasions at Stone River in Royce City with Mariachi Wedding Reception in Dallas Wedding Video

While other people in Joshua’s high school algebra class were focused on mathematical equations, he was busy winning the heart of his soulmate.  He figured out the right formula, because he and Marilyn were married at Occasions at Stone River in Royce City.

For her nuptials, Marilyn wore a sleeveless brocade gown with a V-neck and A-Line Styling.  She topped off her up-do with a lace edged veil and carried a bouquet of pink roses.  Her flower girl wore a cloud of white tulle with a pink sash and the bridesmaids wore long black gowns.

The bride and groom wrote their vows to one another, revealing a little of their history together and their heartfelt love for one another.  The setting was perfect for their outdoor wedding.  The afternoon sun bathed the rural landscape with gold.  The ceremony took place in a white gazebo, before a white picket fence and the guests sat in white folding chairs.  It almost seemed as if there had been a break in time and the guests were witnessing a piece of history.

To entertain their guests at the reception, Marilyn and Joshua hired a band of nine mariachis.  The music was beautiful and the mariachis were stunning in their black uniforms with silver conchos down the sides.  The multi-tiered wedding cake was decorated with silk roses and was accompanied by a chocolate groom’s cake.

The dance floor was a busy, crowded place – especially when the dj played rock and roll.  At the endof the evening, Joshua and Marilyn escaped through a cascade of bubbles.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions

The beautiful golden haze that made the scene of Marilyn and Joshua’s wedding so beautiful, also made demands on the skills of our videographers.  Our camera people arrived an hour and a half before the ceremony to set up the equipment for the wedding.  The sun was in a completely different place than it would be during the ceremony, so we had to guess what the conditions would be later.

One of the cameras we used for the ceremony is a special proprietary camera we designed for special situations.  Because of the way the ground sloped near the ceremony, to get close-ups of the vows, we needed to use an extra tall camera and video monitoring glasses.  Our videographer and camera tripod was down the slope and over to the side, out of the guests line of sight.  The videocamera peeked over the hill and the cameraman watched the ceremony through the glasses to make his adjustments

As soon as the ceremony was over everything had to be moved inside for the reception.  That’s a quick transition.  We had to move the cameras and we also need to coordinate the audio with the performers and dj, so the sound will be crystal clear on the video.  We didn’t need the extra tall tripod any more, so we switched to a dolly with wheels which allowed us to more freely follow the action.  Our experience with these quick maneuvers paid off.  The Dallas Wedding Video was everything Marilyn and Joshua wanted it to be.

We Sweat the Small Stuff So You Don’t Have To

LeniCam Video Productions  – Dallas Wedding Video

Tisha and Byron – Casual Wedding Ceremony at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano captured in Dallas Wedding Video

The late-November day began with an overcast sky.  A chilly breeze accompanied the denim-clad wedding party down the aisle.  Then, as the bride and groom began their vows, the sun broke out as if to bless their union.  Tisha and Byron were married at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano.

A picnic pavilion of natural stone was the site of the ceremony.  Whimsical touches turned it into an enchanted chapel.  Sheer drapes held back with bouquets of flowers set off the spot for the couple’s vows and overhead a crystal chandelier gleamed.  A chalice covered in mirrored tiles waited for the communion wine.  Tasseled runners decorated the picnic tables.

The bridal party looked casual and comfortable in their denim finery.  Right before the bride came down the aisle a sweet nephew of the groom showed up with a sign, “Uncle Byron, Here Comes Your Girl.”  “His Girl” approached with a smile on her face.

With her snuggly fur wrap and cowboy boots, Tisha was prepared for the cold.  When the sun came out, she shed her jacket and revealing the lovely crepe gown she’d chosen for her wedding day. Her simple elegance was the hallmark of the day.

Once the ceremony was over, formal wedding portraits were taken amid a spirit of fun a frivolity.  Later, as Trish and Byron took a stroll to enjoy the beauty of the nature preserve, the groom said, “Today was a really nice day.”

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions

Most cameras are designed to handle everything down to freezing just fine.  Low temperatures can affect batteries, LCD’s and anything metal, like a tripod. That’s why LeniCam is always prepared.  Packing back-up batteries is not enough for us.  We have back-ups for everything – as well as back-ups for our back-ups.

At this wedding we set our videocamera to compensate for the overcast sky, then in the middle of the ceremony, out came the sun.  We made adjustments on the fly, so the video looks just a sharp in the early parts of the ceremony as it does after it was warm enough for the bride to shed her jacket.

LeniCam Video has a lot of experience in shooting outdoor weddings in every kind of weather, so we were able to handle everything Mother Nature threw at us.  For us the important thing is capturing the special moments of your important day and turning them into a video you’ll treasure forever.

We Sweat the Small Stuff So You Don’t Have To

Read Byron’s comments on Wedding Wire and The Knot.

LeniCam Video Productions – Dallas Wedding Video