Fun Wedding in a Historic McKinney Venue produced by Wedding Videographer Dallas TX

Emily and Ben – The Flour Mill in McKinney

Ben considered himself a mature upperclassman, highly superior to the enthusiastic blonde freshman named Emily.  It’s a good thing he decided to be patient with her and made an effort to know her better.  He discovered she was the love of his life. They were married at The Flour Mill in McKinney.

Emily enthusiastically embraces life and brings joy to everyone around her.  She was also a gorgeous bride.  Her stunning strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline featured a ruched bodice and sequined belt.  Her tulle veil was trimmed in crystal.  For something blue she had suede pumps with platform soles and very high heels.  She carried a huge bouquet of mixed flowers with long stems.

Forte Strings, a string quartet, set an elegant mood for the sentimental wedding ceremony.  As a part of their vows the couple shared what they loved about one another.  To symbolize the joining of their two separate lives into one, the couple assembled a unity cross.

The picturesque old mill made a charming setting for the wedding and reception.  Andrea at Absolute Photography did a great job of capturing still photos.  A large wooden frame provided a rustic sort of “photo booth” for shots of the guests.

McKinney Catering put together a lovely reception.  Once the formalities like cutting the cake and tossing the garter were out of the way, the dancing began.  First it was solo dances with the bride and groom, and then everyone hit the floor and stayed there most of the evening.  At the end of the festivities, Emily and Ben changed into shorts and t-shirts and escaped through a crowd tossing birdseed for good luck.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions

Wedding videographers should be both silent and invisible.  At least that’s our opinion and there are a lot of brides who agree with us.  Emily was one of them.

Modern technology has many innovations that allow video to be taken with equipment that gets smaller and smaller all that time.  Size can limit zoom capabilities however, so to get good quality close-ups, some videographers need to be right in front of the subject.  That’s why at some weddings you will see a videographer following the bride up the aisle and perching near her during the ceremony.

For Emily and Ben we chose to use the much larger professional-grade HD videocameras instead.  We set up our camera behind the audience near the door of the venue.  Most people didn’t even see us, but from there we were able to capture the moment the bride entered the room and joy on her groom’s face.  We followed her up the aisle and made tight close-ups during the ceremony.  All without anyone observing us.  During the reception, we stayed unobtrusively at the edge of the crowd, but still got all the close-ups and all the group shots to make a marvelous, high-quality wedding video.

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

LeniCam Video Productions – Wedding Videographer Dallas TX

Couple Marries in Lovely Catholic Ceremony with Church Reception in video by Wedding Videographer Dallas TX

Emily and A.J. – St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Garland

The bride primped for her wedding in a white silk robe emblazoned in rhinestones with the word “Bride.”  Meanwhile, on the parking lot, the groom and his attendants were getting in a little touch football.  Emily and A.J. were married at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Garland.

Emily’s white satin gown was encrusted with crystal beading.  Her A-line gown with a sweetheart neckline was held in place with wide beaded straps.  Her veil was cathedral length and her bouquet was white calla lilies.

The groom wasn’t nervous at all when he was playing touch foot-ball or when he greeted the guests.  When he moved to the front of the church the story was a little different.  By the time he got to the vows, he required a little coaching to get it all said and he barely held the tears at bay. The groom’s relief was palatable as the couple made their way down the aisle after the ceremony.

The couple was a good-natured pair.  Emily gently teased A.J. about tearing up as they danced their first dance.  Then they mimicked a stabbing with the cake cutting knife.  Even the wedding cake had a sense of fun.  Each layer was a different shape and one layer was decorated in an animal print.  The groom’s cake was the after-scene of a snowmen’s-snowball-fight and only one snowman was left standing.

A.J. was so anxious to start their new life together that after some dancing he trotted out to the car, almost dragging Emily along.  Friends vigorously waved streamers of purple and white as the couple drove away.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions

We think a wedding video should do more than record a series of events.  Emily and A.J.s video conveys their quirky sense of humor and their devotion to one another.  In the years to come we want the video to remind them of what they love about one another and why they got married in the first place.  We tell our couples that no matter what happens on their wedding day – good and bad – they are going to love their wedding video…and they always do.

To capture this wedding we arrived an hour and a half before the ceremony to catch the bride in her silk robe and A.J. out playing parking lot football.  All day long, we tried to be everywhere, recording everything, while at the same time remaining invisible to the participants and guests.  We stayed until the couple drove away after the reception.

When we arrived we unloaded a lot of audio and video equipment.  Our cameras are professional grade HD cameras that allow us to get high quality video from the edges from the edge of the crowd because of their zoom capabilities.  We have tripods to hold the cameras completely still during the ceremony and rolling dollies to capture the movement during the reception.

We also have a lot of audio equipment.  We can actually provide the sound system for a wedding if needed, but for this one we just used microphones and audio feeds.  One of the best things we did was place a mic on the groom’s lapel.  That’s how we got his comments before the wedding ceremony and the conversation during the first dance.

We’ve been in the business of vidographing weddings for over a decade and we’ve learned a lot in that time.  We’re familiar with many venues and have relationships with a great number of service providers.  We’ve even developed equipment especially engineered for wedding videography.  We loved the opportunity to use our experience and equipment for Emily and A.J.’s wedding.  Emily and A.J. loved their wedding video and gave us a Five Star rating on The Knot.

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

LeniCam Video Productions – Wedding Videographer Dallas TX

Courting Co-Workers Marry in a Flower Mound Wedding Chapel Captured by Wedding Videographer Dallas TX

Theresa and Dwayne – Le Beaux Chateau in Flower Mound

The first time Dwayne saw Theresa he was waiting for a job interview.  He still remembers the red jacket with a big black button she wore that day.  He got the job and had the opportunity to make friends with the stunning woman in the red jacket.  After several years their friendship warmed into love.  Theresa and Dwayne were married at Le Beaux Chateau in Flower Mound.

Theresa was radiant in her white fitted gown with large crystal accents cascading across the bodice.  The strapless gown with sweetheart neckline and corset closing hugged her torso with shirred satin.  A crystal ornament gathered the gown to the side at her knees.  Below the knees the dress flared out and became a wide poufy train.  The groom looked pretty stunning himself in a white tux with white accessories.  Theresa paid homage to that red jacket on her wedding day.  She and her bridesmaids carried bouquets of red roses.

The beautiful chapel with its leaded glass windows and crystal sconces made a lovely background for a touching wedding ceremony.  On either side of the aisle, pews were draped with white tulle sways held in place with silk magnolias.  At the end of the pews sat a large column candles in a hurricanes surrounded by red rose petals.  A pair of large urns filled with white silk flowers graced the stage.

Dwayne’s sons walked Theresa down the aisle.  Her smile widened as she drew closer to her beloved.  During the ceremony they lighted a unity candle and participated in a sand pouring ritual.  The smiles on their faces were easy to read as they were introduced for the first time as Mr. and Mrs.

A tasty buffet of hors d’oeuvres waited for the guest at the reception.  After the bride and groom entered the ballroom, they shared a first dance and then cut their beautiful cake.  Dwayne was so besotted with his new wife when she offered him a fingerful of icing that he almost forgot their audience.  When they sat down to their first meal, complete with a luscious-looking shrimp cocktail, Dwayne offered up a sweet prayer in thanksgiving for their blessing and in petition for happiness in their marriage.

After an energetic evening complete with line dancing and a hip-hop demonstration by Dwayne’s sons, the couple finally had a moment to themselves.  Dwayne led his new wife, still wearing her veil with her street clothes, in a solo dance and then dipped her low for a perfect ending.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions

When Theresa and Dwayne were married, this wedding chapel had a different name.  Since their wedding, the venue manager lost their lease and for several weeks couples didn’t know whether they could have a wedding there or not.  The new management is going strong and the owners of the building consulted with the stranded couples to work things out, so the potential wedding disasters had happy endings.

Few things can be more disruptive to wedding plans than a vendor who goes out of business.  That’s why we’re very proud of the fact that we’ve been doing what we do for over a decade.  As we’ve served the brides of North Texas with videography services we’ve seen a lot of vendors come and go – but we’re still here.  We’re proud of our staying power, in part, because it’s given us a lot of experience.  The proof of that is in the high quality of our videos.

On Theresa and Dwayne’s wedding day, we showed up an hour and a half before the ceremony.  We had a lot of audio and video equipment to unload and set up.  We also wanted to reassure the couple that whatever happened, the videographer was there and ready to go.  After we got set up, we visited the bride and groom as they got ready for their big day.

Another benefit of our experience is our custom-designed remote control video-camera.  Theresa, like most brides, wanted tight close-ups during the vows, but she preferred not to share her big moment with a videographer standing next to her.  Many venues won’t allow a videographer up close during the ceremony, even if the bride was willing for them to be there.  That’s why we developed our proprietary camera.  Because it’s remote control, the videographer is out of sight, monitoring the action on a remote screen.  The camera itself is over to the side, out of the guests’ line of sight, and because it’s a professional grade HD videocamera, we can get high-quality close-ups without being next to the bride.

Our experience has also taught us that we need more audio coverage than the microphone on a videocamera can provide.  We use a lot of microphones and audio feeds to pick of the sounds of the wedding and one of our favorites for this wedding was a wireless mic on Dwayne’s lapel.  With it we picked up a flawless recording of the vow, as well as endearing sentiments like the prayer before their meal and Dwayne’s comments during the cake cutting.

We promise our couples, no matter what happens on your wedding day – good and bad – you’re going to love your wedding video.  Theresa and Dwayne certainly did.

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

LeniCam Video Productions – Wedding Videographer Dallas TX

Colorful African Clothing Brightens Wedding Ceremony in Video by Wedding Videographer Dallas TX

Kehinde and Akin – An American Wedding with African Roots at Stonegate Mansion

Amid friends and family who were dressed in a bright sea of colorful African cultural clothing, Kehinde and Akin were married under a huge tree with wide-spread limbs at Stonegate Mansion in Ft. Worth.

Kehinde looked lovely in her white satin, empire-waited, strapless gown with sweetheart neckline and corset closing.  The form-fitting dress was shirred through the torso and then spread wide at the knee.  The empire waist was highlighted by crystal beading and a large crystal decoration gathered the shirring to the side, just before the dress spread out.  Kehinde’s elaborate up-do showed off her crystal necklace with matching earrings.  She finished off her look with a crystal-edged veil and burgundy suede pumps.

To escort Kehinde down the aisle her father wore a burgundy-colored cultural costume.  Kehinde’s face was obscured by a heavy veil.  The setting was beautiful:  bright green grass, white folding chairs, the huge tree and all the colorful outfits of the guests.  Kehinde’s bridesmaids wore long red satin dresses in a variety of styles and they carried bouquets with roses of several colors accented with eucalyptus pods.  In the tree was a huge basket filled with flowers.

During the ceremony, the groom and the father of the bride chanted part of the ritual in their native tongue.  When the minister invited Akin to kiss his bride, the groom lifted the veil and offered an affectionate embrace.  Kehinde said, “You look so handsome!”  Then she was embarrassed, because she realized everyone heard the comment.

The reception began with the bride and groom’s families dancing into the room.  The colorful parade preceded a similar performance by the wedding party, followed by the bride and groom.  The unique multi-tiered cake had one layer decorated with diamonds of color.  Others had white icing with dark filigree decoration.  The top was a bright bouquet of flowers and the entire cake was surrounded with rose petals.

Dancing was an important part of the reception and whenever the bride and groom danced they were showered with dollar bills from the guests.  After a while the bride and groom disappeared to change into their own cultural costumes in a deep orange hue to establish their own family color.  Then the showers of bill multiplied.

Behind the scenes with LeniCam Video Productions

We love outdoor weddings – especially on a day as beautiful as Kehinde and Akin’s wedding day – even though it means some extra work for wedding videographer Dallas TX.  Outdoor weddings mean greater distances to cover and a use of more different camera settings to get high quality video.  The results are so stunning that we relish our labor.

Whatever effort we put into filming a wedding, we like to be invisible while we’re doing it.  We use professional-grade HD videocameras because they allow us to stay at the edge of the crowd and still get wonderful close-up.  Some videographers choose equipment that requires them to be next to the bride and groom to get that kind of close-up.  We think that’s too invasive.  The bride and groom should have the spotlight alone.

Another technical device we used for Kehinde and Akin’s wedding was lavalier microphones on the groom and minister.  The purpose is to clearly record the words of the vows and we love it when we capture comments like Kehinde’s “You look so handsome.”

Because we’ve recorded so many African weddings we’re familiar with the exciting dancing that would kick off this reception, so we were ready.  We had our camera on a wheeled dolly to help us follow the dancers into the room and capture their performance.

We were everywhere, capturing the sights and sounds of Kehinde and Akin’s wedding, but our technology helped keep us invisible to the guests and participants.  We love it when our couples can’t believe the shots we got, because they didn’t remember seeing us there.

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

LeniCam Video Productions – Wedding Videographer Dallas TC

Weather Gracious for Outdoor Ceremony With Wedding Videographer Dallas TX

Amber and Andrew – The Wildwood Inn in Denton

When Amber married Andrew it was a glorious day in May.  The Wildwood Inn, in the North Texas town of Denton, provided a beautiful venue for their touching outdoor ceremony.

Amber’s white flowing gown had a strapless sweetheart bodice accented with a crystal-encrusted empire waistline.  For the ceremony, a crystal and pearl headband rested among her curls.  The bandeau matched her necklace perfectly.   For the reception, she pulled her hair back into a barrette so you could see her dangling pearl earrings.  Her bouquet held yellow and white flowers surrounded by burgundy calla lilies.  The groom wore a burgundy calla lily boutonniere on his tux with tails.

A flagstone patio under a pergola was the site of the ceremony.  Simple Doric columns held up the roof which was draped with sheer bunting.  Lavish white flowers arranged in ornate urns on square columns flanked the bride and groom.  The perfect touch was a soft breeze teasing the corners of the bunting.

As Andrew watched his bride come down the aisle he battled to hold back his tears of joy.  You can see the determined set of his jaw.  Amber too, is close to tears when they begin exchanging rings and by the time she places the ring on Andrew’s finger her face is awash.

The fun starts when everyone moves inside for the reception.  Andrew danced with his bride and then the bride and groom danced with their parents.  The three-tiered wedding cake was decorated in white with yellow trim.  The middle tier sported black polka dots.  Atop the cake was a pair of action figures to represent the bride and groom.  The red velvet groom’s cake was covered in white icing, drizzled with dark chocolate.

At the end of the reception, Andrew leads Amber to his black Camaro convertible as the guest fill the air with bubbles.  Then the couple drove away into their future.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions

This highlight video in our trailer style is the distillation of weeks of work.  Many brides prefer this shorter type of highlight which provides a montage of scenes from their wedding day constructed around musical choices.  The mood of the wedding is the focus of the video rather than the time line or words.

On Amber and Andrew’s wedding day, our videographer arrived an hour and a half before the ceremony to set up the equipment and capture the excitement of the bride and groom’s preparations.  The one videographer used a variety of tricks while shooting to create the illusion that the video was being filmed by multiple cameras, just like a Hollywood movie.  Because we use professional-grade HD video cameras, we can record from the sidelines, out of the way, and still get crystal clear shots, like the close-ups of Amber as she vows her love to Andrew, with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Since sound is important in a wedding video, we take many steps to get clear audio.  We had hand-held mics for the soloist and hooked in directly to the dj’s sound system.  One of our favorite tricks is to put a lapel microphone on the groom so we won’t miss a word of the vows.  We encouraged Andrew to keep the mic on throughout the reception so we could capture other shared sentiments of the day.

During the reception we took the camera off the tripod used during the ceremony and put it on a rolling dolly.  That allowed us to follow the action wherever it went, such as out on the sundrenched patio for the bouquet and garter tosses.  Moving between inside and outside scenes requires quick adjustments on the fly, something our experienced videographers know how to do with precision.

After Amber and Andrew drove away, our work had only begun.  We took the recorded images and sounds back to our studio for editing and mixing.  A few weeks later we had a demo tape ready for the couple to watch, so they could offer their edits.  Once we finished the wedding video with its custom cover and scene selections, we created this highlight video for friends and family to download from our site.

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

LeniCam Video Productions – Wedding Videographer Dallas TX