Wedding at Paradise Cove in Grapevine

Samantha & Charles’ Wedding and Reception

Charles entered Samantha’s life as the “hot guy next door” who mowed the lawn “shirtless”.  He was eighteen and it didn’t take him long to ask her out.  On their first date he promised to love her forever IF she would feed him fries while he drove them home.  Samantha fed him those fries and six years later, Charles sealed his promise to her with his wedding vows.  Their wedding and reception were at Paradise Cove in Grapevine .

For her wedding day, the lovely bride chose a strapless, gem-studded, lace-covered, fit-and-flare gown with a sweetheart neckline.  Her finger-tip veil was trimmed in lace. She wore her beautiful, long, dark hair down around her shoulders which enhanced her dark eyes and white wedding ensemble.   At her waist was a satin bow, held in place with a sparkling brooch.   Her bridal bouquet was formed from white roses.

The couple spent a few moments together before the ceremony.  They held hands around a wall and shared words.  Charles had to wait until the ceremony to see his bride, however.  The couple’s dog, dressed in a tuxedo was allowed to pass freely between them and was photographed with the bridal party and the groomsmen.

Samantha chose soft pink and deep purple as the colors for her special day.  Her bridesmaids wore dresses of deep purple in several different styles.  They carried bouquets of pink roses which matched the pink rose boutonnieres on the groom and his attendants.  The gentlemen’s ties matched the bridesmaids’ purple dresses, as did balls of flowers hanging from the white chairs lined up for the guests.  The aisles were spread with pink petals.  

Preceding the bride down the aisle was a darling flower girl and a charming ringbearer.  The flower girl’s dress featured a long pink tutu skirt and was paired with a pink cardigan.  The ringbearer was dressed like the groomsmen.  Then Samantha came down the aisle on the arm of her

Charles’ vows included the French fry story.  Samantha was so overwhelmed by what he said that she was awash with tears and could barely read her own vows.  Charles took the tear-stained paper where Samantha’s vows were written and tucked them in his pocket to keep.

As guests entered the reception they were asked to sign their name to a wedding tree and then leave a green fingerprint for the couple’s wedding keepsake.  White bunting surrounded the dance floor where the couple shared their first dance and then danced with their parents.

Toasts were shared and the couple cut their cake – a white confection of lacy tiers separated by mounds of pink roses.  As the couple enjoyed their dinner Charles told his bride with a great satisfaction, “Well, I’m married to you and that’s all that matters.”

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions – Dallas Wedding Videographers

The day of Samantha and Charles wedding was beautiful and breezy.  You could see the wind blowing Samantha’s long hair and fingertip veil.  However, you don’t hear wind in the video, because LeniCam used multiple wireless and hand-held microphones to record the ceremony.  The microphones on the videocameras are designed to pick up ambient sounds, like the breeze blowing, birds singing and guests sneezing.  By recording the ceremony with other mics, we had clear audio to mix into the video during the editing process.

We used two cameras to record the ceremony.  One was at the back of the outdoor chapel to record the wedding from the audience’s point of view.  The second camera, on a special proprietary tripod, custom-designed by LeniCam, was hidden behind the bushes at the front of the chapel.  The tripod elevated the camera over the bushes to capture close-ups of the couple during the vows.

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

One of the first thing most newlywed couples do together is share a first dance at their reception.  For some, that’s a perfectly-executed, well-choreographed spin around the dance floor.  Sometimes the couple barely moves as their favorite song swells around them, but their joy is so obvious their guests are enchanted.  Then again, the couple may appear to be surprised by the whole prospect of dancing and their attempt at fancy footwork is little more than an awkward shuffle around the room.  Which of these couples will you be?

No Matter What!

At LeniCam, we see all of those couples and more.  We have one promise we make to all our brides, “No matter what happens – good or bad – on your wedding day, you’re going to love your wedding video.”  We can say that, because when we edit your video, if a First Dance is part of your celebration, we’re going to make you look great.  We may not be able to turn you into Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, but we do know how to take rough footage and create a beautiful finished product.  We focus on what’s special and unique about your First Dance, not on your dance technique.

First Dance Not Mandatory

Though there were once hard and fast rules about weddings, nowadays pretty much anything goes.  If a First Dance is something you’ve looked forward to and you want to incorporate it into your wedding day, then by all means do it.  However, if you and your intended aren’t enthusiastic about a spotlight dance, then don’t.

Though the wedding rules are more flexible today, it’s still up to the bride and groom to make sure everyone knows what you want.  So, if you don’t want a First Dance, speak up.  During your planning, there will be several opportunities to make your wishes known.  For instance,  if you hire a wedding planner, tell her up front that you don’t want that to be a part of your day.  If you don’t have a wedding planner, then inform people like the coordinator at the reception venue, the DJ, band or Master of Ceremonies.  You’ll want your photographer and videographer to know, also.

Then stick to your guns.  If you plan to exclude the traditional dance from your schedule, you may run into resistance.  The pressure could come from a family member who loves the idea of the first dance or a DJ who doesn’t want to change his routine, but wherever the resistance comes from, remember it’s your wedding.  If you and your intended aren’t going to be comfortable dancing solo in front of your family and friends, then it shouldn’t be part of your day.

First Dance Can Be Just One of Many

If, on the other hand, dancing is one of the things you’re most excited about, then the First Dance is just part of the menu.  Some of our couples dance down the aisle after being declared man and wife and then waltz through the night.  Dances are a great way to include guests in a wedding video and it’s more visually exciting than capturing them sitting at a table.  Here’s some other dancing ideas:

• Follow up the First Dance of the bride and groom with spotlight dances with other important people.  Most often these dances are brides with their fathers or grooms with their mom, but grandparents, aunts and uncles or anyone you want to honor in that way can be included.
• Before the formal introduction of the bride and groom at the reception, include introductions of your wedding party members and have them dance into the room.
• Promenades or marches that include all your guests
• Group dances like Line Dancing, Cotton-eyed Joe and Conga Lines
• Ethnic and cultural dances like the Hora or a Money Dance

Another charming moment in many of our videos are the shots of kids dancing.  After being still and quiet at the ceremony, they love to let loose on the dance floor.

The Sounds (?) of Dance

While your wedding video is in our studio, we’ll not only be editing the footage our cameras have recorded, we’ll also be mixing the sounds picked up by microphones and audio feeds.  One of our favorite microphones is a wireless mic we attach to the groom’s lapel.  Though the groom is not required to keep the mic on all night, we’ve found that it enriches the video if he will.  That way we can capture intimate conversations between the bride and groom, jokes and laughter, as well as well wishes delivered by family and friends.

During the reception, if possible, we’ll get direct audio feed from the band or DJ, which will greatly enhance the sound quality of the video.  Direct feed also helps us capture toasts and speeches.  In addition, we’ll have mics attached to our camera to pick up ambient sounds.  These mics also capture voices when we get the chance to interview guests.

We often find that when our couples watch their video for the first time, it is the sounds of their wedding which are the most moving.  Many of our couples take advantage of the fact that we can provide alternate sound tracks on their video.  This allows the couple to save their most intimate conversations for themselves on their own video, without having the more private parts shared on the videos for their families and friends

Make the Romance Real

While some of our couples truly are virtuoso dancers, most of them are not.  If you’d like to include a First Dance in your reception but know your dancing skills need a little help, then you may want to take a few dance lessons.  Your goal will not be to win the mirror ball trophy on Dancing with the Stars, but to feel comfortable during the dance.  With as few as three or four dance lessons, a private instructor can fast track you to fabulous or if you have more time, you can join group lessons.

A private dance instructor can assess your skills and choreograph something to get you gracefully through your First Dance.  He can suggest songs that best fit your skills and many can edit the songs.  With a little editing your time in the spotlight can be a little shorter than the length of the average song on the radio and any difficult passages can be edited out.

With just a little planning, you can have the First Dance you see in your head:

The double doors of the reception venue  open and there you are with your beloved.  You guys look amazing.  You step together, as one, onto the dance floor.  The sweet sounds of your favorite song fill the air.  Your groom sweeps you around the dance floor and your guests are astonished at how beautifully you dance together.  dance,” Barry says.  Learning to look great during a First Dance is very different than preparing for a ballroom dance competition.  His First Dance Crash Course might be all that you need.  It’s three 90 minute lessons that he recommends you spread out over two weeks.

While you are thinking about lessons, remember that your dance instructor can also help you with any other dancing you will have on your special day.  We’ve seen some amazing Father/Daughter dances and choreographed promenades.

Capture It All on Video

Whether you dance the night away or don’t dance at all, we’d like to be your wedding videographers.  Email us at info@lenicam.com or call us at 972-378-0446 to begin the conversation.

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

Fun-filled Wedding and Reception at Paradise Cove Captured by Wedding Videographer for Dallas TX

Jessica and Scott – Paradise Cove in Southlake on Lake Grapevine

“She keeps me in line.” At least that’s what Scott claimed as he listed reasons for marrying Jessica.  On their wedding day both the bride and groom seemed to be coloring outside the lines.  It made for a fun-filled event. On a chilly, blustery autumn day, Jessica and Scott were married at Paradise Cove in Southlake.

Jessica looked quite elegant on her wedding day.  She chose a strapless fit-and-flare gown with a sweetheart neckline.  The bodice was covered in crystal beading and her hips were wrapped tightly in a satin cummberbund, held in place by a marquis-shaped crystal appliqué.  Her necklace was a double strand of sparkling crystals.  You’d never guess the sophisticated looking bride had cowboy boots under her gown.  The bridesmaids wore short brown dresses with deep V necklines, complimented by their own cowboy boots and mixed bouquets of fall colors.  The groom and his attendants wore accessories in a warm peach tone.

As the bride stepped onto the aisle of the outdoor gazebo, the wind whipped up, lifting her veil into the air.  She walked down an aisle decorated with small pumpkins filled with fall flowers.  Suddenly several groomsmen jumped into the aisle brandishing disposable cameras and setting the tone for a day full of laughs.  The bride and groom got the next laugh.  As soon as her father turned the bride over to the groom, the pair leaned into one another for a kiss.  Ooops!  The officiant reminded them the kiss was supposed to come at the end of the ceremony. “My bad,” confessed Scott.

As a part of their wedding, the couple participated in a sand pouring ritual.  They included the minister, who poured a third color of sand into the vase, representing the role God would have in their life together.  Finally, it was time for Scott to kiss his bride.  Then Jessica whispered, “Love you.”

When the ceremony was over, the photographer from Shoeless Expressions gathered everyone up for some formal poses.  At last, the bride was able to admit she was freezing with her shoulders bare to the crisp air.  She bravely continued however, enjoying all the fun poses the photographer had for the wedding party.

Paradise Cove’s reception space, bathed in fall colors, was a whole lot warmer than the outdoors.  The venue’s lovely decorations revealed more of the couple’s humor.  Resting among fall leaves spread across the fireplace mantle was a pair of Mickey-Mouse-earred beanies, bride-and-groom styled.

The wedding cake was part bride’s cake and part’s groom cake.  Outside, the cake had white icing decorated with pictures meaningful to the couple.  Inside the cake was dark devil’s food chocolate.  The cutting of the cake was more food fight than wedding ritual.  The couple was having a grand old time and no feelings were hurt as the icing was smeared liberally on their faces.

You could tell the bride and groom were having a blast, whether they were dancing their First Dance, tossing garters and bouquets or enjoying the delicious buffet meal.  At the end of the reception, the guests were supposed to be waving glowsticks.  Instead, they decided the neon plastic sticks would be great weapons and they playfully whipped the bride and groom.  The couple escaped the onslaught and Scott lifted his bride into his pick-up truck.  As the couple drove away, you could see that the truck had been decorated with glowsticks.   This bride and groom are looking forward to a life full of laughs.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions

Our best trick on this wedding day was the lavalier microphone we put on the groom’s lapel.  The primary purpose of the mic was to record the vows without the distraction of background noises.  We asked Scott to keep it on throughout the day and the results were heartwarming.  We got the quips during the ceremony, and we also recorded Scott serenading Jessica during the First Dance and the dialog of the food fight.

Our camera people were kind of like that wireless microphone on the groom.  They were everywhere, all day long, recording everything and they were virtually invisible while they did it.  We choose to use equipment which allows us to stay in the background while taking gorgeous video footage.  When we were through at the wedding , we went back to the studio and over the next few weeks created unique wedding video that the couple loved.

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

LeniCam Video Productions – Wedding Videographer for Dallas TX

Melissa and Bryan – Wedding Videography Dallas

Ceremony and Reception at Prestonwood Baptist Church

Melissa and Bryan met at the training gym where they both work.  Shortly after they started dating, Bryan flipped through some pictures of Melissa and realized he was looking at the girl he wanted to marry.  Melissa and Bryan were joined in matrimony at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.

The beautiful bride chose a strapless fit-and-flare gown decorated with a large floral bouquet appliquéd just above the spot where the gown flared out.  Highlighting her trim waist was a rhinestone belt and a cathedral-length tulle veil cascaded down her back.  The bridesmaids wore short, spaghetti-strapped dresses of sapphire blue.  All the bouquets were made of a variety of white flowers including hydrangeas and peonies.

Before the ceremony, Bryan got a peek at his bride at the romantic First Look.  There Melissa presented him with a heart-felt letter she’d written to him in honor of their marriage.  Karen Lim-Smith and Seranata Strings, a favorite of ours, entertained the guests in the chapel and as the ceremony began, chimes pealed out.  The stage of the chapel was decorated with large wrought iron candlesticks holding column candles.

As Bryan and Melissa posed for pictures after the ceremony, the groom admitted that his back was hurting.  The bride replied, “I don’t even want to hear it.  Four inch heels!”  The high heels didn’t stop the couple from enjoying their First Dance together as man and wife at the reception.

The wedding cake was a beautiful five tiered tower of iridescent white icing.  The cake was trimmed with green hydrangeas and white peonies.  The chocolate groom’s cake was a tribute to Texas A&M, as was the bride’s garter which was trimmed in maroon.  As their marriage celebration drew to a close, the couple made their escape through a shower of white rose petals to the white Mustang convertible which waited for them.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions

When you watch a Hollywood movie, one of the reasons you are able to feel as if you are actually inside the scenes are  the multiple camera angles, which allow you to see things from several vantage points.  As you watch Melissa and Bryan’s wedding video, you have the same sensation.  That’s because we had two professional grade HD videocameras at the wedding and these cameras have a wide range of zoom capabilities.

One of the cameras is actually a custom-designed, proprietary, remote-control camera on a tripod which we developed specifically for weddings.  With it we are able to get tight close-ups of the bride during the vows, but there is no cameraman at the front of the church distracting the audience away from the couple.  Prestonwood is one of many venues in Dallas which do not allow a videographer at the front of the church, so we are actually the only videographers who could get this shot.

We’re also sound specialists, so we came to the wedding with several types of microphones and with the ability to directly record audio feeds.  That’s why diverse sounds, like the chimes, the live musicians and the bride and groom all come through crystal clear on the video.

Capturing the sights and sounds of Melissa and Bryan’s wedding day was just the beginning of the creation process.  Then we went back to our studio to edit and mix the audio and video footage over the next few weeks.  After we created the demo tape we invited the bride and groom to make any edits they wanted to.  The final product was a full-length video which includes their whole wedding, not just excerpts like this highlight video.

When we first talked to the bride and groom, they were hesitant to have us film their very short reception,  but after seeing the video, they said that having us at the reception was one of the best decisions they made for their wedding day.

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

LeniCam Video Productions – Wedding Videography Dallas

Lindsay and Justin – Hall of State Wedding at Fair Park in Wedding Video Dallas TX

Dallas’ Fair Park is a treasury of beautiful Art Deco buildings dating from the time of the 1936 Texas Centennial.  Lindsay and Justin chose the Hall of State, easily the grandest of the remaining architectural wonders, for the site of their December wedding.

The gorgeous bride was stunning in her trumpet-styled lace gown with a Queen Anne Neckline and Keyhole back.  The skirt of the gown was a jubilant explosion of tulle ruffles.  Her crystal chandelier earrings featured large stones set in gold which complimented the large gold bangle bracelet set with pave gems at her wrist.  Finishing her bridal ensemble was a tulle veil in two layers – one cathedral length to follow her down the aisle and the other fingertip length, which she wore over her face for her entrance.  Her bouquet was a mixture of white roses and white peonies.  Lindsay’s bridesmaids wore a variety of gowns, some in soft dewy pink and the others in a subtle taupe.

The distinctive venue looked resplendent for the occasion.  The Texas limestone walls, fluted columns and unique chandeliers set a dramatic scene.  Guest picked up their programs from a lace-covered table with large silver candelabra topped with white hydrangeas.  The ceremony was flanked by enormous flower arrangements featuring pink and white roses with hydrangeas.

When the ceremony was over, guests moved to another part of the building where an exquisite wedding cake waited.  The bottom layer was covered in smooth gold fondant.  The next appeared to be wrapped in white lace below a thinner layer wrapped in gold lace.  The penultimate layer had neat taupe and white stripes topped with a bouquet of three gold flowers.  The final layer was simply covered in smooth white fondant.  The accompanying groom’s cake looked like a recently abandoned poker game.

Lindsay and Justin looked very comfortable and very accomplished during their First Dance to a recording of Sam Cooke’s Stand By Me.  A live band waited to entertain the guests.  Lindsay was a frequent face on the dance floor, deftly handling a flute of champagne.  Shortly after Lindsay led the way, dancers crowded the floor and stayed there throughout the evening.

As their special day drew to a close, Lindsay wrapped up in a white fur stole and departed with Justin down the many steps of the Hall of State.  At the bottom of the steps guests showered the couple with glitter as they entered the white vintage Rolls Royce waiting to whisk them away.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions

As you watch Lindsay and Justin’s wedding video, one thing is very clear; a lot of planning went into the execution of the glorious event.  One of our goals was to record every well-planned detail – from the magnificent lighting on the exterior of the Hall of State to the engraved shot glass favors lined up for the guests, each glass with a shiny pastel ornament inside.

To capture the ceremony we used two cameras.  One camera on a tripod at the back of the audience with a videographer directly manipulating it and another camera at the front.  The camera at the front has an extra tall tripod so that we could film outside the line of sight, but still be out of the way.

We also provided the sound system for this ceremony.  This is not something all brides need, since many venues have this as a part of their package, but we were glad we were able to accommodate Lindsay in this way.  She needed microphones for the minister, readers and musicians and loudspeakers. The equipment was already in our inventory and we have plenty of experience.

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

LeniCam Video Productions – Wedding Video Dallas TX

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

Judy and Dallas at The Chapel of Ana Villa in The Colony 

“Love you!  I’m going to be your wifey in a little bit,” Judy said, smooching toward the camera, when asked if she had a message for Dallas.  When asked about Judy, Dallas said, “She’s the most amazing person in the world to me.”  Judy and Dallas were married at The Chapel of Ana Villa in The Colony.

The beautiful bride, surrounded by her bridesmaids in deep purple dresses, looked stunning in her strapless fit-and-flare gown with beaded bodice and a skirt of tiered ruffles.  The bridesmaids entered the chapel from a balcony via tile stairs with ornate rod iron railings.  The bride entered from the double doors below and came up an aisle decorated with crystal vases holding floating votive candles.  After a ceremony which included the lighting of a unity candle, the bride and groom returned down the aisle in a joyous mood.  They even gave one another a high five.

DJ Jeff Christianson of Fox Productions rocked the reception all night long.  In the beginning, during the First Dance and the dances with parents, the volume was low and the beat was gentle.  After the couple cut their gorgeous cake dripping with purple hydrangeas and purple ribbon, the music picked up.  From the synchronized line dancing to the syncopated “gangnum” style, Jeff kept the dance floor busy.  When a country rock song came along, Judy and Dallas proved their First Dance as man and wife was not their first dance together.  Watching the couple swirl around the floor was pure magic.  If anyone got tired of dancing, Beatbox Portraits was nearby with props and a photo booth.

Dallas had a stunt up his sleeve to make his garter toss and little more exciting than it could have been.  After taking the garter from around Judy’s leg, he slipped it on to a football and passed it towards the single guys.  They all had their hands up and were trying to connect before they remembered that whoever caught that garter, football or no football, they were traditionally going to be the next groom.

At the end of the evening Dallas and Judy said their farewells while their guests waved ribbon streamers.  Then the newly married man and wife hopped into their SUV and drove away.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Production – Dallas Wedding Videographers

When guests arrived at Judy and Dallas’s ceremony and reception, they saw a finished project.  Even details which were virtually invisible to the guests represented decisions Judy and Dallas had to make, as well as money they had to spend.  Videography is sort of like that.  Yes, LeniCam’s equipment and personnel took up some real estate in the background at the wedding and reception.  That real estate was just the tip of the iceberg.

We’re good at what we do because we pay attention to the details.  A detail that was important to the groom was the music provided by a live musician who was once a roommate.  With the other noises all around, capturing his music was a challenge, but we did it and we used it as background music for portions of the video.

Another detail we pay attention to is our equipment.  As soon as our audio and video equipment returns to the office, the data is downloaded and the memory is erased so we’ll have plenty for the next shoot.  We recharge and test all the batteries every time, replacing anything that’s running low.  Before reloading the equipment into our cases, we’ll inspect every inch, knob and connection to make sure that everything is in working order and that we have all the cords and peripherals needed.  Then as we load for the next event, we make sure we have extra batteries, memory, cords and such – and then we get some more.

Judy and Dallas’s wedding was a one-time event.  We had to get it right from the beginning.  That’s why we showed up a lot earlier than we needed to.  That’s why we have their footage stored on a secure server in our studio.  When they hired us to videograph their wedding, we understood they were trusting us with an important responsibility.  We took that responsibility seriously.  We always do.

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

LeniCam Video Productions – Videographer Wedding Dallas

In a splendid wedding showcase, merging Hispanic and Nigerian wedding traditions, the radiantly beautiful Jennifer married the happy and handsome Casanova in a Catholic ceremony celebrated at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Downtown Dallas.

When the glowing Jennifer stepped out of a Hummer stretch limousine and onto the church’s steps, bright sunshine filled the streets of Dallas, igniting her white satin gown and bouquet of white roses. A gentle breeze teased at the edges of her cathedral-length veil.  A short-sleeved lace bolero complemented the strapless, empire bodice of beaded and sequined lace.  The rusched satin of the skirt was pulled up to her hip on one side by a bouquet of satin roses, revealing a beaded and sequined lace skirt underneath.  The train of her gown exploded into puffy ruffles below the corset closing.  Waiting at the altar was an eager bridegroom looking spectacular in his black tuxedo.  The beauty of the united couple was matched by the magnificent accoutrements of the historically-significant cathedral.

The bright colors of Nigerian bubas (tops), iro (skirts) and elaborate geles (headdresses) were sprinkled among the sea of guests, as were garments and accessories of deep sapphire blue, marking Jennifer’s family and attendants.

The love the couple felt for one another was easy to see as they vowed their lives to one another.  When the priest prompted Casanova with, “I will love you and honor you all the days of my life,” Casanova firmly added an “always” before “love”.  After the ceremony, the wedding party stopped on the portico of the cathedral for formal photography and there were so many attendants, they filled the stairway.

Jennifer and Casanova held their reception at the lovely Marriot Quorum where guests were greeted by a mariachi band.  The bride and groom were led to a stage, where they sat on thrones while being showered with blessings and prayers, some in the Nigerian native tongue.

Gorgeous floral displays adorned the tables and at each place setting guests found a gold favor box and a water bottle with the couple’s picture.  Each place setting also had a champagne flute and a shot glass, making guests aware that they could expect to have a good time at this party.  The guests showed their appreciation by showering the couple with money throughout the evening, going far beyond the boundaries of a money dance.

The couple stood next to the huge multi-tiered wedding cake, which was covered in silver flowers with white icing foliage, for the cake cutting ceremony.  Afterwards Casanova dipped Jennifer for a dramatic kiss.  Crystal monogrammed flutes waited for their toast.

After sharing a few more moments like the First Dance and the Bouquet and Garter Tosses, it was time for a wardrobe change.  Casanova appeared in a sapphire buba with intricate silver and gold embroidery in an emblem on his breast.  Jennifer wore a sapphire kaba (single-pieced dress) with a shawl and crown of kola nuts.  By appearing in these cultural clothes on their wedding day, they established their own colors for the new family they were beginning. Even Jennifer’s parents embraced the Nigerian tradition, wearing matching Nigerian cultural clothes in their own colors. Eventually the time came for Casanova and Jennifer to say good-bye and start their life together.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions –  Videography Wedding Dallas TX

What a special day we had with Jennifer and Casanova and their unique celebration.  We were excited about capturing everything from the glowing bride on the cathedral steps to the beautiful panorama of Nigerian cultural clothes.  The trick is to be everywhere all the time, recording the sights and sounds of the day, while remaining invisible to the guests and participants.

Experience allows us to move quickly from the bright sunlight as the bride arrives, to the dimmed interior of the cathedral, all the while making adjustments on the fly to the lights and cameras.  Inside, we know where to stand between the huge columns, to record the bride as she walked down the aisle with her father, because we’ve done many weddings at this venerable old cathedral.  Experience has taught us to put a wireless mic on the groom, so that we can capture important phrases like Jennifer’s exclamation of “My husband,” as their car headed to the reception.

At the end of the day, we take all our footage and recordings back to the studio where they can be woven into a cinematic memory Jennifer and Casanova can enjoy in the years to come.

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

Here’s what  Jennifer had to say about us on The Knot: “Best Way to Remember the Day – by far one of the best investments we made to capture all our memories on our wedding day! LeniCam Video Productions is BEST OF THE BEST in my opinion and I will use them again for other special events. My husband and I ordered extra DVD’s and gave them as Thank You Gifts to family and friends: all of them couldn’t stop talking about the quality! I would recommend to any bride or to those who want to get the Bride/Groom a special gift! Worth every penny!!!!!”

LeniCam Video Productions – Videography Wedding Dallas TX

Brittany and Tim at Grand Prairie’s Historic Anderson Building

Brittany and Tim chose the Historic Anderson Building in Grand Prairie for their wedding venue.  Built in 1915, this beautiful old building with copper ceilings and other unique architectural features has been beautifully restored and provided a lovely backdrop for their elegant affair.

During the First Look, on the building’s interior balcony, Tim appreciated Brittany’s stunning strapless ball gown.  The dress was covered in lace and crystals, but his favorite part was the satin ribbons of the corseted bodice.

The bridesmaids chose short flowing black dresses in a variety of styles and carried bouquets of mixed flowers in shades of purple. The bride’s larger bouquet echoed her bridesmaid’s flowers, but included gorgeous Stargazer lilies.  The men of the wedding party wore black tuxes with white calla lily boutonnieres.  Wrist corsages of white flowers complimented the attractive ensembles of the mothers.

The nuptials were held beneath an ivy-covered archway in the center of the venue.  Family and friends clustered all around and also looked down from the balcony overhead.  The couple promised their devotion to one another and to God with Christian vows and demonstrated their family unity with a sand pouring ceremony.

Afterwards, pictures were made outside, while the space was rearranged for the reception.  Back inside, champagne flowed while good food was savored.  The couple cut their chic wedding cake, covered in silver flourishes, and then cherished their First Dance for its lack of interruptions.  Finally, the couple escaped through a barrage of bubbles to start their new life together.

Behind the Scenes with LeniCam Video Productions – Dallas Wedding Videographers

Whatever the venue, LeniCam promises to be everywhere on your wedding day, recording all the important moments, while remaining virtually invisible.  Accomplishing that during a ceremony like Brittany and Tim’s, where the guests surround the couple above and below, took a little more effort than it does in some venues, but we worked hard and utilized special custom-designed equipment to do what we said we’d do.

Though the low lighting in the building added the weddings romantic atmosphere, the guests were happy our cameras’ lights brightened things up and made it easier to see events throughout the room.  To capture the sounds of the day, we placed wireless microphones on the groom and minister, and picked up audio from the cd player.

After the wedding, at our studio, we edited and mixed all the video and audio feeds we’d recorded during the day, creating a remarkable video which preserved memories of the day for Brittany and Tim.

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