Rachel + Patrick: Avondale Villa

Rachel and Patrick were one of those couples that oozed love.  So it is not surprising that the wedding day was so perfect!  Rachel had chosen one special friend to be in her wedding party and together with Rachel's mom, got ready at the beautiful Tutwiler Hotel.  It was a calm, relaxing wedding day.  (That is almost an oxymoron, huh???)

 

After a few photo sessions (with Marsha Perry Photography) around the hotel, everyone traveled to the wedding site, Avondale Villa.  This was our first time shooting there and I have to say, by far, one of the best venues!   There is just something about it.  

 

The schedule from I Do, I Do Wedding Planning was padded in such a way that we had plenty of playtime with the couple.  (Which we love!)  After an intimate wedding ceremony, the couple enjoyed a perfect reception and a perfect honeymoon at Disney World!  I enjoyed living vicariously through all of the pictures on Facebook of their week-long adventures!  

 

Other wedding professionals:  Chris Amerson with Amerson Events, Scot Wedgworth for flowers, and Vintage Auto.

 

Check out their wedding day highlights!

 

Whitney + Billy: Reid Chapel & VHCC

This past Saturday we worked some of our favorite vendors to create a beautiful day for Whitney and Billy.  Anita Kanellis with AK Brides planned Whitney's wedding of her dreams.  Lighting was provided by Andy Tolar with Design Productions, making Vestavia Hills Country Club a beautiful shade of pink!  A couple of weeks ago, we did a photo shoot with Southern Bride Magazine where Rob Ingram was the photographer.  It was nice seeing him again at the wedding.  Another friend, Laura Eason had the very large task of doing makeup Whitney, her mom, and all of the bridemaids! Everyone looked beautiful!  Amazing band, Az-Izz, had everyone dancing so much that no one wanted to leave!  The day couldn't have been more perfect!  

Jim & LeeAnn: Canterbury UMC | Vestavia Hills Country Club

What a difference a week makes!  No rain, beautiful clouds, great day!  Jim and LeeAnn picked a beautiful March day to be married in an elegant black tie affair at Canterbury United Methodist Church.  We were delighted to work aside Brandon and Stacy Gresham of Gresham Photography.  Their images always look incredible.

 

Guests walked into the Vestavia Hills Country Club to romantic lanterns hung from everywhere they could be!  Rustic and old English!  I was right behind an excited LeeAnn when the club allowed her to sneak a peak of the ballroom before whisking the couple away for dinner.  Nationwide Coverage started the evening playing like they were a lounge jazz dinner ensemble.  Very classy.  I had not seen this side of them and was very impressed! Of course as the evening progressed, their energy level only increased and kept the guests on the dance floor for the entire (exhausting) night!!!   Nationwide Coverage entertained like no one else could have!!! (I have free demos if you are still looking for a band) 

 

It was a night to remember for all involved!  I can't wait to see the edited footage!

 

Insider's Tips: Tip #26 - Phones on wedding day.

Can you hear me now?

 

This week's tip is from John, so it will be short and sweet and not too wordy.  Give your cell phone to a bridesmaid early in the am of your wedding day.  I would hope that if someone NEEDED to get a hold of you, then they would first try someone else.  But you don't need to deal with having to answer the phone and give directions or times while you are getting your hair done or putting your dress on.  

 

An idea from Katie Calhan with Engaged said maybe even record a cute message saying you are in the process of becoming the NEW Mrs. ______ and give them another number to call.  

 

I would also like to add that this also applies to the mom of the bride as well.  

Insider's Tips: Tip #25 - Church audio

This next tip is one that I thought that I had already posted, but I can't find it.  And I don't want to hold it any longer, due to the shear importance of it.  

 

This past summer we filmed a beautiful wedding.  Everything was just perfect for the day.  During the ceremony, one of the mics that was on a soloist went out right before he was about to sing.  When a mic goes bad, it doesn't just stop working, it transmits this awful sounding static that is heard by everyone in the church.  

 

I guess these things happen. The problem was that as soon as it started, we looked over to the sound board for the operator to fix the problem on the board and no one was there.  Yikes!  The sound board was turned on by the church, but they didn't have anyone to operate it.  I don't know if this is normal policy for lots of churches, but come on, the ceremony is under 45 minutes usually, can't the church pay someone to be there!!!!! 

 

If someone had been working, they could have had the ability to fix the mic problem or if nothing else, pull his mic altogether.  Because trust me, this guy could have carried the entire church without using a mic!  To make it worse, people were looking at us to fix the problem, but we couldn't.  It wasn't our sound board, and we are running cameras.  Needless to say, for the final edit, we tried and tried to minimize the static on the video, and we made HUGE improvements, but you could still hear it.  Thankfully the wonderful bride and her family didn't let it ruin the day.

 

Moral of the story, make sure that the church not only has a sound board, but also an operator for your wedding.