Wedding Video Preview Racquel & Lynn, Xcaret, Riviera Maya Mexico 9/27/11

Fabulous wedding preview video by San Jose Filmmakers out of McAllen, Texas! These brothers are experts and have such a creative eye. I had the opportunity to use them as the photographer and cinematographer for my client's wedding in Riviera Maya, Mexico. I can't wait to see the final video...if the preview is this WONDERFUL!


Racquel & Lynn - Xcaret, Riviera Maya, Mexico from www.sanjosefilmmakers.com on Vimeo

Real Weddings: Ambar & Sasha (Part II)

Last week I posted photos of Ambar and Sasha's wedding at the Mission Inn in Riverside, CA. Here's a video highlight of the event done by the wonderful Adam and Kim Finlay at Skyline Videography. The dancing seen at the end of the video does not do justice of what actually transpired throughout the evening...but it does showcase the fun that occurred that evening.

Ambar & Sasha's Wedding @ the Mission Inn from Skyline Videography on Vimeo.

Real Weddings: Rebekah & Josh

I had the pleasure of planning and coordinating the wedding of Rebekah and Josh with Josh's mom Rina and father Tal for close to six months. They had a wonderful vision that was executed on the beautiful grounds of Rancho de Las Palmas on May 30, 2010. The wedding was a joyous day filled with love, family, music, and dancing (boy can these people dance). The bride chose to walk down to Metallica and Guns 'n Roses rather than the typical wedding stuff, which really set the tone for the entire event. It was a beautiful wedding.

Ari Perilstein and his crew at Custom | Made Productions captured the day beautifully in this awesome cinematic film (about 13 minutes long) that brought tears to my eyes. Take a look at the beautiful wedding of Rebekah and Josh!

Rebekah | Josh Cinematic Film Edit from custom | made productions on Vimeo.

The vendors for the Rebekah & Josh's wedding were:

Planning and Coordination: Percy Sales
Ceremony and Reception Location: Rancho de Las Palmas
Catering and Bar Service: DJ's California Catering
Video Production: Custom | Made Productions
Photography: Laurie Bailey Photography (photos will be posted shortly)
Flowers: Flowers by Leah
Music and Entertainment: Pini Cohen and Band
Linens and Chiavari Chairs: Sitting Pretty Chair Company
Rentals: The Tent Merchant
Lighting: Sky Production
Invitations: The Invitation Spot

Mazel Tov Rebekah and Josh!

Wacky Wednesdays: Susan Boyle Dreams her Dream

This video has nothing to do with weddings, but has everything to do with Inspiration. I know you all have been inundated with this video, but it is so good, I cry with joy every time I watch it, because Susan represents the underdog (and at some point we all have been underdogs). She may not look like a superstar, but should looks determine that? How about true talent? I'm a fan!

The other reason I love this video is because it goes to show us all that we should never underestimate anyone, because you never know how they will surprise you. If you looked at the audience and judges faces when she first got on the stage they were ready to laugh her off. How many of us have felt that way? That there was no way any one would give us a chance because of how we looked, talked, dressed, etc. We all have something to offer and we are all special...that's the truth of the matter.

The other thing that I learned from Susan, just by watching this video clip, is to believe in yourself, no matter what others may think. If you can't believe in yourself, who will! Additionally, I love this song from Les Miserable, I have dreamed a dream and hope that one day it comes true for me as it has for Susan.

Can't you see her singing at a wedding as the bride walks down the aisle? How wonderful would it be to be serenaded by that voice.

-Percy

Video clip from YouTube

Guest Blogger Fridays: Sarah Monson of The Dream Factory

I met Sarah by chance, actually through an email she sent me titled, "I Love Santa Barbara!" She had written me asking advice about the Santa Barbara wedding industry and commented on one of my blog posts. We have actually never met, only written to each other on email, but from her emails you can see how her charisma shines through. Definitely a positive and fun person. Well I looked over her business The Dream Factory, and was loved the focus and product she was representing...so I asked her to guest blog for me about why her services are needed in this industry. Well she did an amazing blog and you are about to read it! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! - Percy

Photo Montages - More than just collage

Admit it: You love looking at pictures of yourself. It’s not a bad thing – we all do it! Whether online or hanging on a wall – we all love admiring ourselves and reliving our happy memories.

My name is Sarah Monson and I own The Dream Factory (based in New York City but serving the world). I am so excited to be this week’s guest blogger. I love Percy’s blog and I love Santa Barbara (I will be living there one day soon – mark my words)! At The Dream Factory, I create professionally edited, custom made “Mini-Movie” montages of photos and videos from your life and your Wedding, all set to your favorite music.

Couples love telling the story of how they fell in love through their old photos and home movies. With these photo montages, you can tell your story in a fresh new way to all the guests at your rehearsal dinner or even those at the wedding itself. The possibilities are endless.

There are countless people and companies out there offering you these photo montages (or slideshows) and the quality or their skill and the end product you receive can vary greatly. Many who offer these use simplified “drag and drop” software that frankly you could all figure out how to use yourselves. The photo montages this software generates are often just your photos laid over your selected music, cut together with simple transitions between the photos. There is nothing wrong with these slideshows but there is generally not much “Dazzle” to them. The photos are not precisely edited and timed to the tempo and beat of your chosen music. The transitions themselves are not often the types of things you’d see in professionally done films or videos. But they get the job done.

However, there are a select few out there (like The Dream Factory) who treat your photo montage like a professional “Mini-Movie” of your story or your Wedding. Using professional film editing software, these artists can precisely time and edit your photos to the beat of the music with sleek transitions using graphically designed shapes/sizes/colors, and can also make your photos leap off the screen by creating 3-D versions of select photos.

According to The Knot, photo montages, especially those using visually stunning 3-D images, are currently a very popular trend in Weddings and this trend is growing each day (for an example of these, please visit my website and click the “Now In 3-D” button in the top left). Brides and Grooms are finding themselves drawn to these photo montages because they are an affordable alternative to full scale Wedding video productions.

I was at a wedding event this week (I am engaged myself) and someone told me that on the Top Ten list of Wedding Must Haves, video was only #7 – right after party favors. This surprised me, since I find that couples love some form of a documentary of their special day (and often even want a documentary of their love story to show off to the guests on their special day). I started thinking that Wedding videos are so low on the list and most likely being cut from budgets because they can be so pricey and people feel the still photo images from their special day are enough. Plus, couples often admit that they hardly ever sit down to watch their lengthy Wedding video.

But by taking your current photos along with those sitting around in boxes/albums (and even your old home movies/videos) and combining your favorite songs and even your own voiceovers, photo montages can create the same effect as a Wedding video but at a fraction of the cost. Plus, with these photo montages (which generally range from 5 to 15 minutes in length), couples can send copies around to friends, family and even those who were unable to attend. You can even share copies online. And my clients often tell me they watch their “Mini-Movies” again and again – something I doubt most couples say about their Wedding video.

I love what I do and I get to meet such beautiful Brides and Grooms each day with such amazing stories and lives. I even just created a surprise engagement photo montage that I edited onto the end of a movie for a Groom-to-be to show to his fiancé (of course she said yes!). I come from a production background (I’ve even produced an award winning documentary film) and I create my clients’ “Mini-Movies” on the same film editing software we use for these productions. And while these “Mini-Movies” are primarily made to show at rehearsal dinners or created with the photos from your Wedding, they can also be used for any special moment in life (e.g., Memorable Birthdays, Bar/Bat-Mitzvah’s, etc.). The beauty of photo montages is that while they are each so personal, if done well, anyone can watch them and feel something.

I also should tell you that I myself am getting married in June and I understand how this tornado of Wedding planning can really sweep you up. I know what Brides and Grooms are going through, trying to stay on budget, and trying to be unique yet timeless. I get it. I also know as well as anyone that cost is always a factor.

Truth be told, I am also a tree loving hippie at heart (that’s the West Coast gal in me). Because of this, I also recently decided to launch a new service of super affordable, online, custom made “Save the Date” and “Thank You” photo montages to replace the expense and cost to the environment of using traditional paper cards. I even created one for my own engagement (see below for this sample). I also included a really cool Thank You Eco Card from a wedding.

Whether you choose to use a company like The Dream Factory or get yourself a photo montage made by your cousin on his Mac, these “bite-sized” movies really do add a charming touch to any affair and will be cherished by you and your family forever.

Thank you Percy for letting me blog about what I love most! I am honored and grateful. If you would like more information on my work, please visit The Dream Factory. If you mention Percy's Blog when contacting, you will receive an extra special rate!

Warmest regards,

Sarah Monson

sarah@thedreamfactoryonline.com

(646) 454-1664

www.thedreamfactoryonline.com

Logo and videos from The Dream Factory

Wacky Wednesdays: Fidelity: Don't Divorce (Courage Campaign)

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Today I am doing a little political blog...because I believe that Love is Love and in Equal Rights.

Tomorrow, my partner/husband and I will be celebrating our 17th anniversary, longer than most of our heterosexual friends. Yet, we have only been legally married since June 17, 2008 (8 months)...the first day that it was legal and recognized that ALL Californians had the right to marry the ONE PERSON THEY LOVE. As of today, our marriage is still intact, but Ken Starr is wanting to have our marriage taken away...basically force us to divorce, even though we were married before the November 4, 2008 passing of Prop 8. I urge all of you who stand on the side of love, support marriage equality, and believe that my marriage should remain valid, to visit www.couragecampaign.org/divorce and sign the petition that will be sent to the Supreme Court of California.

From the Courage Campaign. "On December 19, 2008, Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 and seeking to nullify the marriages of 18,000 devoted same-sex couples solemnized before Prop 8 passed.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5 2009, with a decision expected within 90 days." People signing the petition are asking, "That the Court enforce the equality promised to each of us by our constitution and invalidate Prop 8. By doing so, it will protect all loving, committed couples in California -– including the 18,000 who said "I do" last year –- and prevent the initiative process from being a tool for stripping vulnerable minorities of precious constitutional rights.

As Americans who believe in the rule of law and fundamental civil rights, we know that Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund's shameful attempt to nullify equal protection and all these bonded unions will be condemned in the eyes of history. We know that, ultimately, love will prevail, no matter how hard they try to fight it."

Support Love, Support Equality.

-Percy

P.S. This video was very emotional. We submitted our family photo to this, but unfortunately, we did not make the cut. However, it's still a great video and a wonderful song.

Video from Courage Campaign

With Liberty and Justice For All - Let your Voice be Heard - VOTE TODAY

Today is one of the most important days and it's your chance to have your voice heard. Please get out today and Vote Your Truth...it's your right. Let your voice be heard and VOTE!

I encourage exercise your right!

Californians - I ask that you vote on the side of love, stand up for equality, and to stop the hate. Vote NO on CA Prop 8.

-Percy

Make Your Love Real - Enter to Win

Makelovereal.net is sponsoring a new blogger search contest. So if you are engaged and getting married soon, they would love to hear unique stories that go into the heart of a bride's expereince!

For more details please visit the Makelovereal.net blog site today.

The reward is a $3000 destination engagement session with multimedia presention by Neil Cowley. The quest is for a storyteller with heart and humor to tell the stories of wedding planning and engagement from inside their head and out through the web. Submit your journal, blog, video log, or contest entry to the comments here to be considered! Multimedia submissions will definitely score you bonus points!!

Good luck! Deadline is November 15, 2008.

-Percy

Video from MakeLoveReal.net

Friendship Lasts A Lifetime

I was sent a link to this video today and it had me crying like a little baby at my desk...I told you I'm a sap. Anyway it happened many years ago, but it has recently been a topic of conversation on shows like The View and The Today Show. So I thought I would share it with you all. It's the story of Christian the Lion.

Get your hankies out and get back in touch with someone from your past!

-Percy

Video from YouTube

Best Wedding Toast Ever

Today is all about the guys. I came across this video a few months ago but never put it on my blog. It's probably one of the best wedding toasts I have ever seen. It's called Amy's Song, sung by the Man of Honor and a cast of many of the wedding guests. I can't believe the organization this had, its truly wonderful.

Enjoy!

-Percy

Video from YouTube

Surprise First Dance, NYC-style

We have all seen the surprise first dances, where the couple starts off with the standard slow dance or waltz and then deviates by dancing something a little funkier.

This version has to be one of the best I have ever seen. I have to give props to the bride for busting a move in her wedding gown. Take it from this couple if you are looking to do something fun for your first dance. Hire a choreographer and please don't use the "Evolution of Dance" choreography...it's so overused. Do something spectacular...and this is just that.

Enjoy old school hip hop!

-Percy

Video from YouTube