Watch this video above for a sample slow-motion booth video.

If you haven't seen a photo booth at a wedding, well, then you simply have not been to a wedding in the past five years or more. Photo booths have become a "must have" at wedding receptions all over the country, giving guests a fun activity to do while simultaneously providing a nice keepsake and/or favor in the form of a photo strip. But the next generation of booths is now entering the fold: Please introduce yourself to "Slow motion Video Station," a hot new trend that has caught on tremendously on the West Coast, and is just now beginning to trickle in to the Michigan market. 

Never heard of a Slow Motion Video Station? Let me break it down for you. Physically, imagine a traditional photo booth, usually a 6 x 8 area with curtains, a printer and an on-site attendant who guides your guests into the booth area to snap a series of photos, before printing the photos off onto a photo strip that is then given to the guests, or sometimes assembled in a scrapbook. A Slow Motion Video Station has the same physical appearance as a traditional photo booth, but instead of an on-site attendant, you can think of that person as a skilled "director." Your guests enter the Slow Motion Video Station and this "director" records them doing whatever they would like for a short time, usually like 8-10 seconds. This clip is then slowed down - way down - to where it plays back in super-slow motion. Instantly (in most cases), the clip is then shown on a monitor outside of the station for all of your guests to enjoy.

The reason it has become popular is that it is a fun and unique experience...your guests are now used to seeing a regular old photo booth, but people are blown away by the slow-motion aspect. Many companies offering this service provide unique props that look very cool in slow-motion, like confetti, party poppers, bubbles, etc. The on-site "director" helps guests in guiding them what to do to make the station experience tons of fun, but also quick, so that guests are in and out of the station much like they are with a photo booth.

Many brides find themselves skeptical at first, mainly because this is something new and something they've never seen before. But those who have taken the leap of faith and have had Slow-Motion Station at their wedding absolutely rave about it.

As with all hot new trends, you have to watch out for pretenders or those who offer the service without the know-how to do it properly. There is a difference in quality. One of the few who are doing it properly in Michigan is Complete Video Solutions , who use a special camera to record at the high frame-rate necessary for high-quality slow-motion. As for cost, with this company, a Slow-Motion Station will run you only a few extra hundred dollars over the cost of a traditional Photo Booth.

​Believe it or not, but Slow Motion Video Stations are the cutting edge of hot wedding reception trends, and they will be here to stay...so inquire about one for your wedding and be amongst the trend-setters in Michigan!

​One of the most common problems that can occur on the day of your wedding is the feeling that there just was not enough time.  It's true, your day will go by faster than you'll realize, but by planning ahead and breaking some old-fashioned traditions, you'll be able to make the most of it.

1. Have a serious talk with your Photographer.  Wedding Photography is traditionally one of the most important parts of your wedding.  But it is also the one thing that can occupy and engulf all of your free time if you are not careful.  Ever stood up in a wedding where it seems the photos never stop?  Most photographers know that the more photos they capture could mean more money in their pocket.  But a professional photographer will know how to balance getting what he/she needs and giving you freedom to enjoy your wedding.  Sit down and have a nice pre-meeting with your photographer and make sure you plan out what and when photos are going to be taken.  Your photographer is there to do a great job, but it is your wedding, and if you want a "picture free" part of your day, then make sure to say so.
 
2. See each other (Bride & Groom) before the Ceremony.  Depending on your superstitions, this may not be possible, as it is an old belief that if the groom sees his bride prior to the Ceremony they will fall on bad luck.  But if you don't believe in evil spirits or bad luck, seeing each other before your Ceremony is a great way to save time.  Since a majority of your photos include both the bride and the groom, the photographer usually has to wait until after the Ceremony to get all his/her shots.  But allowing for some time before the Ceremony for these shots can really save you time later.  You can still make "the moment" you first see each other very special...Pick a romantic location and have the groom wait there for you.  As you approach, your photographer and videographer capture all the emotion of laying eyes on each other for the first time.

​3. Consider hiring a DJ who will act as "Master of Ceremonies", even if you are having a band.  Commonly, a big part of what makes a Reception fun is the entertainment.  But sub-consciously, the night needs to roll along smoothly or your guests will get antsy or tired.  Hiring a DJ who knows how to keep things moving is essential.  And even if you hire a band, some bands do not have the experience of "hosting" an event, they are there to simply play and entertain.  Having your DJ keep things on track will take this pressure off of your band, and your DJ can even play sets in between the band's musical numbers.

Taking advantage of these tips will maximize the amount of time you have on your wedding.  The more time you have, the more you will end up enjoying, and remembering, all of the details.
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Have other good time-saving tips, or any comments?  Post them now, or contact Tom Santilli, info@cvideosolutions.com or www.cvideosolutions.com
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Getting married, is of course, a dream come true...that is until you get knee-deep into the planning process. The terms "Bridezilla" or "Groomzilla" aren't just made up words, but are instead words that best describe how difficult - and overwhelming - planning a wedding can be. Well fear not, soon-to-be-married folks, there is an answer for you that will help you navigate the sea of stress associated with your big day, and it carries a name you might be able to relate to: The Overwhelmed Bride. ​

The Overwhelmed Bride is a bridal lifestyle and wedding blog, featuring articles for some of the major areas of a bride-to-be’s life! They provide wedding planning tips, articles on marriage and marriage preparation, date night recipes, and health and fitness articles for the bride who is shedding for the wedding.

​Of course, there are several bridal websites, magazines and blogs out there, so what makes The  Overwhelmed Bride different? Owner Jenn Hallak explains:

“ Instead of just showing our bride readers a bunch of pretty pictures (although we do that as well), we really aim to help the bride through the planning process. Our bride readers’ questions make up our blogging calendar to ensure we are really answering the questions that brides need help with! By extending our site far past just the wedding day, we appeal to the overall bride’s every day life, all which truly help a bride through the process and into the true meaning of the wedding, marriage. 

To many, a bridal show is a bridal show...but this is far from true. There are big differences depending on the size, the location, and also the company behind the show (putting on the show.) The big players in Detroit are Bridal Celebrations, who are responsible for the two biggest shows of the year held at the Palace of Auburn Hills.  Look also for venue-specific shows that are held, such as when Andiamo's-Warren hosts their annual show, or Cherry Creek in Shelby.

Some of the bigger shows offer more competitive deals and more options, but they can be totally crazy...hundreds sometimes thousands of people shuffling through, rummaging for deals. Other shows that are smaller in size and venue can offer you more one- on-one time with the vendors, where you can ask questions and get to know people better. 

If this is the first question that you ask when speaking to a wedding vendor, you are in the majority.  There's nothing wrong with this question, as it is obviously important to find out the price of the service you are inquiring about.  But is this the most important question to ask?

The answer is no.  Now understandably, everybody operates with a certain budget in mind, this columnist is not recommending that you put yourself into debt planning your wedding!  You should be prioritizing your budget based on what is important to you.

​It is not uncommon to start off with the question: "How much?"  The majority of the time, people ask this question because they simply don't know what other questions to ask.  There's nothing wrong with not knowing, and a good vendor will be one who offers to educate you on the product or service they are offering, not try to "sell" you.  If you go into a store to buy a refrigerator, or a car, or a computer, "how much?" is the first question that most of us would ask.  We all know that the cheapest car on the lot is the cheapest car on the lot with good reason:  there may be engine trouble, a ton of miles, or it may have less features and options than some of the other, more expensive cars on the lot.  The cheapest computer may not have the options that are important to you.

Using the car analogy, the best thing to do is to buy the car that best fits your needs, and yes, that is reasonably priced.  If you simply walk onto the lot and want the cheapest car, chances are you are going to run into several problems.  Relating this concept to your wedding day, you need to understand what you are buying, as the "cheapest" vendor is probably that way for a reason.  If you shop around to different vendors and all you do is compare the price, you will find that you are not comparing "apples to apples."  Take for example your limo service. You may call up and say, "how much for a limo?" not knowing that you have several options to choose from.  The new model may be more expensive, but may have a restroom and TV installed in it...Maybe this is important to you, and worth the few extra dollars?  Or, one vendor can list the hourly rate at $45 and another at $60, but upon investigating further you might find that the $45/hour limo is a 5 year old model, and the air conditioning doesn't work, even though the two limos are identical models.

Another example is with your Videographer.  Video Company A offers a "2nd Videographer" for $200 while Video Company B offers a "2nd Videographer" for $500.  Based on price, the choice is simple, who wouldn't go with the $200 guy?  But upon researching more, you may find that Company A is going to send out a 16 year old "trainee" who will carry the bags for the 1st Videographer, while Company B, though more money, is sending out a trained award-winning professional.  Your video will have much more added value with a 2nd experienced person, rather than the cheaper option, which will add little value.

The smartest approach is to always find the best "value", which is a far cry from the best "price."  Try to find a vendor who is willing to spend the extra time with you, educating you on their product, and offering tips as to what to look for.  You want to trust in all of your wedding vendors, not get tricked into buying something based on emotion or his/her sales pitch.  Ask questions, take time to research, and try to look for people that you can trust.  If two companies offering similar services are far apart on price, try to determine why.  A good vendor will have a reason, and know exactly why they are charging what they charge.

​Remember to base your budget on your own research, not what a magazine or website tells you it should be based on national polls.  Use this input as a guide, but in the end the best way to  make your wedding your own, is to make decisions based on "value" and your own priorities, not simply price.
 
Post your comments, or contact Tom at info@cvideosolutions.com or www.cvideosolutions.com
 
 

Videography, in comparison to other wedding services, is fairly new.  Wedding Photos have been around for hundreds of years, but the popularity of videotaping your wedding only has caught on in the past 30 or so.  And Videos of very good quality, and with some artistic merit  have really emerged in the past 5-10 years.

​So why is Wedding Video thought of as a "luxury" instead of a "necessity" like Wedding Photos are?  It's not your fault, but the truth is that many brides just don't know enough about what can be done, and many "traditional" wedding magazines and websites don't pitch Wedding Video as a "must have" since they are fairly new to the scene.  But no other service can capture the sights and sounds like your Video.  Here are the top 5 concerns that I hear from brides:

​5.  "I'm Just Going to Have a Friend Videotape It."  Would you have "a friend" with no experience, design your cake?  Decorate your wedding?  Take your photos?  As with all of your other services for your wedding, you should value your Video enough to have a professional do it.

4. "I Don't Like Being on Camera, or Putting My Guests on the Spot."  Many pro Videographers are very tentative to not turning your wedding day into a movie set!  They will have a very laid-back, "behind-the-scenes" shooting style, you probably won't even realize they are there!  And nowadays, with digital cameras and equipment being so small, it hardly has the look or feel of a video "production."

3. "I'll Never Watch It."  I challenge every bride to consider this:  How many things in life (and in your wedding) actually gain value as time goes on?  Years into the future, won't your kids find the Video PRICELESS, that they have this family history to experience?  To listen to relatives who are gone, to here there mom & dad exchange vows?  There are Brides who say there children pick their wedding Video to watch over their Disney movies!!  No Videographer will promise you that you will watch it every day for a year after your wedding!  But don't think short-sightedly...with Video you are making an investment into your future, and preserving pieces of you family and history for future generations to know and enjoy.

2. "We Already Have a Photographer, We Don't Need a Videographer."  Although photos have their importance, they cannot possibly compete with a Video when it comes to capturing actual events.  Everybody knows the old saying, "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words."  If thats true, then what is a Video worth?  Choose both based on their merits...Photos can definitely capture moments, and feelings.  But a quivering lip, a teardrop, or a voice...only a Video will do.

​1.  "Video is too Expensive."  Everybody works within a budget.  And everybody wants to get the best bang for their buck...but the problem is not budget, it is that Video is not a priority...it is way down the list of things to do while planning a wedding.  Some people spend upwards of $5000 on a Photographer before even looking at a Videographer, and when they do are surprised that Video is more than $1000!!!  Not many people understand or realize how many hours are spent on the Video...If you compare a Videographer to a DJ for example, a DJ may spend 6 hours at your event, whereas the Videographer may spend 8-10 hours at your wedding, and an additional 15-30 hours editing!  Per hour, when compared to other services, your Videographer may actually be the cheapest vendor you are hiring, he/she just ends up putting in the most time!
It is up to you to see the value of having a Professional Video, and a good Videographer will help to educate you in these areas.
Post your comments or contact Tom at info@cvideosolutions.com or www.cvideosolutions.com with additional questions, or ideas for future articles. 

I'll preface this article by saying that I am a wedding videographer, and have been for over 8 years.  So my opinion on hiring a professional videographer may seem biased, but my experience in the wedding industry has given me a key piece of knowledge that I must send along to every last person getting married:  You will regret it if you do not get a professional videographer for your wedding.
​

Statistics (and my personal experience) back up the fact that Wedding Video is valued much more after the wedding.  According to a study by Breakthrough Marketing, "Before the wedding, only a little more than half of surveyed brides consider video a "Top 10" service in comparison to other wedding-related services.  However, after the wedding, the number climbs to 75%."  The study goes on to say that "98% of surveyed brides hired a professional photographer, while only 29% hired a professional videographer."
 
Your wedding is one day, and yes a very important day.  But your marriage extends beyond your wedding day.  There are only 2 services that you will select that deal with what comes after your wedding day:  your photographer and your videographer.  Photos are important, valuable, and are an artform all to themselves....but if "a picture is worth a thousand words" then wouldn't most assume that a video (read: a series of still images!) holds incredible valuable as well?

Jason Samkowiak, owner of JS Photography says, "I think wedding video is extremely important and should be a must have for every wedding.  Photography and video do not compete but rather compliment each other.  There are things that can be captured on video that can’t be captured in a still shot and vice versa. I hear “I wish I would've had a professional videographer” more time that I can count after the wedding is over."

It's hard to look ahead past your wedding, but if you consider the reality of the day, it starts to make sense to hire a videographer.  First, it is your wedding!  You are going to be pulled in a million different directions, talking to guests, having fun...one of the most common thoughts a bride has is "wow, I can't believe how fast everything flew by!"  And consider this:  Without a video, you will never hear your vows again...ever.  They will only exist in your head, and even a photo of your vows won't bring back the emotion that you felt that was evident in your voice.  And as you grow older, your video will serve as remembrance of loved ones, and you will hear them talking, laughing.  it is valuable to have more than a photo, and anybody who has lost somebody knows how valuable this kind of video (and audio) can be.

All in all, make your own decisions and priorities:  it is your wedding.  But if you are not looking past the wedding day itself, you should reconsider what's important.  Your photography and your videography is the only money spent on your wedding that can be viewed as an investment:  an investment in keeping your memories alive, and to be able to share them with future generations of your family.

​"But why pay for a professional, I'm going to have my uncle videotape it."  Stay tuned for future articles on the top 5 reasons why people talk themselves out of hiring a professional.
(Agree?  Disagree?  Be sure to post your comments or email Tom at info@cvideosolutions.com or visit www.cvideosolutions.com)

To a bride, planning for a fall wedding means festive fall colors, leaves on the ground, comfortable weather and a romantic Autumn setting.  But to a guy, discussing a fall wedding brings up a sad realization: "I'm going to miss a big game."  Followed by a desperate hope:  "Please Lord, let us pick a wedding date during the Bye week of [insert your favorite College Football Team here.]"
Some women's blood begins to boil when they read the above, as it is an age-old mystery why sports are worshipped as a second (and sometimes primary) religion amongst men.  Nowadays many women are sports fans themselves, and if you're reading this thinking "I'd never pick a wedding day on the day of a big game!", this is probably a big reason why he wants to marry you!!!

But this brings up a much debated topic on the differences between men and women.  Women often times operate using the word "or" while men operate using the word "and."  For example, to some women, the man must make a choice: Football Sunday OR let's finally clean the garage.  A man will wonder:  why can't we do Football Sunday AND clean the garage, at separate times?
Which brings us to the topic of planning weddings during major sporting events.  Can we not get married AND watch the Michigan/Michigan State game?

A bride can fight it all she wants, but getting married during the fall (read: football season) or during a major sporting event (such as the Kentucky Derby lets say, in May) is going to breed many of the male guests being pre-occupied during the wedding day.
My advice?  Embrace it!  Instead of fighting for the attention, embrace the idea of "AND" instead of "OR."  Its not that your groom or the men at your wedding don't care, but they don't rank importance, and want to enjoy the game AND enjoy the wedding!  How to do this?  Here are several ideas I've seen personally at weddings, where the bride & groom incorporated a sporting event into their wedding:

- Have the DJ give periodic score updates ("You will be dismissed to the buffet one table at a time...and Michigan just scored to make it 10-7!")

- Get the crowd involved by having the DJ play the school fight song (if college sport) for both teams, and have your guests cheer for their song.

- Wheel out a TV during dinner (Guests at a 2006 wedding were very happy to be able to watch a part of the Tigers in the World Series as dinner was being served!)

- Theme your wedding around the event (As mentioned above, click here to see a clip of a

"Kentucky Derby Wedding."  The race was pre-recorded, and played during the Reception on a big
screen, as nobody knew the outcome.  Guests wagered on different horses and were given door prizes if they picked the winner.  Mint Juleps were served during cocktail hour, which is an iconic drink associated with the Derby.)

​Always remember that you'd rather keep your guests informed and entertained, then to have them gather outside of the Reception hall around the one guy who is getting the game on his IPod. 
Post your comments or contact Tom at info@cvideosolutions.com or www.cvideosolutions.com
​

"Don't let your past dictate who you are, but let it be a part of who you will become."  - Louis Mandylor (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

There has been a ton of media coverage on the recent passing of celebrated icons such as Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson.  These celebrities were cherished by their families and millions of people all over the world...On a smaller global scale, each one of us has personal "icons" or "heroes" in our own families that have touched our lives, and who deserve to be remembered.

What does this have to do with weddings?  There is no better time to remember your loved ones then at your wedding.  Wedding celebrations are held to represent a new beginning for the bride and groom, a "birth" of their new life together.  But to truly celebrate your future, it is important to remember your past, and those that influenced you along the way.

Some people may say "but weddings are a time for people to be happy, nobody wants to ruin the mood with a depressing tribute to those that have passed away."  But think about it:  in today's hectic society, there are only a few events in your entire life that will bring your family and friends together in one place: your wedding, the birth of a child, maybe a special birthday or two along the way, and your funeral.  Why not take this special opportunity to pay tribute to the people who have meant the most to you?

When you begin thinking of the person who is gone, the sadness often turns to tears of joy:  remembering the good times, a funny story, or hearing others share their memories of the person.  At many weddings, the bride and groom will have a memorial candle lit in honor of their loved ones, or perhaps have the church say a blessing on their behalf.  Putting framed photos on the guest table at the Reception is another way to honor them.  Some even put short videos together, and play the video off to the side of the Reception, where guests can come and watch at their convenience.  Dedicating a song is another way to honor the memory.

​You will find that if you choose to pay tribute to those that are gone, those moments spent remembering will be some of the fondest of your wedding day.  You already know that they are with you in spirit, but remembering them on one of the most important days of your life is a very real way to say "thank you" to those that have influenced your life leading into your marriage.

 
Post your comments, or contact Tom at info@cvideosolutions.com or www.cvideosolutions.com