New Thank You

Got a sweet note from Shay and Juliana. They were married last August at Harrington Farm in Princeton, MA. Here's the note:
"Thank you for all your hard work! The wedding video is absolutely phenomenal! It is so wonderful to be able to relive those unforgettable moments!"

Thank You Note

Lately received a thank you note from Sara and Billy, who were married at the Most Holy Redeemer Church in Hadley, MA. Their reception was at the Sheraton Springfield.

"1 word—Fantastic! We love it! Thank you so much for all your work and amazing talent! It is wonderful that there are extra copies for our families! Great Christmas Gift! We truly enjoyed and loved seeing the finished product. We got so many laughs and saw so much we had no idea of. This video will be a continuous reminder of what an amazing day we had. Again I can't thank you enough for the wonderful work you did with our wedding video. I will certainly recommend you to any couple planning a wedding."

Amherst College

On Saturday, I was in Amherst for Krista and Aaron's wedding. The ceremony was at the Johnson Chapel on the Amherst College campus, with the reception at the Lewis-Sebring Commons, also on the campus.

Great idea: turning their wedding program into a fan, so guests could keep cool!

Got to work with some new (for me) vendors there. Becky Kusek was a great photographer to work with. You'll see great work on her website—I especially like her nighttime exposures using streetlamps and marquees. Dana Collins was the DJ and kept the party moving. And Erica Kates was the wedding planner who kept everything running smoothly.

Longmeadow Wedding

Saturday I was in Longmeadow, MA for Kristen and Greg's wedding. They were married at St. Mary's Church and had their reception at the Longmeadow Country Club. I'll post some stills when I get them uploaded.

I like shooting at St. Mary's. The long center aisle and the balcony give a lot of options for covering the procession and recessional. The Country Club has a lot of beautiful spots for outdoor photos, and the main house is broken up into several rooms for cocktails and dinner, with an outside tented patio for dancing.

Assonet Wedding

On Thursday, I was at Independence Harbor in Assonet for Ruth and Ryan's wedding. I hadn't been there before, and the facilities were so well maintained that I though it was brand-new. I was surprised later to read on their website that it's been in operation since 1976!

We were all lucky, as rain never really threatened. I'll post some video stills soon.

South Hadley Wedding

On Saturday, I was in three towns for Amy and Chris's wedding. We started in Easthampton, MA for some quick shots at the bride's parent's house. Then on to All Saints Episcopal Church in South Hadley. It was packed with guests—it was standing room only, and on what felt like the only hot day in June! After some formal photos at the church, we ended up at Oak Ridge Country Club in Feeding Hills.

Williamstown Wedding

On Saturday, I was in Williamstown, MA for Jess and Michael's wedding. They are both Williams College alums, and were married at the Williams College Chapel. The reception was just up the street at the Williams Inn.

We had great weather and were able to do some shots in some of their favorite places around campus.

Lenox Wedding

On Sunday, I was in Lenox for Arian and Aaron's wedding. They were married at Cranwell Resort on a beautiful May day. The ceremony was outdoors on the beautiful lawn. Everything was so enjoyable, from the ketubah signing to the reception toasts. There wasn't a moment where people weren't smiling and laughing.

The Cranwell staff, under the direction of Samantha Talora, was superb, as usual!

Massachusetts Horticultural Society

Located just outside Wellesley, MA, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society boasts a gorgeous setting for wedding or corporate events.

The weddings I've taped there have all been amazing events. There really isn't a bad angle for shooting outside. And I love the Hunnewell Building, where the receptions are usually held. As a videographer, I appreciate that the room stays pretty light for shooting, so I don't have to resort to adding gain, which adds grainy look to the video.

I highly recommend checking out their site if you're planning a wedding in the Boston area. They are also looking for donations to their Annual Fund, if you'd like to show your support.

Fairmont Copley Plaza

Videotaped Amy and Vivek's wedding yesterday at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. They had their Hindu ceremony in a great ballroom, with balconies all along the one side. It made for many great angles. After the ceremony, during cocktails, the ballroom was made over for the reception—they worked fast!

Thank you note

Just received from Kelly and Ryan, who were married at Elms College Chapel in Chicopee, MA and had their reception at the Yankee Pedlar Inn in Holyoke:

Dear Tom,
Wow! What an amazing job you did creating our wedding video! Not only are Ryan and I thrilled with the results, you also impressed my mother and my mother-in-law! We are so happy with your work and we are certain the DVDs will get plenty of use. Thank you so much!!

Lord Jeffery Inn

Met with Anne and Jiuming last night about doing their wedding video. They are getting married at St. Brigid's Church in Amherst, MA with a reception at the Lord Jeffery Inn, also in Amherst.

The question of high definition (HD) came up, and we talked about how important is it, is it worth the extra cost, what are the differences between standard def and high def. I thought Jiuming made a great point when he suggested that the video be shot using the typical technology of the day, which, in this case, would be standard definition. Your parents' or grandparents' wedding might have been captured on silent black-and-white film, placing it in a cultural and historical context. In the same way, shooting in standard definition now places your wedding in a specific cultural and historical context—so maybe you don't need to fret about high def versus standard.

To be sure, I love to use the new technology, I can shoot in HD, and I enjoy HD projects, so I'm ready for the next era of wedding video, too.

Bridal Sale Blowout!

Just heard about this bridal gown sale through the DJ Network:

Wednesday, Feb. 27th 4-9pm, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Springfield, MA (next to the Basketball Hall of Fame). All bridal gowns are on sale for $199 (originally $800-2500).

Seven Hills Inn

Was at the Seven Hills Inn in Lenox, MA last weekend, a great place for a wedding. I love shooting in the Berkshires, especially as the leaves are changing color. It was a partying/dancing crowd, with some people never leaving the dance floor and many still going strong till the last dance. The Inn has many interesting rooms and a lovely terraced lawn. There are also wooded trails around the property which I didn't get a chance to explore.