Tim & Lacey’s wedding venue was like no other. We were so excited when we had our initial meeting with them and they told us that they were getting married in front of the dueling dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.  Mark that one as a first for us!  The whole night it felt like we were in the movie “Night at the Museum” and Ben Stiller was going to round the corner with a little Owen Wilson as Jedediah Smith.  It was such an honor to make the trip from our home in Portland down to film Tim & Lacey’s day.  They took our advice so well.  They breathed in the day and let every moment sink in.  During their first look Tim said, “This is going to be an awesome day.”  He couldn’t have been more right.

Side note:  An additional little fun fact from this wedding.  Unbeknownst to Tim & Lacey, or anyone else at the wedding, Ian and I both had the stomach flu this day.  Our poor daughter had it the day before and we couldn’t escape it.  The nature of weddings is that this is a once in a lifetime moment for this couple.  They only get one shot on this day.  So there’s no really “calling in sick” for us.  If we can stand, we will film.  And if we can’t stand, then we will put a chair behind a tripod and film.  We willed ourselves to get through this day.  Super proud of ourselves for being able to create this film under such challenging circumstances.

CM_Blog_Post_Breaks_C

 

You know that feeling when you take a deep breath and exhale?  A certain calmness wraps around you for a second, and the world seems to become a bit clearer, and a bit more fluid.  That is how I would describe Maegan and Chris as a couple on their wedding day.  They seemed so grounded and calm and present throughout the day, but together they just always had that feeling of an exhale… just peaceful. It was a pleasure to be part of this day.  To tell their story.  To capture their family.  Enjoy.

CM_Blog_Post_Breaks_C

 

Usually I write a little about the couple, but for this post I’m gonna do something a little different.  I want to talk about my favorite moment of the day.  Right as Mark begins to repeat after the officiant he is caught for a moment… and that moment for me was amazing.  It was this beat where Mark just came to experience the depth of this very moment.  The moment he was committing forever to the woman he loved.  Its these moments that I love as a filmmaker.  Its a moment that so easily be missed when you are there in real time.  Its also a moment that cannot translate in photos, because its about the time he takes to feel the experience.  Its something that surfaces only in the editing of the film.  This moment is what makes a day like this special, because it reveals the experience that our couples are having.  Because in that moment, you understand what this moment means to Mark… and how he feels about Holly.  It was an awesome day for everyone involved, and this moment is the perfect illustration.

CM_Blog_Post_Breaks_C

 

We have done A LOT of weddings.  But there’s always a first for everything.  This was our first Persian wedding.  We absolutely love learning about new cultures and how they celebrate their love.  And boy do the Persians know how to celebrate.  This couple had an amazing group of family and friends to help them celebrate in their love. We don’t think the dancing every stopped!  Definitely a way to celebrate if you ask us.

CM_Blog_Post_Breaks_C

 

 

Every once in a while we connect with our couples on another level and it feels like we have known them forever.  Our client soul mate, if you will.  Katy & Mike are that couple.  From the first moment that Katy called me, I knew this couple had something special.  Katy & Mike are so well matched, contributing equal parts love and sarcasm (which happens to be my love language).  And their wedding day at Oregon Golf Club did not disappoint.  They took in every moment.  Every. Single. One.  It was an honor and a joy to watch them on this day and we couldn’t help but feel so happy that these two were getting married.  We adore them!  Now you watch their film and try and tell me that you don’t adore them too!

CM_Blog_Post_Breaks_C

 

We absolutely love a good “backyard wedding” and that’s exactly the backdrop that Abigail’s Garden at the Abernathy Center provided for Jace & Mikaila’s day.  The wedding ceremony was nestled in the private garden, the reception under the amazing tent, and contra dancing & a balloon-wish send off in the field.  It was their own private garden and it was perfect.

CM_Blog_Post_Breaks_C

 

Not all weddings go according to plan.  Correction. No wedding goes according to plan.  Most times there are little hiccups during the day that no one notices.  And then 1 out of 100 weddings it seems like someone is pranking you.  This was that 1 in 100.  Who could have expected it to rain in California…in July…during a historic drought?!  None of us that’s for sure, but it did poured during Caitlyn & Marco’s day.  But I think that Marco’s best man/twin brother had it right.  He thought it was raining because the gods were crying because it was such a beautiful ceremony.  We happen to agree!  Huge shout out to the creative team behind this one for making it come together.

The amazing creative team
Venue: Bel Air Bay Club
Planner: Park & Grove
Photography: Lacie Hansen
Hair & Makeup: Nicol Artistry
Floral: Stella Bloom Designs
Cinematography: Couture Motion Pictures

CM_Blog_Post_Breaks_C

 

 

What a great day.  Even though it was a little warm, Michelle and Ken had smiles on their faces all day.  They were just so comfortable with one another.  As they walked through the woods for their photos you could tell that they just belonged together.  For our first wedding in Washington, we had a great time.

 

CM_Blog_Post_Breaks_C

 

We are so excited to finally share our first wedding we filmed up in Portland, OR.  It’s our new home and we are so excited to settle our wedding roots here.  We couldn’t think of a better couple to kick off our Oregon weddings than Sarah & Tom.  We loved how present they were on the day off.  Not afraid to let a tear roll or a laugh bellow.  They weren’t afraid to show their vulnerable side and we love filming people like that.  Thanks for letting us see who you are and how you experienced your day you guys!!

The creative team
Ceremony Venue: St. Clare Church
Reception Venue: The Foundry
Coordination: Leann Reece
Photography: Juan Kis of Powers Studios
Floral: Bella Bloom
DJ: Eric Wright
Cinematography: Couture Motion Pictures

CM_Blog_Post_Breaks_C

 

Now that we are living in Portland, OR it’s always great when we get back to California, especially when we get to film a wedding of one of our colleagues.  We were so excited when Marla called me up to say she had a wedding for Couture Motion Pictures.  We LOVE working with Marla! We have been working with Marla for several years now.  She started with JOWY Productions working with us on Jerry & Natasha’s wedding and then on Jordan & Tom’s wedding.  She has since gone off on her own and started her own event studio called Park & Grove with her best friend (and Maid of Honor) Sarah.  But this wedding was going to be extra special, because it was her own wedding!  Now let me tell you something.  When another wedding professional calls you to participate in her wedding, that is one of the biggest compliments you can get.  This was a huge honor and we felt so happy that Marla had found her special man, Andrew.  It’s such a special treat when you get to see someone who puts their heart & soul into designing and planning weddings for other people experience their own.  We could not be happier for you Marla & Andrew.  Such a beautiful couple, inside and out.

The amazing creative team
Venue: Casa Elar at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Planner: Marla & Sarah of Park & Grove
Photography: Joel Serrato
Hair & Makeup: Team Hair & Makeup
Floral: Kelly Kaufman Design
Linen: La Tavola
Decor: Rrivre Works
Entertainment: West Coast Music
Cinematography: Couture Motion Pictures

CM_Blog_Post_Breaks_C