Weddings – Page 5 – Couture Motion Pictures

Miramonte Resort Wedding: Ian & Melissa

Photography, Photos, Weddings

Our final wedding of the year! We could not be more thankful to finish our busy and eventful season with Ian and Melissa. I have known Melissa for years. Back in my previous life as an actor, Melissa and I did summer stock up in scenic Coeur d’Alene, ID. Summers at CDA were amazing. I made some wonderful (and talented) friends up there and Melissa was one of them. I looked up to Melissa so much with her talent, her professionalism, and her gut busting humor. She’s basically awesomely brilliant in a tiny package. So when Melissa got engaged to Ian I was over the moon for her. I hadn’t met Ian, but I had a hunch that he was a good guy just based on his name. Then when we met each other over Skype a little over a year ago, my suspicions that he was cool were confirmed. (I mean how can you not love a guy whose love of Christmas goes so far that he decorates his bike with Christmas lights and hangs it on the wall?)

Their wedding day was particularly special. The thrill of this union spread beyond Ian and Melissa. It should be mentioned that Ian and Melissa’s parents have known each other for forever. Seriously. They live just blocks a part from one another up in Washington. Despite their parents’ decades of friendship, Ian and Melissa had never met each other. It was one fateful day at Sea Fair in Seattle where they met. So on the wedding day it felt like family reunion. Even I felt like part of the family! The love and support that Ian and Melissa had coming at them from their friends and family was overwhelming. It even reached as far as London when Melissa Facetimed with a friend of hers who is performing in Chicago on the West End while she was getting into her dress.

The love that Ian and Melissa have for each other was undeniable. I think the words spoken at the end of their film say it all. We were so honored to document this day from start to finish.

The Villa San Juan Capistrano Wedding: Kelsay & Michael

Weddings

Music Licensed from The Music Bed

Oh Kelsay & Michael…where do we begin?! There are some couples that we just completely feel a friendship with and Kelsay and Mike are one of those couples. It felt like I was hanging out with my best friends from college while Kelsay was getting ready and Ian felt like he was just chilling with the guys. So needless to say we were emotional when they delivered their amazing personal vows and laughed with them as the night went on. We wished we could have stayed and partied with them all night, but alas we could not (due to our double header weekend). We had such a fun time on this wedding and even more fun editing it. Congratulations Kelsay & Michael. Thanks for making us remember why we love our jobs so much!

Villa de Amore Wedding: Chris & Serein

Weddings

Music licensed from The Music Bed

Weddings can be a lot of things. They can focus on the details, the party, the extravagance, or the experience. But one thing that all weddings have in common is that they are all ultimately about two people coming together. On the day of Chris and Serein’s wedding I didn’t notice it, but looking back over their footage and editing their film, what I saw was two people who were already together. When they are holding one another and looking each other in the eye, it’s as if the world around them disappears. They have an unbreakable bond that we should all be so lucky to have. We, as artists, have always believed that the details of the wedding do not matter near as much as the love that is experienced on the wedding day. No matter what the day looks like, or what goes right (or wrong), as long as love is the reason, the wedding day will be perfect. Watch this film and tell me this day wasn’t perfect.

Green Gables Estate Wedding: Sean & Dawn

Photography, Photos, Weddings

Music Licensed from The Music Bed

Giggles. That’s the noun I would use to describe Sean & Dawn’s wedding day. It was full of giggles. And the giggles came from every direction. Everyone was just so giddy for Sean & Dawn. Every single person there was just elated for them. It was so nice to giggle with them again at the Green Gables Estate after their Balboa Park engagement session earlier in the year. We absolutely loved filming and photographing them on their wedding day (a huge thanks to Ginnie of Roots Photography for second shooting with us!). I am going to go out on a limb and say that Dawn has never looked more beautiful than she did on this day. Drop. Dead. Gorgeous. And Sean did not disappoint in his awesome bow tie completed with his ear to ear day long grin. We are still so so happy for these two!!

Old Sugar Mill Clarksburg Wedding: Jason & Janelle

Weddings

Music Licensed from The Music Bed

Jason & Janelle first contacted us a year and a half ago, just days after they got engaged. We were so thrilled they wanted to work with us because they were a laid back, creative, awesome couple. We couldn’t wait to start filming their story. It started with them coming to Bakersfield to film their Save the Date, which you might remember watching. It was a blast to collaborate on such a fun film and great to hear that their guests enjoyed their inventive way to announce their wedding. Then we went on a road trip up to Sequoia Valley to film their Love Story. We went ice skating with them (which Megan enjoyed), we went snowboarding with them (which Ian enjoyed), and we played with their fantastic dog Shortee in the snow (which we all enjoyed). They showed this film at their reception, sharing their story with everyone. At this point we had spent several days with Jason & Janelle, and when their wedding day rolled around in Clarksburg, it was like watching our friends get married. Our friends who we have traveled all over California with. We were overjoyed to see these two people get hitched at the ridiculously cool venue at the Old Sugar Mill. And as a huge bonus we got to work with photographer and friend Scott Andrew for the third time. So happy for you Jason & Janelle! When we are in northern California next we will hit up the slopes (not Megan), do some ice skating (not Ian), and throw back some courage juice (all of us)!

Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara Wedding: Erin & Neil

Weddings

Music Licensed from The Music Bed

We met Erin & Neil via Skype a while back, a necessity when they live in DC and we live in CA. We were so excited to work with them as we could tell that their day was going to be impeccable. Held at the beautiful Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara, the day could not have been more perfect. The weather in Santa Barbara was on its best behavior as Erin & Neil celebrated with their friends and family. They had people travel from all over to share in this moment. And I really mean all over. Thanks to a fun poster we learned that 60% of the guests traveled from outside of California. 20% of the guests were Dartmouth alums. And one guest traveled almost 18,000 miles to be there! That’s one dedicated friend. Erin was absolutely stunning and no one could keep their eyes off of her, including Neil. And I have to say that the design of the reception is one of my favorites that I have ever seen. A big thanks to Kristin over a Joy de Vivre for all her help. Congrats Erin & Neil and thanks for letting us be a part of your day!

Brookside Equestrian Center Wedding: Esther & Jay

Weddings

Music licensed from The Music Bed

Esther and Jay are just perfection. We met them on Skype a while back and from that first meeting Ian and I knew that we were incredibly lucky to work with them. Esther was able to describe our style shooting and films better than we every could, and this made them our ideal clients. They understood exactly what it is we do behind the camera and in the editing room and they sat back and trusted us to do what we do. This freed them up to be completely captivated with each other on the day of their wedding. (Hint to all you future brides and grooms. That is the secret to a great wedding film.) The depth of their love speaks for itself. During the ceremony we had to fight back the tears as we saw Jay’s reaction to Esther coming down the aisle and as we heard some of the most beautiful vows. The whole day was just perfection.

{wedding day details}
Brookside Equestrian Center: venue
Kurt Boomer Photo: photography
This Is The Day: coordinator
Rose Wade Events: caterer
Pauline Chang: flowers
Cake Fiend by Tiffany Wang: cake

Gull’s Way Estate Malibu Wedding: Demetri & Marcie

Weddings

Music licensed from The Music Bed

Elegance, class, and sophistication. These are the words that I think of when I think back to the day of Demetri and Marcie’s wedding. The event was stunning. From the views, to the details, to the couple. No corner was cut and no moment was forgotten. The bride looked stunning in her wedding dress. The groom looked handsome in his tux. The music filled the air from the moment that the guests arrived, with separate musical acts performing at arrival, during the ceremony, and at the reception.

The best part about this day however was not all of these details. It was the love that was united. Demetri and Marcie certainly have style in spades, but their true beauty is in their humble and down to earth love that they have for one another. It was the perfect day on the outside, because it was the perfect day on the inside. These two belong together, and they threw one heck of a party to prove it.

If you haven’t seen it yet, check our their Love Story.

San Juan Capistrano Franciscan Gardens Wedding: Nikki & Tim

Weddings

Music licensed from The Music Bed

What makes a wedding perfect? Is it the details? The pretty dresses, the perfect venue, delicious food? If everybody has a fun time and dances all night long, is that it? Maybe heartfelt vows and eloquent speeches? Think about it for a second. What do you think makes a wedding perfect? My guess is that the perfect wedding in your mind does not involve torrential rain, or a possible venue change 3 hours before the ceremony. For most people that would be a disaster. Not for me, not for Megan, and not for Tim and Nikki.

This is what I think makes a perfect wedding. Two people that truly love one another. Two individuals that have chosen to stand up in front of the most important people in their lives and proclaim that through good times and bad, their love with keep them on course. That is what a wedding is all about. It is a single moment in time where you stop living your life alone and dedicate yourself to sharing everything that you are with another person. The power of that commitment is incredible. It fills us each up with hope and joy. That is why we celebrate, because we know that the bride and groom have embarked on the journey of a lifetime. They have become the beginning of their new family. Details can be beautiful, food can be delicious, and weather can be perfect, but the only thing, and I mean ONLY thing that matters is the purity of your love and the sincerity of your commitment.

In case I have not convinced you what makes a perfect wedding, please watch Tim and Nikki’s film and tell me that it was not perfect. Watch their faces as they share their first dance and tell me that you do not find yourself wishing that you were there, right in that moment. And listen to Tim’s words at the end and feel as if he has put words to your own feelings towards your loved ones. And to Tim and Nikki, thank you for loving one another wholeheartedly. Without the two of you, this day would have been a very sad story. Instead it is one of the happiest stories we have ever had the honor of telling.

Rancho Pescadero Mexico Wedding: Eric & Jessica

Weddings

We have been blessed to film a lot of special couples since starting this business. We have formed a lot of connections & beautiful friendships. But this wedding was so much more than one special couple on one special day…

When Eric and Jess got engaged, they decided that they wanted an intimate wedding. One where their closest friends and family could join them in a three day long celebration of life, love, and marriage. To do this, they needed to find the perfect venue. And let me tell you, they found their perfect venue. Rancho Pescadero is a small 27 room boutique hotel near the tucked away town of Todos Santos in Baja Mexico. After a two hour dirt road drive from the airport you eventually reach wedding venue Shangri-La. Within feet of its own private beach, Rancho feels like it is in the middle of nowhere, outside of time and space. As you cross its threshold, an invisible force field eradicates every aniexity and stress and troublesome thought you have and leave you in a buzzing sense of bliss. It was at this garden of eden that Eric and Jess decided to have their wedding.

It was here that they decided to invite about 45 of their closest friends and relatives to participate in their three day festival of marriage. Luckily for us we were friends of the bride and groom. (Megan toured with Eric.) Because we were friends and because we were at Rancho for three days with the bridal party and all the guests, we got the chance to experience this celebration from a much more visceral position than usual. If words could describe the experience then I would write you all a novel… but it just would not suffice. It was the feeling that we were all left with that encapsulates this joyous occasion. To truly share in two people’s love is intoxicating. To spend three days giving them your support and in return being granted the opportunity to be part of who they are and their experiences is a grace that I wish you could all experience. Rather than crack open my thesaurus and try and relate to you in words who these people are and they experience that they had, I will let the words cease. Watch this film and maybe, just maybe you can be transported back to 11.11.11 with us to participate in the wedding of Eric and Jessica. Hell of a way to end our 2011 wedding season if you ask us…

{wedding day details}
Rancho Pescadero: venue
Nicole Miller: bride’s dress
Laura Marie Duncan: photography
Cabo Flowers: cake & flowers