Tags: irish

In between shooting and editing weddings, I’ve recently had the pleasure of filming and editing a promotional video for my friend, and one of Ireland’s best leading vocalists, Naoise Stuart-Kelly.  Naoise is a very well trained and professional singer, definitely the best I’ve ever heard at a wedding…and perhaps she’s available for your big day too.  At every wedding I’ve seen her and her team perform at, they have literally elevated the ceremony to a special, memorable place.

Naoise started Encore Occasions in 2007 and since then has performed and co-ordinated music for hundreds of weddings in Ireland, the UK and Europe.  You can go to see Naoise in Dublin this summer, performing each evening, from June to September, in the new stage production Celtic Rising.

I thought I’d share the promo video with you.  Click on ‘More’ under the two clips below to view individual songs.  Check out Naoise’s website for Encore Occasions by clicking here.

Encore Occasions Wedding Music Promo

Quando Sento Che Mi Ami

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I’m always a happy camper when filming a wedding at Dunboyne Castle in Co. Meath.  It’s definitely one of my favorite wedding venues to film in.  Gorgeous grounds close to the hotel for your photography session, not too far from home for me.

The staff are tuned in, and are always aware of everything that is going on, especially Tom, who you’ll probably deal with when getting married there.  Wedding days always flow smoothly at Dunboyne Castle thanks to Tom and the staff, and I’m looking forward to filming a wedding there again soon.  Here’s a small collection of some wedding video clips from Dunboyne Castle…

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You’ll surely remember the snow we had at the close of ’09 and the beginning of ’10?  I’ll never forget the road conditions coming back from James & Trisha’s wedding that night in December.  I’ve never driven so slow in all my life.

The magical day preceding the harsh weather conditions was a different story for the couple who had just got married.  Trisha & James tied the knot in Edenderry, Co. Offaly and then celebrated at the gorgeous Ballykealey Manor Hotel in Co. Carlow.  Their photographer for the day was a pleasure to work with.  It was my first time working with him.  His name is Alan Mooney.  You can visit his website and view his amazing work by clicking here.

Here’s a shot taken directly from James & Trisha’s wedding video:

Trisha offers a great service that you might be interested in when planning your own big day.  It’s called ‘Little Wedding Crechers’ and you can visit the website by clicking here.

I’ve seen her services in action — and it works!  A lot of couples face a dilemma when planning their big day:  invite the children or not.  ‘Little Wedding Crechers’ are here to help you.

Trisha and James were delighted with their wedding DVD and were very nice to send in a testimonial a few weeks ago.  (Click to enlarge)

A nice testimonial from Trisha & James

How important is it to you to have the most important day of your lives as a couple documented carefully and thoughtfully by a professional wedding videographer?

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing it’s very important to you.  In 2010 money is an issue for everyone, and we’re willing to work with couples as best we can when discussing price and package, however, at this critical stage in planning your wedding you don’t want to put a foot wrong and make a fatal decision that you’ll regret later.

Your wedding only happens once.  And it will happen quickly.  There are no second takes on your big day.

I make a living as a wedding videographer, and I make sure that I provide each couple with the best possible wedding video/DVD time and time again.  Read just a few words of thanks that brides and grooms have sent to me over the past couple of years, just after they watched their finished wedding DVD:  http://www.brideandgroom.ie/feedback/testimonials.html

If you’re considering hiring your uncle Charlie to film (and edit?) your wedding, you might want to reconsider before your decision causes you heartbreak in the future.

Price is important, but you’re not going to feel very good in 10 years time that you saved a few hundred Euro in a time of economic recession, when you’re stuck with a terrible wedding video that you’re ashamed to show to people. As the saying goes “The bittnerness of poor quality remains, long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”.

Well, I’ve started a Twitter wedding video/personal page.  I want to connect with you and keep you up to date.

I’ll ‘tweet’ about all things wedding video, about all things new and what’s to come, what I’m at and what I’m working on.  And if you’re a film fan check out our weekly ‘Film of the Week’ tweet and share your thoughts.

Come and join me and we’ll see where it leads.

Join us on:

Bride & Groom Films 2010 Oscar Competition

It’s that time of year again.  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences will hand out Oscar awards on March 7th 2010.  We are holding our first Oscar competition, and it is open to past, present and future clients of Bride & Groom Films. The winner will receive 10 copies of their wedding video/DVD in personalized cases, absolutely free.  Two runner-up prizes of 5 copies on DVD in personalized cases are also up for grabs.

All you have to do is pick who you think is going to win, in each category below, and e-mail your predictions to info@brideandgroom.ie, on or before 6pm on March 7th 2010.  Be sure to include your name, address, telephone numbers and the date of your wedding. (more…)

I’m delighted to report that I recently won Wedding Videographer of the Year 2009, voted for by the brides and grooms of Ireland, in Ireland’s very first online wedding awards.  It was held by Real Weddings.ie

Some statistics on the awards, according to Real Weddings:

It was Ireland’s very first online wedding awards.

There were over 800 postal entries.

There were over 950 email entries.

There were 10,688 votes counted online.

Source:
http://www.realweddings.ie/press/?p=468#comments

I am also delighted to announce that I am one of the final six nominees for Wedding Videographer of the Year 2009 at the upcoming first annual Weddings Online Awards (also voted for by the brides and grooms of Ireland).

It was only last year that I was “ranked among the best videographers in the world” by the DV Awards, in the categories of ‘Outstanding Wedding Videography’ and ‘Best Demo Reel’.  To read the Press Release click here.  According to Martin Rhodes of the DV Awards (based in America), I was the first Irish winner in the wedding category.  I had previously won a DV Award in 2004 for a short film screenplay that I wrote.

I see an award as merely a pat on the back, whether received by my peers or by clients who are happy with my services.  Nonetheless, being nominated or winning is very encouraging to work harder and to push yourself further.  I would like to thank those of you, sincerely, for supporting me in the online wedding awards polls and for the taking the time to send in your written entires.  I am very grateful to you.

If you haven’t seen Martin Scorsese’s classic 1980 film Raging Bull, to me, that’s like saying you’ve been living on earth all these years without seeing the sun or the moon.  It’s that good.  Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and others give searingly honest and towering performances.  It is not just a film.  It is a slice of life.  Having watched it recently on Blu-Ray for the first time, it was like experiencing the actual film for the first time all over again.

The following clip, which is a short montage from the middle of the film, is my favourite wedding scene in any movie.  It is a simple, haunting piece of great, nostalgic filmmaking.  When the time is right, and when circumstances fit, I hope to do a homage to this scene at some stage on a future wedding video.  So if any of your grooms out there are boxers, let’s get this happening.

When I watch this clip I’m very grateful that I don’t have to shoot weddings on 16mm or 8mm film.  Thank science for the wonders of digital technology.  Enjoy!

The Brooklodge in Macreddin Village, Wicklow is one of my favourite venues to shoot a wedding video in.  It’s only an hour drive from Dublin and is nestled away in the quiet, relaxing countryside.  There’s a beautiful, quaint white chapel on the grounds where I’ve shot many wedding ceremonies.  Having your wedding here can also save a lot of time on the day, as you don’t have to go very far for your photography session and the family photos.

The food is excellent, so nice that myself and Laura went there for dinner one Sunday last year.  The Brooklodge is known for having Ireland’s only Certified Organic restaurant, The Strawberry Tree.  There is also a Southern Italian restaurant there, La Taverna Armento, which deserves a special mention.  The bar food is also excellent if you’re a vegan or a vegetarian.

Check out the following short wedding video clip of the Brooklodge from a wedding in October 2009.  Sarah and Neasan were a wonderful couple on the day, and they were surrounded by loving family and friends who were visibly having a great time.  Their photographer was Dermot Byrne, a photographer who I have worked with a number of times, and it is always a pleasure to do so.  Dermot has a great sense of humor, and is always able to make a couple feel at ease on their wedding day.  He is also a consummate professional, and his work is second to none.  Sarah, Neasan, Dermot and myself worked together very well on day, and the ever-present smiles on the faces of the newly married couple showed me they were enjoying every minute of it.  It showed on their wedding video/DVD as well.

For more Brooklodge sample wedding video clips, please visit our new sample video page at the Bride & Groom Films website.

We’ve just joined Facebook.  Don’t forget to become a fan, and recommend us to your friends.  Feel free to write a comment about anything you like or respond to one of our posts.  Send a private message if you have any questions about wedding videography or our services.  Alternatively, visit the Experts Corner section of our Facebook page.  See you on Facebook.

If you’re going to book a wedding videographer, or any reputable wedding supplier in Ireland, then you must do it as soon as you can.  The problem is that if you leave it too late, when you eventually get back to us we may very well be already booked.  We often receive multiple enquiries for the same date, which means we must work on a first-come first-served basis.

I’m glad, and fortunate, to report that even in the current recession we are still very busy.  At the beginning of this week alone I sent out thirty sample DVD packs (as you can see in the below low-res images) to couples interested in booking our services for 2010 and 2011.  Some have already returned their deposit and booking form and their booking confirmation is on its way.  Visit our website www.brideandgroom.ie to check availability today, e-mail us at info@brideandgroom.ie, or phone Richard directly on 086-3704098, or phone the studio on 01-4420071.

So act fast, as your date may be gone next week.  We look forward to hearing from you.