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Since the quality of recorders and video equipment has improved dramatically in recent years, it should come as no surprise that video taping is becoming as traditional as photography. Video taping the wedding helps to preserve a very precious memory that the bride and groom can review- enjoy- and share with family and friends for many years to come.

Sifting through the Chafe'

Quality is what matters.... Price is secondary

Find a good videographer, then pick the package you can afford.

Ask to see a sample tape and ask what type of cameras are being used.

Things to look for...
Professional video equipment.
Smooth and steady camera work.
Spontaneous and natural shots.
Seamless editing techniques.
Good coverage of the ceremony.
All the important parts included.
Clean titles not too many flashy graphics.
Good color and a sharp picture.
Good Audio.

Professional video equipment. Good color and a sharp picture.

Consumer level cameras available at the local department store can't produce the quality needed to video-tape, edit, and make copies. Above this level are many variations. Some 'so-called' professional videographers use a standard video format (VHS or 8mm) and provide the original to the bride and groom. Copies made from this tape will be of sub-standard quality. A true professional uses a hi quality format. (SVHS, Hi8, BetaSP, DV, etc.) Copies made from this type or tape will be better quality and every copy will be the same.

Smooth and steady camera work. Spontaneous and natural shots.

No matter how good his cameras are, a videographer must have good camera skills. If you get sea-sick watching the demo, it's time to move on. Look for those special shots that 'make' the moment.

Coverage

You'll have to do your homework. Many videographers have different packages based on what you want included in the video. Remember, the more he tapes, the more he has to edit onto the master copy. Extras may cost you so ask up-front.

Clean titles not too many flashy graphics.

Flashy graphics may be great for MTV, but you want the focus to be on you. If you notice the effect, it takes the attention off of you!

Good Audio.

Most 'on-camera' mics are not enough to capture good audio. Wireless mics and wired hand held mics are the best way to achieve good sound.

TYPES OF WEDDING VIDEOS

There are various types and qualities of wedding videos, along with a wide range of prices. Personal preference and budget will determine the best type of video to use. Rules and regulations concerning videotaping vary according to the ceremony site used and may affect the way your video will come out.

The following list describes three popular types of wedding videos:

Straight-shot Footage.

The Videographer only uses one camera, starting at the beginning of the ceremony and capturing highlights the reception using only in-camera editing. Since there is no post-editing, and only one camera, it is the least expensive option. With in-camera Titling, He can add a special touch by putting the couple's names and wedding date at the beginning of the tape. This format has the quickest delivery time. He can also add music, usually for an additional charge.

Nostalgic Format.

This type of video can be as long and as nostalgic as the couple wants to make it. The Videographer usually starts by showing photographs of the couple as children; then progresses to photos of romantic; fun times they have shared together; followed by scenes from the ceremony and reception; sometimes ending with shots from the honeymoon (This may delay delivery of the final tape.) For photo sequences, music is copied to the master tape then still photos are dubbed in at appropriate points creating just the right mood. The other events surrounding the wedding are then added to the master tape. This format needs to be post-edited and requires more editing time. Therefore, it costs more.

Wedding Documentary Format

This type of video documents the day. The segments of the day's events tell a story similar to the way the events occurred. It usually starts with shots of the bride and groom getting ready, then progresses through the ceremony and reception, capturing spontaneous moments and interviews with family and friends, then ends as the bride and groom leave the reception. This video format is the most popular, most commonly used, and is the best value. Many videographers use two to three cameras to obtain better quality. Then post-edit adding titling and music to create a smooth visual effect.

Are you the type bride who just wants a sweet moment? Who only envisions their family and close friends at their wedding? Would like to save money for the honeymoon? The solution: A SMALL AFFAIR.

The first step is creating the guest list and sticking the list. Sit down with the groom and your parents and divide up the list as equally as possible. Anyone relatives or friends you have not seen in five years is automatically cut off the list. Giving your single guests a date is not an option unless they are engaged or the person in their life as a long term partner. Kids can be also be discussed as well. Then be prepared to stick to your decision.

A place for the wedding is the next step to tackle on your to do list. You want a place that is warm and intimate. A full service chapel is a great place to have your big day. A park is an inexpensive place to have a small wedding day. If you want something more traditional, have it at a church, but for the reception, rent out a small banquet room.

As far the nuts and bolts of your wedding day, this is all up to you. You can plan something really traditional, or you can think outside the box for your ideas. Instead of everyone sitting down, you can get married under the glow of candlelight as the guests hold a candle for a short ceremony. For the wedding party, you can have the traditional three bridesmaids and groomsmen or walk down the aisle with the groom for an unique touch.

The advantages of this type wedding are numerous. You can serve something more substantial to your guests. You can afford a more expensive wedding gown if this is at the top of your wish list. You give your guests the little extras such as a rose for each female guest or a small replica of your wedding cake as a favor. Most importantly, with a small wedding, a bride can touch, see, and hear each wedding guest. To me, being able to share yourself with your wedding guests makes the best moment for a wedding.

The small wedding affair is a priceless way to get married.

Choose a wedding reception site that suits the style of your wedding. Will it be formal, semiformal, or casual?

Some popular places to choose from are hotels, clubs, reception halls, and restaurants. You may want to consider some more unique reception locations which include parks, historic sites, botanical gardens, museums, vineyards, yachts, or even your own home.

Whatever venue you decide for your reception, take into consideration the formality of the ceremony, size of your guest list, availability of restroom facilities, time of day, number of attendants, acoustics for your music, accessibility to the site, parking for your guests, and deposit and cancellation fees and regulations.

Weddings in nature might be risky, but lots of couples are doing it.

The sky is as blue as a travel brochure for Aruba. No clouds. No wind. The air, which is comfortably dry, and not too hot, is perfumed with the soft scent of peonies from a nearby garden.

While cardinals sing happily in nearby maple trees and squirrels perch sneakily on low branches, you make your way along the grassy aisle towards the altar, where your true love awaits with a nervous smile.

Outdoor weddings can be pure bliss. After all, what better backdrop than Mother Nature?

But they're not for everyone.

Outdoor weddings generally take more planning than indoor nuptials, and they can be just as expensive - sometimes costing even more.

Because brides and grooms are at the mercy of the elements, they're also a bigger risk. Mother Nature can be glorious, but she is often unpredictable - and unkind. She won't hesitate to offer up a deluge during the most delightful of days.

For that reason, outdoor weddings are not for worry warts. Wedding planning can be stressful enough, without having to worry about the weather.

Despite the risks and careful planning required, there are oodles of couples that wouldn't have their wedding any other way. They'd much rather feel the cushioning of cool grass beneath their feet, than the hard floor of a church or rented hall on their wedding day.

For these couples, deciding on an outdoor location is at the top of the 'to do list'. While some opt to have their weddings in their own backyards, others get married in vineyards, forests, beaches or public parks. There's also the option of getting hitched at a bed and breakfast.

Judy Duff, a non-denominational minister in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, says 15 to 20 percent of the couples she marries opt for an outdoor wedding.

According to Duff, couples that tie the knot outdoors are generally more laid back than those that choose a wedding that is more traditional. And most are nature lovers.

They have an affinity for the outdoors, she says, adding that many couples choose locations that have personal significance to them, such as a home or favourite vacation spot.

Lea-Ann Suzor, who owns a tent rental company in Windsor, says many couples choose to have their weddings at their parents' homes - or their own.

"I think people have spent a lot of time and effort on their yards. People are proud of their homes and they like to have their weddings at home so they can showcase their properties," she says.

Outdoor weddings don't have to play by all the rules. Some couples opt for champagne brunches, afternoon parties, or cocktail receptions instead of the formal dinner reception.

"We've had them go from a casual lobster bake, where guests wore shorts and sandals, to the very formal - with flooring, carpeting and elaborate floral displays," says Suzor.

Suzor recalls another recent wedding where games, streamers, clowns and balloons were part of the festivities.

"It was almost like a fair. It was pretty and colorful," says Suzor, pointing out that nearly a third of the wedding guests were children.

One formal option is the cocktail party, says Suzor, who points out that more and more couples are choosing this style of reception.

"A popular thing that I've seen this year is more stand-up, cocktail receptions where they have the butler pass around appetizers and wandering minstrel bands in an afternoon or early evening setting," she says.

Whether a couple opts for a barbecue, or something more formal, an outdoor wedding usually requires lots of planning.

"It's definitely more work," says Suzor.

And it can be more expensive than an indoor wedding - especially if a couple wants the works (dance floor, lighting, air conditioning, and décor done by a professional).

When most people think of having their wedding out of the area they live in they picture a beach or tropical island setting. Today, more and more couples are choosing Mountain Weddings. Mountain weddings offer a change of pace, stunning settings, fresh air and the opportunities for gorgeous photographs. A beautiful mountain setting makes for a spectacular outdoor wedding.

Mountain Wedding Tips

When traveling out of the area to have your wedding - you should seriously consider hiring a coordinator! Planning a wedding is a big enough task in itself. Planning one for a destination location is an even bigger challenge. Using a professional local wedding planner will save you much time and stress.

Look for a planner that specializes in the area you are getting married in. They will already know which wedding vendors are of the highest quality and offer the best pricing. If you can find one - opt for a wedding package/planning company that will put together an entire mountain wedding package for you.

An example of a complete mountain wedding package is this Big Bear Wedding Package, offered by Lake Arrowhead Weddings, LLC. This package includes:

- Your own wedding coordinator
- Wedding invitations
- Ceremony and reception location
- Chair covers
- Linens
- Reception light canopy
- DJ or band
- Wedding cake
- Dinner buffet
- Drinks
- Plates and flatware
- Setup, Cleanup and Serving staff

This option also offers several ala carte additions to choose from, so you can customize your wedding package! All this AND you get a professional event planner to coordinate it all for you.

Big Bear is located in the "Alps of Southern California" in the San Bernardino mountains. Parasailing, jet skiing, water skiing and fishing are available on pristine Big Bear Lake. Snow skiing is just minutes away at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain ski resorts. There are numerous fine dining establishments and plentiful shopping in the Big Bear Village. Horseback riding, hiking and biking are also popular area activities. After saying your "I Do's" in such a beautiful location, you will want to return to this special place again! There are many options available in Big Bear Real Estate, from lake front estates to cozy, romantic cabins. A second home is a great way to return to this special place!