2009.07.27 10:23:24

jayblake

Morning all

Sitting here with a good friend of mine who works in the wonderful world of beauty therapy and massagae.  It reminds me of my wedding day - just over 9 years ago.  I won't bore you with the details today but suffice it to say that I started the day by having a full body massage.  A real treat and certainly calmed the nerves for the day ahead.

It's worth noting that I had a massage a few weeks earlier to make sure I would still be awake enough afterwards and make sure that the treatment would agree with me... so I would not have your first on your wedding day but I would reccommend it to anyone.  If you are in the Marlow area then the best place to go is www.karoma.co.uk  Mention us if you do - it's always nice to know where work has come from :)

Have a great day all and do say hello if you get the chance

Till next time

 

Jay

wedding | massage | special day

2009.07.21 07:59:25

jayblake

While I sit here in my studio this morning looking over the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside I am reminded of the one thing we can't predict when it comes to a wedding.  The weather!

I am always reminded of a conversation I had with a client when preparing to film their day.  They mentioned that they had originally chosen a wonderful venue on the river near henley.  I filmed an amazing day there only the year before.  On my wedding anniversary as it happened.  Anyway it was a wonderful day when I was there and the weather really helped to make the day.  The client a year later however said that they were concerned that if it was not beautifully sunny that the venue could not cope easiily with bad weather.

And so it was that I was driving up to their home on their actual wedding day, in the rain!  Reminded that there always needs to be a contingency plan.  Thankfully the venue they ended up with was ideally suited to both sunshine or rain.

Do talk to your venue - they will be able to advise what options there are if the weather is not perfect.  In any case many of my photography collegues tell me that bright sunshine is not as good as cloud for their shots.

Happy Planning!

wedding | Weather | Rain | Planning

2009.06.04 05:18:49

jayblake

 

Ok - sorry guys, firstly for me having a small rant, but also for not updating this thing for some time.
You see I was driving home from a wedding 2 weekends ago and a gentleman (if only he was) was driving home from the pub or wherever he was drinking with his dog and managed to hit a parked car.  Which in one sence would have been fine except that parked car flipped his car in my direction!

So that explains why I have been quiet for a while.  I am still trying to recover physically, while nothing is broken I am sore and looking forward to being back at my full state of health.  The emotional side not to mention the practical side, yes he wrote my car off which means we are negotiating what it was worth, working out what to do in order to get a new one etc etc  means that things are not happening in their usual or unusual efficient way.

As someone who historically would have had a drink or two and then driven carefully home I certainly do not intend to do that again and my plea to you would be to act similarly.  We have a wedding this weekend which will be a good test of how well I am recovering.  I hope you are all well and do tell those you love and care for that you do - you never know when you might not have the opportunity to do it again

Till next time.  please think before you Drink! and drive...

Car | Drinking | Driving | wedding

2009.02.28 07:48:37

jayblake

National Weddings Magazine recently wrote that the wedding industry is valued at a staggering £3.62 billion, with the average cost of a wedding reaching to over £15,000 – a statement that really shocked me and made me question, if you are going to spend this sort of money on a wedding, how do you know that you are getting what you are paying for, and how can you ensure that you get value for money.

With this in mind, I am currently collating a list of the top ten things to look for when you are hiring a videographer. Obviously, I am keen to ensure that everybody who wants a videographer comes to Special Memories! But more importantly, I know how important it is for the Bride, Groom, family and Guests to retain an exact memory of such a special day.

I cannot count how many people I have met at wedding fairs and in general day-to-day life that tell me that, if they could change one thing about their wedding, it would be that they regret not having the wedding filmed. As with most significant points in your life, you truly believe that you will never forget your wedding day in all it’s glory but those tiny little details that made your day so special fade so quickly and I therefore want to ensure that, should you choose to have your wedding filmed, you are getting the best possible service for the best price.

I’ll let you know in a future blog, when this is available. In the meantime, are there any other ‘top ten’ lists you would like to see? In these times of the credit crunch how are you going to ensure that your wedding doesn’t run over budget?

I would love to hear from you and any useful tips that come through, I will ensure I share on the insight

wedding | Costs | Credit crunch | Videographer | DVD

2009.02.27 08:21:46

jayblake

We are now two days into lent and I just wanted to wish everyone good luck if you have decided to give up something this year.

I know a lot of couples decide that this is the time of year to get fit and start thinking about how they will look on their special day. To you, I wish you well and hope that you are able to continue with all your best intentions.

This year, I have decided to pick up rather than drop something, so I have picked up a book called ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ which I aim to read during the lent period.

Here at Special Memories, we have just agreed the plans to develop a new studio and are using this exciting opportunity to overhaul our processes internally, to ensure we mange our business in a way that focuses our energies on delivering our service to our clients in the best way to suit them.

This book should give us the opportunity to look at our business, and our lives, and ensure that we are focussing on the most important elements of how we operate.

I’m very excited about the changes happening within our organisation, and would love to hear your thoughts.

If you have any suggestions on how you feel we could improve, or would like to share your lent ‘fastings’ with me, then please drop me a line. I would especially like to hear from you if you have read the book and how it has changed the way you manage your life.

Until next time

wedding | Purpose driven life | Lent

2009.02.25 08:14:59

jayblake

People say never work with children and animals. But when it comes to weddings, some of the highlights of the day are created by these very people.

It’s funny how many couples are relived to find out that I have two children under five when they come and visit me, as I suppose they feel comforted that I understand the chaos that children bring to everyday life, let alone to such a key date as a wedding.

I completely understand those couples that decide not to have children at their wedding. It does make for a much calmer and more sophisticated day. Events seem to run more to time, and there are far fewer sound issues during the service if there are no babies that are due a feed or a child that discovers echoes in the church for the first time! However, it has always puzzled me as to what parents are meant to do with their children while they are at the wedding, especially if all their close family and friends are also at the event.

But being a videographer, children also supply some of the most special memories of the day, especially when they are members of the family. And there’s nothing as funny as capturing the cute little page boy trying to have his first kiss with the cute little bridesmaid and getting a smack for his efforts – especially if you then give him a copy for his 18th birthday!

Every bridal magazine and wedding planner has advice on how to ensure that children coming to the wedding will be an asset rather than a hindrance. Ensure that you have special arrangements put in place to entertain the children. Some do go to the extent of hiring children’s entertainers or a ‘travelling crèche’ to the wedding – but with the credit crunch, will that really be the top priority on your budget? I’ve found that, having healthy snacks around so that there are no tired hungry children, and a good variety of colouring books with colouring pencils (remember any felt tip will find it’s way to the top table and the wedding dress) or goody bags with small toys at the table during the wedding breakfast, can make all the difference. At one wedding we covered, the squeaky eggs left on the table for the toddler, not only kept him entertained but also entertained the whole of the raucous table of university friends that would have been far louder without them!

I have no answers as to whether children should be at weddings. As a parent, I will always see children as a bonus to any event, especially something as family oriented as a wedding, but understand that sometimes they can be a gift, sometimes a gift you would rather return, and when the worst comes to the worst, the gift of the cutting room floor comes into play! The memories you would rather forget can always be left behind, while we keep the ones we will always treasure. I would love to hear your thoughts, so drop me a line or catch me at a wedding fair, and you too could be a guest speaker on my blog!

Until next time.

wedding | Children | DVD | sound

2009.02.11 08:31:31

jayblake

Greetings friends

Once more I found myself looking at readings which could be a part of your very special day.  I always enjoy coming across something I have not heard before, and believe me these are becoming fewer and further between.

Anyway here is one I found and thought I would share with you

When God Created Man


When God created man and placed him in the Garden of Eden he saw that it was not good for man to live alone. So God prepared a helper and a companion for man - woman. In this act of creation, God didn't take the woman from man's head, lest she should rule over him; nor from his feet, lest he should trample upon her- but from his side, that she should be equal with him, and from close to his heart, that he should love, cherish, and honour her. Then God presented woman to man that each might be the other's helper and companion. Marriage is God's gift to deliver us from our isolation and loneliness. It is our opportunity to give each other the gifts of God and to receive the gifts of God from each other.

As you prepare for your big day enjoy the process, I know it can be stressful and difficult at times.  Always remember your wedding day is the beginning, not the end of a process.

Have a great day

wedding | reading | helper companion | Wedding DVD

2009.01.27 17:58:54

jayblake

As you can imagine, in my business you get to hear a lot of speeches.  I have heard some really good ones and some which were, hmm how do we put this nicely – answers on a postcard please, or perhaps a comment.  Additionally I have been to some weddings where one or other of the main speakers have not done so.

Please, I am no authority on speeches; I just know what I enjoy and what I don’t.  I would suggest keep it short and sweet, but not too short.  Somewhere around 5 – 15 mins I reckon is about right.

Ok so I very much enjoyed Stephen Moffat (a well known writer for DR Who) delivered the best speech I heard from a best man.  His keynote was… oh no, sorry I could not divulge the content ☺ But it really was good!  Now his speech was nearly 45 mins and I would certainly not recommend that long.

The other thing I would suggest is that I know the web is a great source of material; please bear in mind that your guests may have heard it before.  The temptation to give out bingo style cards for the standard lines is always something I have thought about.  The idea being that if you get more than 10 standard one liners those who participate stage a Mexican wave.  Ok maybe not such a good idea but it might make for an interesting part of the video!

Well for a more informed view on wedding speeches, I will get a speech writer to guest blog for me soon – Watch this space!

Jay

Speeches | wedding | DVD | bingo | doctor who

2009.01.06 20:51:39

jayblake

Please forgive my being brief, it's just been a very long day today.  I spent most of it working on a business plan, while it was incredibly valuable and we really are getting somewhere, it has sapped most of my energy.
The medium and long term are looking really good!  Additionally it was very special to recieve confirmation of another booking come through the post!

The thought I have to leave you with is this... Write it down, the whole process, whether it be using fingers on keyboard, or pen and paper just make the whole thing more real.  While I am yet to get my definitive list for 2009 written the process of creating that list is proving challenging as well as exciting.  Write down your plans for the year, for your wedding, for your married lives together.  The end of our DVD's mark the beginning of your married lives together.

Please feel free to share your thoughts privately or by commenting on this blog entry

All the best

 

Jay

 

Plans | writing | 2009 | wedding

2009.01.05 14:46:20

jayblake

As I was contemplating what I would talk about today, something came to me, it was a reading that was read on several occasions throughout this last year - and can I find it online?  Not a chance, or at least not yet.  Watch this space would be my suggestion as I will get the dvd out, find the reading and blog on that later I am sure.

However while trawling through I realised the importance of readings, just so long as the day is captured on film that is, as it presents a keynote to the wedding going forward.  Now what I was going to share did not fit that category - was more amusing than anything, however I did come across this and so share it with you

Chapter One of One Thousand
By O.J.Preston

For two people this dawn brought on a magical day
Now husband and wife they head on their way
As a boat setting sail may their journey begin
With calmest of waters, most helpful of wind
And if they should stumble upon turbulent sea
May it pass them unharming – leave them be.

For here are two people whom love has well bitten
Here opens their book which has yet to be written
As the first page unfolds and their life inks its path
May it write a true story where forever love lasts
Let their journey be happy till death do they part
Of one thousand chapters may this be the start.

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, One of the joys of working in the wedding industry - it does not make your marriage perfect, but it challenges it most weeks & gives new insights and guides you on the path!  Have a great first week back at work for those of you who are.

Jay

wedding | readings | challenge | chapter one | preston | amusing | Keynote | Video

2009.01.04 09:22:37

jayblake

So I have enjoyed my last lie in on a Sunday for a while, although with 2 puppies and 2 children under 5, 8.30 constitutes a lie in!

From next week we see the start of the wedding fair season, and I am sure many of you will be looking forward to meeting all the exhibitors, seeing what is available.  Next sunday I am at Monkey Island Hotel so if you are in the area, please do drop by!

My guess is that many a dry cleaner, printer & a vast array of wedding suppliers will have a busy week this week getting ready for the new season!

Have a great Sunday, and enjoy the shows next week!

All the best

Jay

Monkey Island | wedding | Wedding Fair

2009.01.02 11:54:44

jayblake

It struck me this morning, here we are in the middle, lets hope nearer the end than the middle but world finance and politics really is not my bag and I could talk forever about the benefits of not watching, listening to or reading the news! Anyway so many people are concerned about keeping the costs down and so often one area which "makes sence" is to remove the video services from the list of must haves at your wedding.

Now ok, I accept I am in the business and would therefore be expected to plead the case, but seriously folks!  Here I am thinking about my wedding day and how much I can remember.  Yes some of the big things I remember clearly, but is it the big things which make the day?  Actually when I watch the films we create and our clients have mentioned it to us in the past. Its once you have watched it several times, that your eyes draw away from your own faces, those of the bride and groom to those of the people around you.  To their reactions to what is going on.  To their words of wisdom during the speeches, to the personal messages which they have been kind enough to leave.

The memories of your  day will last you through untll your 50th wedding aniversary and beyond, and on that basis would cost you as little as £2.50 a month or £30 a year, and what can you get these days for £30? So lets look again at the cost of things, when we are considering memories.

One final thing, we are very serious about memories, we are currently looking at creating new products, for families to be able to create time capsules while enjoying a special day out at a major london attraction.  We are talking to people about helping to preserve memories for those who's memories may not be what they once were and want to be able to record them for posterity.  If any of this strikes a chord please do get in touch.

So have a great day, if it's your first working day off, enjoy it and have a great weekend

Jay

wedding | Cost | Video | DVD | Cost of memories | Memories | Recession

2009.01.01 08:55:13

jayblake

Sitting to write the first blog entry of the new year felt quite a challenge for a moment,  then it struck me that it might be an opportunity to try and say something profound, not sure I am really up to that.

So what's on my mind as we begin 2009, well quite simply it's everyone who we have worked with and for over the last 4 years.  There have been some wonderful weddings.  From the large and extravagant, to the intimate and special days.   Our clients have ranged from the very young, to the very young at heart!  From the 1st marriages, to the 4th (or perhaps it was the 3rd I can't remember!)  Venue's have ranged from the house at Blenheim Palace to the back garden ( Albeit in a very nice marquee )

Then there are the speeches that made up those days.  We were privilaged to film a script writer at full pelt deliver a wonderful speech.  We have had grooms who have said nothing at all.  You see the joy and pleasure of each and every wedding we film is that they are all different.  That also explains why we can never say how long our wedding dvd's are going to be.  If the speeches take over and hour and the vicar gives his longest sermon ever, then it might be a very long film, unless you want those bits edited down as well.

So a Keynote, it's not about your wedding day, it's about your married lives thereafter.  We believe that having your day filmed provides you the opportunity relive your special wedding day time and time again, when things are good to remember what a good day it was, hear all your friends wishing you well in their personal messages & generally treasure what a wonderful time you all had, and when things are bad to remember those promises you made, for better for worse.....  (wow perhaps that was profound after all)

So as I step down from my soap box, may I take this opportunity of wishing you once more a very happy new year.  Treasure those you love!

Jay

Keynote | wedding | personal messages

2008.12.30 20:54:10

jayblake

I know that the next 48 hours can put quite a strain on those people who have wanted to make sure that they have lots of time to plan their wedding.  Why is that??  Well simply put the midnight hour on the 31st December changes everything, from "we are getting married next year" to.... we only have XX months to plan the rest of the wedding!!!

Please don't panic, the good news is that it is also the start to the Wedding fair season!  We have the privilage of attending around 7 wedding fairs this coming season - do drop us a line if you wish to know when and where we will be.  On top of that our approach to working with clients is that we can always point you at suppliers who can help.  Take a look at our venue's and suppliers page for more information on some of them.

May I wish you all, those getting married, those already married and those who never want to get married (although I am a little confused how you are reading this) a very happy new year - May 2009 be your best year yet.

All the best

Jay Blake

2009 | wedding | suppliers | venues | Wedding Fair