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

2009.02.25 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

2009.02.23 18:43:40

jayblake

One thing that hits me again and again in my role is how much pressure builds up in the preparation to a wedding. I know what you are going to say, I’m a man and can therefore never really appreciate what the bride-to-be has to go through. But we do have eyes, and as someone who meets potential brides most days, all I can say is that I feel blessed to be a man!

Watching the build up to a wedding is, at its best, a beautiful experience. To meet couples who are so happy together that they want to unite for the rest of their lives is life affirming in itself; and being able to support that process is a total pleasure and an honour.

At worst, it makes the negotiations in the Middle East seem like a walk in the park: who sits where, who gets invited, who doesn’t, who wears what, what do they eat, who speaks etc etc turns the bride into a stressed out version of Khofi Annan and the groom feels as helpful as a fish with a bicycle.

I have had brides in tears because they cannot decide on a seating plan and one begging her husband-to-be to whisk her away until it’s all over, yet there is one universal truth – when all these couples come back to review their DVD after the event, all memories of the wars, panic and verbal fist fights have been all but erased. This means my job is even more unique – I get to replace all those bad memories with a memory that you get to keep forever, ensuring that the most wonderful memories are never forgotten.

So just remember through the hubbub, the disagreements and the pressure that a wedding budget brings, at the end of the day you are going to be married and when the wedding stops, the true pleasure of marriage can begin.

Wedding Budget | Pressure | DVD | Filming

2009.02.21 21:42:13

jayblake

The snow drops have flowered (and thankfully the snow has thawed) and the crocuses in the causeway in Marlow look amazing. This can only mean one thing – Spring Is Here.

It’s a great time of year, not only in nature, but also for wedding planners.

The dresses look whiter, the grass is greener and somehow, even the church bells seem to ring louder.

I love this time of year as, incorporating the beautiful back drop of the spring day, always brings something special to the wedding video.

The beautiful natural lighting and the joy on everyone’s faces that it’s getting warmer are reflected in the memories of the day and are something to be treasured.

So happy planning and happy spring. Let’s hope we all get that spring in our step over the next few days.

At Special Memories, we are in the process of updating our website with our new HD offering, but in the meantime you can always contact us by email or telephone if you have any queries.

Let’s raise a glass to a spectacular wedding year and hope all days are as beautiful as today.

wedding video | Spring | flowers | 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

2009.01.02 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