Rock ‘n Roll Same Day Edit / Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas
March 17, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
To say I'm excited to share this SDE is an understatement!! This is a completely unique Same Day Edit which came about after I literally dreamt about this concept - to produce a wedding day music video as a SAME DAY EDIT!! I thought of Aria and Elie because they are an incredibly fun couple who were getting married at the brand spankin' new Mandarin Oriental in Vegas. I pitched it to them and they loved it too!! We picked a Song and Elie worked on memorizing the lyrics for two straight weeks (he's really sick of the song now LOL) and it seriously paid off. We had initially planned to film it 5 times during the day but due to timing and other factors we were only really able to film it twice (and once at the rehearsal dinner the night before) but I'm amazed at how great it turned out regardless! I'm sure it's because I had such an amazing all female rock star team from all over the country assisting me (Cristina Valdivieso from Philly, Kara Jensen from Oregon, and Kristen* from San Fran, and of course Elysium's own Carolyn Templin as editor). We shot 100% on 5DmkII's and one 7D for timelapses. Tory Cooper did an absolute fabulous job pulling this beautiful event together and we absolutely loved working with another all female rock star crew: J and J Photography... you have to check out their photos!!!BTW if you're watching this and you have already booked Elysium for a SDE and you want to do something like this, OR if you haven't and you want to reserve a spot before we are all booked up, please contact me. I have a long list of tracks that would be amazing for this!
Elysium Productions: Destination Cinematographers Redefining Wedding Filmmaking
Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel / Same Day Edit / Kellan & Brandon
March 15, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
I'm so glad I finally have a chance to blog this SDE!!! Kellan & Brandon are a super cool couple and had a totally beautiful wedding at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. The ceremony had to be moved inside due to the rain but that didn't dampen the mood! Everyone was so excited and the ballroom actually transformed beautifully into the ceremony location thanks to Sunny from White Lilac and Jeannie from Details Details (awesome planner). After the ceremony there was a window of great weather so Victor Sizemore and I were able to get some really killer shots outside. Then it was on to the reception where... can I just say... these people know how to party!!! Enjoy this Same Day Edit:Elysium Productions: Contemporary & Stylish Wedding Video in Orange County & Beyond!
Beaulieu Garden / Arthouse Feature / Melanie & Devin
March 15, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Ok it's catch-up time on the Blog! I'll be posting at least two - maybe three films today! First here is a beautiful Arthouse Edit from Napa. It was previously blogged on the lovely Brides Cafe. Here is what Melanie wrote about their love story:"Devin and I met over 4 years ago when we both attended Chapman University. He proposed to me in the South of France at a breathtaking spot overlooking the Mediterranean and the twinkling lights of Nice. We have been happily married for over 6 months now. It has been a wonderful (especially since 3 of those months we were honeymooning in Lake Como, Florence, Tuscany, Venice, Paris and NYC!). Since returning from our honeymoon we now reside in Orange County, California and work together on multiple business ventures including several e-commerce apparel sites, Custom Greek Threads.
While planning our wedding, Devin and I focused on staying sane and keeping it all in perspective.There are so many wonderful choices and vendors out there that it can be very overwhelming. It is so easy to get caught up in all of the little details and forget what is really important. I knew that I wanted a very glamorous and dramatic event. Originally we were interested in having our wedding in Italy, but we anticipated a logistical nightmare so we decided that Beaulieu Garden in Napa, California would be our best bet. It has all the beauty of the region of Tuscany while still being a only few hour flight for most of our guests. We enlisted the help of Sasha Souza to translate our idea into reality. Sasha did a wonderful job combining the drama and glamour of a formal ballroom in the serene gardens of a private estate and vineyard. The juxtaposition of the glitz of the decor set against nature was spectacular.
While the day of the wedding was phenomenal, it was a complete whirlwind. Our most cherished memories of our wedding occurred at the private estate we rented. We had our parents, grandparents, pastor and wedding party stay at the estate for the week prior to the actual day of the wedding. Devin and I agree that the time spent with our friends and family at the estate was our favorite part. We had a private chef cook for the week so we could just lounge and enjoy everyone's company. Your wedding is the one time in your life that you will be surrounded by those most important to you. Enjoy it (and make sure you have a fabulous photographer like Susan Stripling and an awesome event filmmaking team like Elysium).
Thank you Elysium for doing such an amazing job capturing the essence of our special day."
Pelican Hill / Arthouse Platinum Feature / Suzanne & Max
March 11, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Well this is embarrassing. I start a March Madness Marathon and then don't post for a week!! I guess I bit off more than I could chew :( I've been in Vegas for WPPI and have barely been back to my room due to all the activities. Silly me thought I'd easily be able to get in some editing and blog posting while I was here :( Due to that, I'm extending the marathon into April!So without further delay, here is a gorgeous wedding from Pelican Hill. I absolutely adore this couple and you may remember their Same Day Edit from an earlier post! Max was kind enough to do a guest blog post for me:
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Suzanne and I met in 2006 at a Stanford vs. UCLA football game (my school against hers) which we were both invited to by a mutual friend. It was love at first sight, and though we were surrounded by many of our friends, we had an amazing first encounter.
I knew Suzanne was the one for me when we would spend countless hours together on the weekends, and I still wanted to keep being with her because we had so much we wanted to talk about and do together. She truly inspired me to grow and become a better person, and she lit up my days with her warmth and bright energy.
I planned a crazy, ultra-romantic proposal for her in Paris, complete with a horse-drawn carriage ride to a private capri boat on the Seine and getting down on one knee under the Lover's Bridge with people throwing rose petals at us from above. I think she liked that.
Thus, the theme of our wedding became modern Paris. Suzanne's and my favorite color was lavender/purple, so we chose that as our main wedding color. Because she was starting medical school, I took over most of the job of planning the wedding. I sort of went crazy designing my own custom Save-the-Date US Passport "To Love" (and Air France ticket) in addition to a custom box invitation in lavender silk with an Eiffel Tower holding the invitation scroll inside. I also really enjoyed making sure all of the many details supported the theme and inspired the feeling of Parisian romance for our guests. I couldn't have pulled everything off though without the help of Kathleen Cover, our awesome wedding coordinator.
The things we enjoyed most about our wedding day were finally being able to see everything come together, having our friends and family close to us, dancing the night away with our band, finally relaxing at our honeymoon, and of course the absolutely astounding same-day edit Elysium created (which has literally made people cry).
We want to sincerely thank our families for making this beautiful dream come true for us and all of our great vendors for providing their help. We will never forget that day, and we now have this beautiful video to commemorate it forever.
- Max
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Vendors:
Rabbi: Michelle Missaghieh
Cantor: Mark Saltzman
Event Filmmaker: Elysium Productions
Florist/Linens/Rentals: Square Root
Lighting: MI Media
Invitations: Designed by me, produced by Invitations by Ferial and Creative Works Designs
Venue/Catering: the Resort at Pelican Hill
Cake: Special Cakes by Ruben
Favors: Paulette Macarons
Entertainment: Sun Band
Photo: Yitzhak Dalal
Limo: Access Limo
Gown: Mark Zunino
Hair: Sean Smith
Make-up: Stephany Hor
Tuxedos: Men's Wherehouse
Bridesmaid Dresses: The Dessy Group/Bella Bridesmaid
Magician: David Minkin
Live Artist: Tom Fagan
Ice Carvings: Carving Ice
Wedding Coordinator: Kathleen Cover
Balboa Bay Club / Arthouse Feature / Melissa & Chris
March 6, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Ok so I'm a little behind on the Marathon. That means I will be posting today and tomorrow to catch up! See... sometimes things in life can't be planned. Like having to figure out at the last minute how to lug a Shoutoutbooth to Vegas when I don't own a truck. What is a Shoutoutbooth you ask? Details to come soon...Anyway for today's entry, check out the beautiful wedding of Melissa & Chris from the Balboa Bay Club! Enjoy!
Elysium Productions: Stylish & Contemporary Wedding Video in Orange County and Beyond!
Vows - Bridepower’s GI Gown Giveaway!
March 3, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Last December we were asked to film this incredible event in Boston. I can't tell you what an honor it was to be involved in this amazing project! Leslie & Rick who own VOWS (a bridal gown outlet center) wanted to give back to their community. They sat around the dinner table with their family and decided to give away THREE HUNDRED DESIGNER GOWNS (yes you read right) to US Military Brides who are serving our country. They partnered up with the USO in New England to arrange a day where brides who were either in the military or marrying someone in the military could come in, try on as many gowns as they wished, and walk out of the store with their dream gown COMPLETELY FREE. How amazing is that?? We were there to document it all and I can tell you from personal experience that it meant the world to these women - and their families. It was a very moving experience!
Vows - Bridepower’s GI Gown Giveaway!
March 3, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Last December we were asked to film this incredible event in Boston. I can't tell you what an honor it was to be involved in this amazing project! Leslie & Rick who own VOWS (a bridal gown outlet center) wanted to give back to their community. They sat around the dinner table with their family and decided to give away THREE HUNDRED DESIGNER GOWNS (yes you read right) to US Military Brides who are serving our country. They partnered up with the USO in New England to arrange a day where brides who were either in the military or marrying someone in the military could come in, try on as many gowns as they wished, and walk out of the store with their dream gown COMPLETELY FREE. How amazing is that?? We were there to document it all and I can tell you from personal experience that it meant the world to these women - and their families. It was a very moving experience!
Arroyo Trabuco / Wedding Highlights / Stacey & Stefan
March 2, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
I can't wait to share this lovely highlights with you all! Stacey kindly wrote up a guest blogging post for us. This is the last guest blogging post for awhile since March Madness started yesterday so enjoy! Here it is!I moved out to California from Philadelphia in August 2005 to start a career in Event Planning. Shortly after, I kept on running into Stefan around town. Our dating began slowly and I was convinced we were just friends – but hey, I didn't know anyone out here so I needed friends. We did lots of fun things – mini golfing, bike riding, snow tubing, Duffy renting, and the list goes on. It was easy to just be together. Our friendship was the foundation of our amazing relationship today. I can honestly say he is the best friend I have ever had.
Every Sunday, Stefan and I talk about our upcoming week and what's on tap. Stefan volunteered to make dinner for us one particular Thursday night. When I came home, Stefan greeted me at the door telling me he had gotten me a surprise. I saw a white box on the kitchen table and went over to open it. It was a cupcake (my passion/obsession) and a note saying "I love you". Before I could process what was happening, Stefan grabbed my hand and got down on one knee. He told me how much he loved me and loved our adventures together and then asked me to marry him. My response was "yeah". I was so shocked and nervous (giggling and all) and speechless and excited at the same time. We kissed and having been caught up in the moment, I finally put the ring on. He walked over to the table and uncovered the camera that he had hid to tape the whole proposal! It was the best gift he could have given me. Then he took me out to dinner and when we arrived our friends were there to join us! After the excitement died down, I got to hear the whole backstory of the proposal – secret phone calls, emails and IMs to my parents. Hearing how hard Stefan worked to make it perfect made it that much more special.
Stefan and I got engaged in February and wanted a summer wedding but we didn't want to wait till the following summer, so we planned our wedding in 6 months. As a planner, I was very systematic in our to-do list – researching all options (ex. seeing 19 venues when we really knew Arroyo Trabuco was perfect), calendaring tasks, detailing timelines, focusing on thematic details. But the most important part of the planning was that we did everything (except dress shopping) together. Our wedding was a day for us about us by us. And everything that went into it showed that – our self-written vows, music we chose, cupcakes over cake. I guess you'd say the theme was US. That is our tip to future brides and grooms - if you remember what it's all about (the two of you) then everything will be perfect. We worked together each night on a task – printing menu cards, putting together out of town guest gift bags, creating table tents, choosing songs. My favorite details were that the tables were denoted by places Stefan and I had visited together, the escort cards were postcards from these various places, and the favor from Carroll Promotions was a pen (engraved with Signed, Sealed, Delivered – our first song) to write a note of advice/encouragement on the postcard to us to be mailed throughout the year. We tied in a color scheme of chocolate brown, latte, cream and bright green – this was in our invitations by Formal Impressions, linens from Fusion Linens, floral décor by Lavender Hill, in the groomsman's ties, and even in the cupcake tower by It's All About the Cake. Seeing all the details come to fruition and knowing that we worked together on it all made our day that much more meaningful.
As cliché as it sounds, our big day really did fly by. I remember being very present at the ceremony but after that it is just a blur. We wished that it could have lasted longer so that we could have danced to N'Demand through the night. The biggest thing I remember is smiling. Tiffany and Berit made me look and feel beautiful and all I did was smile – we were both so happy and our pictures from Joel Maus with Studio EMP and our amazing video from Elysium Productions show this. Our favorite moments were taking pictures and video of just the two of us after the ceremony. It was very important for us to have photos and video that captured the essence of the emotions of the day. The day does truly go by quickly and there is no way savor it without photo and video. It's the only thing left after your biggest day fades away. And each time we watch our video, we get to feel the wonderful emotions of the big day all over again (and huge smiles come back to our faces).
- Stacey
Elysium Productions: Contemporary & Stylish Wedding Video in Orange County & Beyond!
Invitations: Formal Impressions
Hair: Tiffany Monday
Makeup: Makeup by Berit
Groom's Suit: Ralph Lauren
Bridal Gown: Galina Signature
Venue: Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club
Cake: It's All About the Cake
Florist: Lavender Hill Wedding & Event Floral
Linens: Fusion Linens Fusion Linens http://fusionlinens.com/
Ceremony Music & Band: N'Demand
Photography: Studio EMP
Event Filmmaker: Elysium Productions
Favors: Carroll Promotions
Bride and Bloom / Silvie & Stan
March 1, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Well it's March 1st! You know what that means on the Elysium Blog... MARCH MADNESS!! The time when I go crazy insane trying to blog a post every weekday during the month of March! Wish me luck! Here's the first...I wanted to share the most beautiful spread from Silvie & Stan's wedding in Bride & Bloom magazine. Brides... go out to the store and buy this magazine at once. It's sooooo beautiful!
I'm currently in the process of editing our new demo reel (way overdue) and I can guarantee there will be a lot of clips from this wedding as everything about it was gorgeous and the couple is super sweet. I especially love their advice in this article. Major props go out to the super talented Ira lippke (fab photog), Nisie's Enchanted Florist, and Carolyn Chen (amazing designer/planner) for making this day so cool!
Montage Laguna Beach/ Original Series Highlights/ Kacey & Stan
February 23, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Kacey and Stan had a gorgeous wedding at the always beautiful Montage Resort & Spa. Take a peek into their day through the Original Series Highlights portion of their film!------------------------------------------------------------------
Elysium Productions: Contemporary & Stylish Wedding Video in Orange County and Beyond!
St. Regis Monarch Beach/Arthouse Feature/Iliana & Sebastian
February 18, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Today's guest blogger is Iliana. Iliana and Sebastian's intimate gathering was filled with those who love them most. Here is their beautiful day with a few tips from Iliana...------------------------------------------------------------------
how did you meet?
WE FIRST MET IN CHICAGO WHILE ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO GRADUATE
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS WHERE WE WERE BOTH COMPLETING OUR MBA DEGREES.
SEVERAL YEARS AFTER GRADUATION, SEBASTIAN MOVED FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW
YORK CITY. AFTER INSISTENT BEGGING, SOME MINOR BRIBERY (ON SEBASTIAN'S
PART), ON MARCH 18TH OF 2007 ILIANA MOVED FROM CHICAGO AND INTO A TRIBECA
APARTMENT WITH SEBASTIAN IN THE BIG APPLE.
AFTER ALMOST 8 MONTHS OF PLANNING, SCHEDULING, MANEUVERING, COMMISSIONING,
APPRAISING AND SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATING THE ONSLAUGHT OF HER BEST FRIENDS'
EFFORTS AND SNOOPING, SEBASTIAN PROPOSED TO ILIANA ON NOV 16TH 2007 IN THE
PRESIDENTAIL SUITE OF THE HOTEL DE CRILLON IN PARIS, FRANCE. THE TRIP WAS
REALLY THE RESULT OF A RUSE TO GET AN UNKNOWING ILIANA UNDER THE SAME ROOF
WITH SEBASTIAN SO THAT HE COULD PROPOSE TO HER. THE GUISE WAS A LAST MINUTE
WORK TRIP THAT HAD UNFORTUNATELY MESSED UP THE YOUNG COUPLE'S TRAVEL PLANS
TO ATTEND A CLOSE FRIEND'S WEDDING IN MEXICO.
INSTEAD OF A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND IN MEXICO, SEBASTIAN OFFERED ILIANA, IF SHE
WANTED, TO COME WITH HIM TO SPEND A QUICK BUSINESS-RELATED WEEKEND IN PARIS.
THE GIG WAS ALMOST UP UPON ARRIVAL AFTER SOME 'CONSPICUOUS', UNINTENTIONALLY
OVER-THE-TOP PRIVATE ESCORTING THROUGH DE GALLE AIRPORT & CUSTOMS AND BEING
CHEUFFERRED THROUGH THE CITY. SOON AFTER CHECK-IN THE YOUNG MAN PROPOSED TO
HIS WIFE-TO-BE AND THE REST IS NOW HISTORY (SHE SAID YES).]
what was your favorite part about wedding planning?
[THE PLANNING PROCESS IS LIKE WORKING OUT - YOU HATE IT AT FIRST BUT THEN AS
YOU START SEEING SOME RESULTS, YOU GET PRETTY JAZZED ABOUT DOING IT; BECAUSE
EVERYTHING WE WERE DOING WAS LONG DISTANCE IT WAS PRETTY TOUGH COORDINATING
EVERYTHING; THE BEST PART WAS TAKING OUR SWEET TIME WITH IT AND COMING OUT
TO CALIFORNIA TO VISIT THE PROPERTY AND THE VENDORS SEVERAL TIMES - THIS WAS
NOT ONLY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL WAS GOOD, BUT IT CREATED A SWEET ANTICIPATION
OF HOW THE LOCATION WOULD TRANSFORM TO HOLD ALL THOSE GREAT PEOPLE ON THAT
ONE DAY ... IT WAS A BIG TEASE]
how did you decide on the venue?
[WE WANTED TO GET MARRIED APPROX 1 YEAR AFTER THE ENGAGEMENT AND SO WE
SETTLED ON NOV 15TH 2008 ... BUT WHEN WE WERE IN PARIS IN NOV 2007, IT WAS
AS COLD AS MOSCOW, SO WE DECIDED TO FOCUS ON SOMEWHERE WARM WHERE WE COULD
ENJOY SOME R&R WITH OUR GUESTS; WE MADE A SHORTLIST OF 5 OR 6 HOTELS/RESORTS
IN CA AND ONCE WE REACHED THE 3RD ONE, WE KNEW WE WERE DONE - THIS WAS THE
ST. REGIS RESORT AT DANA POINT.]
what kind of personal touches did you add to your event?
[BECAUSE WE HAD ONLY THE CLOSEST OF CLOSEST FRIENDS & FAMILY ATTENDING THE
WEDDING, MY HUSBAND CREATEDA SLIDESHOW THAT INCLUDED ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE AT
THE PARTY; HE TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE OF REELS OF PHOTOGRAPHS, THE INTERNET AND
PHOTOSHOT; MOST OF THE PICTURES WERE EITHER OF HUMEROUS EVENTS OR SOMEWHAT
'COMPROMISING' BUT IT SET THE MOOD FOR THE RECEPTION AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL
CHRONICAL OF OUR HISTORY TOGETHER WIHT EACH OTHER AND OUR FAMILIES AND
FRIENDS ... IT WAS LIKE A GIFT TO EVERYONE]
what was the best decision you made during the planning process?
[BESIDES PICKING THE PERFECT SPOT AND RIGHT VENDORS ... WE KEPT IT QUAINT -
WE HAD PERSONAL PET PEEVES ABOUT SPREADING OURSELVES THIN AND FOR OUR
SPECIAL DAY WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD ENOUGH TIME WITH THE SPECIAL
PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES; OUR BREAKDOWN WAS THE FOLLOWING ... SAY YOU HAVE AN
EVENING CEREMONY AT 4 PM AND THE PARTY ENDS AT MIDNIGHT ... SO THAT'S
BASICALLY 7 HOURS OR TIME SPENT WITH YOUR GUESTS. THEN TAKE 1-2 HOURS OF
THAT FOR CEREMONY + PICS + ANOTHER HOUR FOR DINNER; YOU REALLY HAVE 4 HOURS
TO SPEND ENTERTAINING GUESTS AND TO GET AROUND TO EVERYONE AND ENJOY THE
PARTY. IF YOU HAVE 240 GUESTS, THAT'S A MINUTE PER GUEST, WHICH WE FELT WAS
NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR US - THAT'S HARDLY HALF A SLOW JAM PER PERSON.]
what are your best memories from your wedding?
[SINCE IT WAS QUAINT, EVERYONE REALLY KNEW EVERYONE ELSE VERY WELL - AND
WHEN YOU COMBINE OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WITH ALCOHOL ... BOUNDRIES TEND TO
GET CROSSED - SEE THE ATTACHED PICS; IT WAS UNFORTUNATE (& FORTUNATE) THAT
EVERYTHING WASN'T CAUGHT ON VIDEO ...]
what advice can you give to other brides?
[TO BRIDES: MAKE SURE YOUR HUSBAND HAS A HEART LARGER THAN A BULGARIAN
LUKANKA
TO GROOMS: PICK A GOOD VENUE, A GOOD CREW AND A GOOD WIFE (WHO LAUGHS AT
ALL YOUR JOKES)
-Iliana
Elysium Productions: Contemporary & Stylish Wedding Video in Orange County & Beyond!
probably our most viewed video ever
February 17, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | 1 Comment
I just received an email from one of our awesome brides who was married a couple of years ago about the launch of her new family portrait business. I clicked on her blog and there was a post about this video from her wedding. We had put it on youtube shortly after her wedding and it has had over 1,300,000 views!!!! And... it's still the most awesome first dance I've ever seen. The sheer length and talent it took to accomplish this is pretty incredible!
Calamigos Ranch / Arthouse Feature / Romy & Ryan
February 16, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Meet Romy, today's guest blogger. Her fairy tale occasion is nothing short of magical. Take a peek into her and Ryan's dream wedding...------------------------------------------------------------------
"Everything happens for a reason" has always been a personal motto for me when it comes to life, and meeting Ryan—at least in my opinion—was very much a matter of destiny and fate. There were several occasions when Ryan and I had nearly "met" during my four years of going to college with his high-school friends, but since he was attending a different college that was well over 700 miles away from me, we are now very realistic in conceding that it probably wouldn't have worked out for either of us. So, you can imagine that after four years of being told by mutual friends that we'd be perfect for each other, it seemed a little surreal that I would ever actually see this man face-to-face, much less spend the rest of my life with him.
When I finally met the fabled "Ryan" at a bar—ironically the very first day I moved home from college and we were finally living in the same city, AND completely by chance—my awe was a little more than love at first sight and probably a little influenced by the legend that had preceded him. Not only was he extremely handsome, intelligent, and clever, but he was kind and extremely chivalrous--the Prince Charming I had always dreamed about as a girl worshipping Sleeping Beauty had actually come to life! Two years later, our fairy tale romance continued when he swept me off to Italy for two weeks and proposed at sunset in our hotel room that overlooked the Italian Riviera, followed by renting our own private villa in Tuscany with (surprise!) our families. It was more romantic than anything I could have ever imagined or even dreamed of!
It will come as no surprise, given our story, that the general theme I envisioned for our wedding was a romantic, overgrown forrest. I believe my exact instructions to our florists at The Hidden Garden were "like something out of a fairy tale"—and boy did they deliver it! Calamigos Ranch in Malibu provided our venue (beneath a beautiful oak tree) and catered the reception. Our 12 member band, Entourage (from DeBois Entertainment) kept the party going all night, and of course, the finishing touch was our beautiful—and quite delicious—4 tiered cake from The Bread Basket. All of the events were captured by our favorite photographer, Drew B and immortalized by Elysium.
Leading up to the big day, the one piece of wisdom that every wedding veteran had given us was, "Try to enjoy and remember as much as you can—it all goes by so fast!" But hearing it and actually experiencing it are two totally different things, and as hard as I tried, much of the day was a blur. There is so much excitement and anticipation on the day of—and any one of my bridesmaids will tell you that I was an extremely calm and carefree bride-to-be—the moment I started walking down the aisle with my father a tidal wave of emotion swept over me and I became part bride, part zombie. I mean, I DID remember all of the big details—like seeing every single person who was meaningful to me in my entire life sitting in the audience and smiling, and the look on Ryan's face as he said his vows—but all of those tiny details I had spent an entire year agonizing over to get just perfect, they all just became part of the background. And that is why I am so grateful that we decided to hire a videographer to capture all of those special little details that all of the guests got to enjoy, but you barely have time to even glance at. Ryan had fought the idea at first saying, "but we're having a photographer. Why do we need a video, too?" That is, of course, until he discovered that they could film in HD, and the idea of having any moment of his life commemorated specifically for his precious flat screen became very appealing. Elysium, you may be getting a call about our first born child in the future...
My advice to other brides-to-be is: don't skimp on the details. I know planning a wedding can be really expensive and there are certainly ways to cut back, but don't forsake the only piece of the entire celebration that will last for years to come. By the time you get back from your honeymoon your flowers will have wilted, your cake will be eaten, you may not even be able to fit into your dress anymore (I know. It's frightening, isn't it?), but you will always have your wedding video to watch—perfect and timeless, and just as you hoped to remember it!
And now, it's my turn: enjoy every single moment of your engagement, planning, and the wedding itself—it really does go by SO fast!
~Romy
Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel/Arthouse Feature/Lin & Jonathan
February 11, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Check out Lin & Jonathan's Arthouse Edit! The day started out slightly overcast, but it ended up being a beautiful day anyway. It was a gorgeous event at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel where Carolyn Chen made sure the day went perfectly and Amelia Lyon captured it all through her lens. Their band was awesome and the dance floor was packed all night long!Elysium Productions: Stylish & Contemporary Wedding Video in Orange County and Beyond!
Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel / Arthouse Feature / Lin & Jonathan
February 11, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Check out Lin & Jonathan's Arthouse Edit! The day started out slightly overcast, but it ended up being a beautiful day anyway. It was a gorgeous event at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel where Carolyn Chen made sure the day went perfectly and Amelia Lyon captured it all through her lens. Their band was awesome and the dance floor was packed all night long!Elysium Productions: Stylish & Contemporary Wedding Video in Orange County and Beyond!
Langham Pasadena/Arthouse Feature/Noelle & Matt
February 9, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Meet our guest blogger Noelle. Noelle and Matt's special day was celebrated with friends, family, and an awesome band! Their ceremony decor was especially beautiful- check out those unique centerpieces!------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt and I met through work. At the time we were working in the same industry, but at different companies. We had several phone conversations while working on a transaction together, before finally meeting in person. After two years of dating, Matt proposed and the process of planning my dream wedding finally began.
The first step for us was to understand what we wanted most from our big day, which was (I) to have a meaningful and traditional ceremony and (II), follow it with a fun and elegant reception that our family and friends would remember. Since we already had the church and reception site selected, the first thing we did was focus our search on a great wedding coordinator. After interviewing a few firms, it was clear that International Event Company (I.E.C) , was without a doubt, the most qualified and capable of delivering our vision. They did not disappoint.
For us, a huge part of what makes a wedding memorable is a great band that is able to really get the guests on the dance floor, so our next priority was to find the best band around. Through I.E.C's recommendation, we met with West Coast Music who contracted the Rick Cowling Band. There were hands down, the best band we've seen and our guests still talk about the band today.
The day of our wedding was everything I ever dreamed of since I was a little girl. With I.E.C there to make sure the day ran smoothly, we were able to be in the moment and enjoy every minute of it. Now, one year later, guests still remember it and we wish we could experience it all over again. While we can't do it again, we are able to re-live it by watching the amazing Arthouse film that Elysium created for us. The way they were able to capture the moments was really unbelievable to us – and it still gives us chills every time we watch it.
If I could offer advice to future brides, I would say three things – make a timeline, do whatever is important to you and HAVE FUN!
-Noelle
Elysium Productions: Stylish & Contemporary Wedding Video in Orange County and Beyond!
Vendors:
Wedding Planner: International Event Company
Church: San Marino Community Church
Reception: Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa
Florist: Mark's Garden
Filmmaker: Elysium Productions
Photographer: Aaron Delesie
Invitations/programs/menu: Sugar Paper
Linens/Chairs: Tabella Décor
Band: West Coast Music – Rick Cowling Band
Ceremony Music: Ladies Choice String Quartet
DJ: Dream Team Entertainment
Favors: Truffles for a Cause
Hair/Make-up: Prive Salon
Wedding Gown: Amsale
Grooms tux: Canali
Jewelry: Mon Ami Jewelry, Chicago
Langham Pasadena / Arthouse Feature / Noelle & Matt
February 9, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Meet our guest blogger Noelle. Noelle and Matt's special day was celebrated with friends, family, and an awesome band! Their ceremony decor was especially beautiful- check out those unique centerpieces!------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt and I met through work. At the time we were working in the same industry, but at different companies. We had several phone conversations while working on a transaction together, before finally meeting in person. After two years of dating, Matt proposed and the process of planning my dream wedding finally began.
The first step for us was to understand what we wanted most from our big day, which was (I) to have a meaningful and traditional ceremony and (II), follow it with a fun and elegant reception that our family and friends would remember. Since we already had the church and reception site selected, the first thing we did was focus our search on a great wedding coordinator. After interviewing a few firms, it was clear that International Event Company (I.E.C) , was without a doubt, the most qualified and capable of delivering our vision. They did not disappoint.
For us, a huge part of what makes a wedding memorable is a great band that is able to really get the guests on the dance floor, so our next priority was to find the best band around. Through I.E.C's recommendation, we met with West Coast Music who contracted the Rick Cowling Band. There were hands down, the best band we've seen and our guests still talk about the band today.
The day of our wedding was everything I ever dreamed of since I was a little girl. With I.E.C there to make sure the day ran smoothly, we were able to be in the moment and enjoy every minute of it. Now, one year later, guests still remember it and we wish we could experience it all over again. While we can't do it again, we are able to re-live it by watching the amazing Arthouse film that Elysium created for us. The way they were able to capture the moments was really unbelievable to us – and it still gives us chills every time we watch it.
If I could offer advice to future brides, I would say three things – make a timeline, do whatever is important to you and HAVE FUN!
-Noelle
Elysium Productions: Stylish & Contemporary Wedding Video in Orange County and Beyond!
Vendors:
Wedding Planner: International Event Company
Church: San Marino Community Church
Reception: Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa
Florist: Mark's Garden
Filmmaker: Elysium Productions
Photographer: Aaron Delesie
Invitations/programs/menu: Sugar Paper
Linens/Chairs: Tabella Décor
Band: West Coast Music – Rick Cowling Band
Ceremony Music: Ladies Choice String Quartet
DJ: Dream Team Entertainment
Favors: Truffles for a Cause
Hair/Make-up: Prive Salon
Wedding Gown: Amsale
Grooms tux: Canali
Jewelry: Mon Ami Jewelry, Chicago
Destination Photographer Promo
February 8, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Last year around this time we were in Anguilla shooting the amazing wedding of Ashley & Jamie. Although we had seen their photographer's work online (awesome stuff) we had never met them and were excited to work with them. The fabulous part? We totally clicked. Matt & Enna Grazier are super cool people and ultra talented photographers located in Boston. We became fast friends and will be working together again this year also in Anguilla! (A reunion!!) Because we had three cameras for Ashley & Jamie's wedding, we were able to shoot some behind the scenes footage of them at work during the "trash the dress" session and were able to create this promo:
Destination Photographer Promo
February 8, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Last year around this time we were in Anguilla shooting the amazing wedding of Ashley & Jamie. Although we had seen their photographer's work online (awesome stuff) we had never met them and were excited to work with them. The fabulous part? We totally clicked. Matt & Enna Grazier are super cool people and ultra talented photographers located in Boston. We became fast friends and will be working together again this year also in Anguilla! (A reunion!!) Because we had three cameras for Ashley & Jamie's wedding, we were able to shoot some behind the scenes footage of them at work during the "trash the dress" session and were able to create this promo:
Hyatt Huntington Beach/Arthouse Feature/Sophia & Denby
February 4, 2010 | Filed Under Elysium Productions | Leave a Comment
Happy Thursday! I would love to introduce Sophia, our guest blogger today. Sophia and Denby's wedding celebration was filled with tons of friends, family, and culture. Their pink color scheme was incorporated throughout the entire wedding; evident in Sophia's second dress change!------------------------------------------------------------------
My husband Denby and I met back in 2000 in college through mutual friends. A few months later, we ran into each other at a rave and spent the entire night talking because we were just glad there was a familiar face. A few months after that, we started to spend more time together at school and outside of it as well. We slowly fell in love and spent nearly every waking moment together. If one was working, the other would go there and hang out. After 7 years, Denby was going to propose on a cruise that we planned to take with my cousin and her husband, but since my mom sort of ruined the surprise, he had to change his plans. He got me off work early the night before the cruise and took me to dinner. After dinner he said he was taking me to look at a really nice house in Pasadena but actually took me to the Langham Hotel. He proposed on their famous Picture Bridge and after saying yes, he took me to our room, where he decorated the room with rose petals and candles. There was a bubble bath waiting for me, along with sparkling wine and fresh cut strawberries.
After Denby and I got engaged and decided to take our engagement photos in Taiwan, we started to worry about all the other stuff that needed to be done: flowers, music, attire, etc. Our first priority was to find a coordinator and luckily I came across Carolyn Chen from The Special Day. After meeting with her, we decided to book her even without meeting with other coordinators. It helped a lot that she spoke Chinese because our parents do not speak a lot of English. Carolyn helped us choose most of vendors because she has worked with them before and trusted their work. Planning came easy after that because Carolyn was able to tie up all our loose ends into a pretty bow. I have always loved pink and Japanese Cherry Blossom flowers so this was the perfect time to bring all of that together.
Since Carolyn had worked with Elysium Productions before, it was easy for us to understand how important it was to have the best of the best for everything in our wedding. We saw a video for the Arthouse Edit and loved it. We loved how it looked like a movie, instead what we've seen in the past, which was hours of unedited footage with all the background noise. We wanted our friends and family to experience something that they've never experienced before, and since we are one of the first to get married, it was easy to set the standard. Everything about our wedding was modern and fresh, and Elysium captured it in a way that will allow our friends, family and us to enjoy it for years to come.
Since I only had less than 4 hours of sleep in the 2 days before the wedding, wedding day was nearly a blur. In a way, we were glad that our final day has finally come so that we could sleep and not think of payment due dates, schedules, and anything wedding. Our eyes were open and seemed to comprehend everything but both of us were really sleeping under that, haha. We followed Carolyn's timeline even though we didn't know it well. We didn't get to eat most of our meal but that was expected. My favorite memory of the day was when I pulled Denby into the photo booth so we could take some pictures together. We went in there twice because I had 2 different dresses. It was the only part of our day where we had to ourselves with no one around, even if it was only minutes at a time. The wedding looked and felt better than I expected. Everything and everyone I loved were all in one area; the pink, the cherry blossoms, the friends, and the family, even the family who came from other countries. Like I said before, Carolyn pulled all the strings together and made it into a pretty bow. Everything ran smoothly and couldn't have been more perfect.
Tips for future brides: Find out how much you can afford to put into the wedding. If parents are helping to pay for it, make sure you guys agree on who gets to make the decisions and whether or not whose money it belongs to will affect that decision or not. Choose your wedding party wisely. Just because she is your best friend, she may not be the most qualified because she may be unreliable, irresponsible, or just may not have the funds to help with events. Choose your guest list wisely as well. I'd like to say that everyone I invited to the wedding are going to be people that I will continue to keep in contact with, but that is not always the case. And lastly, don't be afraid to ask for help. I didn't want to burden anyone and by doing that, we hardly had any sleep the week of the wedding. We were bickering with each other because we were tired, irritated and frustrated.
-Sophia
Elysium Productions: Stylish & Contemporary Wedding Video in Orange County and Beyond!
Vendors:
Venue: Hyatt Huntington Beach
Wedding Coordinator: The Special Day
Photographer: Travis Hoehne Photography
Event Filmmaker: Elysium Productions
DJ/Lighting: Honored Occasions
Photobooth/Projector: Cheesy Photobooths
Linen: Wildflower Linen
Chairs: Chiavari Chairs 4 Rent
Flowers: Fragrant Flowers in San Gabriel, CA