We just received our video - a few comments

Hi all - we just picked up our wedding video this weekend. Overall, it was good and I'm glad we got it. We almost didn't b/c money was tight but my dad gave it to us as a gift. I'm so glad he did - it was really fun to watch. :) The audio could have been better at times....I have 2 tips I want to pass along to you folks: First, speak with the video guy that day and reinforce that interviews should NOT be done right in front of the DJ's speakers and/or the Band. My best friend and dad were interviewed there and it was hard to hear them over Whitney Houston blaring in the background! Second...more of a tip. When I selected the music for the video, I included our wedding song. The studio told me it would be repetative b/c it was already in the video from our first dance. I'm glad I didn't listen. As I mentioned before, the audio could have been better....Because the video guy was taping us, his back and the mic was turned to the dance floor and the speakers were behind him. You can hear the song, but not very clearly. I am glad I went with my own judgement and had them use it for the closing credits. Hope this helps someone! :o) PS - The video was approx. 90 minutes long. They covered everything but accidentially cut out the Gospel (I'm getting the unedited version so I'll have that in short order).

One more comment on editing and vendor

The editing was great! There weren't alot of special effects but the ones that were added were really really nice. There was a beautiful shot of my dad helping me out of the limo that they turned to b/w that was just fabulous. Its one of my favorite shots of the whole tape! For those curious, we used Cassarino Studios and took their basic package. They are also videotaping my sister's wedding next month! :o)

One more comment on editing and vendor

I am glad to hear that it all went well. Congratulations! I am looking for a videoagrapher as we speak. Did you use Cassarino for your pictures also?

One more comment on editing and vendor

Sounds nice, how costly is their basic package? Did you use them for your photos as well and get a deal? Thanks

Using them too

Karen, I was just looking over my Cassarino contract and it says that I need to get the 'baby' pics to them 30 days in advance. There is no mention of picking music. Is this done after the wedding? Did you meet the videographer before the wedding?

Yes we did *NM*

Using them too

I spoke with the video manager 2 days before the wedding but did not meet the onsite guy until the church. We didn't give them our baby pic until 6 mon after the wedding. At that time, they gave us a sheet of songs to choose for editing...or we could supply the music for our own songs (which we did). I do suggest picking the songs and handing in your photos sooner than we did - it took over 5 months to get it back after those materials were handed in by us (they won't start editing until they get all the materials). Don't be bad like us! :o)

One more comment on editing and vendor

We were married in March so we received an off season discount. We did use them for photos too.....our video was around $1400 and we chose option C for photography. Kathy is the office manager in Whitestone. I've found her to be most helpful and a pleasure to deal with.

So happy to hear

SO happy to hear that you were happy with how it turned out-- was the unedited copy included or did you get it because the gospel was cut out? Did you husband have a microphone on during the ceremony? I am concerned that you will hear us talking to each other on the video when we should be listening to the priest or the readings or something.. Laura

So happy to hear

We did speak all throughout the ceremony but the blocked it out in the final edit. My husband wore a mic on his lapel and our vows came out crystal clear! It was actually funny....after the recession you hear me on the tape say 'We did it!' and he lets out a sigh of relief! LOL!

A few comments to add also

When I got my video, I loved it. My only wish was that I picked more music for it. I bought a 2 hour edited version and a 30 minute cap to show people who didn't want to watch the whole thing. I love my video, but most of the music is by Yanni, and about 4 songs of it. Pick ALL your music. I think it would be nicer to here different music. I also wasn't going to go with 'Going to the Chapel' in the beginning after the picture part, but I'm so glad I did. They started by showing the church and then started playing that song, about 1/4 of the way tbrough, they input the scene from Cinderella twirling from a dress to a beautiful wedding gown and then jumping into the coach with horses, about 30 seconds after that, they switch to my limo pulling in to the church. They did this also with out first dance as they show Cinderella and her Prince dancing and then switch to us which by the way, we were in the exact position as the movie scene. It's very sweet. If you can have a few inputs, do it, it makes the video so sweet and you still have the uncut version without it as well.

Thanks for all the info!

One more thing... How much music is there to provide? Do they tell you how long or do they ask for a song for each stage of the video?

Music Selections

With our studio, they asked us for 3 selections. One for the beginning, one for a park scene and one for the end. They also supplemented with their own music at different points (which was fine).