When the Church went dark

So there I was, it was a dark and stormy night...actually it was a pretty cool wedding. We were at Morris Chapel, on the University of the Pacific for Lisia and Austins wedding. All was going very well, a fun pretty couple, our wedding planner Mira keeping us in check (with her pink fanny pack), a beautiful church, 100+ temp...and a power failure! Yup, no lights, no air conditioning.

The wedding before ours, decided they were having their wedding in the hot dark church, by candle light. So when it came time for our wedding, the UOP engineers were working frantically to get the power back on at the University, without any luck. But the show must go on. Did I mention how a church smells after 100 people sit in it for nearly an hour in 90 degrees with no air movement...I'll spare you the details.

So Mira got more candles and even more candles (which took care of the nasty air), we broke out the on-board camera light (that we rarely if ever use in churches) and the piano player started...in the dark. The air was filled with romance, and sweat. But everyone made adjustments and it looked great. Lisia and Austin flowed with the flow and looked wonderful. The Minister discovered what heat was, and between the burning in his eyes and the lack of light to read his words I was amazed that he pulled it off.

Then we all dashed off to Del Rio Country Club for the reception, that made a nice end to a long hot day. In the infamous words of Client Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge "adapt, improvise and overcome"!

I have to say that the bride Lisia had a positive attitude during the entire event. This kind of situation would normally collapse the spirits of even the most seasoned, however she just stayed positive, smiling and elegant which made everyone feel comfortable. She was a pleasure to work for.

Toasts

Ok, so a couple of days ago I was sitting in my studio with a real nice couple.  We were talking about the reception and different ideas when I was asked if I had any opinion on a good toast.  Rye is better than English Muffins but sour dough beats them all.  After the blank look cleared their faces, it dawned on me that they were discussing T-O-A-S-T-S as in the reception.  Ok, sure, I knew that.

After videotaping what seems to be over a hundred toasts I explained to them that there was a common denominator to a bad toast...being too long!  This usually begins when one of the bridal party gets up and cracks a joke and the audience responds favorably.  This eggs it on and before you know it the person is telling about  his or her experiences as a child with the bride or groom.  Now the next person feels they have to out-do that or match it, so they do the same...45 minutes later and two bathroom breaks the crowd is talking to each other louder than the toasters.  Of course if your DJ is experienced he will gently remind them with a short clip from the Jeopardy theme song or a clock ticking.

I suggest to couples that they give their bridal party a thank you note and include some house rules.  Something subtle as "You are not required to give a toast.  If you do and you are not comfortable speaking to crowds, just wish us a happy life, thank everyone for coming and then tell all to raise their glasses (signifying that your toast is done)."

The worst, was a bride who went on for 40...yes 40 minutes.  All I can say is your toast should not sound as if you are going to die the next day and you are trying to tell everyone, everything you failed to tell them before your demise.  Thank both sets of parents, and your new spouse and tell everyone to have a wonderful time.  They know you appreciate their participation in your wedding and you will have more than enough time to thank them when you are doing the 'table walk" (as we call it) or when you send them thank-you notes...don't forget the thank you notes!

To close, if your best man and maid of honor do not know what to say...Google it.  There are all kinds of toasts you can put together from the internet.

"Here is wishing you the best in your new lives together with many happy hours of watching your wedding video...shall we all raise our glasses?"

THE WAR IS OVER!

Wait! Maybe I should clarify that statement..."The DVD High Definition war is over"!  There.  

So what does that mean for our wedding clients?  Well let me back up a bit.  Until a few days ago, if you wanted a High Definition (HD) DVD you had to buy a Blu  (that's right it is actually spelled Blu) Ray DVD player or an HD (created by Toshiba) DVD player, or both if you wanted to play either.  What a hassle, it was like we were back in the VHS vs. DVD days.  Until now.

Toshiba threw in the towel and announced they will not longer be producing the HD DVD. Blu Ray won.  Soon you will be seeing the Blu Ray logo on high def. DVD players, DVDs at Blockbuster and other places...including Echo Media.  Don't get caught up in all the hype (that some are putting out), about having to have a HD converter box by a certain date.  That has nothing to do with this, that is only addressing how you will receive a signal by your cable, satellite or roof top antenna.  This is about playing a high definition DVD in your player.  Your wedding DVD.

Echo Media is proud to announce that we will (as of the date of this posting) be offering our wedding clients one of two packages.  Standard Definition or High Definition.  We will burn the final product on Blu Ray DVD disks.  You will still have to pony up with a few dollars to buy that Blu Ray DVD player however in no time at all they will be under $100 dollars.  Oh and a side note, Blu Ray DVD players will also play your standard DVDs.

If you have not seen True High Definition you will be amazed to say the least.  Give us a few months and will have some demo samples for you to view.  Until then, give us a call or download our service agreement to see how we priced the product.  We won't kid you, it is a bit more money, because it's a lot more work.  But you will wonder why anyone would have Standard Definition after seeing HD.  Call us, we can talk more.

Dan

Gallo PerfoCrming Art Center

This Saturday was a very special day at Echo Media.  We shot the first wedding at the Gallo Performing Arts Center in downtown Modesto.  Carol and Lloyd were our clients and both were wonderful to work for.  They put together a wedding that was to say the least, amazing!  If you have ever been in the Center you know what the stairs look like leading up to the second floor.

Imagine bridesmaids and grooms men going up each set of stairs with our bride and groom on the landing just below, really elegant.  For the first wedding, the Gallo staff had it together.  These people handled the event like they had done a dozen before.  We were provided a room to place equipment, they gave our staff a quick tour and generally made us feel like we were family, and that is what makes things click in our business.

What was amazing was the lack of stress Carol and Lloyd had.  For putting on your own wedding with all the logistics they handled, they did a wonderful job and they quickly made the new demo that is in the process of being created.

A wonderful event!

Day 6

Day 6, haven't left the timeshare, food is growing scarce, getting weak, all I see is brides. All my brides are down here, Ty, Amber, Pam, Crystal...ok not really but their videos are and I keep working. Lots of pretty people around here, but no one eats cheese whiz these people are strange. Wait I hear sounds, it's my vegan daughter bringing food, have to go. Will write more when the voices go away...avoid the bright light save the cheerleaders.

Welcome To The First Day

What a cool idea...you get to post your thoughts so everyone else can read them. I think I'll call it PLOGING...no that doesn't have a ring, I'll keep thinking about it, get back to me later.

Today "the set" takes us on location to Newport Beach, California. Even editors have to take a vacation, but not really. I have a small editing room, set up in the living room, with a BOXX laptop, external hard drive, HP DVD burner and minicam I am using as a deck to capture video.

My brides (I like to think of them all as mine) have been so patient with all the delays in getting out these weddings. Between a virus, that I have no clue where it came from (on the computer that is...after all my wife does read this), a defective hard drive, and other delays, I am pushed behind schedule further than I have ever been, in almost 10 years of weddings. But as the family shops at Fashion Island, I edit and edit.

When I return, we start our set up for the live internet weddings so many people have asked about. We tried our first one a few months ago at The Almond Pavilion in Oakdale. All I can say it that it was so-so. The problem was using wireless internet. Bad signal strength and bad stream. We have since fixed that issue and have acquired some new equipment that will let us keep up with the big boys. It was almost like we were driving a Volkswagen on a Highway with Mercedes and trying to keep up. Well watch out cuz we just got the keys to our 550SL (so to speak).