Main Street Productions

NEW SITE

2010-02-14T11:07:00.001-06:00

Hi Everyone! To continue to follow our blog, please visit www.mainstreetav.com/blog. Thanks!

Henthorne-Bailey: The Sonnet House

2009-10-01T11:24:00.005-05:00

Shelley and Jim were married on the beautiful grounds at the Sonnet House. On this particular Saturday, it was touch and go with rain, so we didn't know if the Plan B was going to be put in action. Fortunately they were able to be married outside, like they wanted.

Beverly Andrews with Engaging Celebrations was brought it for her expertise on directing a wedding. I know Shelley was probably so relieved to have someone like Beverly to trust to make her dreams a reality.

This sneak peak clip was taken from some of the wedding reception dance footage that we shot. Just a quick clip to show how much fun everyone was having!

This is a sneak peak from Jim & Shelley's wedding at the Sonnet House. All of the guests had a great time dancing. I thought the Conga linen was very funny and wanted to share it with the bride and groom!

Adams-Murphy: North Shelby Baptist/The Club

2009-10-01T11:23:00.003-05:00

We had the wonderful pleasure of being the videographers for Brittany and John's wedding. What an amazing couple! Truly! We first got to know the couple while doing their "Love Story." Theirs was not a traditional love story, but a fun-filled day at Oak Mountain. Brittany and John decided to bring their mountain bikes and canoe to the Park so that we could add that footage into the piece for the rehearsal dinner. That evolved into a spoof of American Gladiators! They were such good sports with everything. It was so much fun to film. Here is the video from that day, which then was shown at the rehearsal dinner and reception both!

Now onto the wedding day! After Brittany and John saw each other for the 1st time, we were able to go outside (thankfully the rain stopped) to capture some really great moments with both of them. John's dad is the pastor at North Shelby Baptist - it really is a beautiful church. And what a gem...the courtyard! Special thanks to Blue Moon Photography for putting up with us all day! Take a look at this sneak peak of the courtyard footage!

After a standing-room only ceremony, the couple drove off in a 2010 Camero to The Club, where all 400 (+) guests were there to welcome the bride and groom. Now this was a traditional Baptist reception with no alcohol. That statement is important because I (after 100s of weddings) have never seen a crowd have THAT much fun dancing without having something to drink. Kudos to Carlos with Total Entertainment for getting people out on the dance floor. We got great footage!

Sad Times

2009-09-27T16:55:00.003-05:00

Those that have worked with us before probably have met or heard about our wonderful friend/Senior Producer, Chris Carr. Unfortunately this morning, Chris lost his dad to cancer.

Please keep Chris and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this very difficult time.

Tara & Kyle @ South Highland Presbyterian Church

2009-09-26T08:39:00.008-05:00

Beautiful Tara! She was absolutely stunning! Kyle wasn't half bad himself. Our day started out with getting ready coverage for Tara and Kyle. Unfortunately for Tara, plans had to change when her makeup artist did not show up! Thankfully she had a plan B that worked out great! Another plan B worked out great when the rain stopped and we were able to go outside and shoot some footage of Tara. The photographer for the day was Ms. Ann Wade Parrish. It had been a couple of years since we had worked together so it was wonderful to share a fun day!

Ceremony location: South Highland Presbyterian Church.

Reception: Matt Jones Art Gallery (GoPro).

Amy & Danny: St. Marks/The Club

2009-09-25T21:00:00.004-05:00

Amy and Danny had a wonderful and elegant ceremony at St. Marks United Methodist Church. The fun really began at The Club during their reception. Sure, it was hot and muggy outside, but inside it was rockin! (BTW, I think that phrase just confirmed that I am old).

They had so many friends and family gathered to give their love and support to the couple. We actually got to work with an amazing photographer out of New York. Amy loved her work, so when it came time for a wedding photographer, there was only one choice! I know that we got amazing footage, so I am positive she did as well!

Enjoy this romantic clip of the couple outside on the patio at The Club. It was pitch black, but the night time views of the city are just breathtaking.

Jennifer Rogers & John Campbell @ Reid Chapel

2009-09-24T23:32:00.006-05:00

Jennifer & John were married in a beautiful ceremony at Reid Chapel on the Samford campus. We were a little concerned about the rain, but the sky finally did clear and we were able to get some really great shots of the couple outside.

After the ceremony, the celebration continued at the Wynfrey Hotel. Danny with Feel the Beat Entertainment guided everyone in having a great time (all the while keeping guests posted with the game scores!) Jennifer and John, with their friends, danced the night away! Rick Pennington was also there to capture of the photographic moments.

I loved the ice cream station - which by the way, I don't believe it a big enough trend. I think it should be a staple. Oh, and instead of flower arrangements on the individual tables, they had 8" cakes, iced and ready to be eaten. All were different flavors! Love that idea!

Anytime we work with Alene, a sense of calmness is all around. Everything is organized and beautiful! We very much appreciate that! She is a classy lady with a classy bride! Congrats to Jennifer and John!

The following is a sneak peek clip from Jennifer & John's beautiful September wedding.

WEVA 2009!!

2009-09-24T22:58:00.003-05:00

So I am a little late blogging about our amazing trip to Orlando. Now don't get your hopes up, we didn't take a vacation - we were there for the annual WEVA (Wedding & Event Videographers Association) convention. We absolutely love going! You come back refreshed, with new ideas, new friends, less money, but in the end it is all worth it!

On a personal note, this was the first time that I had been away from Will for longer than one night. (Last year, we all flew down together with Will and my dad: a.k.a. the official babysitter of Main Street Productions)

John and I flew out early Monday morning, arrived in Orlando with enough time to get to the hotel, grab a quick bite to eat, and get to classes. This first day was an "extra" day so only John had classes. This was my time to relax. Angela trying to relax is funny in itself! So while John was learning wonderful techniques from his man-crush, Philip Bloom, I went off to the pool/lazy river for 1 whole hour!

The lazy river idea has always intrigued me. Floating down on an intertube, enjoying the sun, and quietness around you....Ahhhhhh. The real truth: the intertube is way to small for you to sit comfortably in, without feeling like you are doing a sit-up for 10 minutes straight. So I opted to lay on my belly. Well, when you are short and in 3 feet of water, it is hard to jump high enough to actually get on the intertube. Did I mention that all of the while, there were these cannonball water spouts shooting you (to cool you off)??? So finally I just came up from underneath and put my arms though and tried to relax. Seconds later, the river came to an end. I was beat! Relaxing is just really hard for me!!! I get out of the pool and this guy had been watching me struggle and was laughing at my expense. He did agree that the intertubes were incredibly difficult. Nice guy. Glad I could bring joy to his afternoon.

Monday night was the Opening Gala, where we were treated to a wonderful dinner and awards ceremony. There were some really talented folks in that room. And we got to hang out with Bill and Alisa Wilson with SunDolphin Productions!!! So much fun! We didn't submit any videos for the contest, but maybe next year! We have such a hard time keeping our website and blog updated, that I can't imagine finding time to put something together for WEVA.

Tuesday started with all day classes, from 8 - 8. We really try to go to as many as possible, to get as much out of the conference as we can. Sometimes John and I go to the same class, but most of the time we divide up. My favorite class was taught by my new best friend, Bob Ridge, a fellow videographer out of Indiana. I learned so many great tips! Wow!

That night Panasonic had a party for everyone. And of course, we had to go - they were giving away a HMC 40!! We didn't win. But we still had a great time hanging out with Bill and Alisa and everyone else!

Because we were leaving on Wednesday afternoon, we packed as many classes into that morning as we could. WEVA also does a trade show with vendors of every kind, all with great deals. I was talking with the Bogen guy about their goods, and he recognized my birthmark on my arm, and said...."Were you at the lazy river on Monday?" Yes, he was the guy that was making fun of me on the lazy river. I didn't want to, but I still bought something from him. It was a good deal, what was I supposed to do!!!

Needless to say, we had a great time, but we both were super happy to be home to Will on Wednesday afternoon/evening. He and Pop had a great time, but I know my Dad was tired! He is the best! And Will and I survived being away from each other that long. Next year, maybe we can take a couple of days off and do Disney while we are down there (with Will and Pop)!!!

Ashley & Casey at the Rucker Place

2009-09-21T11:13:00.006-05:00

One hour before the rain started, Ashley and Casey were married outside at Rucker Place. Of course, it was a fabulous evening. The garden ceremony was beautiful, the food was amazing, and the guests were having a wonderful time.

I believe it was Ashley's paternal grandmother that was the spunkiest 92 year old I have ever seen. She was such a wonderful lady. I enjoyed the few minutes that I got to speak to her.

Everyone was having a full-filled evening of dancing and mingling! The rain didn't damper anyone's spirit. Casey even got up with the band for a song before the night was over! It was great evening.

Best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Casey Marshall!

Amazing things are happening!

2009-08-27T16:13:00.004-05:00

For my 50th blog post, I would like to take a little time and brag on us. Bragging is not something that I usually do, but I am really quite proud of the company that John and I have built. It is nice to know that hard work, treating people right, and delivery a quality product, actually pays off in the end. (All while raising an active two year old boy!!)

We are currently in the middle of several special projects that we are so honored to be a part of! When we can, we will let everyone know about the details! 2010 is shaping up to be a spectacular year for us! Actually 2009 has been pretty great too!

For the end of 2009, we are launching a new product that we can't wait to tell you more about! Check back soon!

Ashleigh & Chris @ Gadsden County Club!

2009-08-26T21:10:00.003-05:00

I first met Ashleigh and her mom at the Style in the Sky Bridal Show back in the spring. Great family! Their church was already set up to film their ceremony, so Ashleigh and Chris only needed a videographer for their reception at the Gadsden Country Club. We were pleased to help!

Ashleigh wore a beautiful gown from the White Room in Helena. She looked amazing!

They had a lovely reception with beautiful music provided by a local pianist, Jon Michael Ogletree. We actually had the honor to film Jon Michael several times before when he was working with Briarwood Christian School. So we knew his talents. The following clip shows the bride and groom cutting their cake. The music is provided by Jon Michael Ogletree.

Ashleigh and Chris Ray cut their cake from john deaver on Vimeo.

N & C @ B & A

2009-08-26T20:26:00.004-05:00

Clever title, huh??? It's all I've got tonight!

On to the story!

I didn't have the opportunity to get to know Natalie and Chris before the wedding like I normally like to do, but I can tell you that Natalie's mom is the best! She was so sweet she even called to thank us a couple of days after the wedding. I am surprised that she wasn't still recuperating!

The bride and groom were married at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Mt. Brook. After a very beautiful ceremony, the guests all headed to the B & A Warehouse. And that is where the party began. Fabulous flowers, great venue, amazing food and cakes! The band kept everyone dancing all night. It was a perfect evening. We were so busy getting wonderful footage, I am not even sure that I got to tell Natalie how beautiful she was!

Enjoy the fun dancing!

Untitled from john deaver on Vimeo.

Nancy & Chris at the Avon Theatre

2009-08-20T11:52:00.004-05:00

Nancy and Chris started off their day with getting ready coverage at the Grace Presbyterian Church in Chelsea. This was the most together bride ever! She had everything under control, was not panicky, just calm. After an amazing turnout from their friends, family, and church family, the two headed off to the Avon Theatre.

We actually had never had the opportunity to work at this venue, so we were very excited about the evening. Very cool place! Jennifer with GoPro manages it and we work with her all of the time through her other venues, so we knew it would be wonderful! And it was!

Here is a little sneak peek of some of the great footage that we got during a photo session with Corey & Erin Nolen.

Untitled from john deaver on Vimeo.

Traci Mathews & Jason Creel!

2009-08-13T23:01:00.007-05:00

We had the privelge of being able to be a part of the greatest wedding of the year! Traci Mathews married her sweet beau, Jason, at her parent's house in Springville, AL. Many of you know Mathews Manor - great venue to work. The Mathews have always been one of our favorites in town. Probably 5 years ago, we left a battery at their house and Mr. Mathews was so kind to save it for me; I will always remember that!

When their daughter started to plan her wedding, she really had the upperhand compared to most brides. After all, the family plans and hosts weddings for a living. I would hope that because of this, it was more relaxing, calm, and enjoyable for everyone! There were a lot of people in attendance to wish Traci & Jason a great start to their new life together.

Not only was it a special wedding, but it was also the launch of a brand new site for Mathews Manor. In the hopes of expanding, the Mathews bought the property across the street from their current location. It is a fabulous meadow with the heart being an amazing 75 ft high tree! It was this tree that captured Traci's heart. And it was her dad that made it all happen in a very short amount of time.

Our favorite part (which seemed to be made for a photo session) was this beautiful stone bridge over a small creek. Wow! It is perfect! The creek even had a small path so that you could stand in the middle and take your shots up toward the couple on the bridge.

The following clip was taken from the photo session where Traci and Jason saw each other for the 1st time on the day of their wedding. Very sweet!

We suggest you follow the links to Vimeo.com to see it in HD!

Jason and Traci, First sight from john deaver on Vimeo.

Kayla & Harrison!

2009-08-12T20:41:00.002-05:00

What a sweet couple! Kayla & Harrison had a wonderful garden wedding at Rosewood in Pinson, AL. They had a great turnout; you could tell that everyone was having a great time! I wish we could post all of our clips that we were able to capture, but since that is not possible, I have to narrow it down. Enjoy the dance footage! But a close second in my vote, was the sweet speech that Kayla's dad gave right before the daddy/daughter dance. I know that Artography took some amazing pictures that day!

Prestigious Doctor doing the Jerk!

2009-08-03T21:19:00.006-05:00

So now that I have your attention....I don't know if Maggie's dad is very prestigious, but he is a doctor. And it wasn't like he was the only one dancing, but I thought I would steal a headline from the newspaper "types". Regardless it is very funny footage that I thought everyone should be able to see, especially Dr. Woods' co-workers!

Maggie and Blake were married last Saturday at the beautiful Mountain Brook Baptist Church. Their reception followed at The Club. I have to say of all of the times that we have filmed at The Club, I had never seen it designed the way Jill with Weddings by Jill had done. It was spectacular! Every single piece of flower was amazing! A work of art!

She had arranged the cake table at the opposite end of the dance floor (from the band) so that it created this coziness feeling in the very large ballroom. I loved it! I loved it so much that the next day when I was meeting with a new bride that happens to be having her reception at The Club, I told her all about it! With drawings and everything! And if you know me and my art skill (or lack there of), I did not do it justice! And Jill was just so wonderful to work with! I think I would like her to be my new best friend.

Back to the footage! This clip was taken after the band had invited the family up on stage. Blake and Maggie and then Maggie's parents. I cut it down a good bit so that it wouldn't be too long, but I still think it is sooooo funny! I love the part at the end when Maggie looks over at her dad and just looses it!!! I am picking on Dr. Woods mainly because Mrs. Woods was holding her own - she had some moves! As did Maggie and Blake! It was a lot of fun and I am glad to share this sneak peek clip from the reception!

Lauren & Casey!

2009-07-21T10:13:00.004-05:00

What a beautiful Saturday at the Sonnet House! It didn't hurt to also have such a beautiful bride! So many of Lauren and Casey's friends came out to see the two exchange their wedding vows under the direction of Alene Gamel. We say it all of the time, but having an organized wedding planner and director really makes the difference! The whole day runs smoother.

One of the bridesmaids was our bride last year. She was very thankful for the perfect weather because she is 8 months pregnant! She was a real trooper! But it was good to see her and her family!

This sneak peek footage was taken from the bouquet & garter toss. I thought it was a very unique idea to wrap the garter around a football and then toss it to the single guys. As the DJ explained, no man is going to let a football hit the ground!

Jessica Messer is so great to work with! She is always so fun and really gets some wonderful shots! (And she doesn't mind us tagging along with her either) Joe with Feel the Beat had everyone dancing - there might even be some footage of Alene and Jessica having a great time too! I have yet to decide what I am going to do with that footage....

Michelle & Bobby's friends!

2009-07-19T21:45:00.003-05:00

While filming Michelle and Bobby's rehearsal dinner at Iz the Place, the first thing that I noticed was the amount of friends in attendance, friends from college, high school, middle school and even elementary school! John has always said that a good measure of a great man is how long he has kept his friends. If this is the case, that would make both Michelle and Bobby great people. And they are!!!

We were so honored to be a part of their day! The wedding day started with getting ready coverage at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Hoover, AL. The girls were beautiful! As usual the guys didn't do as much. Figures! The girls are always scurrying around taking care of last minute details - steaming the dress, supervising the flowers, anything that comes up, while the guys just hang out! It is always the case!!!

After a beautiful ceremony, everyone headed to The Club for a lively reception. The band got the party started with the guest "ridin' the train!" So much fun!

Jessica & Patrick with Super T

2009-07-17T15:33:00.005-05:00

So Jessica really might be wonder-woman! She is the queen of multi-tasking - school, family, planning a wedding - she does it all! She, with the help of Alene Gamel, with I Do, I Do, put on a fabulous wedding weekend. Actually Jessica told me that the fun began one week prior when family started coming into town. It was all worth it in the end! Everyone had a great time and the wedding was just beautiful!

South Highland Presbyterian Church was the setting for the wedding ceremony. After that, the guests were invited to the Old Overton Country Club for a big reception. You know, we have had some really great bands this summer at Old Overton - and this weekend was no exception. The Tyrone Smith Revue (known around the World as Super T) was amazing! Of course we didn't expect anything less! Everyone had a great time dancing with the band - even the bride and groom! Please note the guy doing "the Carlton" - great stuff!

Leamon-Bryant Tribute

2009-07-14T08:52:00.007-05:00

Never in a million years would I expect Cassie and Tony to do a Michael Jackson tribute for their 1st together as man and wife. Now that I have you wanting more, let me start with the beginning of the day.

At the last minute, Tera (SIL to Cassie) contacted me about doing getting ready coverage for the wedding. Cassie had seen a video that we did where the groom brought the bride her bouquet when they saw each other for the 1st time before the wedding. She had to have this! So we made it happen for her. BTW, thanks to Shelley Creel Photography for rearranging their photo timeline to accommodate my schedule!

Everything went off without a hitch! The wedding was at Rosewood, complete with chandeliers in the trees in the garden! Perfect! The couple had a short reception at Rosewood, but then continued the evening at Grayson Valley Country Club. Oh, the bride's brother scored major points by arranging for Coats Classic Cars to bring in one of their beauties for the going away!

So now we are back to what you have been waiting on - the tribute! Maybe I should just let the footage speak for itself!

Kent & Jana's Mansion!

2009-07-13T09:03:00.005-05:00

We were fortunate enough to get to know this great couple through our son's preschool program. Miss Jeannie told me that her son (Kent) was getting married to this wonderful gal (Jana) and they needed a videographer! Although I was not familiar with the location, Fountainview Mansion, in Auburn, I knew that we would do a great job for them!

After talking with Kent and Jana about their wedding, I immediately went home and looked up this mansion. WOW! It is beautiful!!! Just breathtaking!

So many of their family and friends traveled down to see Kent and Jana share their wedding vows. We were able to capture some really great shots of the house too!

The World's Best Husband!

2009-07-07T20:49:00.003-05:00

So tomorrow, July 8, John and I celebrate 9 years of marriage! It is a little strange to me that it has been that long (seeing how I still think that I am really 18). We actually started dating when I was 18!!

We don't have a perfect marriage, but I really don't think I would change anything. We have a house that we love (that will take 100 more years to complete the renovation), a son that never ceases to amaze me, a successful business that we have created and worked from the ground up, and lots of laughter and love in our home.

Apparently John started devising a plan months ago for our anniversary. He contacted one of my good friends and arranged with her for us to go shopping together. I guess that statement doesn't sound so over the top. But wait, I HATE shopping. I don't like going to stores, don't like trying things on, I especially don't like spending money! If you know me and/or keep track of my clothing, you can tell that it is not a big priority with me. Sure I am a business owner, but a very low maintenance business owner. We work a lot. A lot. So I don't take precious time to go out and buy anything.

I did finally make a haircut appointment for this morning. A badly needed appointment. So we decided that we would take Will to the $3.00 movie this morning and then I would go on to my appt, and John would take Will home. We get there in the parking lot and I see my friend's, Kerri, van. Didn't think much about it, but did want to be able for the boys to sit together during the movie.

Once we all got settled, I was told that after the movie, Kerri and I were going shopping and that John was going to take all three boys (ages 5, almost 3, and 2) home with him for the day! (I probably could write an entire blog on the adventures of having three boys running around all day: the games, the food, the messy house that I should post pictures, the potty training...it was a long day.)

John had given Kerri a very large sum of cash for us to spend. (I could not control the money because he did not think that I would spend it). He had also called my MIL (Rickie) to come join in on the fun!

We did have a fun day! Kerri was grabbing clothing right and left. I was told not to give an opinion until after I tried it on. I wish that I had counted the number of articles of clothing that I tried on today. Between Kerri and Rickie, I am pretty wiped out. I can't imagine how they must feel.

But in the end we got some great outfits. I try not to think about how much money we spent. We didn't spend all of it, like we were instructed, but we ran out of time and energy. Apparently all of my shoes are hideous too! And I don't wear enough jewelry! Or make-up! So another shopping day has been planned. I will need to eat my Wheaties before that day!

All of this was done out of love for me. How great is that! I am not trying to sound boastful or whatever, but I have a husband that is willing to go through that much effort for me. To make me happy. I know how lucky I am, trust me! If you don't know John, you are missing out. I am so glad that he is my husband. I see us being the elderly couple racing our wheelchairs through the nursing home halls; I can't wait! I love you, John!

Dance Off!

2009-07-02T09:41:00.005-05:00

Last Saturday while Jessica and Paul were mingling with their guests at their Old Overton reception, we caught this great dance off between Total Assets and a wedding guest. We thought this was really entertaining and not something that the bride and groom (or their families) even saw!

You know, you can hire a band for your wedding or you can hire entertainers. These guys were entertainers!

Another great thing about this wedding is that we got to work with one of the best photographers in town! Artography! Andrea and Les have always been the best crew to work with. And their work is always fabulous!

Other wedding day facts: Fun rehearsal dinner filled with great toasts to the couple held at The Club. Ceremony was performed at Riverchase United Methodist Church.

Heat Wave!

2009-06-24T10:13:00.005-05:00

It is not even August and we are melting around here. I was so thankful that we didn't have an outdoor wedding on Saturday or so I thought...

Brookwood Baptist Church was the perfect setting for Haley and Clay to get married. It was standing room only in the church! After a very sweet ceremony, we were off to Old Overton Country Club. We have been there many times, I don't know why I never remember that the band is always outside. Maybe because they set up a tent and you really don't notice that you are outside. Except in this heat! Tons of fans were actually doing a pretty good job of keeping it manageable, and it definitely didn't stop people from dancing!

I am so excited about all of the great dance footage that we got! Everyone was having a great time! And the band, WOW!!! Their energy was contagious; their talent unsurpassed! (I actually emailed another bride when I got home late that night to tell her about the band). If you are still looking for a band for your wedding, you have to check out the Michel Jons Band. I have the contact info!

Brunch with the ladies!

2009-06-23T19:27:00.003-05:00

Although I had to wake up at 5:00 am this morning, it still turned out to be a great day! After a great BNI meeting, I had plans to go to breakfast with Allison Nichols with the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (Oxmoor Valley) and Rachael Grammer (Two Hearts Weddings). Such great gals!

We had so much fun visiting and talking a little business. Allison has a beautiful facility available for rehearsal dinners and weddings! Being a vendor in this industry, I understand the importance of having a well-planned wedding. And no matter what you think, who you will delegate to, or can take care of yourself, nothing compares to hiring a professional wedding planner. It makes all the difference for you, the bride, and your vendors. And I didn't realize how affordable her services are!

The only thing that I would change about the day is the French Toast at Cracker Barrel. Too eggy and it needs powdered sugar! Let's do IHOP next time, ladies!

Curry-Higginbotham Cake Cutting!

2009-06-21T15:12:00.005-05:00

Kelly and Lance were married at the Church at Blount Springs on Saturday, June 13. We were so lucky that it wasn't raining. This Summer has started out very wet for a lot of brides! But what a fun couple with great guests! Although quite a bit younger than John and I, the bride and groom were actually graduates of our alma mater, The University of Montevallo! We might be a little partial!

The reception continued at the Loretta Goodwin Gallery. This was our first reception at this venue, and it was wonderful! We were able to get a lot of really great footage. Their honeymoon clip (the short clip sent to the bride and groom on their honeymoon) was taken from the cake cutting celebration. We can't wait to get started editing!

Enjoy!

Tidwell-Remmert Going Away

2009-06-11T11:16:00.010-05:00

I don't think I have ever posted a Going Away segment for a honeymoon clip. Well, the wait is over! Adrienne and Luke were married at the beautiful Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Tuscaloosa, AL. Simply gorgeous! It almost seemed that the church was built for a wedding. During the getting ready coverage in the brides room, I actually commented on that fact, and when placing cameras for the ceremony, we discovered that there was a little alcove just for videographers to put a camera at the front of the chapel! So neat!!!

An entertaining reception followed at the North River Yacht Club. The guests danced and danced and danced! You could tell that everyone was having a great time. It was definitely a full-filled day! We were able to get some amazing footage that we can't wait to start editing. It will take a while, but it will be worth it!

This footage below was taken from the going away segment of the evening. A little slo-mo action on the part of the camera, but it made for a great effect! You can practically see the details in the roses being thrown! (I hope the compression for the internet doesn't take away from that...)

Grandma doing the Electric Slide!

2009-06-11T10:57:00.009-05:00

When I met with Lauren and Daniel, we discussed all of the details for the wedding. They were getting married at Our Lady of Sorrows in Homewood, with the reception at Matt Jones Art Gallery. They made the very wise decision to hire Alene Gamel with I Do, I Do, to plan and organize the entire event.

I took a lot of notes so that I could make sure that their video was one of a kind, just like they were. They told me to make sure that we got footage of grandma leading the Electric Slide during the reception. I knew that they were serious, but didn't quite know what to think about it. And really, not until you see it happen, will you really believe that this lady got up and starting doing the Electric Slide!!!! It was great! She was great!

So of course, it had to be their honeymoon clip! I can't wait for Lauren and Daniel to see it. I think they will think it is very funny. Actually I don't think Daniel made it into this clip, but it was too funny - I had to post it! I hope he doesn't mind. We have plenty of other great shots of him! I think Jessica Messer got really great shots too!

Enjoy this fun clip!

RMTC Workshop

2009-06-08T19:03:00.003-05:00

So today was the first day of the Red Mountain Theatre's Youth Workshop - www.redmountaintheatre.org - John and I both are a little tired. I don't know if it was from a very busy weekend or the fact that there were over 300 kids in attendance today! I do hope to go to bed tonight at 9 so maybe we can live to fight another day.

Before you get the wrong idea, neither John nor I have any talent whatsoever in this field, but we co-teach with a wonderful casting director out of LA, Lynne Marks. She teaches the kids how to act on camera, while we do the technical "stuff." We are also responsible for documenting the workshop so that short, edited clips can be shown during the "scene" changes during the showcase for the parents.

This year we are very fortunate to have an intern helping us out everyday! I am not able to be up there all of the time like John, so it is great that Stephen can help out! Although Will has been every day, all day for the first two years, I didn't think that bringing a busy two year old was smart!

This is our 5th year doing the workshop, and while it wears you out, you meet wonderful instructors and kids (and parents)!

Paranoid!

2009-06-07T21:27:00.002-05:00

So maybe I have been hanging out with our amazing editor, Chris, too much this weekend, but I am now concerned that people do not realize that these clips that are posted within days of the wedding are mostly raw footage. The final product is greatly edited and always turns out amazing!

We provide these clips as a way for the couple to enjoy a piece of their wedding while on their honeymoon. And because of our schedule, we do not upload heavily edited sections, just little bits for the bride and groom to see how much fun their wedding turned out to be!

So please do enjoy the fun clips, but remember to check back in several weeks for an edited clip from their final DVD!!!

Bailey-Harris Garden Wedding

2009-06-06T14:22:00.009-05:00

Kendra & Laramie were married at the groom's father's house on Lay Lake. It was the perfect setting for the couple, who were also joining together Laramie's two kids into their new family. Cute kids, by the way! During the ceremony, Kendra actually sang to Laramie!!!! Even if I could sing, I am positive that I would have been too nervous to sing to John! She did a great job, she got a little emotional, but that is to be expected.

After the short ceremony, everyone traveled to the Marriott on Hwy 280, where if you have read other posts, you know that I feel that the staff always goes over and beyond to make your event special. Fun day!

The following clip was taken from the ceremony, and ends with a little bit of humor.

Johnson-Anderson Wedding

2009-06-06T13:43:00.010-05:00

Kandess & Daniel were married on a beautiful Saturday at Reid Chapel on Samford's campus. This couple, along with their family were the nicest people to work with. I know their marriage will be filled with many, many happy years!

This wedding also gave us an opportunity to work with photographers that we had never worked with before. Brandon & Stacey Gresham with Simple Color. Husband and wife team that were so friendly and easy to work with. We would like to think that they are us on the photography side. At least we hope we treat everyone as great as they do and are as talented as these two.

When the evening was over, we even were given homemade apple butter as a favor for the wedding. Future brides: This was great idea! It was package in a little glass container with a customized sticker with their last name and wedding date printed on it. The entire things was decorated (even the ribbon and ink) was brown and pink, the wedding colors! I haven't tasted it yet, but if it as good as it looks, then I will be very excited! Update: Tasted the apple butter, quite delicious!!!!

Enjoy the following raw footage taken from their reception. Everyone was having a great time!

Personal stuff

2009-05-30T21:43:00.002-05:00

So I have had a lot of complaints that this blog is too work-related and not enough personal stuff is included. But I really don't know where to begin on that part.

Summer is here. John has officially retired at the ripe ol' age of 34 from Hoover City Schools! We are excited about this big step. When I became full time back in 2005, we were nervous for about 2 minutes, but then realized that it was the best thing we could have done. I think we both feel that way now about him retiring! I just hope that we don't have to continue to work 18 hours a day every day. Let's cut it down to 12! Honest days work, right?

Will is growing up more and more every day. He is talking up a storm and has such expression. Today, while I was shooting getting ready coverage for my girls at Reid Chapel, will stayed with his Aunt Jill and Uncle Brian. I packed a few toys to keep him entertained (since their house is not kid friendly!!). But I had forgotten that they were musicians! Will talked non-stop all of the way home about the drums that he got to play with. He was so excited!

Our 100 year old house is coming along. We haven't had much time to work on it in the past several months. My dad, who usually comes from Huntsville to help, has been doing so much work at his church, that he hasn't had an opportunity to major repair on our house. And when you think about it, with a house this old, everything is a major repair. Everyone always tells us that "it will be a showcase one day." That is just code word for "WHAT DID YOU GET YOURSELF INTO!!!!" But it's home...

I do love my wild and crazy life!

Byars-Benefield Butterflies!

2009-05-25T20:05:00.005-05:00

What a great day for a Sunday afternoon wedding. Jennifer & Caleb were getting married at 5:00 at Mt. View Gardens & Ballroom in Springville. It was a little on the cool side, but I try to never complain about such things! The rain ended about 1 hour before the ceremony start time. John and I had just arrived to find that the lawn side ceremony had been placed inside because of the rain. We were about to set the cameras up when it was decided to move everything back out by the pool!

Everyone who could started grabbing chairs! The owner of Mt. View, Debbie, was sweeping the puddles from the aisle so the dresses would not get wet. We had an assembly line for the white chairs to be reset outside. 200 chairs takes a little while, but with a few minutes to spare, we got everything rearranged! (And had time to mic the groom and get the cameras ready!)

It was a great wedding! Jennifer loves butterflies so they were incorporated into all aspects of the day. I have to say the multi-colored butterflies on the wedding cake was just beautiful!

Dawson-Ross Wedding

2009-05-18T10:51:00.005-05:00

Audrey and Spencer were married in a beautiful ceremony at St. Marks. We have worked at the church before, but its beauty never ceases to amaze me! And the lighting is great, which as videographers, we are a little greedy!

Everyone then headed to Mountain Brook to Park Lane for the reception. Fun times! The wedding party, wait, the guys had a lot of fun decorating the couple's car for the going away. The photographer, Catherine Cousins, and us, had a "fun" time taking everything off so that they couple could actually get into the car!

This next paragraph doesn't have much to do with Audrey and Spencer, but it is more about John and I's sense of humor. May not be funny to most people, but we thought is was pretty entertaining!

John and I were working this event together that night, so that is always exciting. We were joking around and talking about on Facebook vendors will post a picture of the venue they are working that night. I got a great shot of the church to upload and then as we were traveling to the reception at Park Lane, we joked about taking a picture of a black sheet of paper and posting that to represent the reception site! The joke is that although Park Lane is beautiful, it is always so dark that it is hard for videographers! But on this night, the lighting was superb - we were able to really capture the great details of Park Lane.

Season-Seelos Blowout!

2009-05-12T21:39:00.006-05:00

Congrats are for Meredith and Danny! The two were married at Riverchase UMC, with the reception at Ross Bridge.

We did getting coverage for both Meredith and Danny. (I go with the girls and John goes with the guys) Through that entire time, Meredith was so on top of things. She had previously arranged with a bus to take and pick up the entire wedding party, so of course, she called to confirm everything for the day. I saw her at one time, checking her email for a picture that could be printed for the reception. She did it all, while getting ready for her wedding. And I have already received a couple emails from Meredith on their honeymoon!!!

I was also impressed by the little touches that were incorporated into the day. My favorite were the vows that Meredith and Danny shared. They were actually the same vows used by Meredith's parents over 30 years ago. It was a pleasant surprise to her parents. What a neat gift! You know, that might be the video I go upload for them. Look for it soon (wait, who are we kidding, I am behind, look for it in a couple of days!!!)

Reynolds-Adkins Wedding

2009-05-12T21:22:00.006-05:00

So I am a little behind on this blog, but please bear with me as I try to log in all we have done so far in May. And I still need to upload video for several of these posts!!!

Another weekend, another beautiful wedding out on the lawns at Rosewood. If you haven't been to Rosewood, you must check it out. I am sure that I have mentioned it before, but as soon as you walk into their door, you feel like family. As a vendor, that is wonderful, as a bride, I can only imagine how great it must be!

Amanda and Chris exchanged their vows in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. The rain held off just long enough for us to finish the ceremony and cut the cake! Even though it rained and rained and rained, everyone still had a great time celebrating the new couple. The kids enjoyed running through the rain and jumping in the puddles!

Just as the couple was about to leave in a beautiful antique car, the rain stopped. We were able to get the going away coverage with just a few sprinkles. I hope the couple has a good time in the Greek Isles!

You know, no one ever invites the videographer on the honeymoon...

Eubanks-Adams Wedding

2009-05-12T21:08:00.005-05:00

Krista, what an amazing woman! I loved her the first time we spoke on the phone. I was so glad that we got to be a part of her wedding to a great guy, Barry. They were not just bride and groom getting married, they were joining two families. Barry had an 11-year old, Krista a 4 year old, both from previous marriages. (Don't quote me on those ages - I am doing this from memory and if you know me, then you know that there is a reason that I write everything down!!). It was very important for this couple to include their daughters in the wedding. And it was beautiful! Such a beautiful family, inside and out!

And it turns out that John and Krista went to high school together a long time ago (for John, not Krista)! Ha!!

So enjoy this dance footage from the reception at Rosewood!

Avalos-Ryan Wedding

2009-05-05T12:46:00.005-05:00

Vanessa came to us last minute needing a wedding videographer. She had hired a "national" videography company that turned out to be a scam! I was very glad that we were able to help her out! Most people have never hired a videographer before their wedding day - they don't know what/who to look for. It can be a little overwhelming.

She and Chris had a wonderful evening at Grace Hall at Mathews Manor. Debbie, her family, and her staff always do whatever they can to make the evening the best! Sure, the weather was terrible, but they couldn't do much about that!

Congrats to Vanessa and Chris! Enjoy this short clip of their 1st dance. As with all of our "honeymoon" clips, these are meant to be a sneak peak at some of the footage that we got at the wedding. It is lightly edited only.

Wood-Ray Wedding

2009-05-05T12:37:00.004-05:00

Congrats are for Jeri & Mark who got married on Saturday at Rosewood! Cute couple, she was so excited that the ceremony was finally over! (I think she might have been a bit nervous!) But it turned out beautiful! The rain held off long enough for the garden ceremony and most of the reception. If you haven't seen Rosewood, you need to check it out. New place, but they really know what they are doing! They make everyone feel like family!

So other than having a very active wedding weekend, we also had a very active weather weekend. There is nothing like filming the bouquet and garter toss with the weather sirens going off. Thank goodness for editing!

Recession

2009-04-23T16:40:00.007-05:00

I don't know about any of you, but I am so tired of hearing the doom and gloom from the media. I have always been a positive person and I hope that I will stay that way. I am not ignorant to the fact that there are many that have lost their jobs; I do hope that those people find employment very soon.

There is a lot of talk within the wedding industry saying the way are all "recession-proof." I don't know if that really is the case, but I do know that our business has not declined one bit over the past year. In fact, business is booming! People still want to get married, still have the wedding of their dreams. The following article taken from The Birmingham News talks about this subject.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/hoover.ssf?/base/community/124038828517990.xml&coll=2

I was so excited when I found out that this article was going to be coming out. Dorothy from Dorothy McDaniel's Flower Market spoke at a recent AWEP (www.alawep.com) meeting. She feels that the media is killing our industry. She is hoping that this article will put a stop to the negativity. Her business is booming too!

If you are a bride looking for an extraordinary wedding day, but need to cut a few corners, try having your wedding on Friday or Sunday. Many vendors offer a discount for those off peak days (us included)! I know that Mallory from Ross Bridge tries to encourage her brides that have their heart set on a wedding on the beautiful grounds at Ross Bridge to pick a Friday or Sunday wedding if they can't afford a Saturday night. It is a great compromise!

Just remember to not skimp on the video! At the end of your busy wedding day, you really won't remember hardly anything and you will have your photos and video to be able to remember the emotion of the day. Our videos are not just a point and press record kind of videos. It is an art! Ask me to mail you a recent wedding that we have done and you will see for yourself!

We have a bride that recently came to us looking for a last minute videographer. The company she hired was a national videography company that turned out to be a scam. It sounded like a great deal, but if you don't end up with a video, then it is not that great of a deal!

Green Berets!

2009-04-13T12:55:00.006-05:00

We had the privilege of being a part of a wonderful wedding on Friday. Kristi, the manager of Shoezy Q in Homewood, always wanted a beautiful wedding. Zach is a true Army guy, doing whatever was necessary to join the Green Berets. With the help from the finest (!) Birmingham Wedding Professionals, they were able to exchange their wedding vows in front of their closest family and friends at The Rucker Place. You would have never known that they only had approximately two months to plan the entire wedding!

We were able to avoid the severe weather and decided to have the ceremony outside in the gardens. It was perfect! William Jenkins, Producer of Here Comes the Bride, was there documenting the day. Look for their love story on an upcoming show! The Birmingham News is also going to do a story on this beautiful couple! And I believe the Perfect Wedding Guide will be featuring Zach & Kristi in their next issue!

The video clip comes from a photo session with the photographer in the gardens at the Rucker Place. I can't tell that Zach had just arrived home after being gone for months, can you! Ha!

The Kelly-Truelove Spectacular!

2009-04-11T20:42:00.007-05:00

Jordan & Justin might have come into our lives quickly, but it will take a long time before we forget their truly spectacular wedding! We were working/visiting at a friend's wedding on Friday, April 3 when I got a call from Beverly at Engaging Celebrations. She was in a panic and needed a videographer for the following afternoon/evening. Anyone that has ever met John or I knows that we will always do whatever we can to help someone. So knowing that we already had a small event that night, I called in our troops. Within 5 minutes, we had everything arranged so that Jordan & Justin would have a first-class wedding video. I have to say, that to date, that was the shortest booking we have ever had!

And what a great night it turned out to be. The ceremony was held in front of over 400 guests at the Sonnet House. It was a beautiful ceremony! The details that were included in the wedding were amazing! It really did seem that everything that was important to the bride and groom were represented at the wedding. Everyone had such a great time at the reception dancing to Groove Daddy!

I have to conclude with kudos to Beverly. That was one of the most organized events we have ever worked. For the last minute videographers to know everything about the wedding a good 18 hours before arriving says a lot about Beverly and her company.

Will's Birthday!

2009-04-11T09:16:00.003-05:00

So yesterday was the big day - Will is 2! Like a great mom, I made his favorite breakfast, Chocolate Chip Muffins! We had set up his new train table the night before, so after breakfast he walked into the den and there it was! So much fun! He jumped up and down when he saw it! Thomas, James and Percy are his favorite trains. He really enjoys running them on the track, but crashing them is also big fun. Will enjoys taking apart the track - it is not that easy to put it back together either. Admitting that it is hard to put back together is not that easy for me to do! I mean, college graduate here. Oh well.

FAQ

2009-04-09T22:17:00.013-05:00

Why should I get a wedding video?

Video is not what it used to be. John and I's wedding video from just 9 years ago looks completely different to what is produced these days. The skills that we have along with the techniques that we use really create a cinematic memory. We have had several brides and grooms that said that they felt that they were movie stars!

I actually met someone last night at a wedding that said her number one regret from her wedding is that she didn't get a wedding video. One of our organizations that we belong to (WEVA) did a study that showed just that. You really won't remember most of your wedding day. (And moms: you are too busy entertaining all of your family, out of town guests, and neighbors to even come close to grasp how beautiful your daughter's wedding day was.) Your photos and video will be all that you have at the end of the day. I have hundreds of emails from brides, grooms, and other family members saying how much they enjoyed their video.

What comes standard with every package?

For every one of our packages, we use at least a 2 camera setup during the ceremony. One of the cameras will be used for a wide, steady shot, the other camera, the close up shot. I love a close up shot. That is where true emotion is seen. We will provide a wireless microphone for the groom to wear. Keep in mind this is not for the entire congregation to hear, but just for the cameras. It will also pick up your audio.

Standard items during the reception include: introduction, cake cutting, 1st dance, daddy/daughter dance, mother/groom dance, beauty shots (decorations, flowers, all of the details of the day), people shots, and any dancing. All of this is included in the Basic package up until your time ends. The more your package includes, the more you will have on your video. Now if we see an opportunity to "shadow" your photographer to get other amazing footage, then we will, regardless of your package. We have always tried to give our customers more than they expect.

When does my coverage time start?

For every package but the Epic, coverage time starts at the start of the ceremony. Say your ceremony will begin at 6:00 - with the Basic package, your end time will be 9:00 - the Feature will cover until 11:00 and so on. We do arrive approximately one hour before the ceremony for setup. Unless your package specifies, we don't start rolling until the grandparents start down the aisle.

Can your packages be customized?

For many brides, our traditional packages are exactly what they are looking for. But because every wedding is different, sometimes our packages need to be tweaked so to match perfectly with an event. You can use the packages as a guideline.

How do I determine which package is the one we need?

To determine which package is best for you, start with your coverage time. If you are having a reception in your church hall and only plan to stay an hour, then our largest package, the Epic, would not be right for you. But on the opposite end, if you plan to have a reception that lasts until the early morning hours, then our Basic package is not for you. We have several add-ons that can be customized: Getting Ready coverage, Guest Interviews, Rehearsal Dinner Coverage, Photo Montages, anything you can think of, we can film!

Do I need HD?

We upgraded to HD cameras back in December 2006. (I believe we were one of the first wedding videographers in town to do this.) Since then we have been producing high quality videos for our customers. Everything that we film is in HD, but how it is delivered is completely up to you.

If you have a HD TV, watch the evening news on NBC13 vs. another local news program. The NBC13 broadcast is crystal clear - that is HD. Your video can look like that too! You just need a HD TV and a Blu-Ray player! We can deliver a Blu-Ray compatible DVD, HD DVD, SD DVD or any combination of those. The video quality is amazing!

Now if you don't own a HD TV/player and don't care about having the latest technology, then you will still get a very high quality SD DVD. We still film everything in HD, but it will just be down-converted to a SD DVD for you. The picture quality that we get with our HD cameras starts off better than if filmed with SD cameras.

Can I pick the music used in my video?

Please! Just provide us the artist name and title, we can download the song. We love the get the songs from you a couple of weeks before the wedding if possible!

We think we would like to have Main Street Productions as our wedding videographer, now what?

I always like to meet with potential brides - we need to make sure we click! During this meeting, I will also show you several short clips from previous weddings. This will not only let you see more about what we can do, but I will also be able to gauge your likes and dislikes. I make tons of notes so that I don't forget a thing!

How do we reserve Main Street Productions for our wedding?

To reserve your date, please fill out our Wedding Agreement (you can download it from the website). We require a 50% deposit, either by cash, check or credit card. For our Premiere and Epic packages, we only require a 25% deposit to reserve the date, with another 25% paid two weeks prior to the wedding. The reminder is not due until we deliver the DVDs.

How long will it take for us to get our video?

While on your honeymoon, we will send you a link to a short piece of video from your wedding. But the final video will not be ready for about 6 weeks. Sometimes it is shorter, sometimes a little longer, but always worth the wait! This is not a hobby for us, this is a business, this is our life.

How many events do you film per year?

For the 1st half of 2009, we have over 40 events scheduled. Not all of those are weddings, as we do corporate events as well. It keeps us very busy. We have a great team of people that work with us to ensure a timely delivery of all of our events.

Enders-Lauderdale

2009-03-30T21:17:00.004-05:00

Congrats go out to the new Mr. and Mrs. Grant Lauderdale! After a perfect ceremony at St. Mark the Evangelist off of Hwy 280, we were on to the Marriott Grandview for the reception. Beautiful church - we had actually never filmed a ceremony there so it was great to meet the wonderful people at that church. They were so helpful!

John and I spent our honeymoon night at the Marriott 8 1/2 loooonnngg (just kidding) years ago, so we are partial to the hotel. And just like they were many years ago, the staff at the Marriott was absolutely wonderful! They even raised the lighting a little for us, the light-greedy videographers, when it came time to cut the cake!

It was a great way to end our March Madness! It really did come in like a lion and out like a lamb! But wait, April is just as busy - what is the saying for it?

Goldstein-Schell Throw Down

2009-03-30T20:34:00.002-05:00

The term "throw down" is not a term that I use lightly. But this wedding reception was just that! Wow! I have never seen a grandmother dance like Stephanie's grandmother! Talk about shaking your tail feathers!!!!

Earlier in the evening, Stephanie and Teddy got married upstairs in Our Lady of Sorrows. But their reception was unlike any reception held in the church that we have filmed! There was a great DJ, a well-stocked bar, and plenty of food for the guests. We have hours of great dance footage that we can't wait to share with the bride and groom. Here is just a tiny bit of dancing just so that you can see how much fun everyone had!

Thomas-Kennedy Wedding Sparkles

2009-03-30T19:33:00.000-05:00

Shemika & LeBarron exchanged their wedding vows by the pool at Mt. View Gardens & Ballroom in Springville. I have never met a bride that loved sparkles so much - anything that sparkled. The details that she put into her wedding day did not go unnoticed. The first thing that caught my eye was her tiera; the sun hit it just right and she was sparkling! She even had tons of crystal swans all over the reception! We might have to add in some additional sparkles during the editing!

Johnson-Wearren

2009-03-30T19:25:00.001-05:00

Congrats to Natalie & Scott! After a rehearsal dinner at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, the couple was married in a beautiful ceremony at Canterbury, and partied the night away at the Botanical Gardens. The rehearsal dinner was filled with friends and family toasting the new couple and making a few wise cracks at Natalie and Scott! Enjoy the attached footage of their cake cutting piece that we uploaded for them on their honeymoon. Now on to edit the real thing!

Will is almost 2!

2009-03-27T20:52:00.000-05:00

So this post is for our family and friends that are always asking about Will updates. Well, it is happening right before our very eyes - he is growing into a big boy! (Whether we are ready or not)! Every day, wait, every minute, he is saying something new. Today for instance, he said "Hold you" when he wanted me to pick him up. This is a phrase common for babies, but as they grow older they begin to understand that it should be "Hold me." But after he said "Hold you", he paused and corrected himself by saying "Hold Me." I think this is a great illustration on how big he is getting.

Enjoy a few pictures of Will from the past few months!

Brandt-Britnell dance footage

2009-03-25T10:08:00.000-05:00

So while John was riding with the bulls, Chris (our Senior Producer) and I went off to shoot a wedding. Heather and Josh got married at Trinity UMC, with the reception at The Club. Cute, cute bride! Everyone had a great time dancing and celebrating. I even got to see some moms of former brides! Below is a short clip of dance footage taken at the reception. BTW, the band Nationwide Coverage ROCKS (Nothing against my DJ friends)!

March Madness!

2009-03-24T09:51:00.001-05:00

So I would really like to be able to write a personalized section for every wedding & event we do, but this time of year it is not going to happen. I am trying to be ok with that!

Earlier this month we filmed a cute piano recital, Seafari. These kids did an amazing job performing for their parents at the North Shelby Baptist Church. They colored a picture and wrote a poem to go along with their piano piece. Of course all related to the Sea. Get it, Seafari.

The next day, the Exceptional Foundation did their annual Chili Cook-Off. Wow, the amount of people that attended! Beautiful day for it too! Saw all of the wonderful attendants that we had just seen at Prom - although they were not near as dressy!

I did update about the Mikkel wedding - perfect day for an outside wedding. If you haven't already, check out the short clip that we did for the couple. Editing a wedding takes time, so we just threw together a few clips so that could see what great footage we got. Now, we never give away are best stuff! So more to come!

In this business, unusual jobs pop up here and there. John got a call that they needed crew for the Bull Riding Rodeo that was coming to the BJCC. Having never been to a Rodeo, he gladly accepted the 2-day job. It was tape delayed on Vs. network. These guys are crazy! John had a great time, worked very hard, but had a great time. We had Tivo'd the event and watched it the next day with Will. John really got a lot of air time for just being a crew member. And Will thought it was neat that "daddies" was on TV.

Feeling a little tired just thinking about this month.

Mikell-Brown Wedding

2009-03-09T22:17:00.000-05:00

What an amazing Saturday for an outside wedding! Congrats to Kandace and Michael on their nuptials and to mom Renee (owner of Rosewood in Pinson) for making it through the day! After the months of endless planning, I hope all three are taking a little time off to enjoy life.

Everything was just beautiful - the chandeliers in the trees, the flower centerpieces, and of course, the bride! If you haven't seen the new ballroom, you are not going to believe it! Amazing!

Not only is it great place to have your wedding, but you won't find better people than Renee and Bill! They made me feel like family and I was just a vendor!

Be looking for this wedding in an upcoming edition of Alabama Weddings Magazine!

Belk's Bridal Show

2009-02-19T21:36:00.000-06:00

It is the season for romance! Maybe you got a ring for Valentine's Day!!! Whatever your situation, mark your calendar for this Sunday to come to a FREE bridal event hosted by Belk's Department Store. Main Street Productions will be at the Alabaster store (Kerri), as well as the Summit (Angela). Please stop by and see our amazing video!

And if you are wondering about John, he is on dad-duty that day!

In response to Thank You post

2009-02-05T23:06:00.001-06:00

So John just read my previous post about the bride's mother. He said that I sounded like a commercial for myself. Not my intention!

This is my 4th job since graduating college 11 years ago. I liked my previous jobs to a point. But it wasn't until going full-time with Main Street Productions back in 2005, that I realized that this is what I need to be doing. Loving your job is something that most people don't get an opportunity to do.

If my pom-poms hit you as I was cheering, then I am truly sorry. I am not sorry for being proud of the company that we founded or for the work that we do. So there, John!

Thank you

2009-02-05T23:05:00.001-06:00

In this business our job is to stay in the background and capture all of the events of the wedding day. Not that it is a thankless job, but most of our work is behind the scenes. Most people never realize the hours that are spent making the beautiful keepsake that is their wedding video.

As far back as I can remember our track record is perfect, but nothing is greater than hearing the appreciation of a job well done. I just got off the phone with a bride's mom who was still emotional from watching her daughter's wedding video. She loved every minute of it! That four-minute conversation made my day!

Capturing the emotion of the day, the smiles and secret glances of the bride and groom, the exhaustion on the mother of the bride's face when no one else is looking, the little details that make up the wedding day - that is what we are all about.

So many times video is the one thing that a bride thinks they can do without, thus saving a little money in the budget. After the wedding the bride and her family always say that it is the best part from the wedding. I wish that I could make every bride realize the greatness of personalized wedding videos, but I really don't think I have enough time in a day. Or a big enough soapbox!

WILL-Power!

2009-02-04T20:06:00.000-06:00

So after my initial post, I had a few complaints that this was just a business blog from my friends. I guess it somewhat is, but a big part of our lives is our son, Will. From time to time I will update everyone about the latest and greatest with him.

2 years old, almost. April will be here before we know it. When I actually have a free second to sit back and think about these last two years, I am just in awe. Everyone is our immediate family thinks he is a genius, never mind that we are partial. I would like him to be smart, maybe then he won't live with us until he is 30!

His favorite game right now is to hide his toy/milk/whatever (in plain site, mind you) and then come over and ask you where it is. You point to it and then he throws his head back and says, "Oh, there it is!" This game is pretty entertaining for me the first time, but Will never gets tired of it.

When Pop visits and works on the house, Will is right by his side ready to help. Today he tried to help caulk a window! A little messy, sure! But we are freezing in this old house!

He is amazing! Lately he will even color while I work for almost 30 minutes! I think his independence is helping me feel more like my old self and get more done in a given day! All moms love these two things!

PROM!

2009-01-29T12:21:00.000-06:00

We are going to prom! But at least this time, I don't have to worry about what I am going to wear! Main Street Productions is excited to announce that we will be filming the Exceptional Foundation's Prom, held in February.

If you don't know about the Exceptional Foundation in Homewood, you must visit www.exceptionalfoundation.org. The staff works tirelessly to help mentally and physically challenged people in the area. We were delighted to film their Christmas program and just fell in love with these great people.

2008 Year in Review

2009-01-28T09:23:00.000-06:00

Since this is the first entry, I thought I would do a summary of last year. Bear with me as I try to be "hip" and have a blog!

Although we have been filming weddings and such for six years, 2008 was the year that we decided to really push the business. Sink or swim, right? John was ready for a very early retirement from teaching so we really felt that the time was right to make our business a full-time company.

So we started doing advertising. Now, truth be told, I really enjoyed surviving on just word of mouth advertising. I think it said a lot about us and our product. And it was a whole lot cheaper!!!! But the advertising that we selected was perfect for us and really started to get our name out there (more than it already was).

We met so many wonderful brides and grooms this past year! We really do feel that we are lucky to be able to be a part of such an amazing day. Early in the year, we had the great pleasure of being the videographers for Deidre Downs' wedding (Miss America 2005). She is such a beautiful lady! And her mom is so proud of her!

Our summer was not only filled with lots of weddings, but lots of kids too! Now, we only have the one, but we are fortunate enough to be a part of the Summer Workshop for Red Mountain Theatre Co (formerly Summerfest). John co-teaches with a lady from LA - she does the acting on camera part and John does the camera part! Although she might be able to learn his part, but it would not work the other way! 300 kids all day long for two weeks really makes you feel older than you are (or at least older than you think you are!)

Some families travel to Orlando during the summer to see the Mouse, but the Deavers, we go to a videographer's convention. WEVA had their annual show and it never disappoints. We were able to fly my father down with us so that he could watch our son, Will, while we went to workshops. John and I try to divide up so that we can make the most out of the short week. We both always come back with new ideas!

During the fall, we found out that our neighbor was selling his house, so we picked the one weekend that we had open to move all of our stuff across the street. It sounds funny and it looked even funnier! I wish I could say that everything is unpacked and organized, but that is not the case. Mainly because our new house is much older (105 years) and needs some updating to say the least!

During this time, we became the official videographers for the NBC 13 Throws a Wedding 2008. The couple was wonderful to work with and so appreciative of everything that was given to them. We really enjoyed working with all of the other vendors too!

The Christmas season is always a hectic time of the year. Lots of projects going out the door, but never quick enough to get it all done. And with an almost 2 year old, the season is a little crazy.

We look back on the year with fond memories of great customers. We are so thankful that we own such a successful business that takes pride in its work. We produce a quality product that pleases our customers. 2009 is expected to be even better than the year before and we will do whatever we can to make that happen. And maybe, just maybe, we will take a day off!