LET’S CREATE MAGIC.

Writing

Ok, so you’re not exactly screenwriters or poets per se, however, you do have the ability to tell a great story(your story) through writing and dialogue. The more material we have to work with the better, it helps us build a story structure when editing your film.

Here are a few ways to give us good dialogue:

Personal Card - Give each other a card to read the morning of the wedding. You can write it between now and the day of the wedding, make it personal, speak from the heart and use it as a time to reflect before you officially say “yes” to your person.

Your Vows - Personalizing your vows is another great way to tell your story in a real authentic way. Your vows are solemn promises, it’s a beautiful way to make your personal promises to each other. Be thoughtful and really think about the promises you want to make to each other, make it personal, write it and re-write it if you need to and feel the feelings! If you are having a church ceremony we have often had couples share personal vows in private before the wedding, it usually happens at the first look.

The Ceremony - In addition to your vows, readings, poems, scriptures and reflections spoken at you ceremony are also gold when it comes to telling your story. They evoke emotion and are personal to you. Take your time and read through some of these readings, poems and scriptures, choose what you both really connect with. Think ahead and choose someone you know is a great speaker or very creative who would be ideal to write a reflection or come up with a poem.

The Speeches - Ah the speeches. It’s important to mention all those worth mentioning and the “Thank you’s”. Your speech is not something to rush through, make it personal and speak from the heart, write it, re-write it, practise saying it aloud and how you want to deliver it. Don’t be afraid to give it your all. In Ireland it’s been more traditional for only the groom, both fathers and the best man to speak. However, in recent years, we’re thrilled to see a little diversity when it comes to giving the speeches. Across the globe it’s common for the bride, both mother’s and maid of honour to give a speech and we are here for it. Having a mix of speakers can add a little more emotion, whether it’s romance or witty humour, from our experience, the more the better! Not to mention, having both perspectives from men and women create a harmonious Balance in telling great stories and giving great speeches.

• Not only do personal and well thought out speeches elevate your wedding film, but they elevate the entire experience for your guests. We have seen over the years how guests are sitting on the edge of their seats waiting to hear what’s coming next in a truly authentic written speech!

Sound bites - This is all the audio we pick up throughout the day as we are shooting. This can come in the form of your friends wishing you well, jumping for joy at how beautiful you look, or just having the craic and enjoying all the celebrations. These sound bites help transport you back to your day when you’re watching your film.

Puppy break before we move on :)

Cinematography

Ok, so this is our area of expertise. We have a developed a family recipe of multiple camera setups, lens choices, cinematic beauty shots and raw documentary shooting styles that elevate each moment in their own way.

It’s super important to us that you are completely comfortable in our presence. Trust that we know what looks best and we only use the best, don’t be shy, be free, be yourselves, have the craic and have a good time. It’s a wedding, a day of love and celebration, we are here to celebrate you, we blend in, working as a team with all vendors to capture the very best moments of your day.

Acting

This is an element that is not needed. A great Hollywood film requires great acting. To convey the same greatness in your film, you need to be natural and be real.

Don’t try to pose, don’t try look your best, don’t hide from the camera, don’t be nervous... Believe us, you look incredible, you have never looked better! We are on hand to keep an eye on your hair, your dress, your bow tie, to make sure your shirt is tucked in. We are your mirrors all day and we hone in on the details. During the portrait session, it’s when we pop out or go for a walk about to capture just the two of you. Somethings you can do is to take a nice slow walk, look at each other, admire each other, share your love, tell each other how good you look, have a hug, have a kiss, keep it going, whisper private jokes or sweet somethings. Just enjoy each other on this very special day - this is what will look so good and natural on camera. The best smiles are the natural ones. Video is motion, so keep it moving and enjoy it! Most of us have been raised to look at the camera and say “cheeeeeese”, that's fine for some photos, it doesn’t translate in video, it juts looks a little awkward so juts embrace each other and have fun! If you need any directing or guiding we will give you some guidance :)

Directing

This does not mean just directing you on the wedding day, but more of an overall “direction of the film”. Some weddings are incredibly romantic, some are hilarious and some are very emotional. Your day will be our guide in where the film will go in editing.

Your vows, the speeches, all the spoken words, the emotions evoked during the day, the tears of joy and meaningful moments caught on camera are the elements we lean on when crafting your film. It guides us to the right music for sound design. This is the secret sauce for weddings films, and the reason why you should share with us your true authenticity, realness, energy, emotions, personalized vows and speeches. If you are a fun couple and want all the laughs then lean into it throughout the day. If you are madly deeply and romantically in love then lean into romance on the day. Save lots of time to go over the readings you pick, the song choices throughout your day and the speeches you will craft and share with one another and to a room full of your favourite people.

Are you both still with us?

Production

Overall quality production is a combination of all the elements coming together to create the best possible film that reflects your day. Your love, your families and friends, the venue, the details, the flowers, the dress, the suit, the vows, the emotions, the fun, the dancing… all of it comes into play. Our best advice is to stretch out the day as much as you can and embrace it all.

Allow adequate time in the morning to just sit with your bridal party and closest family and friends to have a chat, a cup of tea, look through your jewelry, admire your dress, pop a bottle of champagne, go for a round of golf or a swim in the sea, crack open a new bottle of whiskey together and sit around for chat and catch up. You don’t want the day to feel rushed. As cliche as it sounds, it really does go by so fast, so slow it down as much as you can and really live in the moments. Think about the moments that hold significance to you, is it time with your family? quite moments shared in private, the dj that’s starting late in the night… let us know these moments that mean a lot to you, if the dance floor and dj is something really important, book additional hours as this madness comes later in the night. If the quite intimate and private moments mean a lot to you, let us know and we will plan to take you away from all the action for a few minutes, you can have a little glass of champagne and tuck into a corner together or go for a walk around the grounds and admire your wedding party from afar.

Between now and the wedding let us know your thoughts and ask us anything, we are more than happy to share our knowledge and experience with you.

Here are some great ideas of what we’ve seen in the past at weddings that always bring out the love…

• Write a thank you card to your parents, loved ones and bridal party

• Give a little thank you gift to your parents or loved ones

• Write a thank you note to each guest(this one takes time but wow, it gets a reaction)

• Have a first look (where you see each other before the ceremony, we are sooo here for this)

• Have a first look with your dad or mom(also love this moment)

• Have a first look with your bridal party (same, the bridesmaids love this)

• Have your granny be the flower girl

• Have a couples session a few days before the wedding (like a mini engagement session, add’s you in your more real “light” to the video and we love it)

• Do personal vows before your wedding (again, so here for this)

Final notes

Your wedding day is a beautiful day of celebration. It’s a day that binds the two of you together for the rest of your days. It does carry with it a weight of emotions, fun, excitement and beauty. In saying that, it is equally just another day, here now and gone tomorrow. You have trusted teams to capture all the memories for you, our best advice is lean in, be present and completely and wholeheartedly embrace it all.

You likely will never have the same group of people all in one place together again. Take the time to really hug your people, make a list of the photos you want with your family, best friends or grandparents, Let us know if someone baked the cake, if your friend is singing at some point, if there is a special gift for someone, anything that you have noted, please let us know.

on the wedding day, get up early and go to bed late. When you are about to walk down the aisle, take your time, breathe, look at those looking back adoring you. During the ceremony, be present, hold hands, look to one another, listen to the words being said to you, for you and take it all in. When you are pronounced married and you kiss, kiss again and again and make it last!! When you're about to walk out of the ceremony give your parents and loved ones a hug and a kiss, we are in no rush, take your time, look to each other and have a kiss, have a dance, feel all the feels and enjoy it.

You’re giving us more time to capture those epic once-in-a-lifetime moments!

Don’t sweat the small stuff, if it rains let it rain, we have umbrellas and the rain won’t stop us going out. If something doesn’t go according to plan, chill and let someone deal with it, delegate and pass it off. We can spend months and even years planning everything, it essentially one big party so party like there is no tomorrow. Finally be yourselves and just enjoy it.

We absolutely love what we do and cannot wait to create magic with you. As always, let us know if you need anything, last minute crisis, shoes, tequila… whatever, we are here for you!

All our love,

Aoife + Emilly xoxoxo

Thank you for your time, ok bye :)