This video includes footage from Rome, Venice, France and the Dominican Republic.  Where you go to say “I Do,” make sure you have a professional there to document your journey.

Here’s why hiring a professional videographer for your destination wedding is important.

1.  Video is necessary. There will come a time when you look at your photo album and wonder, what made me laugh in that photo?  What did he say that brought a tear to my eye?  You can play your video 5, 10, or 20 years from now to find out.

2.  Many destination hotels offer on staff photographers and videographers.  Unfortunately, this usually means that you don’t have a selection – that there is only one choice.  That person may or may not be a professional in the field he will be booked for your event.  It is hard to attain assurances in advance when the person is not local.

3.  Once your video is taped, you will want it to be edited.  This takes a lot of time and a lot of correspondence to make sure it is being edited to your taste.  Working with someone in another location could entail language barriers, format issues, or just a lot of long distance phone and shipping costs.

4.  I have a BFA in production from NYU film school.  I have been professionally capturing events for the past 11 years and have traveled many times with my camera gear.  You want to be sure you are in good hands and don’t have to worry about anything going wrong on your wedding day.  Hiring a professional will take one more concern off your shoulders.

Jessica worked with other Bliss Collection members to plan a staged wedding.  We used actors for all the principle roles and then the entire group got together and contributed services to show what a beautiful wedding we could put on if we all work together on one event.

You can see the promo video we created from the day’s events on the Bliss Collection Website. I  also recently completed a behind the scenes look at how the day went, showing each of the vendors at work.

Here is a list of all of the vendors who participated in this event and what they contributed:
Bergerons Flowers & Events – ceremony flowers, bouquets, personal flowers, centerpieces
Blush Bridal Boutique – gowns for bride and bridesmaids
David Madison Photography – photography
The Finer Points – member of events committee, added event planning support
For All Occasions – member of events committee, added event planning support
Gala Cloths – tablecloths, napkins, chair covers
Jessica Pi Productions – videography
Leslie Kane - Mary Kay Cosmetics
M. Beem Jewelers – engagement and wedding rings, and bride’s jewelry
Makeup Artistry by Tracie Rosales – make-up application for bride and bridesmaids
MallowDrama – wedding and groom’s cakes
My Mobile Salon – hairstyling for bride and bridesmaids
Photography by Alexander – photography
Presentations – invitation suite, programs, escort cards, menus, table signs, custom-labeled wine bottles
Say “I Do” Your Way – officiants
Seasons Cards & Gifts – favors
Select Event Rentals – china, chargers, glasses, flatware
A Sound Plan – DJ/emcee
Stonewall Golf Club – event facility

I have already met with one of Stephanie’s 2010 couples and could tell that they are really enjoying working with her on the wedding planning process.

Stephanie has been in business for herself for a little over a year now and has been learning about all of the different venues and vendors in this area since she moved to Northern Virginia from Blacksburg last year.  Stephanie is extremely detailed oriented and able to take care of all of your wedding and event planning needs.

If you are interested in learning more about Stephanie, check out her website or visit her blog!

I recently sat down for coffee (well, tea, really) with Andrea Jacobson of The Observatory.  Andrea and I are both members of the DC Couture Wedding Consortium as well as the DC Green Wedding Consortium together.  We had a great talk about the wedding business and bigger things, like life in general.  I had a great time and the best part was when Andrea shared some of her current projects with me.

The Observatory, as you can see from these photos, does amazing work.  Andrea is not only the owner, but also one of the photographers.

The photographers for The Observatory are all unique, yet they all shoot documentary style.  Furthermore, as you will see if you visit ObservatoryPhoto.com – is that they all like to watch.

Pre-Production:

I meet with and talk to each bride and groom before their wedding day (assuming they want to meet!).  During the meeting we discuss what is important to the couple and what is not.  A wedding is a very special day, but there are often sensitive issues involved.  I like to find out, ahead of time, what the key moments and who the key people are that I or my associates need to focus on.

Production:

Like the photographers, we have to get the shot.  Framing, lighting, and remaining unobtrusive are key concerns.  In addition to getting the best shot we can get, we have the added elements of movement and sound to deal with.  I arrive an hour before the ceremony to set up both cameras and plant microphones as needed, before going out to capture establishing shots of the venue, flowers and the guests and bridal party arriving.

Sound: During the ceremony, we are sometimes forced to stay in a balcony far away from the the whispered, “I do.”  Sometimes a family friend is singing the “Ave Maria.”  We set up two – four professional wireless microphones during the ceremony, hidden close to the action, so you can hear her voice as she says “until death do us part.”  At the reception, we capture the toasts, blessings, and impromptu karaoke moments that would otherwise be lost in time.

This bride and groom were anxiously awaiting their video after they got their photos and could not figure out – “What was so funny?”  You want to be able to remember and hear the answer to that question whenever you share your photos with family in years to come.

Movement: Capturing big dance moves and sweeping shots of the beautiful venues and landscapes is always important, but so is being ready to catch small moments like a tear rolling down a cheek, or a hand shaking while trying to place a ring on a finger.  These movements tell a story, and the way we, the videographers, move to capture that story, sets the stage for the final product.

Post Production:

Post is where we spend the most time.  It is hard for people to understand, but video editing takes a long time.  Our typical wedding video takes between 4 and 6 times as many hours to edit as it took to shoot.  So, for example, a 6 hour wedding package can take anywhere from 24 – 36 hours for us to edit.  Part of that time is just the process – going through all the footage and picking out the best shots -  and part of that time is due to me being a perfectionist.  I do not personally edit all the videos that leave my studio, but I supervise every one.  Once the music is selected, the shots are chosen, the montages pieced together, the ever changing light and color leveled and corrected, and the audio mixed, I watch the entire video and tweak little things here and there to make sure it tells the story I know the bride and groom wanted to tell.

Only then do we master it onto DVD and send it off -  to get responses like this one, from Matilda and Richard:

“We did watch the DVD and we love it!  When my parents watched it my mom cried from start to finish.”

And then the video process is complete!

Jessica Pi Productions Photo Session Video from Jessica Piscitelli on Vimeo.

The 2nd Annual Washington DC Green Wedding Consortium’s Earth Day Giveaway is now accepting applications.  The wedding giveaway is comprised of the following eco-friendly prizes:

• Design Consulting Package from Elegance & Simplicity Wedding & Event Designers, Inc. worth $7,500
• Floral Design & Décor Package from Elegance & Simplicity Wedding & Event Designers, Inc. worth $2,500
• Event/Venue Space Rental of the Stephen Decatur House Museum worth $6,500
• Event cuisine by Occasions Caterers worth $5,000 (Couple MUST pay labor fees, associated taxes, delivery, rental fees for serving pieces and alcohol)
• Music services by Disc Jockeys On Call worth $2,500
• Lighting, fabric draping, furniture rentals From Ampa Events worth $9,000
• Bridal Styling by Polished Image & Style worth $1,000
• Linen Rentals from Table Manners worth up to $1,000
• Photography services from Ralph Alswang Photography worth $5,000
• Photography services from Andrea Jacobson of The Observatory worth $5,000
• Videography services from Jessica Pi Productions worth $3,500
• Wedding Cake from Cakes by Design worth $650
• Make-up Artistry from Carola Myers worth $250
• On-site hair services by Elegant Hair by Giselle worth $250
• Officiating Services from Jim Burch worth $350

Once you have read all of the rules, regulations and guidelines (and are in agreement with ALL of them), please click on the application survey link here.

Official Rules, Regulations and Guidelines can be downloaded here.

All applications must be submitted online by October 20th, 2009 by Washington, DC Metropolitan area residents only.  Ten Finalists will be chosen for in-person interviews.  The winning couple will be announced on December 9, 2009 at the DCGWC Holiday Party!

Apply today!

The Washington DC Green Wedding Consortium consists of the leading green wedding professionals from the Washington DC metropolitan area.

This was also my first time getting to work with Lisa Nelson, of Elegant Event Design.  She was such a joy to work with and she did an amazing job of both planning the wedding, and designing the whole event.

I asked Lisa about her experience designing this event for the couple, and she had this to say:

“It was a lot of work – a lot.  But it was really refreshing to be able to see everything come together, from the monogram, programs, menus, favors, linens, food, look and feel.

Most importantly, there was a feeling of love in the air.  Everyone loved everyone else so much – and it made it that much more intimate and special.”

I have to agree with Lisa.  It was a beautiful day.

Lisa recently interviewed me for her blog.  You can read my answers to her well phrased questions here.

This was my first time meeting and working with Randy Woods, of Wicked Willow.  They did an amazing job with the floral arrangements for the ceremony and the reception.  The flower design really made the event, and it all looked great as you can see in the amazing photo.

The photo is compliments of Rachel Smith, who was also a great person to work with, and a first time for me as well.  She was easy to work with and seemed to be everywhere the day of the event – a good thing in the case of your photographer.  You can see more of her work on her website.  Click here to learn more about Rachel Smith.

So far we know that Ralph Alswang and Andrea Jacobson will be photographing the Earth Day wedding.  Jessica Pi Productions will once again be providing wedding video services for the event.  You can see last year’s Green Wedding video here.  Debbie Delardi, of Cakes By Design, will be providing some more delicious cake to the lucky couple.  With Carola Myers doing makeup, and Elegant Hair by Giselle doing hair, the bride will look beautiful.  Ampa Events will lend some decorative and practical touches to the already swanky Decatur House.  Aaron Couch, of Disc Jockeys on Call will be keeping the party going with his deejay services.  And, of course, Elegance & Simplicity will be providing the floral arrangements.

We wrapped up the meeting by getting to know one another a little better.  Present at the meeting but not previously mentioned were Stephanie Ward, of Punk Rock Bride; Nicole Wolf, of Sota Dzine; Michelle Slaughter of Herpresign; Jim Burch; Ashlee Van Veen of Documentary Associates; and Ann Cooper of Table Manners.