One of the great experiences as a wedding videographer in San Antonio was the first time I walked in The Chapel of the Incarnate Word. This unbelievable cathedral is located near downtown San Antonio at a Catholic University and is quite possibly one of the most ornate spaces I have ever been inside. Of course there are tons of rules in a jewel like this which makes our job as wedding videographers a little more challenging, but we manage and what comes of it is quite amazing.

Melissa, a sister to one of our previous clients and friend Amanda, emailed me early on in their wedding planning process and I could tell right away, she had a beautiful wedding day planned. Fast forward to the day of and you would have found us right in the middle of a “MIST STORM!” It never quite rained fully that I remember, but it seemed to mist all day.  That wasn’t going to damper anything on Melissa and Tony’s wedding day and in the video, you will see they actually had a private dance in the rai… errr.. MIST just for our cameras. Truly amazing sports! Tony was a huge asset in his own right as he helped in any way he could throughout the day and really hit a home-run with me when he offered our crew pre-ceremony sandwiches! (you will see one of the sandwiches in the video as well!) Tony, congrats buddy. You found an amazing wife and I know you will enjoy your lives together for a long, long time.

Spring Hill Event Center: springhilleventcenter.com
Photographer: kurtiskronk.com
Floral Designer: Brenda Fry
DJ: Jesse Vallado
Caterer: Leave it us
Cake Designer: Cathy Young
Wedding Dress Designer: sotteroandmidgley.com
Wedding Dress: lasposa-laredo.com

Kindred Oaks is a lovely wedding venue located just north of Austin in Georgetown, TX. It’s tucked away in a greenbelt area with beautiful trees and landscaping with all the needed amenities for a lovely evening.  We love the scene with the large doors in the video as it adds a rustic touch to a very special venue.

Tessa and Zach are friends with Jordan & Shelley. Jordan and Shelley were the very first couple to get married in front of our cameras a few years back now he were are coming full circle! We met with Tessa a full year before her wedding and quickly saw how sentimental she was, and were absolutely honored at the confidence she had in us to create a memorable wedding film for her and Zach. We want to take this time to say Thank you to her for choosing us to be there with her on what we know was an unforgettable night for them. On top of this group being outrageously fun – Tessa and Zach paired us with Matt Montalvo and Joel from GreenbeltDJ, two of our absolute favorite wedding pros (both have Spotlight Articles on the TWT Blog and are also featured on our Brides Dictionary to weddings. We had an amazing time and hope you love this video.

Venue: Kindred Oaks // www.kindredoaks.com
Photographer: www.mattmontalvo.com
Floral Designer: Zuzu Petals – www.kindredoaks.com
DJ: www.greenbeltdj.com
Band: Joe Stampley
Caterer: www.capitalbarbecue.com
Cake Designer: www.michellespatisserie.com
Wedding Dress: www.bellesaisonbridal.com
Mancino Iron: www.mancinoiron.com
Austin’s World of Rentals: www.austinsworldofrentals.com

Every now and then in life, you just know it’s right. From the moment I sat down at Jason’s Deli in Dallas and started talking to Amy about her vision for her dream wedding in Maui, I knew that the film was going to be extraordinary. She didn’t just want a video of her wedding day, she wanted a film about the experience of going to a far away island, taking on many adventures, as well as marrying the man she has been waiting for her whole life…  and I wanted to be the person to film it! These two are quite possibly the most giving people we have ever worked with. We tried our hardest to film live, and not interrupt their vacation with their closest friends and family, but from time to time we needed them to wait for us, and they always did so with a smile.  I want to take this time to thank them personally for inviting us along and we couldn’t be happier with the video. Amy and Jonathan were married on a bluff at Kapalua Bay at the Merriman Lawn in Maui, HI on September 8, 2011. Watch this short film to see the adventure they took leading up to the most beautiful wedding we have filmed thus far. Without further adieu…

Songs licensed @ http://www.themusicbed.com/White-Dress-408.php // http://www.themusicbed.com/Hand-To-Hold-693.php

Lauren and Matt had a beautifully orchestrated ceremony at the Smith Family Chapel at Riverbend Church followed by a dreamy reception at Chateau Bellevue at the Austin Woman’s Club. We have filmed at Smith Family Chapel a number of times but the big surprise was Chateau Bellevue! This was our first time working at the beautiful reception venue and as you can tell from the video, the couples details mixed with the classic “Manor” style ballroom made for an amazing evening. I don’t think Lauren stopped smiling all evening and it’s easy to see that Matt is behind that! These two are a beautiful couple with amazing support from their friends and family. Thanks to both of them for having us out for an incredible time.

Venue: Smith Family Chapel // http://www.riverbend.com
Reception: Chateau Bellevue at Austin Woman’s Club // http://www.chateaubellevueaustin.org
Photographer: http://www.phillipglickman.com
Floral Designer: http://www.westbankflowers.com
Ceremony Music: austinpianist.com
Solo of “Heavenly Day” by Patti Griffin performed by Miranda Dodson: http://mirandadodson.com
Reception Music: http://www.theargyles.com
Caterer: Austin Woman’s Club
Cake Designer: http://dreambakery.com
Wedding Dress Designer: Enzoani.com
Purchased at: http://www.blushbridallounge.com
Alcohol and Beverages supplied by:
Spec’s Liquor: http://www.specsonline.com
Deep Eddy Vodka, with special thanks to John David Potts: http://www.deepeddyvodka.com
Republic Tequila, with special thanks to Chantz Hoover: http://www.republictequila.com

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It’s easy to see why Monica and Carlos choose these two great locations. This couple looks perfect together, and their personalities couldn’t be a more perfect fit. Both unbelievably sweet, caring, and always doing their best (even on their own wedding night) to make sure their guests were comfortable and having fun. Monica and Carlos are the very definition of why we do what we do and we think it shows in their short film. Queen of Angels Chapel is located just outside of Austin, TX in a small South Lake Travis community called Spicewood. The area is some of the most beautiful terrain in Texas and begins what many call “Hill Country” or “God’s Country.” Towering above the tree line, Queen of Angels is a beautiful timeless chapel with a wonderful atmosphere for a wedding. The natural light that is allowed through the 20 foot tall stained-glass windows is the first thing you noticed, along with the dark stained wood work in every direction. Monica and Carlos first mentioned Queen of Angels Chapel in an early meeting but they didn’t go into much detail about Spicewood Vineyard! This was our first time at the Spicewood Vineyard and it’s simply stunning. Warm tones mixed with classy rock and stone make for a wonderful color palette that’s there before you decorate.

Venue: Spicewood Vineyards // http://www.spicewoodvineyards.com
Coordinator: Jenny Burton // www.spicewoodvineyards.com
Photographer: www.finnrosephotography.com
Floral Designer:  www.lfvaustin.com
DJ:  www.soundsourceentertainment.com
Band:  www.austinmariachi.com/
Caterer:  www.sullivan-street.com
Cake Designer: Sylvia Damuth
Slideshow Designer: Laura Llanes

Music licensed through http://themusicbed.com & http://songfreedom.com

The Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas hotel is an exquisite resort for any extravagant wedding to occur.  This luxurious wedding locale is the epitome of beauty and grandeur. As wedding videographers, we have been honored with the task to cover some of the most extraordinary weddings in some of the most paradisiacal spots on earth. The Riu Palace in Cabo is no exception, and it may be one of the most breathtaking wedding venues one may chance upon. The Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas offers a variety of wedding packages, ranging from more traditional style weddings to others that are comparable to royal treatment.

Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas

The impressive architectural masterpiece includes a five-story building embedded with 642 guest rooms, lush balconies or terraces, numerous sea view rooms, bars, and a gym. The wedding venue/hotel also has the benefit of being relatively close to a nearby airport and just three miles away from downtown (in case you want to keep the celebration going on all night). Other amenities on the property include two large swimming pools with adjoining jacuzzis (867 sq meters each and heated in the winter), two safe children’s swimming pools, a lobby bar, a lounge bar, a “La Plaza” bar, tennis courts, volleyball courts, an array of restaurants, daytime entertainment (music, shows, etc.) and more!  So, if after the wedding you are exhausted or just feel entranced by the inherent magnificence of the venue, feel free to stay and enjoy your honeymoon at the Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas – because this location is an ideal backdrop for those future memories as well.

 Shanna and Zach really felt like family to me. Their laid back wedding at The Orchard near the Dallas/Ft. Worth area felt like home. Being from a small Texas town myself, the relaxed, yet elegant setting along with their beautiful outdoor ceremony was truly one of my favorites. These guys had a great group of loving family and friends to surround them on their day and tons of cute personalized details. The trailer really shows how their personalities and love for each other comes together in an unforgettable evening. Enjoy!

Shanna and Zach’s Wedding Ingredients ~

Venue – The Orchard – theorchardtx.com
Coordinator’s – Heidi Nettles – theorchardtx.com
Photographer – saraandrocky.com
DJ – djconnectiondallas.com
Floral Designer – www.edensecho.com
Caterer – www.citykitchen.com
Cake – www.deliciouscakes.com
Dress – www.bellasbridal.net
Live Music – Troy Murph and LaRae Berry

1st song licensed @ themusicbed.com/Love-on-My-Arm-185.php
2nd song used with the permission from The Josh Abbott (joshabbottband.com) **SPECIAL THANKS!!

If you’re looking for a romantic paradise to spend your wedding, there is not a more exquisite resort than the El Dorado Royale. With its lovely Caribbean landscape and striking beachfront environment, we can’t think of a more beautiful place to say I DO! Having been there ourselves and experiencing the amazing service and amenities this resort has to offer, we cannot recommend it any higher!  This wonderful resort is known as a “Foodie’s Dream Location” with over 10 gourmet restaurants servicing fresh foods, many of which are grown in on-site green houses!  The food at El Dorado was one of our absolute favorite parts of our trip to the resort.

The Wedding Theater specializes in capturing the beauty of some of the most extravagant wedding venues in the world, and this Cancun spa resort allows for the bride and groom’s deepest imagination of their wedding to come to fruition. The El Dorado offers a variety of wedding packages; whether you are hoping for a more traditional wedding or a one-of-a kind romantic experience, the El Dorado Royale is an ideal spot for the most important day of your life.

The beauty of the setting – the crystal blue water, the soft light sand, the breathtaking views of the Caribbean – reflects the amorous moments shared by future husband and wife and those closest to them. Ceremony packages include a Mayan Ceremony Wedding, Butterflies Wedding, the tropical grounded Pure Passion wedding, and the splendid Silver and Gold packaged weddings.

 If your a fan of Austin, you already know that one of our jewels is Lake Travis. With its picturesque sunsets, Lake Travis is the theater to many weddings we here at TWT have the privilege of filming. The Oasis, also known as “The Sunset Capital of Texas” is a large restaurant that has transformed into a small town! Mandy and Scott came to us about a year ago as a referral from one of our favorite clients from the past, and when they first mentioned the Oasis… My mind immediately began to wonder! What a wonderful evening we had, warm, but just cool enough to be comfortable in the Summer Texas heat! Please enjoy our newest trailer, Mandy+Scott!

Song Licensed @ The Music Bed: https://www.themusicbed.com/I-Found-You-699.php

Kimberly and Josh were married at Villa Antonia near Lake Travis in Austin, TX.  The venue is unbelievable and the couple was even better.  Josh and Kimberly’s wedding was decked out in beautiful purple and white, and included one of the most extravagant “candy bars” we have ever seen!  On top of this being one of the best couples, we were able to once again work along side two of our favorite wedding professionals, Jona & Jerry from Forever Photography! Please enjoy the newest trailer from The Wedding Theater, Kimberly + Josh.

Song licensed @ The Music Bed : http://www.themusicbed.com/Until-You-1290.php

photo by Kurtis Kronk Photography | www.kurtiskronk.com

A New Generation of Wedding FilmMaker is a series of articles we are releasing breaking down the differences between a modern-day wedding filmmaker and a wedding videographer. The first topic and probably the most controversial in the business is that of music. Read below to find out more!

1990's Wedding Videographer

Wedding Videographers have been around for as long as portable consumer video cameras have been around. When you think of videographer, you typically think of a boring video being filmed by a person lugging around a big camera, or standing in the back of the room quietly with a camera on a tripod. Thats pretty true of a videographer because the definition is someone who makes a movie with a video camera. That’s it!?! We still use the term videographer because that’s what many people search but in fact we are wedding filmmakers: meaning we use more than just a camera to make your wedding film. There are cameras involved, but only as a part of the big picture. We use “grip” which is basically anything that supports the camera to keep the film interesting. Sometimes that is a steadicam, other times a linear track system, and even monopods, tripods, and a jib/crane system. We also use location audio recording equipment and specific lighting to create the best environment for making a movie. All of this combined with a crew of talented, well-trained individuals makes for the short films you see on our website. Live events filmed to look like movies, but none of it would work without a soundtrack….

1990's Wedding Videographer

There has always been great confusion amongst wedding videographers over the use of music in their wedding films. What music can I use and what can’t I use. Well the real answer is, licensed music is the only legal way to go.  We would like to tell everyone a little more about this in hopes of educating those who might not know about it because we too were in those same shoes not long ago, but we have found a great option and its only fare we share it with you!  For the last few years there has been a slow but steady movement by music licensing companies to provide an affordable option for wedding and event videographers, but up until now the libraries weren’t worth spending the money on. Now they are. With the help of people actually paying for the service, a few companies have reached out to record labels and secured the rights to songs for use with event videos. Finally we can afford to use good, solid, soundtrack music in our wedding films. The company we have partnered with is called SongFreedom. SongFreedom allows us to license music for our wedding films in an affordable way. They were the first company offering a small library of popular music and have since grown into a leader in the industry. We couldn’t be happier to support them and all musical artists by paying for the ability to use their music. As filmmakers, we consider ourselves artists and wouldn’t appreciate others using our work illegally and that’s why now that there’s an affordable option, we are calling all other videographers to do the same and STOP the illegal use of music in their wedding videos. More videographers signing up with companies like SongFreedom will provide more resources for SongFreedom to go to the record labels and acquire more music for all to be able to use. On top of that, their amazing browsers give you a great option for finding new music by genre, mood, etc. which gives the ability to open your eyes to new music that you might really like as well as offering popular artists like One Republic, Colbie Caillat, Rob Thomas, David Gray, Jason Mraz, and the list goes on. (These artists are listed from SongFreedom)

What does this mean to you the couple who is about to be married? Well as you can see by watching a few of our trailers here on the front page, the music we are putting in our trailers is amazing and it will allow us to create a soundtrack for your wedding film specific to you!

Hummingbird House Reception Area

The Wedding Theater is experienced in filming scenic venues that assist in making weddings an everlasting memory for those involved. The Hummingbird House, conveniently located in South Austin, is undoubtedly a unique location to have a wedding as the subtle beauty provides an ideal backdrop for any wedding ceremony, wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, or even birthday party. The phenomenal landscape totals 5 ½ acres of some of the most extravagantly kept gardens consisting of lush greens, blooming flowers, and large palms that will delightfully stun anyone not acclimated with such beauty.

In addition to the outdoor exquisiteness of The Hummingbird Gardens – perfect for wedding photos I may add – the Hummingbird House also embellishes in the interior qualities of bridal and groom suites only matched by few, as well as a 3200 sq. foot tent elegantly draped and complete with the amenities needed for your special wedding day: tables and Silver Chiavari chairs for 200 guests in the reception area, a bar area, full audio, and heating and evaporative coolers. The walk down the aisle will be eternalized in the memories of bride and groom, as well as friends and family, with luscious green lawns running alongside Onion Creek behind an opulent pool deck, spacious side aisles accommodating up to 200 guests, an ornate covered patio, and other beatified aspects only experience can accurately describe. Please contact hummingbirdhouseaustin.com for more information about planning that day you will remember forever.

We are excited about our newest package option offerings. Titled “The Short Film HD 1080p”, this package is a 4-6 minute cinematic short film, chapters with the full ceremony, and toasts, on a custom designed DVD. We take the best of the best moments, and much like our trailers you see on the website, build a short but exciting film including all aspects of your wedding plus we include the RAW footage on a hard drive for you to enjoy years down the road.

You’ll receive your wedding film on custom designed DVD’s which are perfect for sharing with your friends and family to continue to remember and enjoy for years.  One of our favorite options is in what we call The Wedding Theater Vault, included with all of our packages.   In the digital age of video, no videography studio is able to keep archives of projects forever because of the amount of space video consumes on hard drives. To further serve our clients every client in 2012 will receive a hard drive with all the footage that we shot, as well as all the files we would need to make more edits down the road.   We are the only wedding videographers we know of, that are offering this, and makes it possible for us to make future changes to your wedding DVD, as well as make more DVD’s.

Vintage Villas on Lake Travis continues to be our most popular destination for weddings!  The beautiful views that Vintage Villas brings of the west setting sun are breathtaking and it’s easy to see it’s attractiveness.  More importantly, the staff that works out at VV are the most accommodating and friendly we have worked with.  Caroline and Jason’s wedding happened on a very rare day when Austin decided to get just a few drops of rain in the middle of very long drought.  I thought this was very unique and special, and I think they felt that way as well.

Tina and John had a very sweet wedding out at Nature’s Point. Photography was provided by Sweet Caroline Photography, one of our favorite photographers in Austin! With ceremony in the Garden, and the reception following on the deck over looking beautiful Lake Travis, Nature’s Point once again provided a dream wedding for the happy couple!

Even though we all know in Austin, Texas it only snows once or twice a year and the date is hardly predictable enough to plan your winter wedding on a beautiful snowy day, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a gorgeous white winter wedding. Aside from the striking winter decorations available to suit the winter theme, there are many trends that I am absolutely enjoying as a guest of the wedding. Besides, the snow here is much more likely to be sloshy sleet, anyway.

Trend #1: Hot Chocolate Bar

This one is self explanatory and delectable. We are seeing a lot of winter weddings offer not only the regular bar with trendy drinks involving winter flavors like peppermint and cinnamon or eggnog, but a bar with hot chocolate and marshmallows in mugs! It keeps the hands and stomach warm and is a wonderful alternative for those guests who have to drive home safely!

Trend #2: Silver accents opposite lace

As one might expect, silver reminds people of snow, icicles and winter, so we’ve been seeing whites and silvers and greys in every decoration surrounding the day, from bridesmaids dresses and jewelry to table settings and invitations. True, the closer your event is to Christmas and New Years, the more white/black themes we see coming into play, which is always in and always classy, but unless you’re intentionally playing up the holiday instead of your special day, we like the silver, whites and ivories better.

Trend #3: Poinsettias and Holly

Your wedding is in winter, so why try to hide that with summer flowers? We love seeing these winter berries and flowers around if your theme is tone-on-tone, they work so well opposite the icicle white and silver colors. The poinsettias are rich, warm and smell wonderful and the Holly adds the benefit of 2 rich colors for a stunning contrast.

Trend #4: Baked Goodies

Gingerbread men, s’mores and white coated candy bars have been popping up like crazy in the most recent of winter wedding trends. Chocolate with peppermint and nutella with a hazelnut frozen to a spoon for stirring into warm drinks have also been a hit as either a table goodie for your guests or a party favor to take home.

Trend #5: Blanket Favors

This is my favorite. It have only seen it at a few receptions, but I believe the idea is growing on people. The couple provided white fleece blankets for the guests (granted, not for every single person but for every group of people who came together) with a tag that said “Bundle up cause ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside!’” with the idea that they would use it during the reception and take it home as their favor.

Here at The Wedding Theater we are hard at work editing and preparing for a very busy Spring 2012, as we will be the busiest we have ever been!  A few months back, we shot at the beautiful wedding of Kimberly and Josh at the gorgeous Villa Antonia wedding venue.  This incredible venue overlooks the Texas Hill Country in Northwest Austin, and was paired up with an equally incredible couple.  While working weddings, we meet all kinds of other vendors, and had  the great pleasure of again pairing up with one of our favorite wedding professionals, Forever Photography.

This morning, we received a pretty exciting email saying we were featured on the Little Black Book blog, written by Style Me Pretty, a blog focused on the best wedding vendors in the industry.  Style Me Pretty isn’t just any wedding website.  To be featured on their site, vendors are put through an extensive interview process, that may take up to six months! Only the best vendors make it onto the site, giving couples a great resource to finding the perfect photographers, videographers, catering services, and all the other necessary vendors

Read the article on Kimberly+Josh’s beautiful wedding over at Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book blog.

A New Generation of Wedding FilmMaker is a series of articles we are releasing breaking down the differences between a modern-day wedding filmmaker and a traditional wedding videographer. Second in the series of articles is the topic of cameras!

Wedding Videographer of Yesteryear!

Videographers have been around for many, many years. In days past, they consisted of usually one person with a large and sometimes expensive video camera who would stand on the perimeter of whatever was happening and film events as they happened from a distance. Most of the time the camera was on a tripod, which limits how exciting the video would be. It was also somewhat obtrusive (even as the videographer would stay out of the way) just because a tripod and large camera tend to really get in the way and stand out no matter what. Long boring clips of video which no one could really afford to edit were delivered to the bride and groom and it got the job done. The cameras were large and so expensive that having more than one was simply out of the question.

Canon 5D Mark II DSLR HD Camera

Today, things are much different. Companies like Apple and Canon have made it more affordable to actually use a few different cameras and edit together the footage so it feels more like a movie. The cameras The Wedding Theater uses are called DSLR cameras. Heard of them? You likely will have heard the term because they are in fact the exact same cameras and lens that most professional photographers use. Movies are simply a number of photos in a specific order, so why not allow us the use of the same camera? Technology will continue to move forward, and who knows what that will bring, but those bright beautiful images you may be dreaming of or already see from a professional photographer basically come to life and that’s what our films look like! The lens array that was already in place for photographers now allows for sharp focus and a beautiful 35mm look in video. Cameras such as the Nikon D800, Canon 5D Mark II, 7D, 5D3, 60D, and T3i all have different uses and are small, portable, and deliver a much brighter, more colorful image than most prosumer camcorders.   All of our films are shot, edited, and delivered in 1080p 24 fps HD quality, which what these modern cameras do best!  We offer Blu-ray as well as standard DVDs, and TWT goes a step further in our packages including a hard drive with digital versions of all your videos so that you can back them up, or upload them as you please!

Did I mention lenses?  So the thought that a camera makes video look like film is only partially correct.  Lenses are pretty much the rest.  We have found that using very fast (meaning lenses with low aperture) in our industry are absolutely a must.  Why?  Well in videography you never know when your going to get caught in a low light situation.  Our L lenses from Canon will mostly catch more light than your eye, meaning the image we film is brighter than the environment we film it in!  Each lens has a different purpose, whether its a long lens for get close ups, a macro from getting small details, or an ultra wide for a landscape time-lapse or steadicam shot, make sure that your videographer has top notch lenses, and a back up of each in case one gets damaged!

The fact that the cameras are much smaller means tripods are only a small part of what we use to support the cameras, allowing for other piece’s of grip (anything that holds or moves the camera I.E. a tripod) to be used and a whole new market of portable equipment has been invented and offered so that now we can move the camera while filming. We use an array of portable film making equipment that allows us to create stunning pieces of video in a hurry!  Come back for another article on wedding videography grip shortly!

Austin, TX – November 22nd, 2011 – TheKnot.com, the largest wedding website online, offers couples wedding planning tools, directories, and services to help plan every detail.  What makes the site so popular is that it provides wedding announcement websites, and extensive listings of venues, ideas, vendors, photographers, and videographers.  Each year, The Knot chooses vendors which exemplify the highest level of professionalism, reliability, and client satisfaction.  These selected vendors are known to go above and beyond expectations, and give an unmatched level of service and attention.

In our continued pursuit of providing clients the highest level of satisfaction and service, The Wedding Theater is proud to announce being chosen for “The Knot Best of Weddings” for the second year in a row.  We couldn’t be more excited or honored to receive this award, and look forward to another year of capturing wedding memories.