Why to Consider Wedding Videography

I often encourage couples to hire a wedding videographer because the images that are captured during the wedding day on film, when combined with the work of an excellent photographer, can tell a complete story of your day.


I recently met with Grace and Henry, who were married early this Fall, to review their wedding day, ask for evaluation of my service, and find out if they have advice for couples planning their wedding...without hesitation, the lesson they wanted to share is: Don't rule out having a wedding videogapher!

Henry and Grace were not enthusiastic about hiring a videographer during the wedding planning process, but because many relatives in Taiwan would not be able to come to the wedding, the family wanted a video to share with them. Henry and Grace chose to work with Weddings on Film, and their sister company, Basico.

Now after seeing this short video, Menlo Circus Club, Grace and Henry-the video , Grace and Henry are incredibly grateful to have hired Weddings on Film to capture their memories in video format.

As Grace said, "I could not believe how quickly the day goes by; watching this short video is like reliving the day, but seeing what was happening from all different angles; the video is a treasure we would not want to have missed."

 I am excited to share James Burkart's creative film teaser of Tom and Angie's wedding day....enjoy the loving and unique phenomenon of "Tomgie"!

Tom and Angie, by James Burkart

Grace, Henry, and their Great Team!

Grace and Henry's wedding this weekend at Menlo Circus Club demonstrated the beauty of teamwork; Grace and her family spent many weeks and months creating and gathering elements which would intimately personalize the wedding celebration for them.

The vendors Grace and Henry selected became a dynamically supportive team to carry out professionally and passionately the plans and details Grace, Henry and their families had lovingly put together.  The wedding celebration day was full of warmth, laughter, beauty, and flawless execution, which would only be possible with a well-organized and enthusiastic team.

From the customized cake topper designed ordered by Grace from an Etsy artist to include details such as Grace's wedding hair style, Henry's  distinctive glasses and their new, puppy...

...to the escort cards (hand written and stamped by Grace's mother)  presented on a display board customized in Grace's colors by Hunt Littlefield,

...to  Grace's mother's hand-written labels for wedding cake/dessert buffet...

...to the one-of-a-kind "memory tree"  drawn and produced by Grace's mother,

 Guests loved the opportunity to leave their fingerprints as leaves on the tree to create a fun reminder for Grace and Henry of everyone who was a part of their wedding day.

...the details in Grace and Henry's wedding represented many levels of family love and creativity, especially that of her mother Nancy.

The team of vendors and venue staff who worked together to prepare for the wedding day, as well as to be available from beginning to end of the day itself was one of the best I have had the pleasure of working with during my wedding planning career. 

 The pre ceremony photo team included Lisa, her assistant fluffing the train, and my valuable assistant for the day, Tony White.

Pre ceremony photos were taken at Gamble Garden in Palo Alto by our wonderful photographer Lisa Lefkowitz.  Hair/Makeup Artist Maria Chang went from the Four Seasons Silicon Valley where she started the day with Grace, to Gamble Garden for these photos and then on to the Circus Club where she remained until Grace and Henry were introduced into dinner; Maria made herself available to keep Grace looking lovely and feeling truly pampered.  It was fantastic!

Lisa Lefkowitz capturing the golden moments at sunset time...with results below!

The Menlo Circus Club is a gorgeous venue for any celebration, but it is particularly perfect for weddings with its cozy ceremony site nestled under a sheltering oak tree and  surrounded by well manicured polo fields,

...and the Polo Patio beside the polo field for post-ceremony cocktails and after-dinner relaxation. 

Working with Barbara Brooks and her top-notch catering staff at Menlo Circus Club made each step of the wedding planning and wedding day itself truly a pleasure.

I want to thank the team of wedding professionals who were alongside me during Grace's wedding day and in all the months leading up to that day, for their commitment to impeccable service and attention to details, including each lovingly crafted family creation.

VENUE/CATERER:  Menlo Circus Club
FLORIST:  Hunt Littlefield
PHOTOGRAPHER:  Lisa Lefkowitz
VIDEOGRAPHER:  Weddings on Film, BASICO
DJ/LIGHTING/PHOTOBOOTH:  Denon and Doyle, Solomon Dauber
HAIR/MAKEUP:  Maria Chang
TRANSPORTATION:  Lone Star Limo
HOTEL:  Four Seasons, Silicon Valley
CAKE/DESSERT DISPLAY:  Sweet Tooth Confections
MOTHER/ARTIST: Nancy Law
JMW TEAM MEMBERS:  Tony White, Yvonne Fox

Tory and Zander, the Celebration!

What a joy to have been a part of Tory and Zander's wedding celebration on July 30th; it was a celebration of their love for each other as well as their love for their children. Kathryn Roethel wrote a wonderful article for the SF Chronicle which you can read by clicking the link below.


Tory and Zander
July 2011
Featured in the San Francisco Chronicle's Union Squared Series
"Carnival-theme wedding celebrates love of family"

For more information about this child-centered wedding, please read my previous blog post.

Another Huge Thank You to:

Nicole Sillapere, Sillapere Eco Events
Anne Millet, Mira Aster Stationers
Jon and Natalia, Got-Light
Natasha Miller, Entire Productions
Neil Adams, Blueprint Studios
Mike Whittle, Corporate Kids
Ethan Mantle, Componere Fine Catering
Alex Subrizi Photography
BethAnn Goldberg, Studio Cake
Paul Scheffert, SF Event Music
Kendall Peterson, Pure Luxury Transportation
George Rose, Elegant Journey Limousines
Eileen, Ritual Coffee Roasters
Armando Sarabia, Get Your Do Up
Miss Ember, Happily Ever Laughter
Daniel Swan, The Cheeseballs Band
Todd Outhouse, Rosewood Sand Hill
Terri and Dianne, Kohl Mansion

A Child-Centered Wedding Weekend

What could be better than having your face painted, then joining your friends/cousins for a buffet dinner of chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and strawberries?

Planning a summer wedding with the guest list made up of 70 children and 150 adults was a wonderful challenge for me this year! At the beginning of our brainstorming, the bride and groom let me know that each part of the wedding weekend was to be as Kid-Focused as possible, tailoring activities, foods, and decor to welcome and incorporate the children on every level. They wanted to do so in a way that allowed the adults to fully enjoy their time together celebrating with the bride and groom, knowing that not only were their children well taken care of, but they were having the time of their lives! I think we succeeded!

The weekend began with a Friday Welcome Barbecue, with entertainment, decor and food selected with kids in mind.

The welcome dinner on the lawn at Rosewood Sand Hill featured a Margarita bar for the adults, and a Mocktail bar for the kids. Featuring a menu of 8 hand-mixed specialty drinks using Monin syrups, sparkling water and fruit juices, each drink was named after the bride, groom, or one of their 3 children, who were of course in the wedding party! I must say, the candy display which was a part of the mocktail bar was frequented by many adults as well as children!

Soon after the guests arrived, our juggler/magician Thomas John, began moving among the children providing entertainment and humor to groups of 2 or 3 at a time. Just before dinner, we invited the children (and adults) to gather on the lawn for a juggling show, with group participation and lots of giggles to work up a healthy appetite!

The cozy day bed/couch served as a group seating area for the kids as they enjoyed their mocktails, candy, sliders, and barbecued ribs...

The same day bed/couch provided a cozy nap location after dinner when the parents were still enjoying their conversations, but the kids were ready to snooze after a long day.

After such a great welcome dinner, all the kids and parents were even more excited to see what was in store the next day at the wedding reception; we know they were not disappointed, because the fun never stopped!

When the children arrived after the wedding ceremony, and signed into their activities, they were greeted with a special kids-only buffet set up on the veranda at Kohl Mansion...

...as well as relay races, face painting, caricature drawing, parachute games, and even stilt walkers on the lawn to help get the wiggles out; after riding the shuttle from Rosewood Sand Hill to the wedding ceremony at Stanford, and then up to the reception at Kohl Mansion, it was time to MOVE!

After dinner, when the adults went into their elegant tent for dinner, the kids were invited into a Kids-Only Carnival area which included tossing rings on coke bottles for points and beating the Strong Man challenge by hitting the hammer on the base and ringing the bell at the top, eating unlimited popcorn, and claiming prizes when the right number of tickets were accumulated at the game booths.

The prize booth being stocked before the carnival games began!

As the afternoon/evening progressed, the action moved inside to another Kid-Only area for dessert (a cupcake display that highlighted flavors exactly the same as those in the huge wedding cake), story telling and and a magic show by costumed fairies, craft activities, quiet board games, and mats to relax and talk to friends about the excitement of the day.

When the band started in the Great Hall adjoining the kid's room, and the dancing began for the adults, many of the kids jumped into the action with their parents and danced the night away. However, several of the younger children were happy to curl up with a blanket in the lap of one of the child care workers, to just read stories and recoup after a very busy weekend!

There is much more to tell about this amazing wedding; I will be doing other blog posts, and the wedding will be written up in the San Francisco Chronicle soon; but one of the most unique aspects of the wedding planning and execution was providing responsible care and truly unique activities for the large number of children involved. I learned a huge amount in the year long planning process and feel privileged to have been trusted with this project.

It was the vision of my wonderful bride and groom, who desired to make this wedding weekend as much of a treasured a memory for their 3 children as it was for them; their vision gave me and my team the energy and creativity to think like children again! It was magical!

Thank you to:
Nicole Sillapere, Sillapere Eco Events
Anne Millet, Mira Aster Stationers
Jon and Natalia, Got-Light
Natasha Miller, Entire Productions
Neil Adams, Blueprint Studios
Mike Whittle, Corporate Kids
Ethan Mantle, Componere Fine Catering
Alex Subrizi Photography
BethAnn Goldberg, Studio Cake
Paul Scheffert, SF Event Music
Kendall Peterson, Pure Luxury Transportation
George Rose, Elegant Journey Limousines
Eileen, Ritual Coffee Roasters
Armando Sarabia, Get Your Do Up
Miss Ember, Happily Ever Laughter
Daniel Swan, The Cheeseballs Band
Todd Outhouse, Rosewood Sand Hill
Terri and Dianne, Kohl Mansion

Also, many many thanks to my invaluable Day-Of Wedding Team,
Tony White, Christine Brady, and Anjali Nagib

Stanford Band Surprises Nancy and Steve!

As Nancy and Steve left Stanford Memorial Church Saturday after their wedding ceremony, since Steve is a Colonel in the Air Force, they were expecting the formal Saber Ceremony provided by 8 of Steve's fellow officers.


Steve and Nancy even knew to expect to be stopped as the passed under the last pair of sabers, where they had to provide a kiss to satisfy all of the Saber Bearers...Steve was happy to acquiesce to that demand, as was Nancy! :)


But when they heard a whistle blow from behind the solemn arches of the Stanford Campus,


I am not sure they were prepared to see the Stanford Band come rushing out to surround them, lead by the drum major in a wedding dress.

You will notice that the gentleman in the white uniform, with the trombone, was also the first officer in the line up for the Saber Ceremony; he had plotted this surprise with the Stanford Band, since he is one of their regular trombone players, and has been since his University days!

The band entertained all of us on the quad with 5-6 songs; Nancy and Steve were out dancing with them and all of us were enjoying the "organized chaos" to the max!

Finally the Bride/Drum Major blew his whistle one last time, and the band rushed off into the distance, shouting Congratulations! and scattering into the hallowed arches of Stanford University!


This was one of those special moments in my work as a wedding planner that make me smile with pleasure; I love to see my couples surprised and overjoyed by a loving tribute from a friend...in this case the surprise was a rather raucous group of college students drumming, screaming, jumping, and surrounding them with enthusiastic celebration. Thank you to the Stanford Band, and to the "undercover" band member who was also in the Saber Ceremony!

The Jin Wang Experience

Jin Wang's Bridal Salon is in a bright upstairs studio on the quaint Maiden Lane, near Union Square, in the heart of San Francisco.

When I entered the wedding gown salon of designer Jin Wang on Maiden Lane in San Francisco, I was immediately drawn into the warmth, comfort and elegance of a space created just for brides and those close to them. Open by appointment only, Jin Wang Salon insists on the one on one personal care I desire for each of my brides to experience. I was pleased that I had recommended Jin Wang to Nancy over a year ago when she first hired me to plan her wedding, and that now I could be here for the final fitting, just weeks before Nancy's wedding day.

Nancy, her maid of honor/daughter, Maya (in her bridesmaid dress), and Jin Wang, at the beginning of the "dress rehearsal".

It was a privilege to observe Jin lead Nancy through the 2 hour "dress rehearsal" which Jin and her staff provide for each bride who purchase their gown in her shop. In addition to helping Nancy learn how to feel comfortable standing, moving and sitting in her gown, Jin provided tips on how to greet guests warmly with outstretched hands, avoiding the bear hugs that can quickly pull out her veil, and how to have her father walk just a step ahead of her down the aisle to avoid stepping on her train.

Maya has changed into her normal clothes to have her lesson in "fluffing" the train.

What I enjoyed most was seeing Jin personally demonstrate to Maya, Nancy's maid of honor and daughter, how to fluff her mom's train when needed. I know Maya will never forget that moment, nor will Nancy as she watched in the mirror.

After the fluffing demonstration my assistant Katie and I had a personal lesson from Jin about how to bustle Nancy's train after the wedding; most wedding gowns have trains which are beautiful for the wedding ceremony and photos; however moving with that extra material throughout the evening, can make it difficult for the bride to move around and dance. I am often the one who learns how to bustle the bride's gown, so I can help her on the wedding day; I think Nancy's will take a bit more concentration than some!

With 4 layers of chiffon and silk, there are 4 rows of 4-6 tiny loops and buttons, one row on each layer, which have to be connected in a certain order for final look of the bustled gown to meet Jin Wang's criteria for "perfect".

I was very grateful to have the designer herself there to coach us on which layer to begin with, how to hold the material as we work, and since the rows of buttons and loops are not symmetrical, how to be sure we have the correct button matched with the correct loop.

I took notes, and made drawings as did Katie...but occasionally as I look towards the wedding day, I wonder if I can call Jin after the wedding ceremony, when Katie and I are working together on Nancy's train...just for a quick review! :)

One other special part of the Jin Wang experience is being greeted by Bruno, the elegantly quiet and accommodating mascot for the salon; he was happy to be in the dressing room with his owner, Jin and enjoy Maya's special attention whenever she was not involved in the dress rehearsal!

Maya and Bruno, the shop mascot and dedicated bridal associate, always ready to calm nerves and accept attention!

It is a joy to work alongside such dedicated and creative wedding professional here in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have known Jin Wang as an extremely successful wedding gown designer here in SF, and have admired her work for years, but I had not had this opportunity to see her doing what she seems to love best....helping brides.

I can see that the passion she has for enabling her clients to feel totally beautiful and comfortable on their wedding day only begins when they select the gown. Before they leave her salon with that perfect wedding gown, Jin wants to know for sure that they will feel confident and lovely on their wedding day-- stepping into the limo, walking down the aisle, entering the wedding reception, stepping onto the dance floor, and making the grand exit with their new husband..
When Nancy, Maya and I left Jin Wang's studio, we could sense that Jin had accomplished her goal; Nancy was ready to move on from the dress rehearsal to the reality of wearing her wedding gown to walk down the aisle and marry Steve.