Destination Wedding Videos

Chelsey+Neeraj // Villa Siena

9/18/2024

Back in Gilbert for another wedding at Villa Siena, but first, a quick stop down the street at St. Annes Catholic Church for the ceremony. Since this would be my first wedding at this location, I made sure to show up early to walk around and scout locations for the pre-ceremony events. I noticed morning mass was still underway, so I quietly brought my equipment inside. I was soon greeted by the church's event coordinator, Jean, who was kind enough to show me the getting-ready locations for the bride and groom. As usual, the bride's space was much larger than the groom's. Luckily, we had planned for this possibility prior to the wedding day and elected to recreate the groom's prep later at Villa Siena. After gathering some establishing shots of the exterior of the church, the husband-wife photo duo, Aslan and Andria, arrived. I had been looking forward to working with these two for some time. As I introduced myself, the bridal party made their way into the church, followed by our bride, Chelsey. We made our way to check in with her and grab the flat-lay content. I always let the photographer lead the way with the flat lay arrangements; it's certainly not my area of expertise. Lucky for me, Andria was kind enough to allow me to grab some shots of her arrangements. I returned to the bridal suite to retrieve the dress and made my way to one of the few spots with shade outside to hang it. Aslan snapped some photos, I grabbed some wide shots before we both moved in close for some detail shots. I noticed a spot of light beaming into the small prayer room where we were hanging the dress. I love posing details in interesting light, so I retrieved the bride's shoes to do just that. After details, we returned to the bridal suite so our bride could step into her dress. Originally, the plan called for a first look and private vow exchange; however, things were running a bit behind, so we ended up adjusting course. It's always good to remain flexible and work in extra time on your wedding planning for situations like this. Guests took their seats, and the ceremony was underway. Catholic ceremonies have their pros and cons as a videographer. On the pro side, they offer a predictability that allows me to stay ahead of the events as I know the specific order and content that will be needed for the films later. On the other hand, you have to be extra respectful of the religious and sacred areas, not getting too close to the alter, and keeping a lower profile as you move around the venue. Priests typically aren't fans of photographers and videographers. Readings were read, vows and rings exchanged, and the couple shared their first kiss before exiting the church. After packing up, I headed over to Villa Siena for the remainder of the wedding day. It's pretty typical for guests to have a break between the ceremony and reception. Chelsey & Neeraj elected to use this time to capture their family and bridal party photos. I was very excited for the next event. In Indian culture, it's customary for the groom to be paraded into the venue in an event known as a barratt. The DJ Gilbert had an awesome audio setup that allowed his sound system to walk with the crowd, giving amplification to the music from the start of the parade to the entrance to Villa Siena. Too cool! Being a one-man show, I still wanted to get as many different perspectives of this moment as I could. I elected to place my different cameras along the parade route, switching as I passed by each. I first started with my drone getting an aerial shot of the group, then moved to my gimbal for some motion shots, and lastly to my handheld 80mm lens for some tighter details. This gives me the content of three videographers and tons of flexibility in the editing room. I forgot to mention the forecast called for triple-digit temperatures today, and the parade route would be mostly in full sun. As the music and drummer played, the dancing began, and we began the roughly ten-minute walk to the front gate of the venue. In his black tux, our groom didn't miss a beat, dancing every step of the parade route. I admired his dedication, but after the moment concluded, the symptoms of heat exhaustion set in. Luckily he was able to recover inside, and we moved onto grabbing some groom prep shots to match Chelsey's content taken at the church. The couple elected to have their reception in the courtyard where Villa Siena typically has their wedding ceremonies take place. Pro tip: if ever possible, PLEASE have your reception outdoors. The evening lighting truly makes the moments extra magical. The couple was introduced and shared their first dance. Neeraj welcomed the guests, and dinner was underway. When the lighting was just right, we headed out for sunset shots. There is something about the hotter Arizona days creating the most magical lighting in the evenings. Back at the reception, the couple heard some speeches and shared a dance with their respective parents. We moved inside for dancing, where Genuine DJ's kicked off the party. After grabbing some shots on the dance floor, my coverage came to an end. Until next time!