» Tips for Brides & Grooms | Wedding Ideas in Sarasota | Hints for the Bride or Groom | Rehearsal Dinner Party Ideas

Video ~St. Armand’s Circle Bridal/Fashion Show • 2011 Weddings in Paradise

Leslie — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:11:11 +0000

Video by Leslie Harris-Senac featuring: Les Ciseaux Salon & Spa, Standout Entertainment, Longboat Key Club, Sarasota Brides & Formal Wear and many other wedding vendors booths.

St. Armand’s Circle Wedding Show 2011 from Leslie Harris-Senac on Vimeo.

Jewish chuppah at Lido Beach Resort wedding

Other St. Armand’s Circle Wedding vendors include: Dick Peterson Photography, Kilwin’s Chocolates, Tommy Bahama, Visions Unlimited Video Productions, Inc., Lunches Pub & Grill, Longboat Key Club, Lido Beach Resort, Rental Depot and Blonde Cow Photography.

Questions to Ask Your Prospective Officiant

Leslie — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:22:37 +0000

• Are you available for our date and time?

• Is our ceremony venue within your travel area?

• Do you recommend a rehearsal to practice the wedding ceremony?

• May we personalize our wedding ceremony?

• How much experience do you have performing wedding ceremonies?

• Do you have any testimonials/recommendations from other brides and grooms?

• Can you refer us to other wedding vendors such as florists, videographers, photographers, cake bakers?

• Can you tell us how to get a marriage license in Florida?

• Do you have a demo tape/video featuring your services at an actual wedding?

• How much notice do we need to give you?

• What is your fee to perform as our Officiant?

• Does it include the Wedding Rehearsal?

• How much of a retainer do you require to hold the date(s)?

• When is the balance due?

• When can we sign the contract?

~Compliments of Nancy J. Taussig, Wedding Officiant, Barefoot Weddings

941/952-1440

with editing by videographer, Leslie Harris-Senac, Visions Unlimited Video Productions, Inc., of Sarasota 941/315-3456

An experienced clergy is key to your wedding ceremony success

Wedding Toasts, Quotes & Jokes

Leslie — Tue, 11 May 2010 05:07:38 +0000

Quotes that are heartfelt will help convey your love for your partner on the wedding day. Whether you use one in your wedding vows or in a wedding toast at the rehearsal dinner or wedding reception, it should reflect your personality. Enjoy this video of my favorite toast: Groomsman Toast at Beach House Restaurant on Anna Maria Island by Visions Unlimited Video Productions of Sarasota

You’re welcome to use one of these famous quotes for your wedding celebration:

I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another in a lovely constellation, where we will sparkle in the heavens forever. ~ Amy Tan

If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you’ve made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand.~ Anonymous

Just so you know, there’s a space that only you can fill. ~ Anonymous

You call it madness, but I call it love. ~Don Byas

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul. ~ Judy Garland

You’re nothing short of my everything. ~Ralph Block

The most precious possession that evetr comes to a man in this world is a woman’s heart. – Josiah G. Holland

Love one another
But make not a bond of love.
Let it rather be a moving sea
Between the shores of your souls. ~Kahlil Gibran

Grow old with me! The best is yet to be. ~Robert Browning

I love you
Not for what you are
But for what I am when I am with you ~Roy Croft

I have spread my dreams under your feet
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. ~William Butler Yeats
“There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends.”
- Homer, Odyssey

“Marriage, n: The state or condition of a community consisting of a master, a mistress, and two slaves, making in all, two.”
-Ambrose Bierce

“Love is the life spring of our existence. The more love you give, the happier you feel and the more love you will have within you to give.”
-Susan L. Taylor

“He is the half part of a blessed man
Left to be finished by such as she:
And she a fair divided excellence
Whose fullness of perfection lies in him.”
- William Shakespeare

“Heaven give you many, many merry days.”
- William Shakespeare

Love is friendship set on fire. ~ Anita Hodzic

Love is letting go of fear. – Gerald Jampolsky

Romance is about the little things. – Gregory J. Godeck

Jokes for the reception toast: (Use only for bridal parties with a good sense of humor)

By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you’ll be happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher. – Socrates
My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met. – Rodney Dangerfield
I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. – Rita Rudner
There’s only one way to have a happy marriage and as soon as I learn what it is I’ll get married again. – Clint Eastwood
Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight. – Phyllis Diller
The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret. – Henny Youngman
Boca Grande Groomsman

~Written by Leslie Harris-Senac, film maker and owner of Visions Unlimited Video Productions of Sarasota, FL

~ Crosley Mansion Groom’s Toast by Mollie Grady Photography

Unique Engagement Announcements

Leslie — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:39:15 +0000

Husband and wife team, Leslie and Mark shot this gorgeous sunset footage on Siesta Key at Turtle Beach.

At Visions Unlimited, we produce more than Wedding Videos. We also produce Engagement Announcement Videos that you can Email to friends and family, post to your facebook page, and mail as “Save The Date” DVDs.

This type of Love Story Tribute Video can be shown at your Rehearsal Dinner Party, during cocktail hour on a loop so that it will play over an over again, or on a large Projection Screen during your reception between salad and the main course. We can incorporate engagement photos taken by your photographer too.

The possibilities are endless. Please reply with some ideas of your own. Some of my best creative ideas come from people like YOU!

~by Leslie Harris Senac, Filmmaker/Owner of Visions Unlimited Video Productions in Sarasota, FL

Leslie Harris-Senac with Camera on Siesta Key BeachLongboat Key coupleBride and Groom

Wedding Videography – 7 Tips for Bridal party

Leslie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:01:52 +0000

Brides and Bridesmaids – Use nice purses and carry bags. You’ll be dressed up & only a beautiful hand bag will do. Plastic grocery bags do not look good in videography or photography; neither do plastic bottles of soda and water. It’s you big day! Splurge on some nice glasses or plastic champagne cups if you can. Wear waterproof makeup. Sweating and crying can cause makeup to run, and raccoon eyes are not a good look! Carry an adorable clutch to refresh throughout the night. (Some of my favorite video shots are brides applying make up in the mirror; a very sexy shot!)
Ask everyone – bridesmaids, groomsmen, bride, groom and everyone who may be on camera, to not chew gum. Gum chewing looks awful on video and your photographer will have a terrible time getting a decent expression on unposed photographs.
The groom will understandably be nervous, but ask him to remember, when it comes time to say his vows, to look his bride in the eye and say those words, to her, like he means them. (Some nervous grooms try to rattle the lines as fast as they can, while looking at the minister!)
Grooms – During your first dance, try not to turn you back to the videographer. You don’t need to look at the camera, but we do want to see your front side. (Trust me – it’s your best side.) This goes for all bridal party members. It’s just for one day. If you can play it up for the camera a bit, it’s all in good fun. If you’ve naturally got 2 left feet, practice a few dance moves before the wedding day, you’ll be in good form to “bust a move” at least once or twice during the reception party!

Dancing Bride & Groom in Tent

at Boca Bay Pass Club
If your videographer is using 1-Lux video cameras, like she should be, then it is alright to have the lights turned down low during dancing at your reception, but even 1-Lux cameras have limits, so be sure to go over this with your videographer. Generally speaking, if you can read in the light, it will be fine, but if it’s too dark to read, your video won’t have good colors. It’s a good idea to alert your banquet manager to this fact. Chandeliers look best when they are turned on!
Most photographers dress and conduct themselves professionally, but surprisingly about a third of them do not. To protect your wedding video, ask your photographer to not dress in bright colors or cut-off jeans, and not to get in front of the video cameras. You don’t want a loudly-dressed photographer distracting you everytime you watch your wedding video.
Relax and be yourself. You’re beautiful and a professional videographer will capture your true personalities with style in a flattering manner. ~ article written by Leslie Harris-Senac

My Wedding on Siesta Key Beach

Leslie — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 06:36:55 +0000

Mark and I will be celebrating 16 years of marriage June 2011. Siesta Key was the perfect location for our wedding ceremony since our favorite place on Earth is Crescent Beach. My dear friend, Vali Ann was my “Best Woman” singing Elvis and quoting from an old family Bible (passed down through generations on my father’s side.) My brother was in charge of transportation, chauffeuring us in a convertible to the reception site at historic Summer House Restaurant. We rode on Midnight Pass Road on the back, with the top down! (Needless to say, I had to redo my hair do after the ride!) Mark’s dad was his best man which was such an honor for us. Chef Paul Mattison was head chef and banquet manager for our lovely Champagne Brunch. Ralph Clemments was our photographer, capturing many beautiful moments. ~Things I would have done differently: hire a professional videographer and spend more on flowers. (Always hire professional a photographer and videographer for your priceless memories. Along with your wedding ring, you will want to pass these precious family heirlooms on to grandkids one day!) Floral arrangements can make everything, including your wedding video and photos, more beautiful.

After living together for years, we were surprised that getting married took our relationship to a new level; a higher plateau. After many ups and downs, I can truly say that our love grows stronger every day Mark and I are married. Here is my advise for newlyweds & married couples of all ages: Have a sense of humor Life is good when you have a sense of humor. Focus on the positive, give sincere complements often, have things you enjoy doing together and separately too, communicate, watch your wedding video together every anniversary, make plans for the future, enjoy the moment, do not try to change your partner. You can only change yourself.

“And in the end, the love you get is equal to the love you give.” ~ “The End” by The Beatles

Post by Leslie Harris-Senac of Visions Unlimited Video Productions, Inc. of Sarasota, FL

Pick Your Perfect Wedding Day – Check the Calendar

Leslie — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:19:43 +0000

Lakewood Ranch Bride with Her Groom

Planning a wedding in 2011? Make sure you take into consideration these holidays which could:

Distract from your celebration

Cause trouble for traveling guests who need hotel rooms

Require guests to cancel holiday plans with family

Interfere with religious holidays

Keep in mind that certain holidays such as Mother’s Day and Valentines Day are very busy for florists.

- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
-12th Night and Epiphany
-The Super Bowl
- Chinese New Year and Valentines Day
- President’s Day
- Spring Forward
- Palm Sunday and Holy Week
- Passover
- April Fool’s Day

- Easter Sunday
- Mother’s Day
- Shavuot
- Memorial Day
- The World Cup
- Father’s Day
- Independence Day
- Beginning of Ramadan
- Labor Day
- Rosh Hashanah
- Yom Kippur
- Columbus Day
- John Deere Convention in Sarasota
- The World Series
- Fall Back
- Thanksgiving
- Hanukkah
- Christmas
- Kwanzaa

Thank you Sarasota Wedding Company for Holiday Info

Beach Wedding Basics – Tips for Brides

Leslie — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:33:38 +0000

: Bride and Groom enjoy a Florida beach sunset

1. Get Help

The services of a wedding planner can be invaluable when it comes to your beach wedding. If you can, try to earmark part of your budget (about 10 percent of the total) for a planner. She can shoulder the burden of recommending and securing local vendors — and this is especially valuable if you require services specific to a destination wedding or an outdoor wedding, like tents & special food prep stations. A planner is also the behind-the-scene-queen that can create gift bags for guests, greet everyone at the airport, keep people busy with fun activities and get everyone where they need to be on time.

2. Schedule a Test Drive

Remember, unlike a wedding in a hotel ballroom or restaurant, guests are dependent on you once they reach the destination. Make sure you have adequate signage on the beach to direct guests to the ceremony spot. If the beach has limited parking, consider providing a shuttle service from a central location. A trolley for guests and a limo for the bridal party can make several trips if needed.

3. Take a Trip

If you’ve decided to tackle planning on your own, be sure to scout out beaches after you’ve finalized your guest count. You’ll need to know if there’s a limit to how many people you can bring on the beach and how certain spots might affect your set-up. You’ll also want to decide whether you want to have your reception directly on the beach. If so, you’ll need to make catering arrangements for the wedding reception and find a rental company that can provide you with all the necessary equipment.

5. Be Gracious

A good way to make nice with the local vendors is to send handwritten thank-you notes, with tips enclosed, when you book their services. (Remember that they can literally make or break your wedding, and a little goes a long way toward getting them on your side.) During the event itself, it’s wise to have plenty of small bills on hand for palm-greasing, especially for the delivery people who will be setting up your site to turn it into a wedding wonderland. Make sure to provide meals for your vendors at the reception. Usually your band or DJ will need to take a break, along with your photographer and videographer.

6. Forewarn Your Friends and Family

Clue guests in to your wedding’s sandy locale when you send your save-the-dates so they know to dress appropriately (no stilettos!)

7. Get a Grip

Don’t be upset if some of your closest friends or relatives don’t attend. Some, like your great Uncle Charlie, may not be able to traverse a sandy beach or sit in the sun for an extended amount of time. And while your wedding is, in a sense, a mini-vacation for you, it may not be the one they want to take! On the other hand, you may be surprised how many people will want to attend your wedding when it is on a beautiful barrier island off the coast of Florida. Sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico are so worth the trip.

8. Mind Mother Nature

Don’t forget to consider the climate when choosing your wedding dress & shoes. You’ll be swimming in sweat if you pair your fairy-tale satin ball gown with the beach’s intense rays. Go for lighter fabrics and silhouettes, and be sure to slather on the sunscreen or you’ll risk some serious burn. Make sure to go over these details with your make up artist. You want to look good for your wedding photos and video.

9. Be a Zen Bride

Don’t keep a constant eye on the time. Remember that you can’t control the environment (really, you can’t) and you may need to wait for the tides to recede or for the beach to empty a bit before you can start the ceremony. Keep an open mind — and remember that minor mishaps can sometimes make for the best memories (really, they can). But, be prepared. Consult the Farmers Almanac and your photographer for sunset times and schedule your wedding ceremony accordingly.

10. Pack Right

Whatever you want to have with you for the ceremony (vase, candles, etc.), you have to lug along to the destination (or ship it there ahead of time). Once there, make sure you can actually cart everything onto the beach with ease. I highly recommend coolers on wheels. They help keep things dry & free of sand while blending in with the beach atmosphere. Shy away from unsightly boxes unless you can hide them.

11. Call on a Courier

Don’t forget to plan for potential wedding presents. If you’ve got a ton of wedding gifts to take home, bring an extra duffle bag to pack them in. Ask someone you trust to keep a close eye on them throughout the day, and keep track of how many you have. Figure this out before the wedding so you’ll have a plan of action if you need it. Better yet, ask guests to make a donation to your favorite non-profit organization instead of bring wedding gifts.

12. Welcome Your Guests

Be sure to place an amenities basket at the entrance to your spot on the beach that is full of essentials for the day outdoors (suntan lotion, water, etc.) and goodies that will remind them of the setting — embroidered beach blankets with your names and wedding date, shawls for the ladies, or pretty parasols in your wedding colors, for example. (Video loves color. Include lots of bright colors in your decorations and bride’s maid dresses to make your wedding video really pop!) Flip-flops of various sizes are fun & useful party favors. Your DJ or musician should play music to help set the mood of your beach wedding. Tropical island & steel drum music works well. Acoustic guitar can give you a more classic feeling to modern songs, or a modern feeling to classical music.

12. Be Good Guests

Be respectful of wildlife that depend on the beach for survival. It’s home to many creatures and you are just visiting guests. Assign a friend or vendor to be in charge of “clean up.” Picking up water bottles, party favors, decorations, fireworks & anything plastic will help our feathered friends to live a long and healthful life. Ask them to visit the beach the next morning to insure nothing was left behind. Balloon releases are a big NO NO & illegal in places, because the plastic litter chokes sea life. If you use fireworks or sparklers, please pick up the spent pieces when finished. To many, our sea shores are a sacred place worthy of great respect and reverence. Enjoy your beach wedding and leave nothing behind, but your footprints in the sand!

13. Tie you hair back

With the wind blowing, you don’t want to be constantly brushing your hair out of your face. (Trust me, I see this all the time.) An up-do with lots of hair spray works well for brides with long hair. More often than not, you can count on anything from a light breeze to a gusty wind when you are at the beach. Be prepared by having your done by a professional make up and hair artist (Even if you just have the front up, you’ll be a lot happier.) Ask your hair stylist to add pearl pins or flowers. Schedule a “test run” with your veil, to make sure your hair style works with your wedding gown and veil. You will have enough on your mind on your wedding day without having to deal with your hair blowing around. You’ll look a lot better in your wedding photos and video too when you have it professionally done up right.

~by Leslie Harris-Senac of Visions Unlmited Video Productions, with excerpts from The Knot

Videographer & Photographer Checklist

Leslie — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:34:59 +0000

Pre-ceremony

Bride’s gown before she slips it on
Bride having her hair styled and makeup applied
Candid shots of the bride and her maids getting ready
Brides’ maids & MOB reacting to the bride in her gown
Bride heading to the ceremony site
Bride and her father just before walking down the aisle
Groom with his father
Candid shots of the groom and groomsmen getting ready
Groom heading to the ceremony site
Dramatic on-site landscapes (such as sand dunes & sea oats, lush woods, fields of flowers)

Ceremony site

Exterior and interior of the ceremony site before guests arrive
Guests arriving
Bridal party arriving
Musicians performing
Family members being seated
Processional and recessional
Bride and groom reciting their vows
Bride and groom exchanging rings
The couple’s first kiss
Bride and groom being introduced to their guests as a married couple
Bride and groom exiting their ceremony site
Receiving line
Bride and groom in their getaway car

Reception site

Exterior and interior shots of the reception site before guests arrive
Table settings
Menu and table cards
Guests signing the book
Food stations and bar setup during cocktail hour
Bridal-party table
Bride and groom cutting the cake
Wedding-party introductions
Guests seated at their tables
Bride and groom’s first dance
Toasts and blessing
Father-daughter dance & Mother-son dance
Bridal Party & Tribute Dances
Band or DJ
Guests dancing
Bouquet and garter toss, anniversary dance
Candid shots throughout the night
Bride and groom send-off

Close-ups

Bridal bouquet
Boutonniere
Shoes
Details on the bride’s gown
Details on the groom’s attire such as cuff links
Jewelry
Ceremony programs
Centerpieces
Hors d’oeuvres
Specialty drinks
Wedding cake
Party favors

Professional Videography is an Art

Leslie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:05:31 +0000

Sunset Wedding on Anna Maria Island beach

The Value of Professional Video

When you choose to invest in a professional videographer you’re honoring the importance of your wedding day. Only a trained and experienced wedding videographer is prepared to capture the details of your special day, from the rush of preparations at the beginning of the day, through the emotional moments of the ceremony, and the excitement of the reception. Afterwards, creative editing will polish your tape artistically and professionally to produce a video (or DVD) that not only documents your day, but is fun and entertaining to watch again and again!

Because your choice of videographers is so vital to the memories you will have after your wedding day ends, WEVA International along with top bridal consultants, advises brides to get an early start in the process of selecting their videographer, and to shop based on quality. Placing videography at the top of your priority list also ensures the best chance of securing your first choice, as todays videographers are booked far in advance.

Just like professional photography, pricing for professional videography varies widely, even within the same geographic region. Talent, technology, and time are three key factors which will affect the pricing of your video.

For example, you may find professional videographers in your area using cameras and editing systems that are similar. But it will be their skills, experience, style, and techniques in both shooting and editing that will immediately capture your attention and be the distinguishing differences you will notice in their work. This is why it is virtually impossible to shop by price alone when selecting your videographer. Professional wedding videography is an artistic, not a mechanical medium. Videographers shoot and edit video differently.

Video editing styles and quality can vary tremendously even within the same community. In order to make an informed decision about the distinguishing differences, and be sure that your videographer can match your preferences, it is best to see actual samples of work produced by the videographer who will be recording your event. When you stop by to see samples, you will also have an ideal opportunity to discuss your wedding details and style preferences before making your final decision. See great samples of wedding video by Visions Unlimited Video Productions, Inc. on-line, at my sister website:

www.SarasotaFilmandVideo.com

by Leslie Harris-Senac, of Visions Unlimited Video Productions, Inc,, Sarasota, FL

Member of WEVA (Wedding and Events Videographers Assoc.) International

~Excerpts from WEVA.com