Brides and grooms rode in complimentary limos and trolleys around Anna Maria Island to explore unique wedding & reception venues. Mother’s of the bride met with qualified wedding vendors in person to discuss wedding  plans. They asked  questions, face to face, with videographers, photographers, DJ’s and wedding officiants from Sarasota & Bradenton. Thank you for visiting us at the AMI Chamber of Commerce to view our wedding videos and ask about videography at the Visions Unlimited Video Production booth. Did you sample different cakes and drink options for cocktail hour? This “hands on” wedding festival was all about getting the info you need and booking the vendors your like. Wedding vendors offered specials for festival attendants; and I’m happy to extend Wedding Video Bridal Show Specials if you ask. We have some great bargains. Over $10,000 prizes were given away, including some amazing gift baskets at our “Mock Sunset Beach Wedding” at the Sandbar Restaurant. Bridal make up and hair was by Body & Sol Spa and Wellness, Island Wellness and  A Victorian Bride. Flowers & bouquets for the Mock Wedding were provided by: Flower Girls of Sarasota.

Thank you to those of you who came to see us in person. We had a great time! For more info on our next Wedding Festival, look for updates soon at: http://www.amiweddingfestival.com/ (Give us a little time to recover from the Best Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival ever!)

Anna Maria Island Festival promo video by Leslie Harris-Senac, Film maker and owner of Visions Unlimited Video Productions, Inc. of Sarasota, Florida. It features a lovely English couple who attended the festival and booked all their vendors in one trip! They later returned to get married at the Sandbar on Anna Maria Island.

(Visions Unlimited has been an Anna Maria Island Chamber Member since 2006)

~blog post by Leslie Harris Senac of Visions Unlimited Video Productions, Inc.

Anna Maria Island Groom and Bride after their beach ceremony

Another example is before the ceremony even starts. One of the most emotional times of the wedding day that we shoot, is the “Getting Ready” of the bride and her bridal party. While the bridesmaids are primping, the groomsmen are often playing golf or relaxing before the big moment. Having 2 cameras allows you to see what your future spouse is doing before the ceremony. Often, we’ll get comments of the bride and groom. It’s a great opportunity to capture the excitement and anticipation of sharing a life together. I love to ask grooms what they’re looking forward to, and they’ll often tell me of their dreams and goals. He can talk about why he first fell in love with his bride. Funny stories can add another layer of depth. When edited in to the wedding video, it can be quite profound. Adding meaningful comments like this to your wedding video makes it a priceless keepsake.

~ Photos & article by Leslie Harris-Senac of Visions Unlimited Video Productions, Inc., in Sarasota, Florida

Beach Wedding filmed by Leslie & Mark in Destin, FL

DO plan an outdoor wedding if…

- You want to host a Dove Release. (The represent peace, love, unity, prosperity and new beginnings).

- You have a special attachment to a particular type of outdoor setting.

- You enjoy spontaneity and natural beauty.

- You want to set your celebration apart from other weddings, perhaps even your own previous weddings if one or both of you have been married previously.

- You want to blend religious traditions in a flexible, non-denominational setting. Non-religious weddings are perfect for outdoor settings.

- Your wedding ceremony will be part of a multi-day wedding event. (Plan on a brunch the day after your wedding for more time with family and friends.)

- You’re organized and able to plan for a variety of scenarios. (Make sure to have a tent or covered area to retreat to in case of rain. Plan B needs to be considered.)

- You want to increase the amount of time available to share with loved ones by holding both your ceremony and reception at a single location. (You will save money and time when you eliminate traveling long distances to your reception.)

- You’d like to include dogs or other pets in your wedding service. (Be careful; pets can steel the show if you aren’t careful. If your pet is not VERY WELL TRAINED, I would not recommend including them. I’ll add another post to my blog about PETS & WEDDINGS – coming soon.)

- You want to create a wedding celebration that is unique, personal, distinctive and memorable. (Your wedding should reflect the bride and groom’s  personalities.)

- You can be a Zen Bride. Don’t keep a constant eye on the time. Remember that many tropical islands run on “island time” — things happen when they happen — and keep an open mind. Minor mishaps can sometimes make for the best memories ~ honestly!

DON’T choose an outdoor wedding if…

- You hate surprises. (This is one of the charming things about outdoor wedding locations, you DO NOT have control over everything. Often charming and spontaneous things happen. You need to have a sense-of-humor & be open minded.)

- You will be horribly disappointed if the weather is uncooperative and everything does not go according to your plan. (Some of my most favorite sunset portraits were shot as storms threatened… and later arrived. These are also some of the most memorable weddings. The bride who takes it all in stride will accept whatever comes & ENJOY IT!)

- You’re seeking to simply be different or to upstage your friends. (Sometimes the simple weddings can be the most profound and heartfelt.)

- You don’t like the outdoors. (This is a no-brainer, but I’ve seen brides who just aren’t comfortable with an occasional insect or windy breeze. This made it hard for them to relax.)

- You need controlled and staged surroundings.

~Written by Leslie Harris-Senac with excerpts by Kim Knox.

Outdoor Garden Wedding

The wedding vows are verbal articulations of the bride and groom’s feelings for one another, ‘for better or for worse.” Physically making the vow can be as simple as “Will you marry me?” & “I will”. Traditional rituals can be traced back so far that the actual meaning becomes marred, even within research. An example of a traditional Pagan wedding ritual vow is as follows:

As Long as Love Shall Last
“Do you now commit to each other to love, honour, respect each other, to communicate with each other, to look to your own emotional health so that you can relate in a healthy way, and provide a healthy home for children if you choose to have them; to be a support and comfort for your partner in times of sickness and health, as long as love shall last?”
Mary A. Axford – Pagan Wedding Ritual

Couples often go into great detail when making their wedding vows before the actual ceremony. This can take many forms, and depends on the individual couple. Sometimes the couple use traditional vows that have been written by another person. And sometimes the happy couple decides to write their own personal vows for one another.

It’s a wonderfully romantic idea for you to write your own wedding vows. In fact, this is becoming an increasing popular phenomenon. However, it is not as easy as it may seem.  Even the most expressive and creative person can find it hard to express exactly what they are trying to communicate to their lover. Remember, these words will not only mean more to your lover than any before, but they will also be articulated in the most public of scenarios.  The pressure is on!  But never fear, as help is at hand.

Rev. Georgeann Butler, and her husband Rich, create customized ceremonies for weddings, vow renewals, baby blessings, commitment ceremonies and other celebrations. They love working with couples to make their wedding dreams come true. Rich is also a Minister. They love working with couples to make sure their ceremony reflects their love, commitment and personalities. This makes your wedding ceremony heartfelt, unique and fun.

If you find that you are struggling to get the wording absolutely perfect there are many specialists readily available to guide you.  It is a good idea to make sure your notary or clergy understand your wishes before committing yourself to them – and when you do, the chances are that you will be guaranteed word perfect result that will express all of your hearts desire, and more.
Happy writing!

~ by Leslie Harris-Senac of Visions Unlimited Video Productions in Sarasota, FL with excerpt from allweddingideas.com.

Gasparilal Inn Wedding Ceremony

For the Best Man & Maid of Honor, I will be posting more great toasts to give you some ideas. I have tapes full of great wedding reception toasts. So keep checking back for my new toast posts soon!

Brides and grooms; as your wedding day draws near, get prepared well in advance and plan your wedding speech. A cloud of nerves and potential foe-pas traditionally shrouds this part of the wedding. But don’t worry; so long as you follow a few basic rules, it will not actually be as hard as you think …

* Don’t over-think your wedding speech. It is actually easier than other forms of public speaking, as people will expect you to be nervous.* If you don’t feel confident memorizing your speech, use small cards as prompts. Cards are better than paper because it is less obvious if your hands are shaking!

* Look up around the company and try to involve the whole room through your body language.

* Be brief rather than long-winded. Even the most interesting of speeches can sometimes seem to drag on and on. The last thing that you’ll want to do is bore your wedding guests to death!

* Try to keep the content of your speech neutral and upbeat, (i.e. avoid being lewd). This is particularly important if there are older, or very much younger, guests at your wedding. Through the miracle of video your toast may be viewed by the bride and grooms grandkids one day!

* Use an icebreaker as your first line to take the ‘pressure’ off yourself and guarantee a laugh.

* Make sure that you don’t forget proper etiquette, and thank the right people for their help. (A huge cardinal sin is to give the credit to the incorrect person; a wedding buffet brawl may well ensue!)

* And remember… don’t panic if the worst happens and you forget your words. Just speak from the heart. After all, you know how happy you feel!

~ by Leslie Harris Senac of Visions Unlimited Video Productions of Sarasota, Florida with excerpts by By Joanne Elliott.



Wedding Cake Cutting is a good time to give a toast

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