Doug {and} Jenny from Northernlight Filmworks on Vimeo.

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This is one memorable couple. We enjoyed getting to know Jenny and Doug and really understanding the closeness that they share. This wedding reminded us of the importance of family and this was quite evident for each side of their respective families. The wedding ceremony was absolutely beautiful. The intro music to this video is actually from the choir that sang at the church. There is quite a back story to how they got the choir to sing for their wedding, which made it all that more important to both Doug and Jenny. We were honored to be able to capture this important time in their lives. And thank you Doug and Jenny for the gift certificate to Bub’s! We are hooked!

We enjoyed filming this wedding with photographer Megan Grandi, who does amazing work. Take some time and look at the images from the wedding HERE

Each wedding that we film, we approach it by looking for the unique textures, small and large that make up the personality of the wedding.  We have filmed a growing number of weddings where the Bride and Groom have written their own vows.  On one occasion they both wrote them on the morning of their wedding day.   From a storytelling perspective, we love this.  We had one couple write their own vows and they never shared what each had written until they read them to each other  in front of a captive audience.  It was amazing how certain aspects of the vows mirrored each other.   We like personalized vows because it takes the expectation away from your guests.  Many of your guests have attended weddings where the traditional vows were exchanged, but once they hear a deviation from the norm, they seem to be more attentive.  Writing your own vows is certainly not for everyone  but it is well worth considering and adds another layer of a personal memorable touch.

Writing Your Vows Tips by Style Me Pretty
1. When it comes to writing your vows, keep it simple. Your guests and your partner will appreciate it that much more.

2. Some churches do not allow for custom vows. Make sure to check with your officiant before you get your heart set.

3. A great way to include your own vows without the stress of starting from scratch, is to personalize the more traditional vows. A handwritten letter to your partner, read aloud, is a great way to do this.

4. Make sure you are comfortable with the tone of your vows. If joking around is a part of your everyday life, it will feel seamless tucked inside your vows. If you are more subdued, skip the jokes and just say what you feel.

5. If you get stuck when coming up with what you want to say, look to old stories, photographs and memories with your partner. Allow the words to come from those moments.
Northernlight Filmworks

An Officer & A Lady [Austin + Rachel] from Northernlight Filmworks on Vimeo.

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We had a memorable time getting to know Austin and Rachel. As Austin described himself to me, it was city boy meets country girl. Austin is in the United States Navy and is a pilot. Rachel is from a small rural community where everyone knows everyone. It was quite evident that family and close friends are important parts of their lives. We had met with Austin and Rachel a couple times before the wedding to just learn more about them and their family. I remember walking into the restaurant and Rachel said hi to a couple people as we walked in. We sat down in the booth and her close relatives happened to be next to us in another booth. I loved this. This is what many of us are missing, myself included. Connected communities like this are what many people never get to experience. I remember thinking that those types of encounters reminded me of when I was a kid and you just seemed to always bump into people you knew. The dinner we had with Austin and Rachel really allowed us to experience a bit of that romance and nostalgia and helped us wrap our head around how we would shoot and edit the film.

We enjoyed once again working with Janie of Alanna Photography.

Nina + Bill from Northernlight Filmworks on Vimeo.

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This is the trailer for a wedding we filmed near Chicago on Saturday. This is just to tease you a bit. The wedding was held at the historic Union Station in the Grand Ballroom in Joliet, IL. We enjoyed spending some time with Nina and her family at her Grandmother and Grandfathers house, while she was getting ready. We love spending time with the family to learn a little bit about their story. I always leave wanting to spend more time with them. At the house, I noticed some old wedding photos, some dating back to the 1800′s, that were proudly displayed on their walls. Nina’s Grandmother talked about each one. We were able to document some of the important memories that Nina has. Every wedding couple has a story and it is very important for us to be able to extract those little stories. We believe that memories are far more important than any material thing you will ever receive. I found it interesting that Ninas fondest memory of her Grandfather was when she was riding home in the backseat of a car. Her Grandfather was holding her close and she cherishes a photo of that moment. Life is full of these little moments. We are all fading flowers and as time goes by the memories and the stories preserved by photos and film increase in value.

We look forward to editing this wedding day story.

John and Jennifer Moon

Venue Union Station Grand Ballroom
Photographer Wedding Story Studio – Ian Dharma
DJ Manna Music – Phil Szaflarski

Adam and Laura from Northernlight Filmworks on Vimeo.

Adam and Laura’s wedding day was absolutely beautiful. The weather was just perfect. We had an opportunity to learn about Laura, Adam and their family during their couples interview, which we filmed for their Love Story and to include some of that footage for their wedding movie. When we first met with Laura, she told us that their wedding is very important to them and they wanted to spend money they budgeted on wedding video and photography. This is always hard for us to communicate to people. Laura had an understanding of focusing on things that preserve the fleeting memories of the wedding day. We enjoyed working with Photographer Jessica Strickland, who always does amazing work.

Thank you Adam and Laura for including us to help document your wedding day.

Photography -Jessica Strickland
Makeup Artist -Kiralee with EyeMax
DJ -Ultimate Entertainment
Invitations -Card Ink
Cupcakes -Classic Cakes
Church -East 91st Street-Christian Church
Venue -The Fountains (Carmel, IN)