I met Nick and Laura of Paraphrase Productions at an event that we worked together in April. It was an event that Nick organized, focusing on displaying talented local artists. I was impressed with how attentive, outgoing, and hardworking both Nick and Laura were at the event, and it prompted me to view their business website. Paraphrase Productions captures beautiful moments and the photos that they take are stunning. I am excited to share them with you today. Keep reading to see a few examples of their beautiful photographs and to learn more about this talented couple. Enjoy! <3 Who are you? Paraphrase Productions is, in its simplest terms, a "Pair of Froese's" (pronounced 'Phrase') doing what we love! Laura is an avid photographer both professionally and as a personal hobbiest, and Nick has been doing video work since high-school when he bought his first camera instead of his first car. We view success a little differently than a lot of people or companies. We turned down some great opportunities, and walked away from a very comfortable life to start own our little company because there was something we valued more than the number of jobs we did, our bank balance, or the things surrounding us. We value relationships. We want the time to invest into each client, our community, and each other. It's not just about providing a service. It's about making someone's life a little better in the process. Why did you start doing weddings? I worked in the wedding industry before I started shooting weddings, but it was always that one thing that I was "never" going to personally shoot. I thought it would be too stressful, or too commercialized. In the Spring of 2014, I had two separate people approach me about shooting a wedding for them despite the fact that it was something I had never done. I hesitantly agreed, and ended up absolutely loving every minute of it! By the Fall of that year I had almost a dozen weddings under my belt, and have never looked back. Weddings are my true photographic passion. What is your favourite part of working in the wedding industry? Honestly, other than the hours, there is nothing that I don't love about working in the industry. As a photographer, we live to capture or create "moments" that will be treasured forever. It's like helping make a visual diary of someone's life. You're capturing events, people, emotions, memories. You're freezing time. To be able to do that on one of the happiest and most momentous days of someone's life only magnifies that. Whether you love to shoot all the little details, or capture authentic emotion, or be able to pose and create your vision through pictures, it's ALL there on the wedding day. You get to be the story teller. You are one of the few people that gets to watch the Wedding Day Story unfold from the very beginning to the very end. Not even the bride and groom know what each other is doing at every moment, or can see the look in their own eyes when they get that first glimpse of their spouse-to-be. You get to record it all and share it with them, and it's a privilege. Any advice for couples who are currently planning their wedding? Keep perspective. At the end of the day, you will laugh about your dress not fitting properly at the last minute, or there being a spelling mistake on your wedding cake, or a bridesmaid losing part of her outfit (all true from my own wedding!). What's really important is that you are marrying the love of your life and starting an amazing adventure together. Don't get so caught up in the event that you lose perspective of WHY you are having it. Also, on a more practical side, when trying to budget such a huge event and struggling to manage umpteen Pinterest boards and a zillion suggestions/requests from well-meaning loved ones, try to remember what is really going to last. 10, 20, or even 50 years later, what will you still carry with you from that day? I got married 5 years ago, and I barely remember what we ate. My wedding dress is at the bottom of a trunk, and I don't really care about my party favours anymore. What I see every day is our photographs displayed in our home, my wedding band, and the man I love. Prioritize what will last. A random fact (or two) about yourself. My husband and I are huge geeks. Our ideal days off frequently involve pajamas, pizza, and sci-fi t.v. marathons. We also both come from a musical background. My husband plays violin, drums, and has a great voice, and I teach piano a couple nights a week on the side :). If you are a vendor interested in being featured on the Jodi Marie Events' blog, please email Jodi at info@jodimarieevents.com.
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I met Esu from Esu Floral back in March, when we collaborated with some local vendors on a cherry blossom photoshoot. Esu does absolutely stunning floral work, which I am excited to be featuring on the blog today! She is a great option for those who are looking for beautiful but also affordable flowers for their wedding or event. Be sure to read through her post to learn more about her, and to see examples of some weddings that she has done. <3 Who are you? I am Esu, the owner and floral designer of Esu floral. Why did you start doing weddings? I should first tell why I started doing floral design. I grew up in an artistic family and my grandpa showed me how to put together centrepieces for the dinner tables since I was a little girl. After I moved to Vancouver from Alberta, I decided to take formal floral arrangement courses. I started doing wedding flowers for my own wedding, and a few friends' weddings in Ottawa and Vancouver afterwards. These experience encouraged me to open Esu Floral to provide affordable custom-design floral arrangements for weddings, events, offices and homes. Many brides and grooms had expressed to me their desire to arrange wedding flowers themselves but they didn't know what to order to achieve the look that they are going for. I am able to work with my clients and, in addition to providing arranged flowers, Esu Floral also provides personalized DIY packages for whom would like to be more involved. The difference between our DIY packages and the ones from others is that we custom design every package for all our clients with the flowers that they want. Free consultations are also provided along the way, so even our DIY brides would not be working alone for their biggest day. What is your favourite part of working in the wedding industry? My favourite part is that I can always connect with the happiest people. I love listening to their love stories and getting to know them as a person. Of course, every couple is different, but one thing is always the same - the love to each other and the excitement for the wedding and their future life being together. Everyone around them can feel this karma. When I work for weddings, I don't feel that I am working but more as sharing a part of our couples' happy and exciting moments of life. Any advice for couples who are currently planning their wedding? A tip that I have for planning couples is that most flower shops carry vases and simple decors. Before you contact decor companies for vases or other decors, check with your florist. In most cases, they will have or can source the decor for you, so you will have more time to deal with other items on your agenda. Last but not least, contact your vendors as early as possible. For flowers, it is recommended to contact your flower vendor at least 6 months in advance so you will have enough time to discuss the design with your florist, and get the all the details taken care of as well. A random fact (or two) about yourself. I love eating sushi. I didn't know I would love sushi so much until I moved here. I am saving to dine at Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo one day. I also love visiting open houses during my spare time. If you are a vendor interested in being featured on the Jodi Marie Events' blog, please email Jodi at info@jodimarieevents.com.
Are you looking for something new and unique for your guests to do at your wedding or event? You should check out Flipbook Entertainment! You pick some props, film a 7-second video, and then they print off a book of that film that you can flip through for years to come. Such a fun idea, and I definitely recommend checking Flipbook Entertainment out! Who are we? We are Flipbook Entertainment, a company created to allow you to capture and share your greatest memories with those you love. Invite us to your weddings, fundraisers, birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers or graduation parties, and you and your guests can star in your own seven second movie, to be published onto miniature flipbooks that you and your guests can take home that same day. Why did you start doing weddings? We started doing weddings because these events are life milestones, if not the most important, event of two people’s lives. The people in attendance on these rare nights likely won’t be in the same room again for a long time (sometimes never again). Photographs are standard at these events, but after editing, half the attendees never see the final images or have copies for themselves. The flipbooks we create add that instant gratification (perfect for goodie bags) where your guests can not only pose in pictures, but dance, swing blow-up hammers, and express their feelings that day in a short flipbook moving image they can take home before they say goodbye to everyone that night. What is your favourite part of working in the wedding industry? Weddings are the celebration of two people coming together and pledging to spend the rest of their lives with one another in front of their families. The energy in the room, the smiles on the faces across generations of young kids to elderly grandparents, help create such a positive memory for the people attending, and we get to be a part of that; it’s a great feeling. Any advice for couples who are currently planning their wedding? To the future brides and grooms – make sure the kids attending your weddings have something to do during breaks or transition times. Many of them love to play with our props and play movie stars at our booths come to think of it when they get bored or restless. A random fact about yourselves. Random fact 1: All 3 co-founders met each other during their first and second year of university! If you are a vendor interested in being featured on the Jodi Marie Events' blog, please email Jodi at info@jodimarieevents.com.
I have the privilege of featuring Evan and Dwight from Wilhelm Wedding Cinema on the blog today. This duo create absolutely beautiful films of some of the most important days in a person's life: proposals, engagements, weddings, and so much more. Be sure to give this vendor feature a read through to see some of Wilhelm's work, as well as an interview with these talented videographers!
I'm especially excited about the first video in this feature: Jordan and Sarah's proposal. Jordan and Sarah were married in January, and I had the privilege of being their Day-Of Coordinator (pictures will be coming soon). Be warned though, be sure to have the kleenexes out before you start watching their proposal video. ;) Who are you? We are Evan Bourque and Dwight Jantzi of Wilhelm Wedding Cinema.
Why did you start doing weddings? As underwhelming as it sounds, I (Dwight) first started creating wedding videos because my friend’s sister asked me to. I had been making snowboarding and skateboarding videos with my friends for awhile but I was looking for a new challenge so when the opportunity came about to shoot a wedding I jumped on it. In the six years since then I’ve fallen in love with creating beautiful and emotional wedding films that capture the personality of the couple. It’s always a pleasure because every couple is different and so telling their story is always a new challenge.
What is your favourite part of working in the wedding industry? The best part about shooting weddings is hearing and seeing first hand the development of amazing love stories and then having the opportunity to show them off to the world. A great example of this is our engagement films. We typically meet with the boyfriend in the months leading up to the proposal and talk about who they are as a couple, their story, and what they’re all about. From here we help to craft a proposal that is personal and impactful. It’s an amazing feeling to see our couples announce their engagements to their friends and family the day after the proposal using the film we created for them. Alycia + Tom - Same Day Edit from Wilhelm on Vimeo.
Any advice for brides and grooms who are currently planning their wedding? Your wedding day will go by so quickly so our best advice to you is to enjoy it as much as you can! Throughout the day be sure to stop for a few moments to take it all in because it is all about you and it only happens once. Another tip to help with this is to hire a photographer and filmmaker to save those memories for you forever. We are there to capture all the moments that quickly pass you by so that you can enjoy them for years down the road so definitely put time and effort into choosing companies that will work best with you!
A random fact (or two) about yourself. When we’re not making wedding films that make you feel feelings we love to snowboard, jump bikes, hike, skateboard, and make music. If you’re curious to hear the beautiful sounds that Evan creates check out his music project at www.facebook.com/EvanBourqueMusic. On the other hand if you want to see Dwight awkwardly fall on a dirt jump you can head to Vanier park in Vancouver on a nice summer night. James + Sharon - Highlights from Wilhelm on Vimeo.
If you are a vendor interested in being featured on the Jodi Marie Events' blog, please email Jodi at info@jodimarieevents.com.
A year ago today, dear friends of mine got engaged. It was so fun to be part of the planning for the proposal, and I'm excited to share the story on the blog today. Andrew, a close friend of my husband and I, starting talking to us about how he wanted to propose to his girlfriend. He knew he needed a bit of help pulling it off, so we started to brainstorm. First, we needed a location. Second, we needed a reason and a story to get Andrew's fiance Sarah to Fort Langley on the day of the proposal. Third, we needed an excuse to get Sarah to the exact location of the proposal without her questioning it. Andrew decided that Fort Langley, where him and Sarah had their first date, was where he wanted to propose. Andrew, my husband Nic, and I then came up with a plan to get Sarah to Fort Langley. We decided to tell her that we were going on a double date that would start in Fort Langley for lunch and end at Castle Fun Park for mini golf. We excitedly relayed these plans to Sarah, trying to act as normal as possible, and she seemed to buy it without question. A few days before the proposal, we met with Andrew to plan the exact location, go over the details of the proposal, and pick up a few items (including the ring!!!). We found a beautiful clearing overlooking the water in Fort Langley, and knew that it would be the spot. There were enough trees around to hide the location until you came around the corner, and there were some perfect spots for the photographer, Natasha Priya, and the amateur videographers, Nic and I, to hide to capture the proposal. Once the location was selected, we determined how it would be set up. We decided that Sarah would be situated on a stool facing Andrew, and that he would have his guitar setup on a nearby bench for easy access. We decided exactly where Nic, myself and Natahsha would hide. One big aspect that we brainstormed was where we would hide the ring and ring box. It was a big ring box, and would be difficult to hide in Andrew's pocket. We came up with the idea of hiding it inner pocket of Andrew's guitar case. After he was finished playing a song to Sarah on the guitar, he would put the guitar back and grab the ring at the same time. With the details in place, we went to Andrew's to pick up a few items from him: a stool, his guitar, a tuner for the guitar, red rose petals, and of course: the ring! We also arranged for Andrew to order pictures of him and Sarah to be picked up at a print shop near our house. On April 19th, Nic and I were very excited and were really hoping that the proposal would go off without a hitch. We collected everything, picked up the photos from the print shop, and picked up a single red rose. We then met with Natahsha in Fort Langley and began setting everything up. A pathway of roses leading to the stool where Sarah was going to sit, a single red rose on the stool for Sarah, the guitar case open on the bench with pictures of the two of them displayed, and the ring nestled safely inside the box. Nic and I hid behind one tree and Natahsha behind another, and then we had to wait. Waiting is the hardest part. Andrew kept texting us to keep us updated on where he was. Once they were in Fort Langley, he told Sarah that Nic and I were running late for the double date and he suggested that they go for a walk along the water while they wait. He sent us a quick text to say that they were close and before we knew it, they had arrived. Andrew began playing a beautiful song to Sarah that had us all tearing up. Sarah's back was to us, so after the song was over, Nic and I inched closer to film the proposal. We had the privilege of witnessing the entire proposal, from the song to the sweet words to him getting down on one knee and asking Sarah to be his wife. It was so beautiful and I was definitely in tears. After the ring was on her finger, Andrew gave us a thumbs up. Sarah spun around to see Nic and I sitting there. She had no clue we were there. And she honestly had no clue that Andrew was about to propose until she saw the pathway of roses. We rushed over to give them our congratulations and to celebrate this big moment in their lives. The whole proposal was beyond perfect and I was so privileged to be a part of it. If you are looking for assistance with your proposal, please email Jodi at info@jodimarieevents.com.
It's time for another vendor feature on the Jodi Marie Event's blog! This feature is of The Wedding Lot, a local company that has combined four services into an all-in-one package. This talented team are highly equipped to help in many different ways on your wedding day, including photography, videography, a photobooth, and DJing. I highly recommend giving this vendor feature a read through to learn more about The Wedding Lot! Who is The Wedding Lot? We specialize in photography, cinematography, photo booths, and DJ services. Evan and Brett have both come from different areas in media. Evan comes from a cinematography company and design background, and Brett comes from a photography and a DJ background, Together they have 10 years of experience in the wedding industry. Why did you start doing weddings? We knew the wedding industry was changing drastically. The style of capturing moments and technologies used were changing and still today are evolving. While running their own companies they thought it would be much easier for brides and grooms to deal with one company, rather than having to book 4 different companies. There was a demand for media services and they knew they could tackle it and provide it all without losing quality of work, in fact the goal in joining forces is to push the creative envelope. What is your favourite part of working in the wedding industry? Evan and I both really enjoy people, we love to see the Bride and Groom really excited to work with us, and most of all hear that first response when the say "they loved the photos, loved the video, that their wedding was the best dance party, and that all their guest loved using the photo booth." That really is our goal, from the first meeting to the final proofs and delivery of our services and products, for the bride and groom to be excited about it all. Any advice for couples who are currently planning their wedding? Planning a wedding is stressful, there are so many major details, as well as minor details. It is probably one of the biggest parties you’ll ever throw, if not the biggest. Couples often forget to celebrate and enjoy time together while planning their weddings, because it’s such a busy time in their lives, and time can pass by very quickly. For a lot of people the wedding day itself can be the most stressful time, trying to make sure everything is in order. So when looking for vendors be sure to find ones that you can trust, ones that are confident in their skill sets, and a vendor who you get along with, almost like an instant friend. Photographers and videographers especially, don’t get that awkward vendor who isn’t friendly or polite, because when it come time to your portrait sessions with video and photo, that awkwardness or will show up in all your photos and video. You want someone you can be comfortable with, as they actually spend most of the day with you on one of the biggest days of your lives. I would say the same thing for the DJ, they will often make or break a wedding, they need to be on cue, for ceremony and reception and they need to be able make last minute changes, and be flexible on the day. There can be many changes when it comes to where they set up, schedule changes or adjusting their playlist if it’s not working. One of the best values a DJ can have is being someone that understands that it’s your wedding day, and is not about him and his own show. He is there to facilitate entertainment for you and your guests, and if your guests aren’t dancing and they have requested multiple songs and he refuses to play them, then I think that DJ is in the wrong industry. I think it’s important to hire the right people to relieve your stress not add to it. A random fact about The Wedding Lot. Evan and Brett were in a band and recorded an album and played on a radio show together, it was the beginning discussion of joining ventures and creating the wedding lot. If you are a vendor interested in being featured on the Jodi Marie Events' blog, please email Jodi at info@jodimarieevents.com.
I met Ben of VW Creative a few years back through mutual friends. He has always had a talent for photography, videography, and graphic design. He took some amazing photos and designed some fantastic graphics for my husband's various music projects in the past few years. Ben has since branched into doing wedding photography and videography, which he has excelled at. Keep scrolling below to see some of these wedding photos and to learn more about Ben of VW Creative. Who are you? My name is Ben and I am a photographer/videographer/designer living in the greater Vancouver area. Why did you start doing weddings? I have been doing creative work for a number of years now and a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to film his wedding. That's the how, but I wanted to expand my 'skills' as a photographer/videographer and was given the opportunity so I jumped on it. What is your favourite part of working in the wedding industry? My favourite part of capturing weddings is that it is incredibly high stress and constantly changing and you have to adapt to go with the flow of the day, which really gets my creative juices flowing. The bride is going to be late to the ceremony? Ok. Driver gets lost and we only have 30 minutes to shoot instead of an hour? Still ready and good to go. Do you have any advice for brides and grooms who are planning their wedding? Use your connections! Networking and getting contacts gets you far here. Many of the jobs that I have done have been through friends and acquaintances that know me and my work. A random fact or two about yourself. I didn't know I liked tacos until 2 months ago. I also go to Bible college in Surrey and work as a graphic designer at CA Church in Coquitlam. If you are a vendor interested in being featured on the Jodi Marie Events' blog, please email Jodi at info@jodimarieevents.com.
I have really been looking forward to today's vendor feature. Natahsha Priya is a very talented photographer, an amazing graphic designer, and she is also a friend. She and I graduated together, and she went on to capture many important milestones in mine and my husband's life: a couple's shoot, our engagement photos, our wedding photos, and most recently: family photos. Natahsha also designed all of our wedding stationary, created the Jodi Marie Event's logo, and designed my business cards. She is an absolute pleasure to work with, and handles each job with professionalism and creativity. I would highly suggest hiring this talented lady if you are in need a photographer or a graphic designer. Be sure to keep scrolling to see some of Natahsha Priya's amazing photography and to learn more about her! Who are you? My name is Natahsha Priya, I’m a lifestyle photographer based out of Vancouver, BC. Why did you start doing weddings? I’ve always been drawn to documentary films and journalistic photos, and there was something about capturing such an important day in a way that many people won’t see as the day goes by. I shoot weddings for memories, for something for people to look back on - something that makes them feel beautiful and loved. What is your favourite part of working in the wedding industry? My favourite part is meeting up with clients after the wedding. Before giving the photos I meet up for coffee, catch up and then we go through the photos together. There’s something magical about watching couples look back on their special day. For me, it’s much more than just a business or industry, I’m incredibly thankful for those who have let me into their lives for a special day, to be a part of that is such a blessing and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Any advice for brides and grooms who are currently planning their wedding? Feel comfortable with your vendors, build and invest in that relationship where you can openly express your joys and concerns. That level of trust is key into ensuring that your day goes well. Also, it doesn’t hurt to book days off to not plan wedding details, take days for yourself, turn off that phone and enjoy a cup of tea and some fresh air. A random fact (or two) about yourself. Along with being a photographer, I’m a graphic designer, potter, painter, and musician. I’m also an avid vinyl record collector and tea drinker. If you are a vendor interested in being featured on the Jodi Marie Events' blog, please email Jodi at info@jodimarieevents.com.
I met Kyla a few years ago when I was looking for a makeup artist for my wedding. My friend (and wedding photographer) recommended Makeup by Kyla to me and I instantly fell in love with Kyla. She is an extremely talented makeup artist, and she absolutely loves what she does. Kyla goes out of her way to make sure that her clients are relaxed, happy, and truly happy with their wedding makeup. I highly recommend her, and would suggest looking at booking her for your wedding or upcoming event. Who are you? My name is Kyla Murdoch and I'm from Makeup by Kyla. Why did you start doing weddings? I started doing weddings because I just love weddings! They are a wonderful and happy day for everyone involved and I love that I get to be apart of that. What is your favourite part of working in the wedding industry? My favourite part is connecting with the bride. I love to talk to them and hear all about how excited they are for their big day and everything that they have planned. It takes a lot to plan a wedding and you want everyone to enjoy and see all the hard work you've put into it. I love hearing about all the little details! It makes me relive my wedding every time and I just love that! Any advice for brides and grooms who are currently planning their wedding? My advice is don't stress to much! Sometimes things happen and you just have to go with it. The number one thing I tell every one of my brides is just to take a deep breath and just enjoy the day. Don't stress about who's sitting where or if someone didn't show up or if that centrepiece is just a little to the left. Just enjoy the day and take the time to remember it all because it'll go by so fast and it's a very big day in your life! Everyone will remember how stunning you looked and that they got to share in your joy and be there the day you got married, they aren't going to remember that their centrepiece was just a little off centre. A random fact (or two) about yourself. I actually never really liked wearing makeup when I was younger, which is weird because I absolutely love it now! I love what you can do with makeup and how it's really another art form in my eyes. You can do some many different things and everyone puts their own spin on it. It's never the same twice. Also fun fact I'm a huge Dr. Who fan, a whovian if you will. My dream is to do a Dr. Who themed wedding one day. To anyone whovians who are reading this, please hire me! I will make you the most prettiest bride ever and will demand to come to the wedding just to watch and bask in all the whovianess. If you are a vendor interested in being featured on the Jodi Marie Events' blog, please email Jodi at info@jodimarieevents.com.
I am excited to be featuring Kalos Floral Design on the blog today. I met the owner, Jessica, many years ago when we attended the same church and youth group. It was a joy to see where life has taken her over the past years: marriage, her first child, and starting her own floral design business. Enjoy some lovely photos and an interview with Jessica. Who are you? My name is Jessica, owner of Kalos Floral Design. Why did you start doing weddings? Flowers are pretty much in my blood. My grandfather worked as a floral wholesaler, and his business was passed down to his four sons, one of whom being my Dad, who has continued to work in the flower business for well over 30 years. Throughout my teen years I worked part-time for his business arranging flowers. After I had my daughter, I took the step to start my business doing wedding flowers. I love the extra room for creativity and design that weddings allow, and it is such a fun occasion to be a part of creating! What is your favourite part of working in the wedding industry? I love seeing everything come together on the wedding day. From the bride herself to the ceremony and reception sites, it’s so much fun seeing all the hard work and planning come together. Any advice for brides and grooms who are currently planning their wedding? It seems that more and more brides and grooms are really having to plan on a budget. Whether you are on a tight budget or not, take some time to do a little bit of research about what kind of look you would like for your flowers, but also utilize your florist! We know a lot about when flowers are in season, what types of flowers maybe be in or out of your budget, and ways to be creative to give you the look you are wanting within the price point that you feel comfortable. Basically, have some ideas, but try your best to remain flexible. A random fact (or two) about yourself. Red wine and dark chocolate. Need I say more? If you are a vendor interested in being featured on the Jodi Marie Events' blog, please email Jodi at info@jodimarieevents.com.
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February 2020
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