We’re Expanding!

The Western Mass. Wedding Blog is expanding. As JPod Productions continues to grow, we continue to book more and more weddings out of our immediate area. So, with our new logo, our new website, and now our new blog, all posts will now be on the new blog. Click here to go there and we’ll see you on the other side.

Happy Holidays from JPod Productions

From my family to yours, Happy Holidays! I hope you get everything you want this holiday season. I can cross off another piece of Michelle Bohigian’ s Cake off my Christmas list. Here is Something Sweet by Michelle‘s latest masterpiece from Jenna & Joe’s Wedding at the Lord Thompson Manor in Connecticut last weekend. Delicious as always…

Vendor of the Month – Jacques Design

It’s a little harder to find vendors who specialize in the little details of the day, but if your looking for any type of stationary for your wedding day, December’s Vendor of the Month has it all. Jacques Design creates quality products that reflect each couple’s personality and style.

I am always attracted to businesses where the passion for their product is evident. Kristen Jacques has that passion and it shows in her work. Jacques Design is a smaller company as well, which ensures specialized, individual service. Kristen can design wedding invitations, save the dates, shower invitations, rehearsal dinner invitations, programs, menus, place cards and thank you cards for your special day. With one designer, a consistent style can be used throughout the wedding process to make your wedding a memorable one. Kristen offers free consultations and she designs not only for your style, but for your budget too. As Kristen says, invitations are a sneak peak for your guests to receive – let’s make it one to remember.

Laura McLean-DeCandio’s Bridal Prep

Laura McLean and Dave DeCandio were married in Lenox this past May. Laura is a long time friend of my wife Alison and it was fun to be a part of her wedding day.

Laura got ready in the gorgeous bridal suite at the Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club in Lenox, MA. This was Laura and Dave’s reception site as well. I’ve posted this portion of their film because I think it demonstrates many of the elements we try and capture at each in every getting ready session. The film picks up on the calm, but yet fun vibe that was around the bride all day long. The stories about the dress, and the man she is about to marry help relay this mood and they also make it genuine and unique to Laura and Dave. The details of the day are always a focus as the dress, flowers, jewelry and shoes are elements that make the McLean-DeCandio wedding unique too. Laura also picked out the song that starts out this section of the film and it has quickly become one of my new favorites.

I got to work with some great professionals that day as the ultra-talented Bob Zemba and April Jasak from Robert Charles Photography handled the still photos. And, thanks Bob for taking a few photos of my wife and I. Heather Sullivan her team from Durocher Florist created the magnificent bouquets you see in the wedding. Michelle Bohigian of Something Sweet by Michelle made another amazing cake (not in video) for the bride and, as always, it tasted even better than it looked. And last but not least, Samantha Talora, wedding planner extraordinaire, made sure the day unfolded perfectly.

Vendor of the Month – Bob Raina DJ Service

This month’s vendor of the month is a DJ that I heard a lot about, but didn’t get to work with too often until 2010. Bob Raina is a true professional in his field and thus is my vendor of the month for November.

Over this past wedding season, I have worked with Bob on numerous occasions and he always rates high in the three must have DJ qualities: being well prepared, communicating with other vendors, and reading the crowd. When I arrive for the reception portion of a photo shoot, Bob is always set up, dressed professionally and ready to go. And that professionalism continues all night long. Secondly, I never have to worry about missing an important part of the wedding, because Bob always keeps me informed of upcoming events well in advance (I love this!). And most important for brides and grooms, he knows how to read a crowd. This means that Bob doesn’t have a set play list every week. He will work with the bride and groom on the music they would like and then works off the crowd to keep the dance floor packed all night. Not every DJ has the knack to do this, but Bob is one of the best at it.

I had several great weddings with Bob in 2010, and I hope more weddings with his DJ service come my way.

Holly & Michael’s Wedding Movie

The wedding movie is here! As JPod Productions continues to grow and evolve, we are moving towards producing more cinematic wedding films and fewer documentary style weddings. What is the difference? A cinematic wedding movie is a 15-25 minute film that captures your day through the eyes of the filmmaker (That’s me!). It is built to draw you in, take you through ups and downs, and tell stories that are unique to each couple. Because the wedding movie (currently called the short form edit on my website) takes only certain parts of readings, speeches and dances, a basic documentary version of your ceremony and reception is included in this package. So, you lose nothing, but gain an amazing film that you will watch and share over and over again.

I met Holly and Michael through another great couple, Lindsay and Brian Cooper, who were married two years earlier. I first them during the cocktail hour of Lindsey and Brian’s Wedding and we had a short but very nice conversation. Nearly two years later, it was Holly and Michael’s turn to get married. They were just a wonderful, fun couple to work with who took their sunny, rainy, sunny, rainy and then sunny again day all in stride. The entire movie revolves around the groom’s speech, as Michaels’ wit begins and ends the complete film. In this six minute clip, Holly and Michael’s story is unfolding as a bridesmaid tells the story of how they started dating, we find a little bit about their dog, Hudson, who was not present at the wedding but a frequent topic of conversation, and we address the weather issues of the day. The complete film runs just over 20 minutes, so you can imagine how a couple’s story can be told throughout the day. I may post more of the film at a later date. Also, check out the thank you letter written by Holly under the film.

Jamie,

The video is incredible.  I loved every second of it, and intend to watch it about ten more times today!  You captured everything perfectly.

My dad says he thinks you need to go to Hollywood and work on reality TV shows – he thinks you have a knack for capturing moments, setting them to music and drawing in an audience.  Something to consider… Many, many, many thanks!

You’re the best!

Filled with praise,

HMS

Vendor of the Month – Sweet Pea Floral Design

I have been so busy over the past few weeks that I forgot to post a vendor of the month for October. Sweet Pea Floral Design out of Dalton, Massachusetts is a gem of a vendor in the Berkshires and they are our choice for October.

Bonnie Clark has been in business for over eight years now and her designs continue to amaze at some of the top wedding facilities in the Berkshires including The Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club, Pittsfield Country Club and Jiminy Peak Resort. Sweet Pea Floral Design is a family-run floral design shop. My brides who choose Sweet Pea always rave about how great it is to work with the Clark family. It is obvious to me that Sweet Pea cares about each and every client and their talent does the rest. Their work at weddings show great attention to detail and their overall value has created a devoted customer base. I look forward to my next wedding with Bonnie and her family in two weeks. I know the wedding film will benefit from her work.

Meghan & Jonathan’s Highlight Reel

Meghan and Jon decided on a wedding video late in the game, as I received a call from Meghan’s Mom three weeks before their February wedding. The entire wedding was at one of my favorite venues in the Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club in Lenox, MA. After several emails back and forth, I convinced Meghan into using “Smile” for their highlight song. The way Jon makes her smile with a look, a touch of her hands, or with his dancing prowess made the song a perfect fit. The wedding had an upscale feel all night with a romantically lit ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. Meghan and Jon included some unique elements in their ceremony and the multi-page toast taped on the bride and groom’s back was a first. This wedding was definitely a pleasant surprise on my 2010 calendar.

I got to work with two of the best companies in the business with Dan Cavanaugh from And the Beat Goes On DJ and Leah Martin and her second shooter Matt from Robert Charles Photography. The gorgeous and delicious cake was made by Morningside Bakery From Pittsfield, MA and the romantic mood of the ceremony was complimented by Theresa Mango’s harpist abilities. And, of coarse, it always comes together perfectly under Samantha’s direction at the Cranwell.