Byron & Gillians wedding at The Bend, Nottingham Road, South Africa

As Gillian says in her speech "it takes a village to plan a wedding". And even if you have a wonderful village, which Gillian and Byron did, you still can't plan the weather, you just have to take it as it comes. The date was mid April, the area was the Midlands of South Africa in the province of KwaZulu Natal, the venue was a beautiful country house hotel called The Bend, near Nottingham Road. The planning had been some of the best planning ever done and everything was perfect, but the weather was unforgiving; it rained, and rained, and rained, and then it rained some more. It rained so much that  bridges overflowed, regular walkways turned to mud and even the pastor got stuck on the dirt road and had to catch a lift with a wedding guest in a 4x4. It really rained, Scottish style, I felt very much at home!!

Gillian & Byrons Short Wedding Film from Sandra Keddie on Vimeo.

The most difficult thing to show in capturing images, moving or still, is the genuine emotion of the day. It is easy to make things kitsch, ham them up for the camera, but really quite difficult to show the real people, as they are. Gillian and Byron made this very simple, because even though the weather was completely unexpected and some of those very well laid out plans had to be changed last minute, some even abandoned completely, the one thing that shone through (pun intended) was their tremendous love for each other and faith in their special day. They were calm, laid back, and just accepted whatever their day gave to them, and they were rewarded with the most beautiful wedding day, full of warmth and love and genuine emotion.

Gillian, Byron, please enjoy, and thank you so much for enabling us the opportunity and the flexibility to extend our skills and creativity and most of all to be part of your most special day.

Sandy

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Kristina & Paul 30/04/11

The sun shone for Kristina & Paul on Saturday and their wedding day turned out to be just fabulous.

Paul arranged a special surprise for Kristina; a horse and carriage to take them from ViewPark Gardens to the Bothwell Bridge Hotel, where their guests and staff of the Hotel were waiting to greet them. I thought I would upload a very small clip of just a few of these special moments from their day for you to enjoy.

Kristina and Paul, I hope that you have a fantastic honeymoon and while you are waiting for your full DVD, please enjoy this 2 minute clip on to Nat King Coles "LOVE"




Sandy
Special Day Memories

Sharon & Stephens Video Highlights

It is just so beautiful when a day is all about a couple and the things that matter to them. Sharon and Stephen met at a concert and that became a part of their personal theme on their special day while the other very important element was family. Both of these elements shine throught in their short highlight video here.


Sharon & Stephen at Dalmeny Park Hotel from Sandra Keddie on Vimeo.

Red Hot Chilli Pipers - Wedding entertainment with a difference!

Its not often I get a Saturday off, but I wasnt working yesterday and decided to go and make a family day out to see the Christmas light switch on in Paisley. What a fantastic event, and the entertainment was really great. Lots of people were there to see Olly Murs but for me the best bit apart from the lights and fireworks was the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. I have seen these guys a couple of times and they are such good fun. And I remembered I had footage of them at a brilliant wedding at Glenskirlie Castle last year. Hope you enjoy this clip, and if you do, watch the next clip which is a "battle of the drums" with a world champion snare drummer. Just wonderful!


Red Hot Chilli Pipers at Jenny & Martins Glenskirlie Wedding from Sandra Keddie on Vimeo.

Sharon and Stephen, Dalmeny Park Hotel, Sunday 12 September

The choice of venue and style of ceremony is a very personal thing to a couple on their wedding day. Since the Marriage (Scotland) Act became law in 2002 you may get married at any approved place. The General Register Office for Scotland holds the list of approved places and it includes yachts, wilderness lodges and castles. A bit more accessible for us is Dalmeny Park Hotel, which we have said before is just a fantastic venue. But we will say it again, because it is.

Sharon and Stephen chose a humanist celebration, complete with a handfast, personalised vows and beautiful readings from members of their families. Then there was a champagne reception and canapes. We had a fantastic break in the weather and while the lawns were a bit soft it stayed dry and we got some truly lovely photographs of Sharon, Stephen and their bridal party. Smiles were still in place when we handed over to Charlie for the line up and the first drops of rain only started to fall after the guests were seated for the meal.

It was a very beautiful day, as I hope you can see from these images.

Sandy - Special Day Memories

A Special Day Memory - Wedding Video

I am very pleased to be a part of a special feature of the Autumn/Winter edition of The Scottish Wedding Directory. I was asked to give a tip, along with a number of other videographers and mine was one that was published. My tip (Sandy of "A Special Day Memory"*) was; To tell your videographer what you want. "If you have a singer, or doves being released, or really want to video that confetti photograph that you saw, make sure that your videographer knows about it in advance"(this advice applies to photographers as well). I always try to capture what my brides (and grooms!) want on their wedding day, either through photographs or on video. The two media are very complimentary and work well together, especially if there is a bit of a plan. This doesnt have to be rigid or regimented but it does help if your videographer/photographer knows about the fireworks before they start to go off! Please enjoy my video showreel .

Sandy - Special Day Memories

* Its a long story, but basically there was once a really great video company (mine) called "A Special Day Memory". A little while later there was a lovely photography company (also mine) called "Special Moments". These two cute little companies are now very happy working together as "Special Day Memories", but we still have advertising and marketing stuff out there which is carrying our old details. We are yet to getting around to changing this as we are so very busy making beautiful films and photographs for happy couples on their very special days.

Wedding Videos

I believe a wedding video is worthwhile having. In my experience a wedding day goes by so fast that the bride a groom miss half the things that are happening. A wedding video can bring this back to life.

Did you record your wedding on video? What advice do you have for future couples regarding their wedding videos?