Archive for the ‘wedding ceremonies’ Category

DJ + PHOTO + FILMS = Weddings Under One Roof 

Exclusive interview with Fig Media, Inc. Director of Sales and Business Development, Andrew Ettenhofer.

A wedding is more than just a venue, menu, and flowers. Every aspect of your special day is a direct representation of you and your partner and the life you are about to begin together. We talked to Andrew Ettenhofer, Director of Sales at Fig Media, Inc. and wedding expert. With more than 10 years of experience in the biz, he spoke not only about the importance of having a wedding with a purpose, but also how to do it.

“Everything we do is meaningful,” said Ettenhofer. And your wedding should be too. It’s more than just a party with food, music, and booze. “If you’re going through the time, energy, love and sweat of having a wedding and committing to someone for the rest of your life- that’s a pretty meaningful act. Everything you do that is associated with that should be meaningful.”

The first question to ask is ‘what is important to you?’ The more something means to you, the more excited you will be about it, and the more you are willing to fight for certain elements. If that means you have to have the lemon chicken taste just like your mother’s, make the extra effort to get the recipe to your caterer. If the elements of your wedding mean more to you, you must be more direct with your vendors, tell them exactly what you want and what is going to work for you.

It can even start with the venue. Choosing a venue can be one of the first big hurdles a couple must face while planning a wedding. The date, location, season, and style all reflect a lot on the couple and their personal style and tastes. It is also a decision of compromise between the couple. “You must focus on the basics,” said Ettenhofer, “what is important, what is non-negotiable, and what are you willing to compromise on.”

A very meaningful part of your wedding is your guest list. “Make sure all the guests will support you and your partner through thick and thin, that’s the purpose of even having guests, to witness the ceremony and to help you uphold your vows. They’re not just audience members,” said Ettenhofer. So when you’re thinking of your guest list, make sure you are choosing people who are meaningful to you and will witness your vows in real life, as a couple. This is the community of your wedding. Also, “if you educate your guests on why the elements are meaningful to you, they will be more meaningful to them as well,” Ettenhofer pointed out.

“Purpose is a lining- as a couple you have a purpose.” The event should reflect why you are getting married and how you are better together than apart. Here are some important tips from our expert about how to reflect your meaning at your wedding:

• The couple should be aligned behind a common purpose
• Remember: the wedding is a very meaningful act, everything should reflect that
• Do whatever you want, enjoy yourself, and enjoy being with your new partner throughout the entire evening
• Build plans and strategies to make the day more relaxing
• Unload your anxiety before the wedding to be able to enjoy it more
• Stay connected with your partner throughout the party. You want to enjoy it together
• Remember why you’re doing it

Throughout all the hustle and bustle of planning a wedding, remember that this is YOUR special day, and it should reflect the values, principles, interests, and love of you and your partner.

Fig resident DJ Megan Taylor tells all about how to pick the best tunes for your big day.

A deejay is a great way to include all of your favorite songs into your wedding and reception and it is important to communicate with him or her to make the music sound exactly how you imagined. What does it take to make your music special? We asked fig resident deejay, Megan Taylor, for some insight on what couples can do to help her make their wedding rock. “Some couples are very specific about what songs they want, others have me be creative for them, either way it is important to know what both the bride and groom listen to,” says Taylor. She suggests making a list of your favorite songs- easier said than done. The best way to make a list is to keep it on your phone, and add to it as you hear your favorite songs on the radio or your iPod. There are even smart phone apps such as Shazam, which listen to and identify the song you are listening to and make a playlist off of songs you hear.

Even more important is the music you don’t want to hear. Can’t stand Ke$ha? Cringe at the chicken dance? A list of “do not plays” not only ensures you don’t hear your most-dreaded, but also gives the deejay a better sense of what she should play.

Each part of your reception is going to have a different mood and the music. Taylor suggests imagining the reception in three parts and picking songs that can contribute to the mood to each part. “The cocktail hour is exciting. Guests are in a celebratory mood and haven’t talked to each other in a long time. They’re excited to see the newlyweds. The music should be upbeat, yet still background music.” The dinner should sound slower and romantic to set the mood. It should feel special and romantic. And then comes the dancing- “I read the guests’ moods and bring it up” says Taylor.

Many factors go into the feel of the party, and it is the deejay’s duty to match that feel. “I look at atmosphere first. The location has a lot to do with judging the feel of the party as well,” says Taylor. A reception at a traditional hotel will have a different mood then one say, outside at the beach. “The guests, attire, and age of the reception all go into it too- but most importantly it’s what the clients are expecting.” So the more you share with your deejay, the more “you” the music will be on your big day.

Your deejay knows she’s doing her job when everyone is dancing. “The Fig Media style of deejaying is using music to get everyone on the dance floor and having an amazing time, no matter what the event.” A good deejay knows a range of music, and can read a crowd. This builds confidence within the guests and gives the deejay an idea of what will make the crowd really freak out. “That’s when it gets really fun- when it’s not so programmed,” says Taylor.

On your wedding day, the music should have just as much of your personality as the menu or the table settings. A professional and experienced deejay, with insights from you will ensure a grooving reception. “A deejay is only successful if the couple is happy,” says Megan Taylor. So whether you love the Top 40, or have a thing for line dances, communication with your deejay is key to having the music of your dreams at the wedding of your dreams.

For more information about Fig Media and DJ Megan Taylor, go to figweddings.net

Article by: Jenny Steier

17 years. That is the age of the fig films wedding archive. This short is a compilation from the archive of silent wedding films shot in Chicago between 1993 and 2010. Using vintage Super8 cameras, fig filmmakers create these vintage silent shorts for Chicago couples. The film has an original score titled: On this Day by fig composer/musician Eric Hillman.

“On this day, I was inspired by the timeless quality of the footage. It has such rich emotion and joy represented on the faces of the people. I wanted to capture that with the score.” ~Eric Hillman

Super8 film was released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak. It is the equivalent of what a camcorder is to video today.

The film is a reversal film, meaning it eliminated the need for an expensive work print off of the negative, making it an attractive medium for filmmakers, artists and family documentarians to create films. Reversal film has an emulsion that can be processed to create the work print on the same strip of film. Later adopted by Fugifilm and Polaroid.

Adopted by filmmakers like Oliver Stone and used in films like The Doors, Natural Born Killers, Nixon, U Turn, and JFK this silent film format is still alive today. Super8 film festivals are held in both the US and the UK. Festivals like Flicker Film Festival and Cambridge International Super 8 Film Festival.

Fig films adopted this medium to shoot weddings for its timeless feeling. Offering an artistic and traditional option to couples.

Find out more about our wedding films at www.figweddings.net.

Once upon a time, fig met Christine and Jared.

They were in love. We were in love with them.

We photographed their engagement. We photographed and filmed their wedding.

They moved to Vancouver. We shed a tear.

Two years later, Christine mentions she is pregnant. We jumped for joy!

They flew in to Chicago to photograph the bump with us.

We had a blast taking the bump around the city.

Photos here. Photos there. Photos everywhere.

The wedding was only the beginning.

Flip through Christine and Jared’s Storybook below to see their Baby Bump session.

Let us document your  next chapter through photography. Call us for more information. 773.338.1334