Tag Archives: Marriage

Music Wedding Videos’ Top 5 Wedding Venues

Music Wedding Videos' Top 5 Wedding Venues

Music Wedding Videos have shot at lots of venues over the last 3 years. We’ve even travelled to the USA and Portugal to capture those beautiful wedding memories for some happy couples.

Some venues we go to and have never returned, others we visit regularly. Here are five more local venues that we enjoy visiting regularly to shoot at our couples’ weddings…

Hogarth’s Hotel

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Wroxhall Abbey

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New Hall Hotel

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Nuthurst Grange

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Moxhull Hall

Moxhull Hall, Sutton Coldfield | Sutton and Birmingham Wedding Photojournalist Stuart James

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Why Have Your Hen Night in Birmingham?

As a Brummie and a huge lover of Birmingham, I am going to do my utmost to not be too biased and opinionated towards my home city here. But it does just so happen that ‘the second city’ is renowned for its many attractions and buzzing atmosphere. I have to be honest, you can’t really go wrong with a hen night here. One thing I say about Brum to anyone that will listen is that it has something for everyone.

So why throw your hen-do in Birmingham? Well, there are a few factors worth taking into consideration…

Shopping

You all know what I’m going to say. And if you haven’t heard of it, then you’ll at the very least have seen a picture of it somewhere…

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Yep, you got it. The Bullring. And there is nothing quite like a huge shop with the girls in one of Britain’s most famous shopping centres. I must add, Birmingham has shops to suit each and every person’s weird and wonderful style. Not to mention budget. You certainly won’t have to worry about a lack of choice regarding shops in Brum. Shopping is a great activity to fill up daytime hours before your big night.

Places to see

We all know you can’t visit the second city and have no-where to go and see. Every big city has its points of interest. If you are all shopped-out, fear not. You’ll still find plenty to do. Have a gander at a few of these if you are looking for things to do during the day;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And many, many more! You certainly will not be struggling to find things to do here. You will also have no trouble getting around with buses and trains running from early till late going in all directions.

The National Sea Life Centre is a fun and interesting day out for any age!

Accommodation

From Travel Lodges dotted around left, right and centre, to the luxurious Radisson Blu, you will not find it hard to find somewhere to stay in Brum that suits your requirements. If you’re only going to be spending a few hours in your bedroom while you sleep, or if you want to spend the day having a relaxing spa with the girls, you’ll have lots of choice as to where you can stay.

The Radisson Blu Hotel

Nightlife

Like I mentioned earlier, Birmingham has something for everyone. Especially when it comes to nightlife. Get your hen-gear on and head down to the famous Broad Street, which is FILLED with bars and clubs with all sorts of different atmospheres and music. Don’t forget the beautiful Brindley Place as well, where lots of lovely bars and restaurants sit alongside Birmingham’s 35 mile canal (that’s longer than Venice’s). Brindley place is personally my favorite spot in Brum to go for a drink. Although there is a bustling atmosphere, it is a prettier and more tranquil spot in comparison to clubbing areas like Broad Street. There is something oh-so-lovely about taking a stroll along the canal at night, when Brindley Place comes alive.

Birmingham honestly will not leave you feeling like there is nothing to do. You’ll be spoiled for choice no matter what kind of things you decide you want to do. In fact, you will probably want to come back ASAP! Make sure you take Birmingham into consideration for your hen-destination!!

Thanks for reading guys xoxoxo

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My First Ever Wedding Fayre!

I was filled with excitement and anxiety when Kevin invited me to join Music Wedding Videos in their adventure to the NEC last weekend to exhibit at The National Wedding Show. I didn’t really know what to expect. I was aware that many exhibitors would know each other, and that The National Wedding Show meant serious business. I felt like I was being thrown in the deep-end; a 19-year-old social-media apprentice that had experienced about two weeks in the wedding industry. I knew it would be a huge insight to what the wedding industry was all about.

Shortly after we arrived, couples began buzzing around the building. I was most nervous about pitching Music Wedding Videos to complete strangers, and having them walk past with no real acknowledgement that I was trying to talk to them. Inevitably, this did happen. But before long I began to learn the kind of things I needed to say to catch people’s attention. As I chatted away with visitors, the product on the screen behind me helped sell itself. It was fabulous seeing people’s faces light up at the fun, crazy videos being played. “That’s brilliant!” and “I absolutely love it!” stick in my mind especially. It was also amazing to find that the relatively new concept of ‘marryoke’ was not unknown to everyone. Some visitors were completely unaware of idea, whereas others stated they were in fact searching for the perfect marryoke for their big day.

We met lots of amazing people over the weekend at the NEC, visitors and exhibitors alike. We were surrounded by some fabulous looking stalls. One of our neighboring stalls was Funky Fudges; I had never seen so much delicious looking fudge in one place at one time! Close-by we also had Chris Fletcher the Magician, who regularly swung by to perform some side-splittingly funny tricks on us. Down the way we also had the fabulous Briefly Demure Lingerie, who certainly raised a few eye-brows with their marketing techniques this year! With live models strutting their stuff, they were pretty hard to miss!

It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of The National Wedding Show over the weekend. It was a big eye-opener to how people tick in the wedding industry, that’s referring to businesses and weds-to-be. After three years at The National Wedding Show, Music Wedding Videos made record numbers of bookings – our most successful show yet! I very much look forward to getting involved in future wedding fayres!

Although I’m not in them, I will leave you with a few pics of Kev and some of the lovely people who booked with Music Wedding Videos. Thanks for reading guys! Xoxoxoxo

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So, ‘George Clooney’s Wedding’… What about his wife?

So, yes, George Clooney is notorious everywhere; for having the face of an angel, being a successful actor/director/writer/producer, for his generous humanitarian gestures, he is also quite the political activist. It’s no wonder his wedding is making headlines; costing an estimate of approximately £8m, with the likes of Matt Damon, Sandra Bullock and Cindy Crawford attending, water-taxis, 5 star hotels and poolside cocktail parties… sounds like quite a party!

I couldn’t help but notice though, many headlines seem to have looked over the fact that two people were being wedded here, not just George Clooney…

His beautiful wife Amal Alamuddin has been over-shadowed in press headlines on several occasions. For example, by the BBC (“Film Star George Clooney Gets Married In Venice”, Sky News (“George Clooney Ties Knot In Venice Ceremony”) and The Guardian (“George Clooney’s Wedding Weekend In Venice…”)

Amal Alamuddin should be a role-model for women everywhere. She is a successful Human Rights Lawyer, who has served as counsel to the United Nations. She also happens to be a published author. Oh, and tri-lingual. Oh and one more thing, shes gorgeous and is a style-icon to many. Bringing together sophistication and simplicity but without being afraid to step outside the box. Many have said George is in fact ‘marrying-up’!

The girl is just as newsworthy as her husband! Even more so now she has now made the transition from a Human Rights Lawyer, unknown to Hollywood, to an international style icon.

Let me leave you with this, something that made me laugh but makes a very good point…

Buzzfeed’s headline following up the wedding was “Accomplished Lawyer Amal Alamuddin Marries That Actor From “ER””

Brilliant!

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Best season to get married?

Now, I’m pretty new to this whole wedding thing, but I was thinking about how increasingly more people are deciding to get hitched later on in the year as oppose to in those traditional, hot summer months.

When is the best time of year to get married? The date of your wedding has a big impact on the day in all sorts of ways. The weather being a big focus point for many. I picture a summer wedding to be warm, still and sunny; ideal for being outside, where there is plenty of space for kids to run around and choosing outdoor venues with beautiful scenery. This is why the summer season is so much more expensive than the others, something worth bearing in mind. The big ‘but’ here however is we live in Britain. And we all know the British summer is not a predictable one!

A wedding in the fall would be my personal choice. There’s something all too beautiful about the colours of the leaves in the autumn. Trees swell with glorious golds, oranges and yellows, spilling onto the surrounding ground. If you had your wedding location in a more wood/forrest-like location then the fall would be a pretty stunning time to be wedded. Autumn is also practical in the sense the weather doesn’t tend to bring the extremes that the other seasons bring, as well as still having relatively long days.

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In Britain, we picture winter here as months of relentlessly overcast, somber skies, a wind so cold your nose would turn shiny and red, and at times, heaps of snow (and a lot of rain/slush). But, your wedding is what you make it. Around December, you can be as festive as you please with lots of red, green and gold, grand Christmas trees, perhaps a more cosy atmosphere and lots of food and drink to warm bellies. The outdoor light in the winter months will give your photographer the chance of capturing some beautiful and dramatic pictures on your wedding day. If you do pick a date that encounters snow, then you will be photographed with a stunning, snowy scenery. Sounds pretty appealing if you ask me.

Spring brings connotations of new life and renewal. Nature is seemingly asleep over the months of winter, hiding from winter’s bitter touch, then as spring comes into play, everywhere appears to explode with new life. What better time to turn a new page in your life than when the world does too? After the long, gloomy couple of months after Christmas, everyone will be excited and warmed by seeing you get married.

What you must remember is that no matter what the season may be, your wedding is what you make it. The weather may seem like something that might overrule other factors worth taking consideration when choosing a time of year to get hitched, but really, you are the one in control. It’s always good to have a plan B in case it does start drizzling, or if it’s a bit too hot and stuffy inside. Choose your season and make it work for you!

Thanks for reading guys!

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My first ever post for MWV – Don’t stress!

Hello all!

So, I am Kevin’s new apprentice in all things social media;
I will be keeping you guys updated with everything via the likes of blogging, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and more, which sounds like great fun, but where to start?

The wedding game is a very big one, there is what seems to be a million tiny little details that must be presented perfectly, and I know that all those brides and grooms-to-be want to find out everything they can to make their day as perfect as possible. I like to think of myself as quite a laid back person, but no matter how laid back you are, if something is important to you and you want it to be the best it can be, it is easy to turn into a stressed out, moody so-and-so.

Well, a wedding begins with that all important question – Will you marry me? Before you begin stressing to the point of wanting to pull your hair out, just remember… you, he or she said yes; YOU ARE GOING TO MARRY THE PERSON YOU LOVE! And nothing can get in the way of that. When you feel bogged down with 1,098,786 things to be getting on with, just let that thought sit in the back of your mind and console you.

One must also remember, you are not in this alone! It is easy to let yourself feel like you have the weight of the world sitting on your shoulders, but why should you feel like that? You have your wonderful fiance by your side, sit down, drink a cuppa, CONVERSE! Don’t let yourself think you’re in this alone! Take a few evenings off and go out for dinner, or have a movie night and a takeaway (remember that wedding day body though ;)). You’re also surrounded by people wanting to see you have an amazing wedding day who are bound to want to help out too, it’s always worth an ask if you have too much to do!

Everyone tends to up their game in terms of exercise in the run-up to their wedding day so they can look extra-fab, but not everyone likes to spend hours doing cardio every day, or sitting in the gym sweating until they look like they’ve gone for a swim. However, when you can feel your stress-levels raising the roof then do yourself a favour (actually two favours), go and do some exercise! This will not only help you de-stress but will keep you looking extra sharp for your wedding day. If you aren’t the Jessica Ennis type then just take yourself for a walk, or a gentle run or swim for an hour or so. If you feel like punching someone in the face because they are constantly getting on your last nerve, then get yourself down to a boxercise class or find the nearest punchbag! Those dreamy toned arms might even come into play. Two birds, one stone!

Don’t forget, it’s normal to get nervous or feel stressed; you’re only human!! Everyone feels bogged down with things to do before their big day. Got the wedding jitters? Feel like putting it off? That’s only natural. It doesn’t mean you don’t want to get married to the person you love. You simply want it to be perfect. Have a bubble bath, wind down before you go bed, and remember, your wedding is going to be one of the most special days of your life, don’t let your anxieties get the better of you. Pursue your dream wedding with patience and perseverance. Remember to chill.

Thanks for reading guys, you’ll be kept posted with all sorts of weird and (maybe) wonderful tips for your weddings.

Maddie

 

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Locations For Your Wedding

Screen Shot 2014-08-22 at 11.26.36Location is a massive element of your wedding and it has the potential to be the hardest. However, I think for most of us, we have always had an idea in our heads since the seed was first planted of where we’d like to make it official with our life-time partners.

Okay so, first thing’s first, choosing your location. You probably already have an idea of where you want to get married. Whether that is sticking with the traditional setting and getting hitched in a beautiful church. Or whether you’ve gone for a more quirky scenery by enhancing nature’s beauty  by tying the knot in the branches of the trees.

Personally, that idea appeals to me. To choose a location and to be able to make it my own somehow. It doesn’t even have to be extravagant. Just whack some fairy lights round the area of the perimeter and you’re set for a homely, humble vibe.
As you might have read in one of my earlier blog posts, my dream wedding in my youth years was on a white beach aboard somewhere, with a handsome groom. However, things change as you grow and I no longer fancy a white beach wedding or a groom either. Now, I’m actually quite keen on the outdoorsy theme and the potential it has to offer.

My ideal wedding vision from my 18 year old self is definitely in the woods somewhere… So, that’s locations sorted!

Next, timing: I’ve always liked the look of subtle lighting in the outdoors at night… But I wouldn’t actually have the ceremony at night. I’d say around the time the sun starts to go down so that the suns rays are glimmering through the trees. Imagine the photo’s! And then once that part is over, we’d celebrate in the dark evening in the woods with the pretty lights and mystical atmosphere, with a bonfire, some live music and fireworks to top it all off! And then once everything has settled down, some stargazing would not go a miss! (I have a somewhat fascination for the skies). This little ‘time-out’ would allow me and my bride to unwind from the overwhelming day.

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          So, enough about me.
How open are you to new ideas? Because some people take their wedding locations to another level completely. Would you consider any of the following?

1. A Nudist Colony
I suppose it is a great way to save money on a dress, and what a great way to integrate into your spouses family…
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2. Underwater – sink or swim?
Some people are just destined for the depths.
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3. A Star Trek Convention?
Think of how they could celebrate their anniversaries!
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4. Body Suspension Wedding
You could almost say that he’s swept her off her feet.
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5. Zero Gravity
They weren’t kidding when he said ‘you take my breath away’. No wonder. You’re in space!
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View more bizarre wedding ceremonies on the links below:
http://www.oddee.com/item_98424.aspx
http://www.bridalguide.com/blogs/bridal-buzz/craziest-weddings-2012
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-strangest-places-to-get-married/2

I don’t think any of those examples tickle my fancy. Although, I’ll take note of the nudist beach idea if the budget doesn’t quite cut it…
So, remember:

  • Location
  • Timing
  • Pros/Cons of the location
  • Is it suitable for guests?
  • And if you opt for an water-themed wedding, invest in a waterproof camera.

Thanks for reading.
Stay tuned for next week’s blog that could appeal to you!

Bryony Williams.

 

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Wedding Speeches: Find Your Voice

Obama Accepts Nomination On Final Day Of Democratic National Convention

I think most of us would dread the honour of stealing the limelight from the newly-weds for just a moment, by projecting your words into the love-filled air with all eager eyes glued on you. There is simply no escape.
Now, with that statement, you may possibly be feeling a certain tightness wrapped around your heart with tingling fingertips. And that’s just from the thought of it.

So, this blog post is to ‘find your voice’ with some tips and tricks from me, to you.

1. Prepare:
It seems obvious but you wouldn’t believe the amount of people who have the ‘wing-it’ attitude. And for a wedding, unless you have a voice like Morgan Freeman (as it is so ‘God-like), then I suggest you practice what you’re going to say. You can do this easily enough by reciting your speech during daily activities such as, washing-up, showering, or any other household chores.
Again, it may seem obvious to practice your speech before the real thing but, it’s a great way to monitor your progress. Make sure each time you are strengthening your voice to be loud and clear, and to keep a steady pace.

2. Presence:
Not only are your words important, but your appearance/attitude is crucial too. By this, I mean eye contact, posture, and hand gestures. So lets start with eye contact; it is your key to success. You need confident, assertive power to register and connect with your audience and strong, not too heavy/wild eyed eye contact will do the trick. If you’re looking up above peoples heads or looking down at your feet, people are not going to be impressed. They’ll applaud for your timid efforts but not for your actual speech. Imagine if you were this bright, vibrant speaker engaging with every individual in the room because you are so comfortable in your own shoes. Now don’t just imagine; become it. Look into their eyes, not for too long but not for too short. Smile also. You’d be surprised by how easy it is to forget that during the actual speech.
Posture: like I just briefly mentioned, anybody watching you doesn’t want to have the view of your face-down head or a stiff body. It’ll probably just make the audience feel a little awkward. Keep your body up-straight and don’t slouch, but keep it loose. Avoid the statue-like pose at all costs. That may seem hard if you’re stuck between others at a table, but just be comfortable with yourself and you will give a comfortable vibe out to your piers.
You could even throw in some hand gestures in there too or other little body movements. Say if you made a joke or a little sly dig perhaps, then raise an eyebrow. Make your body liaison with your tone of voice and you’ve hit the jackpot.

3. Believe in Yourself:
If you’re not going to the ‘can do’ attitude then who will? For others to completely believe in you and your words, you need to believe in yourself first. Not everybody does, it’s easier to say than do and that even applies to me too. But my trick is to convince myself into thinking I’m invincible; that nothing can touch/effect my performance. I also imagine the scene I have played over and over in my head, where it goes so unbelievably perfect that it’s like it was out of a movie. My advice for this is to just keep telling yourself you can do it until you almost brainwash yourself.

So, those are my three main points that I believe are key to success. However, we all have our own ways of doing things etc so maybe this wasn’t for you. Although, these might be….
Speeches don’t have to be formal or so serious. Many people slot in jokes into their speech to break the ice and get a few laughs from the crowd. But, I have seen some speeches that are unforgettable.

Try our ‘Best Dad’s Speech Ever’. If you are simply not a confident speaker, then this will give you another option for a solution.

If you’re not much of a speaker, perhaps you could take a note out of this lady’s book and put your own creative twist on things. Use your imagination!

It’s always an advantage if you’re musical:

And so I am afraid that that is all I have time to say to you guys.
Just remember to be yourself, keep your head high and don’t imagine the guests in their underwear… Or do…
Whatever helps (not alcohol, that is a no go area until afterwards).

Thank you for reading,

Bryony Williams.

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“Don’t stop him now” Tom from McFly’s unique wedding speech

Tom from ‘The’ McFly is not everyones cup of tea but it is hard not to rate him in this video in which he puts his heartfelt words in to a song for his speech.

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Adrenalin pumping wedding proposal

Let’s say this guy ‘jumped to the conclusion’ that his long term girlfriend would say yes!

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