Historic Florida Wedding

It was mid-October and fall was just beginning to reach Southwest Florida.  The leaves didn’t change, but love was in the air.  Becky and Steve promised to love each other forever under 75 foot palm trees in Henry Ford’s Royal Palm Allee at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers.  Photographer, Krista Kowalczyk, of Impressions Photography was there to take these amazing shots.

Ceremony Location: Edison & Ford Winter Estates / 239.334.7419 / http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/events/weddings-receptions / weddings@edisonfordwinterestates.org

Photography: Impressions Photography / 239.437.1838 / www.impress-photo.com / info@impress-photo.com

Flowers: JH Designs / 239.277.0544 / www.jhdesigns.invitations.com / jhdesigns@embarqmail.com

Ceremony Music: Vanderbilt Strings / www.vanderbiltstrings.com / janie@vanderbiltstrings.com

Picture this: the guests are all seated, the harpist is playing, the bridal party is even lined up and ready to make their way down the aisle, but the wedding still has not started.  We are waiting on the groom to arrive…  Just as people are starting to wonder, the groom shows up – on motorcycle!  Mickey arrived, a lone rider, at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, but he left, a married man, with his bride, Caroline.  Check out the photos of one of the most creative wedding getaways we’ve seen.

Click the photos to enlarge:

Wedding Ceremony Location: Edison & Ford Winter Estates / 239.334.7419 / http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/events/weddings-receptions / weddings@edisonfordwinterestates.org

Wedding Photography: Just Say Cheese Photography / 239.272.3046 / www.justsaycheesephotography.com / logan@justsaycheesephotography.com

Ceremony Arch & Chairs: Creative Events & Rentals / 239.768.6393 / www.creativeevents1.com

Flowers: Fort Myers Florist / 239.931.0506 / www.fmflorist.com

Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo / 239.939.4714 / www.alfredangelo.com

Geremy and Troy are one of those couples that remind you of sunshine.  Everytime I run into these two, I can’t help but have a good time.  The details of their March wedding at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates  in Fort Myers, Florida truly reflected both their sense of style and their sense of humor.  The cermony took place at sunset under the great Mysore Fig Tree whose leaves were just beginning to sprout after a long Florida winter. 

“We chose The Edison & Ford Winter Estates because we were going for the historic look of Fort Myers.  You can’t get more historic than getting married at The Edison & Ford Winter Estates!  We had our reception at The Edison Restaurant to complete the historic feel.  We didn’t want to do the typical Florida beach wedding.  We loved the grounds at the Estates because of the scenery and just the overall beauty of the grounds.  We absolutely loved getting married in front of the big fig tree.  Just the way the sun was coming through the branches made it feel unbelievable!” says Troy. 

We agree!  Take a look at these magical photographs captured by Jamie Lee Photography and see if you feel the same way (click photos to enlarge):

Ceremony Location: Edison & Ford Winter Estates / 239.334.7419 / http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/events/weddings-receptions/ / weddings@edisonfordwinterestates.org

Ceremony Chairs: Creative Events & Rentals / 239.768.6393 / www.creativeevents1.com / info@creativeevents1.com

Officiant: BareFoot We Wed / 239.699.0426 / www.barefootwewed.com / info@barefootwewed.com

Photography: Jamie Lee Photography / 239.872.0419 / www.jamieleephotography.com / sales@jamieleephotography.com

Flowers: Signature Florals / 239.454.0653 / www.signature-florals.com / susan@signature-florals.com

Music: Richard Blasich Hammered Dulcimer / 989.370.3056 / rblasich@gmail.com

Reception: The Edison Restaurant / 239.936.9348 / www.edisonfl.com / liana@edisonfl.com

Wedding Cake: Vicki’s Sweet Things Ice Cream & Cakery / 239.462.8537

Thank you brides, grooms, sponsors and vendors for coming out to the 2nd Annual Tropical Foridal Bridal Fair at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates this past Sunday!  The show was a huge success with over 250 in attendance.  Below are just a few photos of how much fun we all had!

SPONSORED BY:

Creative Events & Rentals / 239.768.6393 / www.creativeevents1.com / info@creativeevents1.com

Studio Six Eleven Events / 239.561.2741 / www.studio6xi.com / info@studio6xi.com

Participating Vendors:

Hilton Garden Inn / 239.790.3500 / www.fortmyers.stayhgi.com

Best Western Waterfront / 239.997.5511

Lace & Roses Bridal Salon / 239.489.2845

Mason’s Bakery / 239.334.4525 / www.masonsbakery.com / chrisk@masonsbakery.com

Norman Love Confections / 239.561.7215 / www.normanloveconfections.com / info@normanloveconfections.com

Vicki’s Sweet Things / 239.462.8537

Boston Culinary Group / 239.337.7577 / www.bostonculinarygroup.com / kevin.mitchell@centerplate.com

Catering by Pignoli / 239.541.0800 / www.pignolicapeharbour.com / pignoli@comcast.net

Mad Cuisine / 239.693.8646 / www.madcuisine.com

Rene’s Custom Catering / 239.489.4424 / www.renescustomcatering.com / renescatering@earthlink.net

Royal Palm Yacht Club / 239.334.2176 / www.royal-palm-yacht-club.com / rpycbqt@embarqmail.com

Rhythm In Motion Dance Academy / 239.542.3500

Aace Entertainment DJ Services / 239.466.0077 / www.aaceentertainment.com / patrick@aaceentertainment.com

Sounds Unlimited DJ Services / 239.898.6426

Beautiful Wedding Ceremonies / 239.561.8380 / www.beautifulfloridaweddings.com / christinabowmanunity@comcast.net

Extraordinary Eventz / 239.282.9526 / www.extraordinaryeventz.com / lisa@extraordinaryeventz.com

Wedding Vows by Earth, Air and Sea / 239.209.4822 / www.floridaweddingvows.com / jannetteadams@msn.com

JH Designs Florist / 239.277.0544 / www.jhdesigns.invitations.com / jhdesigns@embarqmail.com

Libby’s Flowers / 239.278.1500 / www.libbysflowershop.com / muffy@libbysflowershop.com

Costco / 239.415.3812

Red Salon & Spa / 239.437.0405 / www.redsalonandspa.com

Ideal Image Laser Hair Removal / 239.275.4624

American Laser Centers / 877.252.8922

Take Shape for Life Weight Loss System by Brad Henry / 239.850.4867

Key West Express / 888.539.2628

Connie Duglin Specialty Linens / 239.593.0389

Hammer Dulcimer & Flute by Richard Blasich / 989.370.3056

Cruzan Vibes Reggae Band & J. Robert / 239.297.5733

Sound O’ The Pipes Bagpipes / 239.481.6524

Mary Kay Cosmetics by Faby Nouhaili / 239.464.3476

Audrey Snow Photography / 239.334.7669 / www.audreysnowphotography.com /audrey@audreysnowphotography.com

Dick Parrish Photography / 239.677.1040 / www.dickparrishphoto.com / dick@dickparrishphoto.com

Jamie Lee Photography / 239.872.0419 / www.jamieleephotography.com / sales@jamieleephotography.com

Micheal Shapiro Photography / 239.770.6860 /www.shapiro-photography.com / mike@shapiro-photography.com

Mielke Photography & Video / 239.770.6860 / www.mielkephotography.com / rosemarymielke@hotmail.com

MM PhotoVideo Productions / 239.541.2927 / www.musicmanpro.com / flny12@aol.com

Model T Chauffeur Services / 239.694.3969 / www.modeltchauffeur.com / info@modeltchauffeur.com

LIMOtions Limousine Service / 239.645.4878

Charlene’s Classic Carriages / 239.543.2290

Haley and David made it official this December.  Their wedding ceremony took place in the Royal Palm Allee on the historic riverside property of Henry Ford at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida.  There were so many perfect little details that made this dream wedding a magical one.

Ceremony Location: Edison & Ford Winter Estates / 239.334.7419 / www.efwefla.org/wedding.asp / info@efwefla.org

Photography: Images Wedding Photography / 239.283.9811 / www.imagesweddingphotography.com / jdean0001@hotmail.com

Chairs & Columns: Creative Events & Rentals / 239.786.6393 / www.creativeevents1.com / info@creativeevents1.com

Flowers: Cape Coral Floral Design / 239.772.3377 / www.capeflorist.com / info@capeflorist.com

Transportation: Model T Chauffeur Services / 239.694.3969 / www.modeltchauffeur.com / info@modeltchauffeur.com

Music: Hugh the Bagpiper / 239.440.7257 / www.hughthebagpiper.com / info@hughthebagpiper.com

One of the most common mistakes I have seen brides make when budgeting their wedding is cutting out the wedding video.  Photographs alone do not capture the butterflies in your stomach, the emotions in your vows, or Uncle Charlie’s killer dance moves.  You have worked hard to make your wedding day perfect. The wedding video is your time machine to the best day of your life.   In years to come, you will be able to relive that first dance, your maid of honor’s toast, and listen to the well-wishes of family members who have since passed away. 

I recently interviewed Don Moon of Captiva Video to get the scoop on wedding videos. Don filmed Holly and Dean’s wedding at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates this spring and edited it especially for our blog.  Take a look:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEF9WtBCXU4]

What inspired you to get into videography?

I got into videography when my daughter was born in 1987.  Video cameras were just coming onto the scene and we bought one of the first ones out.  Because I had a camcorder before anyone else, friends and family asked me to videotape their weddings and parties.  I soon joined the Wedding and Event Videography Association (WEVA) and attended their convention every year to improve my skills.  This is my 15^th year videotaping weddings, and I have seen videography improve year after year.  The wedding videos of today are more like a movie.

What are some new trends you are seeing in wedding videos?

I have seen trends change from a no-effects documentary of the wedding to a special effects epic film.  The trend now is to use special effects only if they help tell the story. Some of the special effects that are popular right now include slow motion, black and white, shadow box (black border along the top and bottom of the frame), and soft focus (where the clip has a soft dreamy like effect).  Video clips that fly off the screen are out right now.  As far as music, sound tracks from hit movies are definitely in.  Whenever a new movie comes out with a great sound track, all the videographers incorporate that music into their production.

Tell me about the most interesting wedding you’ve filmed.

The most high end wedding I have videotaped so far was the wedding of Vidal Sassoon’s son, David.  It was held in Connecticut a few years back.  It was a very extravagant affair.

What advice do you have for brides when hiring a videographer?

My advice is to make sure he/she is a professional.  So many videographers work another job and videotape weddings on the side.  Make sure that the videographer is a member of at least one trade organization.  I belong to Wedding and Event Videography Association (WEVA), National Association of Wedding Professionals (NAWP), and Wedding and Party Professionals of Naples (WPPN).  The main quality a bride should be looking for is the ability to unobtrusively capture the day without infringing on it.  The videographer must have the equipment to bring the images to life in vivid color.  A good wireless microphone system is very important as good audio is the key to a well produced video.

What can one expect to pay for videography services?

My prices range from $595 to $3595.  We have packages to meet any budget.

What other services do you offer? 

I offer photo montages or slideshows that the couple can play at their reception.  They are always the hit of the party and can arouse quite a bit of emotion.  The person organizing the photo montage must number the photos in the order they would like them to appear in the slideshow. They also choose the music; typically 1 song per 25 photos.

Don Moon / Captiva Video / 239.466.8010 / www.captivavideo.com / don@captivavideo.com