Just The 2 of Us - Marlon & Cassandra's Cinematic Trailer

Written 6 days ago by Ben Howe

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It was cool, cloudy, and the sky threatened to rain. But none of that would have mattered for Marlon and Cassandra. That truth is a little nugget that we picked up from their on-camera interview a month before the wedding.

When we sat down to talk with them we learned that this couple finds the most mundane things in life enjoyable as long as they are sharing them together. Nothing could prove this point more than the story of their first in-person meeting where they found themselves laughing together for hours over topics like money and taxes!

Some couples just click. They genuinely enjoy being together so much that the most trivial and boring parts of life are quickly consumed by a wave of joy and happiness - I can think of no better way to describe Marlon and Cassandra's relationship. We'll share more about the importance of having fun together when we release their story segment in a couple of weeks.

For now, sit back and enjoy their story trailer to get a sneak peek into their wedding day. Ethan and I enjoyed working with some of our favorite vendors - the ever awesome Brian Green of F&G Events, DJ Tron, and a new working experience for me, Charlton Inije of Inije Photography. Be sure to check out Charlton's blog post about Marlon and Cassandra.

Oh and in case you were wondering it didn't end up raining until the very end of the night. Which was great because we got some amazing rooftop shots at Ventanas. We hope you enjoy their trailer!

Title: Just The 2 of Us - Cinematic Trailer

Couple: Marlon & Cassandra

Length: 2:25

Click Here to Watch Their Complete Story

No Drama - A Story of William & Monica

Written 7 days ago by Ben Howe

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When we shared William and Monica's cinematic trailer, we talked briefly about how marriages are under assault from the outside world. There are a myriad of distractions in life and our microwave culture only amplifies the intensity of those distractions creating a world full of drama and chaos.

After sitting down with this couple we quickly understood that they have learned the secret of keeping those distractions and their associated drama at bay. This secret is rich, powerful, and Will explains it very well in a statement from their interview.

“We approach our relationship from the standpoint of ‘it’s not about us, it’s about the God we serve’… lowers the stakes a little bit for us and we can just kinda be real and be humans and have grace for each other and forgive each other and talk about anything and everything in an environment of safety…huge reason why we really don’t fight that often, we don’t have much drama.”

Though faith may not be an important part of your life, the effects of this statement are universal. By taking the focus off of ourselves and placing it elsewhere we gain a perspective that rises above the drama. Disagreements, quarrels, and general marital drama happens when we spend time focusing on our own desires and less on our spouse's. For Will and Monica they've put that focus on God and it's made all of the difference in their life.

As you watch their story I would encourage you to consider areas in your marriage where you find some drama happening. Is it a result of you putting too much emphasis on your own desires in that situation? If so, think of some ways that you can lay down your desire for the sake of peace. Maybe it's laying it down to God like Will and Monica, or it might just be laying it down for your spouse. Either way the important thing is that you lay it down and escape the vicious drama cylce in your marriage.

Congrats William and Monica. Thanks for sharing your powerful story of drama free living with us. We wish you many happy years of a drama free marriage!

Title: No Drama - Story

Couple: William & Monica

Length: 19:22

Click Here to Watch Their Complete Story

Traveling Companions - Harry & Laura's Same Day Edit

Written 1 week ago by Jeremy Doublestein

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It was a downpour. But thanks to Harry and Laura's foresight none of us knew the difference. Chateau Elan was selected as their venue for just such an occasion. They wanted to have an outdoor feel for the day, but didn't want to deal with the potential threat of rain. So they chose the atrium at Chateau Elan as the site of their commitment. It's great because you get ample amounts of natural light from the skylights and everyone comfortably dry. Great call guys!

Esly, Charles, and I arrived early enough to see Brian Green of F&G Events hard at work making sure that the details were all perfect in the reception ballroom. He always does such a fantastic job. From the timeline to the final touches at the reception he leaves no detail neglected - and that's just part of the reason we enjoy working with him.

Upstairs Laura was getting her makeup done while the guys drank scotch and played poker in a board room downstairs. The air was ripe with joy and anticipation in spite of the rain and the lingering shadow of Harry's father's recent passing. Everyone had big smiles and the day was going exactly according to plan.

We learned about Harry and Laura's travel exploits (including a random dog sledding adventure in northern Minnesota) while shooting their interview. But their relationship has a root that runs deeper than just traveling companions - a root of devoted friendship.

Many couples will talk about their spouse being their best friend, but in the case of Harry and Laura you can feel the depth of their friendship while talking. Their travel stories echo with experiences that only two devoted pals can share.

That's probably why I enjoyed working with them so much. I feel that same connection of friendship with my wife - who like Laura and Harry married her high school sweetheart.

In future segments we'll talk more about the powerful role that friendship plays in a marriage and how traveling through life with your best friend can make all of the difference in the world.

For now enjoy their Same Day Edit where you will hear about that dog sledding trip and get a glimpse into the day these two friends became lifelong partners. We did enjoy putting it all together, mostly because of Laura and Harry, but secondly because we worked with some of our favorite vendors. Brian Green of F&G Events, Shawna Herring Photography, Edge Design, and a new favorite DJ Bigg H from Apmd Atlanta who did a phenomenal job of mixing old-school and current tunes together.

Enjoy the video!

Title: Traveling Companions - Same Day Edit

Couple: Harry & Laura

Length: 4:46

Click Here to Watch Their Complete Story

Self Sacrifice - Andrew & Rose Ann's Same Day Edit

Written 2 weeks ago by Jeremy Doublestein

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James, Ethan, and I packed up the old diesel Jetta and headed down to Hilton Head Island, SC to capture Andrew and Rose Ann's big day. I hadn't been to Hilton Head Island since I was a kid so it was a blast to see some old sites and recall childhood memories of playing on the beach.

When we arrived at the Westin Hotel we met up with Rose Ann and Andrew and had a great interview with them. Their story fascinates me. I marvel at couples who somehow overcome a geographical obstacle (in this case 9,000 miles), meet, and fall in love. But beyond geography these couples all share an amazing ability to overcome the social and cultural differences in their lives. This usually starts with an area of mutual understanding that sets a baseline for how they will overcome the other differences.

For Andrew and Rose Ann that baseline is found in their willingness to make short term sacrifices for a better outcome. Their professions of medicine and dentistry clearly show that this is a part of their DNA. Years of schooling and rotations are a short term sacrifice for the long term benefits that their professions offer.

Beyond their career you'll see examples of their sacrifice in action. We'll talk about this more in detail as we release the other segments from their wedding video. For now sit back and enjoy their Same Day Edit. We had a great time putting it together and got to work with some fantastic vendors along the way.

Leah McCarthy and Amanda from Weddings With Leah did an outstanding job of coordinating the day and giving us invaluable information to make the day as smooth as possible for us while we were working out of town. We also got to work with Alan Palchak a very professional and fun DJ who did a great job. And we would be remissed if we didn't mention Melanie and Sara of Whitebox Photo who were an absolute pleasure to work with.

We hope you enjoy their Same Day Edit. Stay tuned for their soon coming trailer and story!

Title: Self Sacrifice - Same Day Edit

Couple: Andrew & Rose Ann

Length: 3:57

Click Here to Watch Their Complete Story

Getting On Board - Dylan & Katie's Cinematic Trailer

Written 2 weeks ago by Jeremy Doublestein

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As a company it wasn't our first time at Summerour, but for me it was a first. I really enjoyed the large open space and the ambundant cloudy afternoon light that poured through the venue windows.

I was sick as a dog and had completely lost my voice, but being in a new space and sharing the day with such a great couple really livened up my attitude and solidified my focus. Danny and I were able to capture some amazing moments during the day. One of my favorites was a shot of the cake topper, which Katie got from her grandparent's wedding cake - complete with a groom in uniform and all. It was a neat way to connect the present sacrifices of her military marriage with those her grandparents shared in the past.

The level of respect I have for couples who are often separated by deployments grows each time I hear another account of the struggle and sacrifice. It takes a special breed to endure the level of sacrifice necessary to ensure our country's safety (one I'm very grateful for). And Katie and Dylan are no exception to that breed.

What we learned from their interview was that Katie wasn't always on board with Dylan wanting to join the Navy. It complicated the decision of marriage and made her aware of the sacrifices necessary to have Dylan in her life. But as you'll see it was the best decision and their relationship has been strengthened through their mutual sacrifice.

We'll share more about this when we release their story in just a couple of weeks. For now, sit back and enjoy their story trailer. In it you'll see some of the amazing vendors we had the opportunity to work with. Stella Harper Events, Paperlilly Photography, Band X, and of course Summerour. They we are all on top of their game and put together an amazingly beautiful wedding day for Dylan and Katie.

We hope you enjoy their trailer!

Title: Getting On Board - Cinematic Trailer

Couple: Dylan & Katie

Length: 1:51

Click Here to Watch Their Complete Story

Ready for Prime Time - A Story of Steven & Alejandra

Written 2 weeks ago by Ben Howe

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When was the last time you put away your iPhone, turned off the TV and stared directly into your spouse's eyes and dreamed? I'm not talking about getting lost in a romantic notion of dreaming, but a concentrated and focused time of sharing hopes and dreams for the future with your spouse.

While courting this comes quite naturally. Infatuation helps encourage dreaming and the newness of the romance makes sharing your dreams quite natural. But as the romance cools from a boil to a simmer the talk of dreams and the support of them begins to wane.

That's why we like stories like Steven and Alejandra's. It's a great reminder of the importance of dreams and supporting our spouse in the pursuit of them. When you watch their story you'll learn about two very successful people who owe their success in part to the support of the other. And yet while support has been crucial to their success, no amount of support would matter if there was no dream.

So Alejandra reminds us of the importance of dreaming big. From the stories of her father's upbringing to her favorite movie Amélie, Alejandra's life has been greatly influenced by the power of dreaming big. And by sharing those dreams with Steven she setup a natural accountability partner who is willing to be a cheerleader and a coach to make those dreams a reality.

While you watch their story take a few minutes to ask yourself where you've fallen short with dreams in your relationship. Have you stopped dreaming together? If so, setup a time - maybe even a date, to talk about your dreams. Have you put some dreams on hold? Maybe it's time to pick them back up again. Do you just need to start being your spouse's cheerleader again? If you know what the dreams are and you've just gotten slack supporting them, then think of a few ways to encourage those passions in your spouse again.

Alejandra and Steven - thanks for the reminder of a powerful and trans-formative truth about dreaming. We wish you many happy years of dream making together

Title: Ready for Prime Time - Story

Couple: Steven & Alejandra

Length: 20:10

Click Here to Watch Their Complete Story

Heading Forward - A Story of Vishal & Shivani

Written 2 weeks ago by Jeremy Doublestein

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We're releasing our final segment from Shivani and Vishal's wedding and while watching the cut one last time I was reminded of the importance that submission plays in a relationship.

The word submission is taboo in today's culture, it's almost become a four letter word. Why would anyone purposefully set their liberty aside to submit to another human being? Yet it's this act of faith that has the most profound implications for any relationship. Submission goes against our nature because we fear be taken advantage of or harmed.

The interesting irony happens when we don't submit to the people we love - we ultimately cause ourselves more harm in the long run. It seems counterintuitive that by opening yourself to harm you in fact are creating a safer environment for yourself. Submission requires trust and trust is a deeply rooted characteristic of love. If you can't submit you're basically saying you don't trust the other person to do what's best for you, which inevitably will lead to more distrust.

This truth is written all over Vishal and Shivani's story. As you watch it, look for the segments where Shivani talks about the importance of family. You'll hear her talk about a submission that Vishal intuitively knew when he stepped into her life for the first time. The fact that he stopped to spend time with her family at the expense of a dinner reservation shows that he was willing to submit to Shivani's family - an act that left an indelible mark on Shivani.

As you watch their story you'll see how the submission moves from one of family to a mutual submission towards each other. They are seeking the best for the other and taking the steps to submit to each other for the sake of developing a deeper trust in their relationship.

Take note and ask yourself the same question. Are there areas I'm not willing to concede to my spouse? What will it cost me to take the step of faith and trust that my spouse has my best interest at heart? And more importantly - what will it cost me if I don't take that step?

Congrats Vishal and Shivani! We wish many happy years of mutual submission and love!

Title: Heading Forward - Story

Couple: Vishal & Shivani

Length: 17:22

Click Here to Watch Their Complete Story

Go Big, Go Home - Jerome & Simone's Cinematic Trailer

Written 3 weeks ago by Jeremy Doublestein

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Ouch! I knew it as soon as I stepped sideways in the hole - my ankle was most definitely sprained. To make matters worse this was the day before Jerome and Simone's wedding. That afternoon I realized there was no way in the world that I would be able to shoot their wedding by hobbling around on one foot. This was the first time in 14 years that I had missed shooting a wedding because of an illness or injury.

I was pretty disappointed too because I really enjoyed the on-camera interview with Jerome and Simone. They have an amazing life and joy to them, and I was excited about sharing their big day with them. Fortunately for us, we have an amazing team and Ethan and James were able to step up (no pun intended) and shoot the day for me.

So even though I remained their storyteller, it was a little strange for me to not be at their wedding.  But after looking at the footage it was clear that their wedding was exactly what I was hoping it would be for them - a very joyful celebration of a commitment that is based in a hard to find trait. Selfless encouragement is something that few couples do as well as Jerome and Simone. You'll see what I mean when you watch their story.

For now, enjoy their trailer. You'll get a brief glimpse into how their encouragement for each other inflated a love that's a big as the wedding that celebrated it. As I understand it, the day went exceedingly well. Ethan and James worked first hand with several new vendors including; Racquel Watson of Standing Ovations, Keith Hammock Photography, and AJ The DJ who did an amazing and professional job.

We hope you enjoy their trailer. Stay tuned for their story where we talk more about the important role that selfless encouragement plays in a relationship.

Title: Go Big, Go Home - Cinematic Trailer

Couple: Jerome & Simone

Length: 2:51

Click Here to Watch Their Complete Story

Never Look Back - A Story of Gary & Kimberly

Written 4 weeks ago by Ben Howe

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“I never looked back.” That's how Gary summed up the turning point of their relationship.

It was a delicate balance for this couple. The valued they placed in the other as a friend wasn't easily jeopardized by pursuing a relationship that could end in disaster and simultaneously destroy their friendship.

But after some time, they decided to take the plunge knowing that the potential gain was worth the risk. And it was a risk that continues to pay off. We talked briefly about the need to balance the future with the past when we released their story trailer, and after you watch their story you'll see why it matters.

For Gary and Kimberly to make the jump from friends to fiancees it important that they balance the future with the past. Sometimes we can get stuck in the ruts of our relationships - choosing to seek comfort instead of growth. We shouldn't dismiss the past, it's an important part of our relationships, it is after all where the attraction was sparked and the romance was fueled. We should however learn to let go of the routines of the past when the future upside has much more value.

Had Gary and Kimberly not been able to risk their past together, they may never have experienced such a loving future. As you watch their story consider two "ruts" from the past that are preventing you from growing into a future that is healthier for you and your spouse.

Congrats Gary and Kimberly, we wish you a lifetime of future hapiness!

Title: Never Look Back - Story

Couple: Gary & Kimberly

Length: 10:07

Click Here to Watch Their Complete Story

To The Core - A Story of Daniel & Jennifer

Written 1 month ago by Ben Howe

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Intimacy can elude us humans sometimes. We can be in a relationship with someone and still feel an absence of close connection or familiarity.

And yet other times it can be found very easily. As we see in Daniel and Jennifer's story they were able to find a deep connection in a very short period of time. What was it that made this couple's connection so profound and seemingly easy?

During our interview we discovered that their common bond of faith played a huge role in establishing that connection. They were both coming from similar backgrounds and they both leaned into their faith as a foundational point in their lives. By spending their courtship focusing on the core of their personalities they were able to cut to the core of a new relationship.

This is a great lesson for all of us. While watching their story start by identifying two or three foundational elements in your life. Things that really matter to you like faith, family, causes, dreams, etc. Then identify two or three foundational elements in your spouse. Do they line up? If so then have a date night and spend time talking about those foundational elements. If they don't line up, then spend time learning about why those elements are so important to your spouse, and take the effort to become an "expert" in those foundations.

In time you'll discover exactly what Jennifer and Daniel found - a deep level of intimacy and a strong foundation to build a marriage.

Congrats Daniel and Jennifer! We wish you all the best in your life together.

Title: To The Core - Story

Couple: Daniel & Jennifer

Length: 19:42

Click Here to Watch Their Complete Story