The team of videographers and photographers at Imperial Studio in Mill Hill. In North West London were very excited last weekend.  After all the preparations Tracey and Steve’s Jewish wedding day was here!  The abundance of love and togetherness we felt on Sunday brought a tear to our eye.  This is how it started………

Dan Rossi, our main wedding photographer and director of wedding cinematography and his team arrived at the bride’s house in West London around 8am.  Before Dan Rossi touched the doorbell, the door was opened by the mother of the bride who greeted us with a beautifully warm and welcoming smile. Although the weather was a little cloudy, everyone was having fun. The preparations were all under control and everyone knew exactly what they were doing.

The Father Of The Bride

The father of the bride was waiting downstairs with his lifelong friends. Of course talking about his new son in law and how ‘blessed’ they were that their daughter was going to be looked after. Along with being safe with Steve for the rest of her life.  I thought how lucky Steve is to marry in to such a genuine loving family.  Our wedding videographer and Dan Rossi took some gorgeous pictures of this conversation between old friends. Hence really captured the heartfelt words as Dad spoke.

Upstairs the bridal preparations were well underway.  It always amazes me how the hairdresser and makeup artist work so well together even though they may have never met before.  Two artists working on an enchanting masterpiece. Likewise their tables lined with diamante jewellery and hairclips lying on a black velvet backdrop and sparkling like stars in the sky.  The makeup table covered in palettes of deep warm colours. The brushes with bristles as soft as cotton wool.  The wedding dress was stunning, even on the hanger and as everyone worked around the bride I could see how it was all going to piece together.

The Atmosphere with Dan Rossi

The atmosphere was divine, everyone smiling and cherishing every moment.  The bridesmaids were offering tall stemmed glasses of Bucks Fizz and the hours just passed in a flash.  Finally, the wedding car arrived and the bride looked a million dollars.  Dan Rossi and the wedding videographer positioned themselves at the bottom of the stairs. Thus  photographing  the bride walking down the stairs towards her father.  As dad saw her his eyes welled up and he said “the last woman I saw look this beautiful was your mum on our wedding day”.  He took Tracey’s hands in his and kissed her tenderly on both cheeks.  This was the first moment that Imperial Studios team shed a tear that day!

As the wedding party were getting into the white Rolls Royce, Dan Rossi and his team sped off to the synagogue.   Imperial Studio is renowned for capturing every special moment on camera and film. Furthermore Dan Rossi directs the whole occasion too.  So arriving at the Synagogue before the bride and her party was imperative.

We took great footage and stills of the Groom, his family, the bridesmaids and the best man outside.  The second cameraman was inside filming the excited guests as they arrived.

The Ketubah with Dan Rossi

Once everyone was seated the ceremony started with the Ketubah (marriage contract) being signed. After which the groom went into a room to perform the Bedekin (or ‘veiling’).  He was waiting outside as the bride was not quite ready and he was smiling but shaking like a leaf.  “Dan” he said, as he straightened his tie for another picture “you do loads of Jewish weddings, do all the grooms shake at this point?” “Trust me Steve, in my experience of photographing hundreds of weddings, this shaking is your emotions and perfectly normal.

You are marrying a beautiful woman and a fabulous family, take a deep breath and enjoy the journey!” The door to the Bedekin room opened and as he looked at his bride to be for the first time his mouth fell open and he took that deep breath that Dan was talking about.  “You look stunning” he said to his wife “and this is the beginning of our journey to the rest of our lives.  I love you more than words can say”.

The Words Of Love

As I watched the father of the bride walk his daughter down the aisle towards the Chuppah (a canopy where the ceremony takes place) I couldn’t help but notice that he seemed taller.  He was stood perfectly upright I realised how proud he was of his little girl and his new son.  As he gave her to the man of her dreams, he gently placed her hand in his, kissed them and mouthed “I love you both”.

By connecting the groom to a tiny radio mike, our videographers were able to capture every detail and sound as well as high quality footage. Wow, what a pleasure to film and photograph this amazing Jewish wedding!  At the end of the Jewish wedding ceremony, there wasn’t a dry eye in the synagogue, the glass was smashed and everyone shouted “Mazeltov”.  All around you could feel the love, the joy and the dreams for a future full of everything good.  What a romantic feeling!

The Synagogue with Dan Rossi

When we left the synagogue, the clouds had cleared and the sun was shining.  It had been raining a little and sun twinkled and reflected off the ground giving us a fairytale backdrop to our photos and footage.

Dan Rossi and the Imperial Studio team left the joyous couple and their guests to shoot over to the venue and make sure they were set up in time to capture every guest arriving.  The Reception room was stunningly gorgeous!  I then realised why the bride had chosen warm shades of purple and blue for her makeup and diamante jewellery.  It was all just divine and it took our breath away!  Even the opulent flower centre pieces matched!

Our videographer miked up the Groom, Best Man and Father of the Bride and made sure that the portable camera crane was ready for the after dinner dancing.  The Toast Master actually commented on our work and even took a business card!  We were ecstatic that the bride and groom had chosen to have two cameramen because we were able to capture every detail of the love, joy and emotions that filled the room.  The portable camera crane helped us to capture highlights of the dancing without getting in the way of the celebrations or missing any important details of the dancing.

Around 10.30pm the Bride and Groom were ready to leave after a very exciting and memorable day. Dan Rossi and his team stayed on till 11.30pm as the celebrations were still going strong.  It had been an amazing Jewish wedding in West London and we were completely satisfied with all the emotions, feelings and special moments that we recorded.