Hailee + Blake: A BGP Blockbuster Film from Lafayette, LA

In South Louisiana family is a big deal. A REALLY big deal. And nothing brings a family together to celebrate like a Saturday night wedding.

Hailee + Blake's story focuses deeply on the connections between family members, the paths they choose and the crossroads along the way. Like all good stories there are a few unexpected twists, some laughter and some sadness, but above all there is love. We'd love to tell you more but you'll have to watch their film to get all the details.

We had a wonderful time getting to know Hailee, Blake, their families and friends that helped make this film such a powerful and exciting piece! 

Hailee + Blake

Venue: City Club at River Ranch
Photographer: Catherine Guidry
Planning + Coordination: Hannah Trahan with Southern Couture
DJ: Aaron Lane Entertainment
Florist: Flowers by Rodney

Mandy + Joey: A BGP Highlight Film from Destin, Florida

"Be careful not to complain about anything, even the weather, since I am the Author of your circumstances. The best way to handle unwanted situations is to thank Me for them."

-taken from the opening paragraph of Mandy's daily devotional on her wedding day

The beaches along Highway 30A in Florida are known for their amazing beauty; clear water and white sand as far as the eye can see. It's the perfect backdrop for a wedding, and Mandy and Joey traveled from Northern California to celebrate their love together with friends and family.



As with any outdoor wedding weather has to be a considered. As the morning turned to afternoon dark clouds loomed. The wind picked up and the decision was made to start the ceremony a little earlier than planned. Everyone gathered at the beach and witnessed the wedding ceremony as the clouds rolled in from the west. There wasn't a dry eye on the beach during their emotional, personal vows. Within 10 minutes of the ceremony ending the rain started coming down. It was a pretty close call, but after about 45 minutes of light rain everything dried up and the celebration continued.

It's amazing when everything just works out on a wedding day. Despite a few changes to the timeline Mandy and Joey's wedding was an amazing success. We can't help thinking that daily devotional passage definitely had something to do with it.


Mandy + Joey
Event planning/coordinator: Kendall Poole Event Planning
Ceremony & Reception: Gulf Place
Photographer: Alp & Isle
Florist: Fresh Cut Catering and Floral
Lighting: Davaine Lighting

Marion + Andrew: A BGP Highlight Film

Marion + Andrew: A BGP Highlight Film from BGP Wedding Films on Vimeo.

Some of the littlest wedding-day details can say so much about a couple. While Marion was getting ready for her wedding she made a last-minute decision to switch out her shoes. Instead of her beautiful heels she decided to walk down the aisle in her blue Converse Chuck Taylor's. That quick little change in the plan says so much about her; there's never a dull moment with Marion around.

Over the weekend in Oxford we got to watch Marion and Andrew and learn about their dynamic together. They work really well to balance each other out. Marion is a mile-a-minute, constantly changing directions with an unstoppable energy, while Andrew has a more deliberate approach which helps keep things on track. It's great to see two people that work so well together, not in spite of, but because of their different personalities.

Marion + Andrew

Event planning and coordination: Kendall Poole Event Planning
Photography: Adam + Alli
Catering and florist: Fresh Cut Catering and Floral
Reception lighting design: Davaine Lighting

Neely + Drew: Same Day Edit Reaction in Vicksburg, Mississippi

Last week we posted Neely + Drew's Same Day Edit which we showed at their reception to a packed house. We were pretty nervous about showing a film in front of such a large crowd, but within the first few seconds of the film we knew everything was going to be fine.

Getting to see the reactions from Neely and Drew as they watched their Same Day Edit was something we will never forget. Throughout the entire weekend they were pretty emotional, but nothing could compare to watching them relive the wedding weekend in total shock. It was a truly rewarding experience and something we will never forget!

Neely + Drew: First Watch from BGP Wedding Films on Vimeo.

Thanks: A Same Day Edit from Vicksburg, Mississippi

A wedding is a perfect time for reflection. The whirlwind of planning, organizing and executing the perfect day can take its toll on you, and it's important to keep things in perspective. Friday night, in front of dozens of family members and friends, Drew took time to recognize the many things in his life he was thankful for. This genuine, heartfelt speech served as the backbone for Neely and Drew's Same Day Edit which we had the pleasure of showing at their reception last night.

Now it's time for us to say thanks.

First off we would like to thank Neely and Drew for including us in their wedding weekend. The emotion they shared throughout the weekend was incredible. They made our job REALLY easy.

Secondly we would like to thank Kendall at Kendall Poole Events for not only organizing an awesome wedding, but keeping the Same Day Edit a secret from everyone. 

We also have to thank Neely's brother, Blake, for coming through with the projector the morning of the wedding. We'll have more on that in a later blog post.

Finally I want to personally thank Natalie for rising to the task of filming an entire wedding day while I worked on the edit behind the scenes. There will be more explaining in a future blog post, but for now it's sufficient to say she handled business like a BOSS!

Neely + Drew:

Event Planning: Kendall Poole Events

Photography: Stephanie Rhea Photography

Lighting Design: Davaine Lighting

Ceremony: Hawkins United Methodist Church

Maryam + Michael: A BGP Blockbuster

Everyone loves a good, happy, Hollywood-style ending to a story. A hero riding off into the sunset with his lady, happily ever after kind of thing. Everyone remembers the happy ending but what about the journey to that point? Where's the joy in a wonderful ending if there's not some adversity along the way?

Maryam and Michael's story starts about 11 years ago in a high school math class. Along their journey there were lots of twists and turns, ups and downs; over a decade with someone can have that affect. As time went on there was talk of marriage, but nothing concrete. Kind of a "if it ain't broke don't fix it" outlook. Life was good as they traveled the world, setting up a home base in New Orleans. But then came the twist.

In January, Maryam received a phone call that changed everything. Her father, who was living and working in Shanghai, China at the time, became ill and required immediate medical attention. Without hesitation, Maryam and Michael boarded the first flight they could to be by her father's side. Michael packed the engagement ring he had been holding onto and was prepared to propose to Maryam while in China. Worried that Maryam would always associate the engagement with the hospital, Michael took Maryam to the top of the tallest building in Shanghai and proposed.  When they returned to share the good news with her family, her father expressed that upon learning that he was ill, it was his one wish to see Maryam and Michael married. With a new perspective, Maryam and Michael immediately set to work planning their October wedding. 


Seeing adversity be the catalyst for an amazing, life-changing event is truly incredible. It's hard to describe, but there was a unique energy throughout the weekend. Knowing the highs and lows of the last year really framed the wedding through a different lens. There were so many emotional moments over the two days of filming. It seemed like every couple of minutes someone was bursting with laughter, crying with joy, pacing with nervousness or dancing like crazy. It was the perfect example of the emotional roller coaster we talk about with all of our couples. It was beautiful.




Every wedding is a new beginning, the start of a new journey where two people face the joys and sorrows of life together. We're honored to have been a part of Maryam and Michael's happy ending and the start of their new beginning.

Maryam + Michael:

Photography: Dark Roux
Venue: Race & Religious
Coordinator: Southern Charm Weddings
Caterer: Liberty's Kitchen
Florist: Poppy & Mint
DJ: Aaron Lane Entertainment

Victoria + Buddy: A BGP Teaser

95% of the focus on a wedding day is the bride. It's just the way things work. The groom gets a little attention, the flowers get oohed and ahhhed over for a while, but then the spotlight goes right back to the bride. It's a monumental day for her and she deserves all the focus and praise.

But what about the people close to her that have helped lead her to this day? Her parents, family and friends that have shaped her into the person she's become. At Victoria and Buddy's rehearsal dinner we got a chance to get a different perspective on the wedding day. As Victoria's father got up to give his speech it you could tell it was going to be difficult for him. Within the first 10 seconds he was taking long pauses, nervously chuckling and taking sips of his water every four or five words.

Eventually he eased into his speech and proceeded to make everyone in the room cry. He had a very unique perspective on his first daughter's marriage and it really changed the way everyone looked at the wedding day. Like we said earlier, a wedding is usually all about the bride, but it was really cool to get to show a different point-of-view for Buddy and Victoria's film.



Victoria + Buddy:

Photographer: Warren Connerly Photography
Rehearsal Dinner: Audubon Clubhouse
Prep: Westin Canal Place
Ceremony: St. Francis of Assisi
Reception: Westin Canal Place
Band: The Mixed Nuts
Florist: Adrian's Christian Flowers

Allie + Dalton: A BGP Teaser in Baton Rouge, LA

A huge part of what we do here at BGP is finding music that perfectly compliments the magic of the wedding day. It can be a painstaking process; sifting through dozens of songs to find the one that's just right can take a LOT of time. Finding the song that takes the film to the next level is so exciting-it's like the icing on the cake. For Allie and Dalton's wedding we had the perfect song practically drop into our lap.

Allie let us know that the very talented Rebecca Roubion would be singing her song, "Doorway", for their first dance. We looked up the song online and within the first 30 seconds we knew we had to use the song for some part of their wedding. We were able to find the rights to the song via The Music Bed, so we knew we were good to go. What we didn't know was that Rebecca's live version of the song was going to be PERFECT. The song you're hearing in the teaser is Rebecca playing live at the reception. Incredible.


Allie + Dalton: A BGP Teaser from BGP Wedding Films on Vimeo.

Speaking of incredible, we had THE BEST time with Allie and Dalton. The amount of energy and excitement throughout the day was incredible. Allie was one of the most fun brides we've ever worked with. She dealt with the wedding day jitters by bouncing around the hotel all morning with a never-ending supply of energy that continued throughout the night. So much fun!

Shout out to the following folks who made Allie + Dalton's wedding day a BLAST!

Photography: Kali Norton Photography
Bride Prep: Renaissance Hotel Baton Rouge
Ceremony: St. Aloysius Church
Reception: Ashley Manor
Music Licensing: "Doorway" by Rebecca Roubion via The Music Bed

Horses, Heat and... Shotguns: Alison + Brian

Finding something unique about every wedding we shoot can be a challenge. If you've shot at a venue a few times you know what works and what doesn't. You get an idea of what churches have what kind of lighting, what parts of town have easy parking and what hotels have slow elevators. But no matter how many times we've shot at a location there's always something that surprises us.

Going into Alison and Brian's wedding weekend we had a good idea of what to expect since we had filmed at their rehearsal dinner location a few months before. We also had a Skype meeting with them a few weeks prior to the wedding to get an idea of what they were planning for the big weekend. One thing that really stood out was the activities planned for the morning of the wedding. While Alison and the bridesmaids were getting hair and makeup done the guys would be out shooting.

Shotguns.

Lot's of 'em.

We'll be perfectly honest; when Brian told us about they would be out shooting the morning of the wedding we got excited. It was DEFINITELY something different, and different usually means fun. But then we got nervous. How were we going to include a bunch of guys shooting guns into their wedding film? We talked about different possibilities like mixing the girls prep footage with the guys firing off rounds, but nothing seemed to really "work" in our heads while we were planning for the shoot. We knew the footage would look great and probably be pretty funny, but if it didn't make sense for the story we probably wouldn't use it. Which brings us to the night before the wedding.

We were on hand to film Alison and Brian's rehearsal dinner which is one of our favorite parts of the wedding weekend. After a couple of speeches from friends and family Alison's dad got up to say a few words. About a minute into his speech we knew we had struck gold; we let out a good laugh and started planning out the edit that night at the hotel.

While the shooting range was extremely fun to film, there is SO MUCH more to Alison and Brian's film than some guys shooting guns and making fun of each other. Their wedding was absolutely beautiful from beginning to end, and you could tell that the entire weekend really meant a lot to them. Even when the weather didn't cooperate they managed to keep their focus on each other which says a lot about their relationship. The heat of the day and the rain that came later in the night didn't make a difference. They took everything in stride and seemed to enjoy every minute of it.


Alison + Brian: A BGP Blockbuster from BGP Wedding Films on Vimeo.

Thanks to Brian and Alison for begin such fun to work with. They put up with some CRAZY heat during the day while we shot their first look. Definitely a couple of troopers!

Venue: Providence Hill Farm
Coordinator-Florist: Tulip Design Studio
Photographers: Adam + Alli
Rehearsal Dinner: River Hills Club
Sound + Lighting: Davaine Lighting

Haley + Michael: A BGP Teaser

We are huge fans of the first-look here at BGP.

HUGE.

Honestly, it's by far one of our favorite parts of the job. There's so much emotion, excitement and personality that comes through in those first few moments when a couple get to see each other for the first time. Being able to see and hear the reactions  from our couples is so awesome. You never know how people will react, and over the years we've been pretty surprised at some of the emotional outbursts we've seen. Some of the biggest, toughest looking grooms we've worked with have just broken down in the moment. It's pretty amazing stuff.

For Haley and Michael's wedding the first look was a surprise. Michael thought he was just being called into the church to take some group photos. As he entered the darkened church he saw his bride waiting for him at the altar. Needless to say it was a pretty dramatic scene. As Michael walked down the aisle towards Haley you could see the reaction was going to be pretty epic.

We thought we could use this dramatic moment to build some anticipation in their trailer. Of course the reaction was nothing short of magical, but you'll have to see their Feature Film for all that goodness. A little tease never hurt anyone, right?



Haley + Michael: A BGP Trailer from Brock Gomez on Vimeo.

Photography: Chao Photography
Ceremony: Hawkins United Methodist Church
Reception: The Arena of Vicksburg

Jackson, Mississippi Wedding Film: A Tuesday Wedding?!

Working in the wedding industry can take some getting used to. You can pretty much kiss your weekends goodbye; even if you only work on a Saturday you can guarantee that Friday will be spent preparing for the upcoming event and Sunday will be spent recovering. Filming a wedding is a non-stop job. Running to get the shot lined up, racing around town from venue to venue and loading gear to and from each location can take a toll on you. But filming a wedding is NOTHING compared to being the wedding coordinator.

Being a wedding planner/coordinator is a job-and-a-half. Having to spend months with a couple planning the wedding of their dreams is a lot of work, and making sure their vision is executed properly takes a special kind of person. There are so many elements that must come together on a wedding day. Catering, entertainment, lighting, decorations, flowers, programs... the list goes on and on.

But there is something special about a wedding that goes off without any hiccups or snags along the way. Having a great coordinator can take the pressure off of the bride, groom and their families. It really allows everyone to enjoy the day they have worked so hard to get to. It takes a unique blend of personality, organization and emotional intelligence to plan and execute someone's dream wedding.

So when we were contacted by our friend Kendall (of Kendall Poole Event Planning) about filming HER wedding we knew we were in for a treat. We knew the locations, decorations, cakes and all the details were going to be beautiful. Aside from all the pretty details, we also knew Kendall's personality and her deep faith were going to make for an amazing story for her film. And although we had never met Will, her fiancé, we knew if he was getting hitched to Kendall he had to be a pretty cool dude (we were right).

We made the trek up to Jackson, Mississippi on a Tuesday afternoon to film this amazing event. You see, when you have a calendar full of weekend weddings it makes it tough to have an open weekend of your own. So Kendall planned her wedding for a Tuesday night (which was a first for us). As expected, all of the locations, details and little touches were beautiful. Kendall was glowing with excitement the entire day, and it was great getting to see her enjoy her own wedding instead of worrying about planning someone else's.

It was an honor to be a part of such a special day for Kendall and Will. We really wanted their film to be a reflection of their faith which was apparent throughout the entire day. We also wanted to showcase the ability of Kendall and her team to execute an amazing wedding (even if Kendall wasn't there to run the show).

Like we said earlier, working in the wedding biz can take some getting used to. But when you get to work with amazing, talented and loving people it's really no big deal.

Saturdays are overrated anyway.


Kendall + Will: A BGP Feature Film from Brock Gomez on Vimeo.

-Brock

Coordinator: Kendall Poole Event Planning
Photo: Adam + Alli
Lighting: Davaine Lighting
Florist/Catering: Fresh Cut Catering and Floral
Band: Almost Famous

***Kendall was also responsible for planning Anna + Nadav's wedding which was one of our favorites from last year. You can check it out HERE!

Building On A Strong Foundation

Waking up early isn't for me. It's just one of those things I'm really not cut out for (although I'm a little better at it than Natalie). There's just something unnatural about being awake before the sun is up. But this past weekend I had no trouble getting out of bed before dawn. There was work to be done with some really amazing people and that was motivation enough for me.

Ebony and Bryan planned their destination wedding in New Orleans very meticulously. There was a ton of thought put into each day, and they really wanted their guests to take in the city beyond just Bourbon Street. In fact, the day before the wedding they scheduled a work day at a Habitat for Humanity site in New Orleans East. To say that I was excited about this idea is an understatement. We live in a world where having a trending/viral/pinned engagement or wedding is increasingly sought after, yet Eb and Bryan wanted to take the spotlight off of themselves and use their wedding to help someone else. They had about 20 guests and family members at the site for the majority of the day, some with building experience and some who had never held a hammer. But everyone put in work and really came together for a wonderful experience. But it wasn't all work and no play. On one side of the house a group would be taking measurements and cutting siding, and on the other side people were dancing around and cracking jokes. It was a wonderful mix of play and purpose.

Overall it was a wonderful experience and one hell of a reason to wake up early. I had a blast getting to know Eb and Bryan a little better. Their friends and family are a great crew of characters, and I laughed just as much as I filmed. I even got to swing a hammer for a little bit which was a welcome change from being behind the camera or computer monitor. Huge thanks to Ebony and Brian for making this day happen!


For more information on the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity click HERE.

Big thanks to Danielle at NOLA Bash for coordinating the Habitat build as well as the rest of the wedding weekend.

Music licensed via The Music Bed.

Brittany + Josh: Natchez, Mississippi Wedding Film

"Getting to meet new people is the best part of our job."

We've said that sentence hundreds of times and it never gets old. Brittney and Josh are the embodiment of that statement. From our first contact with them all the way to this very day they have been an amazing couple. During our first Skype meeting it was pretty obvious they had a great chemistry together; their fun-loving personalities seemed to bounce off of one another in a constant stream of giggles and laughter. We could tell that they were going to be a fun couple to work with, and as the wedding day approached our excitement grew.

About a week before the wedding we sent out our usual questionnaire about the wedding day. It really helps us with the logistics of the wedding day like locations, times and all of those important details, but it also gives us a feel for the personalities of the couple. Usually we get pretty straight-laced responses to the questions, but Josh had other plans. Here are some of our favorite answers from Josh:

(THAT'S how you answer a wedding questionnaire!!)

The day of the wedding was an absolute BLAST! Everyone was so welcoming and relaxed it really didn't feel like a typical wedding day. Brittney was cracking jokes while everyone was getting ready, and there was a great energy in the room. I couldn't believe how laid back everything was. But things got a little more emotional when Brittney read her letter to Josh. She claimed she wasn't very emotional, but that proved to be slightly inaccurate. 

Brittney taking break from laughing and joking to "get all emotional and stuff"

As the day went on we got to watch Brittney and Josh interact and it was amazing. When they are in the room together you can't help but be amused at their playfulness and excitement. They are constantly smiling, giggling, poking and just enjoying each others company. Their energy is contagious, and it brings a smile to everyone around them.

Sometimes the first dance can be a little nerve-wracking with everyone watching. Not for these guys. We're pretty sure they didn't notice a single person there.

Getting to know Brittney and Josh has been a great experience, and we're so thankful to have been a part of their wedding day. We're super stoked on their film below; it was a beautiful day filled with amazing people, which is what it's all about in the end. Congrats Brittney and Josh!!!

Brittney + Josh: A BGP Feature Film from Brock Gomez on Vimeo.

Photographer: Chao Photography
Bridal Prep: Cedar Grove Inn
Ceremony & Reception: The BB Club

Jackson, Mississippi Wedding Film

Sometimes what you are looking for is right in front of you. And sometimes you have to travel very far to find what's most important. The latter was the case for Katie and Matt. After searching high and low the two of them met on a mission trip to South Africa. When Katie got back from the trip she knew something was different...

We had the pleasure of documenting Katie and Matt's wedding day back in October. The weather in Jackson, Mississippi was PERFECT, and as everyone was getting ready the typical wedding day nerves settled in. In Katie's case the nerves were a bit more than what we usually see (you'll find out about that in the film).

The beautiful outdoor ceremony went off perfectly at the Mississippi Museum of Art, and once Katie and Matt walked down the aisle it was time to party! Bobby J's Stuff Like That from New Orleans rocked the reception late into the night.

It was definitely an emotional day that was filled with joy, excitement and a warmth that radiated from everyone involved. We had an amazing time getting to know Katie and Matt; their journey together is definitely inspiring. Check out their Short Film below; it's a story you don't want to miss!



Katie + Matt: A BGP Short Film from Brock Gomez on Vimeo.

Nottoway Plantation Wedding Film

We had a wonderful time getting to know Kirsten and Tim during the course of their wedding weekend. They have a really special chemistry that's pretty clear when you first meet them. From the first look to the end of the reception they were smiling ear to ear, cracking little jokes and just enjoying the energy of the day. Here's a quick look at their wedding at Nottoway Plantation:




Photography: Bray Danielle Photography
Catering and Venue: Nottoway Plantation

Blair + Kraig by Shanna Lumpkin Events

A few months back we took a trip up to Laurel, Mississippi for an awesome weekend with Blair and Kraig. They typical wedding day nerves were in full effect, and with the radar showing strong thunderstorms everyone was especially nervous. As the day went on the storms ripped through Laurel and things didn't look good. Blair, Kraig, their families and friends kept the faith, and by a small miracle the weather cleared up about an hour before the ceremony.

Faith is a HUGE theme in Blair and Kraigs film, and the above teaser is just a taste of their Short Film. If you would like to see more of Blair and Kraig's film get in touch with us; it's a wonderful story that we are honored to tell. Big thanks to Blair, Kraig, their families and everyone involved with this wedding. It was an amazing weekend!!!

Blair + Kraig

Event Planning: Shanna Lumpkin Events
Photography: Adam + Alli

Destin Destination Wedding Film

"Everything happens for a reason."

Last weekend we had the opportunity to travel to Florida to be part of Jake and April's wedding weekend.  They allowed us tons of access to all the festivities, including the rehearsal dinner, where we got a glimpse into the history between the two of them. As Jake explained their history together we knew this was a story that needed to be told (and quickly).

Jake and April have been through a lot together over the span of twenty-or-so years. To see their journey come full circle with a beautiful waterfront ceremony was amazing, and we're especially thankful for being included in such a special event.

We'd like to thank Jake and April's friends and families for being so welcoming and warm to our crew over the course of the weekend. You guys definitely made our job a LOT easier (and way more fun).


The film above is our Quick Turnaround edit, which is a new offering from BGP. We'll put together a one song highlight film of your wedding day within two weeks of your wedding so you and your guests can relive the wedding day while it's still fresh in your minds. If you would like to know more about our QTA films or other offerings please give us a call!

Hotel Monteleone Wedding Prep

The day of a wedding can be pretty hectic. There are so many things that need to be taken care of and the different emotions that come through once the pressure is on. As anyone who's planned a wedding knows there's a lot of work that goes into getting to the big day, and all that energy comes to a head during the few hours before the ceremony.

One of our favorite aspects of a wedding is the prep. It gives us a chance to really get to see the personalities of our couples come out, as well as all the different emotions that have been building up to this point. It's awesome for us to be able to watch friends and family come together in the last hours before such a life changing event. 

We had a chance to spend a few hours with Margaret and Nick before their wedding. Nick's room was pretty laid back and relaxed (as the groom's room tends to be), while Margaret's room was buzzing with activity. Even Mocha was on hand to watch Margaret get ready. Everyone was super excited about the big night to come.

Margaret + Nick

Prep location: Hotel Monteleone
Ceremony location: St. Louis Cathedral
Reception location: Hotel Monteleone

Photographer: Steve Randon
Hair & Makeup: Mona Barker for Cosmos
Florist: Beth's Flowers
Cakes: The Cocoa Bean Bakery & Cafe
Band: The Top Cats
Second Line: Booty Trove

Thanks again to Margaret and Nick, plus all of their friends and family! We had a great time getting to know you guys!!!

Baton Rouge Wedding Film

Fall in South Louisiana is a pretty special time. The air finally starts to cool off from the unbearable heat and humidity of the summer, the trees start to change colors, and the evenings creep in a little quicker. This makes it a perfect time for an outdoor wedding, and Lacie and Drew's rooftop wedding came together perfectly.

Lacie and her bridesmaids got ready at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center which overlooked her rooftop ceremony at The Shaw Center. As the sun went down the ceremony started with the Mississippi river serving as a perfect background.

As the evening went on an awesome reception erupted, complete with a flash mob to "White Wedding" put together by Drew's family. The night was a complete success, and we are so happy to be a part of such a wonderful event. Here's a quick look at Lacie and Drew's wedding day:



Photography by Meg Reilley
Sound by DJ Jager