When we first met Brittney + Calvin, Calvin had just announced his retirement from the Detroit Lions. Life was changing a lot for the two of them, and not only because they were getting married. It was time to reassess how they’d spend their time, and where they would focus their emotional energy, all in the midst of planning an amazing wedding. Where their wedding film was concerned, they had a desire for something that was about more than the glitz and the glamour of a beautiful event. Their history together was important to them. The family they had built with their son Caleb was important to them, as well as the parents, extended family and friends that had supported them to this point. We wanted all of that to come across in their film. Despite them being a high profile couple, we were really moved by how “normal” they are, and how they welcomed us as friends and allowed us to get to know them. Getting the chance to come to their home and sit down with them as we dug into their story together did wonders for our approach on the wedding day. It allowed us to be much more sensitive to the people and things that mattered most – for example, having a special focus on their son Caleb. That moment when Caleb comes running down the aisle, and has a tender moment with Calvin allows a window into Calvin’s role as a father, that makes this video about so much more than just a wedding.

Little did we know that their first dance was foreshadowing for what was to come. Calvin tore it up on Dancing With the Stars and we were all so proud to watch him explode into such an incredible performer, and to see the cameras cut away to Brittney cheering him on in the crowd.

From Brittney: “I just rewatched the video and am “boo hooing” at my desk. We cannot thank you guys enough for capturing everything about our wedding! You guys are seriously amazing!” 

Northern Michigan, or “Up North” as Michiganders call it is the backdrop to some of our all time favorite weddings we’ve filmed over the years. Nicole and Michael’s wedding is no exception. This film is proof that it can rain on your wedding day and all is not lost – many people got wet in the process but everyone had an amazing time. Rain, however, was not the biggest challenge of ours on this wedding. Our biggest challenge was figuring out how to fit the wealth of meaningful and hilarious stories told by Nicole and Michael’s closest friends and family into a short piece. We set out to tell a story based around their closeness with their friends and family, and we certainly had our work cut out for us. The bond these two have with the people closest to them was inspiring to witness, and the way everyone celebrated together, especially the during the last song of the night as featured in the video, nearly brought tears to our eyes as we were filming it.

If you have any doubts about the value of having your video team film the rehearsal dinner speeches, I hope Nicole and Michael’s film changes your mind. So many wonderful, down-to-earth stories were shared in a relaxed atmosphere that would have been missed had we not been there. There is a level of insight into your story as individuals and as a couple that only your friends can speak into, and we don’t think this story would have been quite as personal had we not been there for the rehearsal dinner.

To receive positive feedback from our couples is special, but to be validated by a fellow artist is another level of affirmation. Michael is a well-established commercial photographer with a discerning eye. The bar was set high, and to get an email that the two of them were thrilled with the final product was cause for celebration. Our goal is to work with couples like these two who value the artistry behind what we do, and want something different than a templated “wedding video”. We hope for more experiences like this one in the future.

Sarah and Phil are very dear to our hearts. Over the years we have had the pleasure of becoming the “family videographers” to a handful of influential families, and this family is one of them. Sarah and Phil are entrepreneurs in the skincare industry and we have a history of partnering with them in creating content for their business through our commercial brand, Tell. Through Tell, we have also worked with Sarah’s parents as well as her sister doing different stories for them and their own entrepreneurial endeavors, and so this event sort of doubled as a bit of a family reunion for us.

These two are dream-makers. They inspire thousands upon thousands of people with their business coaching, helping people ditch the 9-5 rat race and realize a better financial future for themselves. On top of that they have a deep and intense love for the Lord that inspires them to make dreams a reality for children in need overseas through their outreach efforts. What we love about this story is that it’s so much deeper than a typical “wedding video”. Sarah and Phil chose to use their influence on this day toward a cause that was way more important than their 10-year anniversary, and the results had a lifetime of impact on 100 children overseas.