It’s hard to imagine a couple more in love than Amanda & Dan. It staggers the mind, really!   When I first met them to shoot their love story video in April we laughed, we cried, and in only a few hours I got to experience first hand how madly in love they are! You’ll notice it, too, when you uncover their story. Maybe the most beautiful part is that their wedding on May 11th, 2013 was ten years in the making.

But that’s not all. We pulled out all the stops for Amanda & Dan to create a same-day edit for them to play at their reception at the end of their love story. Their family was overwhelmed with emotion as we all sat and watched the lucky couple tease, joke, kiss, and cry, and then get married all-over again right before our eyes.

Their wedding day itself was a balmy and enchanting perfect-mid-70s day in late Spring. The morning found Amanda and her bridesmaids at the Omaha Hilton to get ready together. Laughter and joy was everywhere from the get-go. As the girls finished up their make-up and curling, we all reconnected at Our Lady of Lourdes church across from Hanscom Park in Omaha. If you’re looking for a charming, simple, and intimate cathedral for your wedding, this is the perfect place for you. And with the park right across the street, the boys were able to go frolic there for some fun photos while the girls got their formals taken. (It was nice that the boys had somewhere else to go, as it can be a bit of a challenge to keep the two sexes separate at Our Lady)

Amanda and Dan didn’t see each other before the altar, but they didn’t want to go in alone, either. They opted for what turned out to be an incredibly meaningful exchange of letters around the corner of the church. Reading these next to each other, even at a distance, you could see their eyes light up and their hearts warm for the big moment. If you aren’t sure about a first look, a “first touch” might be a great alternative for your wedding day!

The elegant ceremony concluded with much joy (and even a little bit of dancing), and Amanda, Dan, and their friends rushed off on a trolley to the Old Market to celebrate together at Nebraska’s own Upstream Brewery. Amanda & Dan didn’t get to imbibe quite as much as others due to some fantastic photo ops, but they were riding high when we finished shooting and filming, and the Old Market turned out to be a really relaxing setting.

The reception began shortly before Amanda & Dan arrived to make an entrance and dive into the Hilton’s fantastic dinner options (possibly the most elegant mac & cheese ever). The cleverly designed cupcakes were arranged in the shape of a G for the couple’s last name! After dinner and much toasting, the love story played with the same-day edit, and we think that went over pretty darn well. After, the couple took the dance floor for the traditional first dance and parent dances, then got the party really rolling with a Sangria Dance. If you haven’t seen this before, just imagine a bunch of adults of all ages marching in a circle and passing giant bottles of sangria. Guaranteed to be a good time.

It was an extreme pleasure to work so closely with Amanda & Dan and their beautiful families! We loved every minute of it, and we want to thank them again for inviting us and sharing such a special time. We love you, Amanda & Dan!

Holy smokes, it’s here. Summer of 2013 is happening, and no doubt if you’re getting married this year you’re already quite aware of this. Here at Wedding Memories of Omaha it may look like we’ve been hibernating over the winter, but the truth is we’ve been busy meeting so many of you, our young and beautiful couples, and planning for your magic moment in the spotlight.

Not only that, but 2013 is off to a great start! Amy and Nick decided to have their wedding in the winter, and it was cute enough that it might make some of you summer-dwellers jealous:

This has been a year of growth, hope, and excitement for us as we enter our 4th year as a company. And as our team gets ready to test their wings and flex their muscles in 2013, possibly the hardest part for me has been the looming fact that we can’t do everyone’s wedding this year. Some of you, we have sadly had to turn away due to a full schedule. That really pains me, but I’m trying to make the best of it.

But I think there’s an important take-away here. More and more couples are looking for a wedding videographer this year. That doesn’t surprise me. It’s a no-brainer. Maybe one of your friends had us at her wedding and loved her video, or maybe you were perusing wedding fashion online and saw a beautifully filmed video that moved you to tears. Either way, if you’ll forgive the pun, wedding video is taking the cake in 2013.

Why should I ask you to my wedding?
Well, first of all, we’re just so darned pleasant to be around. That’s not a joke. But the fact is that video has changed so much in the last 5 years. It’s not just an hour of your dad’s handycam footage of Aunt Maggie eating chicken cordon bleu. (Do you really want your dad’s handycam to be the only live-action memory of your day?) We think you want more for your memories than just strung-together video, photos and a few instagrams. Photography is so important, but I have a lot of couples tell me that video captured another side of things.

Why get a wedding video? Because you’ll love it, and because you can. Isn’t that a reason enough? It’s amazing how far things have come. Not only can we make “a video,” but it will even be cinematic, awe-inspiring, beautiful, and capture the emotion of the moment.

Your wedding is a day in time that you’ve planned for over eight, twelve, or even twenty-four months. It’s not just about the ceremony, or the cake, it’s about everything leading up to it, a morning of preparation, and all the thoughtful decorations, kind words, and blessings you share. The day itself is often a blur, surrounded by not just close friends, but too many to even count. You have to get more dressed up than you’ve been since you were the ringbearer or flower girl at your aunt’s wedding 20 years ago. Let’s set some reasonable expectations here: you may not remember very much of the day if it wasn’t for the pictures.

And then there’s video. It’s not just a moment frozen in time. It’s an expression which you made and that faded again quickly. But we saw it. It’s a look you shared. It’s flowers blowing in the wind. It’s your little niece smiling and then blushing awkwardly. It’s your parents kissing you on the forehead and telling you how much they love you. And you might even get to hear them. It’s the look on your face when you meet your soon-to-be spouse in a private garden, or see them for the first time stepping out toward the altar. Those are the moments you want to last forever.

Oh yes, and videos are fun
How many hours per week do you spend on social media? Five? Ten? Twelve? (Yes, honey, I’m on Pinterest “planning our wedding”) What do you do when you want to share a thought or idea with someone, or something important you’ve been thinking about? If you’re anything like me (God help you if you are), you Facebook, Tweet, Instagram, pin, instapin, Vine, Tumblr, or something it.

You can not only treasure your wedding on DVD for years to come, but now you can share it with everyone you’re close to with a click of a button. In a way, it’s a gift to yourself and to your family and friends. Who knows? They may see themselves at your wedding and remember wow, that day was so much fun.

The New Standard
The point is, video is becoming a new standard in weddings. Here’s a couple great ideas for your wedding video in 2013 that will really blow your friends away:

Highlights Video
All our packages are based around the idea of a highlights video. Basically, this is a 3-5 minute video that ties together all the details and special moments of your day. It’s not a summary. It’s like an elaborate bouquet of beautiful video clips that compliment each other nicely and tell your story. (What I’m saying is, please accept our video flowers) We set it to music for you and incorporate audio narration, including your vows. We don’t think you’ll sit down and watch your ceremony every week, but you certainly won’t get tired of watching your wedding highlights!

Love Story
Love stories are a chance for you to tell everyone, well… your story. How did you meet? What was the situation? What made that funny or cute? What happened next? How did you fall in love? Not everyone knows the story of you. This goes great at your reception to fill in the gaps for family and friends that didn’t get to know both of you before you met.  It’s funny, touching, and sweet, and it doesn’t have to be long to be powerful. Your guests will laugh and cry with you as you think about all you’ve been through together.

Also, Love Stories give us an opportunity to get to know you a little bit better, and we really appreciate that. This takes a little planning, so make sure to get your requests in early.

Same-day Edit
Not everyone knows you can do this, yet, but the secret is getting out. Same-day edits are a highlights video of your day that we play at your reception. I know! Crazy! There is still magic left in the world. It’s especially rewarding to include everyone at your reception in the moments when you were getting ready that morning, or when you first saw each other on your wedding day in that secret garden alone and fell in love all over again, or to relive your vows. (As I like to say, “reminisce instantly”) And guests get to see themselves sometimes, which makes them feel extra special! This also requires an extra person to help, so don’t wait till the last minute to decide.

Wedding Shortfilm
Have you seen our Flawless Package? If not, you may want to take a closer look. A video crew makes a 15-20 minute shortfilm of your day. we bring out three videographers and give it our absolute best with high-quality audio, 3-4 cameras, and high tech steadicam equipment.  This is our flagship for 2013, and we’re so excited to create a truly cinematic experience for you. You’ll want to reserve this at least six months in advance.

Did you fill out our contact form yet?
We’re not completely booked for the summer, but weekends are getting fewer and farther between. Contact us now to find out if your date is available! If you’re looking for a fall film (see what I did there?), some spots are still open as well.

I’m so excited to see what we’re going to accomplish in 2013. Thank you all for being a part of this very special journey with us and for inviting us to be a part of your journey.

October 20th may have been the most gorgeous day of 2012. The sky was bright and clear, the weather a balmy 70 degrees. All the colors of fall were on the trees, and the grass was still brilliant green. And most importantly, Amber & Andrew were getting married.

Watch their video:

Amber spent her morning getting her hair done at Von Hair Salon Suites in the Pioneer Woods area of Lincoln, and later finished her make-up with her friends and bridesmaids at her parents’ house. The ladies had a light lunch in the comfort of family, and later the parties converged on Eastridge Presbyterian Church in preparation for the ceremony.

The boys donned their suits with red ties and boutineers of cotton and rose, while the ladies paraded around in their matching embroidered robes, and eventually put on their red bridesmaid dresses. Amber’s dress flowed in the breeze as she walked outside the church to meet her groom.

After an overjoyed embrace, some kind words, a few precious tears, and a prayer, Amber and Andrew walked back in as a couple to begin the ceremony that would signify their new life together.

The ceremony went smoothly and included a lot of close friends and some musical talent from the wedding party. As you can see in their highlights video, Amber & Andrew chose to write their own vows which were very meaningful to them as a couple (and which resulted in a few bonus tears of joy). The highlight of the ceremony may have been when Amber gave Andrew not only a ring, but a surprise pocket watch. “Awesome,” Andrew laughed.

The wedding was followed by a cheese hour in the church atrium. The party took a limo to the Haymarket and took some more photos by the train tracks in the light of the setting sun. Then they burst into the reception hall with a dramatic A-Team theme song and Maglites, and later did a special boys vs. girls dance-off. Miniature glass coke bottles made a charming, red color-matching, and tasty party favor for guests. There was also much
dancing, a photo booth, and later Amber & Andrew played their LOVE STORY, which took nearly everyone by surprise and blew them away (we may have had something to do with that).

We had a fantastic time getting to know Amber & Andrew through the entire process two months before when we met for the love story shoot, working together to make it extra personal to what they were looking for, and then filming their wedding day to help them remember all their special moments.

For more great videos, click here

To look at our awesome packages, click here

A brisk autumn evening in Nebraska turned into an underwater exploration around the world. Visiting penguins in Antarctica, stingrays in Shark Reef, & moon jellyfish off of the West Coast…all before returning back to Omaha just in time for dinner! Megan & Aaron decided to have their wedding ceremony and reception in the exotic aquarium in the Henry Doorly Zoo. Having been engaged there, it was sentimental and fitting.

Watch the video:

Guests made their way into the convention center where they were greeted by a 24 ft. 10,000 gallon aquarium tank filled with tropical fish such as Yellow Tang, Clownfish, and Regal Blue (basically the whole cast of Finding Nemo). The alluring tank served as a backdrop during the ceremony as well as the main attraction in the reception hall. The charming Suzanne & Walter Scott Convention Center had a large rippled white wall with varying colored lights opposite the massive tropical aquarium which looked great on video.

The staff so graciously opened the 70 ft long salt water tunnel aquarium to allow guests to take an underwater adventure of their own. Sharks and sea turtles swirled over our heads while stingrays glided between towers of coral. Jellyfish danced in slow motion and piranhas flashed their mandibular weapons. Everyone was all smiles when at one point the zoo keeper brought out a penguin and 3 ft long lizard for guests to pet. The tuxedo baring bird welcomed Megan and Aaron into the reception hall where dancing and dining ensued throughout the evening.

The whole night could have composed a brilliant scene for The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, & various National Geographic specials. The Henry Doorly Zoo offers the aquarium for event rental and also the TreeTop Restaurant/Lied Jungle, IMAX Theatre, Garden of the Senses, and the Wild Kingdom Pavillion. These venues are not only wild and enchanting, but also extremely original and memorable. I mean, how many people can say they partied with sharks at a wedding?

For more information, check out the Henry Doorly Zoo’s event page.

Congratulations Megan & Aaron, you provided a night that will not be soon forgotten.

There are rare moments when you run across a venue so profoundly magical that you fall in love with it. This happened to us at Keelin & Brandon’s wedding at Castle Unicorn.

As you approach the castle, near Pacific Junction, IA, you drive up a long and winding road to the crest of a hill and suddenly there it is:  a red brick monolith complete with turrets, a gate, a moat, and stone sea monsters. It feels much like stepping into a fairy tale (or a little like Nottingham).

But it’s not a castle facade, it’s really a castle. The interior is adorned with suits of armor, chandeliers, a gargantuan wooden table, a king’s chamber with a staircase to the balcony outside, and we like to imagine that it must have a dungeon and secret passages if you pull the right candlestick. But it’s not eerie. It feels comfortable and warm, and there is plenty of space for both the bride and groom to prepare themselves separately for their crowning moment. Take a look at it with Keelin & Brandon’s Highlights video, or read on!

(Note: This castle would be perfect for a renaissance or LARP concept wedding.)

But in all seriousness, it was a beautiful wedding on a beautiful day. We started with Keelin & Brandon in the morning, her at Rain Salon in the Old Market in downtown Omaha, and him in his Mariott hotel room playing Mario Kart (highly recommended for those of you who are looking for a way to relax and take the edge off the whole “getting married” thing).

Back at the castle, each side of the wedding party had its own chamber in a different part of the castle. Keelin & Brandon did their first look in the nearby forest, and we spent the next hour following them around the charming castle grounds for some shots with the scenery.

Keelin looked beautiful walking through the distant trees and transcending slowly down to the wooded chapel for their ceremony. After a word from the minister and a short love poem about dinosaurs, the couple exchanged vows and were wed in a mere 15 minutes.

There are many other elements to Keelin & Brandon’s wedding which we thought were creative, such as their marvelous cake, but the lighting is what really set the tone for a magical reception. The sign-in table was lit with an outdoor chandelier (which we found mighty impressive).

Dinner was served on the  parade ground near the moat, and as the sun set the trees were illuminated one-by-one with blue mood lights from below. Later Keelin and Brandon and their guests reveled by dancing on the forest floor (right? RIGHT!?) among three large light pillars which set the mood and made the woodland at dusk feel like a real club. (Club Nottingham 2.0?)

So if you’re looking at wedding venues and rescuing (or being) a princess is on your bucket list, Castle Unicorn is a must-see. You won’t feel like you’re in the Midwest, but you will feel like you stepped right into a love story.

Congratulations Keelin & Brandon! We wish you the very best!

Remember that time two hours ago when we got married?

If you’ve ever wanted to instantly reminisce, then reminded yourself that it’s not appropriate in most social situations, this is for you.

Aside from the obvious fact that you’d be walking around in a nostalgic haze your whole life, instant sentimentality is, well, usually it’s just gross. There’s only so much mileage you can get out of that time you got a free pumpkin latte earlier, or how that cute boy liked your profile photo a minute ago, or how you finally got parallel parking right just now, or about how awesome you felt after a coworker complimented your new haircut at lunch. Don’t Facebook it either. We’ll all think you’re self-absorbed. But, if there were a reason to indulge in fondness over your own accomplishments, it would probably be your wedding day. It’s called a same-day-edit. Treat yourself.

Of course, same-day-edits are about much more than self-indulgence. They’re about connection, closeness, and all the tiny moments that make your day special. In case you’re not sure exactly what we’re talking about, here’s an example from Amy & Cody’s wedding in Onawa, IA. Our cameras captured their day from dawn till nightfall, and at their reception they shared THIS video with friends, family, and each other:

Now, I know what you’re wondering. How on earth did Wedding Memories do that so quickly? Well, magic. The world is truly magic. How is it you’re reading this without paper? HM?

Here are some other great benefits (in no particular order) to showing a same-day-edit at your reception:

You’ll notice things you might have missed while you were focused on getting married
You’ve spent 13 months planning this day. Your mind is going a-mile-a-minute. You’re most-likely going to be in a nostalgic haze all day (as discussed above), so you probably won’t even realize all the cool stuff that’s happening as it’s happening. For instance, there was that thing you all laughed at, or that hug your father gave you, or that look when you saw each other for the first time, or the matching wristbands you and your bridesmaids all wore. Wouldn’t it be nice to look at it again after all the stress and I-do’s are done and just appreciate how awesome it was?

Your guests will feel super-included
A lot goes into your wedding day. No one has to tell you that. And, while most of it is about you two, from what you put on in the morning, to where to take your photos, what close friends you have surrounding you, and that ultimate moment when you say I do, your guests miss most of that. Sad day.

Instead of just including your guests in the ceremony and reception, why don’t you let them see how the whole day unfolded? Not only that, but they may also see themselves! You put enough effort into getting them there, now why don’t you make them feel special, sit back, and enjoy your day with them?

Instant gratification
This isn’t a reason. Are you kidding?? Of course it is! Are you really going to want to wait to see the final edited product of your wedding video? These things take time… unless you have a same-day-edit (see magic above). Then you can have a video of your wedding to watch over and over again all day long as early as the following week. Not only that, but you’ll have something to share online almost immediately (for Aunt Karina in Canada who couldn’t make it due to a prairie fire/avalanche/ice storm). You probably won’t even get your pictures back that soon (if we’re being real here), so why don’t you just get a same-day-edit?

Two for one
More isn’t always better. But how often does someone make a movie about you? You might as well ask us to make a second movie if we’re going to make a first one. When you get a same-day-edit, not only do you get the highlights video we make for you that night, but you get a finalized and polished highlights video with your package later. Two videos, one day. More content, more reminiscing. You’ll be a YouTube celebrity in no time. Gosh, I envy you.

Wow factor
When you’re really ready to impress your guests, there’s a couple ways to make your same-day-edit more effective. The best results come with two things: getting-ready coverage and a love story.

Without going into too much morbid detail, love stories are just that: you tell your story so everyone knows the tale of how you met and fell in love. We like to play that first and follow it up with a same-day-edit like a quick one-two punch (a great example is Laura & Adam’s Love Story + Same-day-edit). The short reason is that it will make everyone laugh and cry at the same time. Getting-ready coverage is extra gripping in same-day-edits because it’s a whole part of your day which few people ever see. That makes it even more meaningful to share with your loved ones.

Hallelujah! I’m in. Now what’s the catch?
There isn’t one. But book sooner rather than later. It does take an extra editor the day of your wedding to make a same-day-edit happen, and spaces are very limited. Don’t let someone else snatch up that person who could make your guests go WOW! then AWW… then WOW! again. Ask us about a same-day-edit to give you a whole new perspective on your day and make it really memorable for you and your besties.

For more great same-day-edits, check out our Samples & Packages page.

Watch Amy & Cody’s complete Highlights Video.

We love doing getting ready coverage because it lets us have more time to get to know each couple and see many special moments with their friends. 8:45 AM saw Mary and an extremely eager team of bridesmaids at Reve Salon in Omaha, doing their hair and make-up in a comfortable and cheery space. Later, we caught up with Justin putting himself together with his groomsmen at the Omaha Regency Marriott Hotel. (You can see it all in their highlights video below)

Ceremony
St. Robert Bellarmine is a magnificent church in Omaha, NE. Justin & Mary’s first look in the atrium of St. Robert was absolutely stunning, and they took advantage of the good lighting for some photos before the service.

The auditorium itself is extremely spacious and could host 300+ guests. The technical equipment in the sanctuary is also of good quality and resulted in a seamless ceremony. A skylight above the altar in the center of the room adds a bit of a dramatic flare and makes the room glow.

The Reception
The beaming couple rushed off to the Omaha Regency Marriott  for their reception, which incorporated a cocktail hour with a live band playing. After the entrance and cake-cutting some festive dancing ensued. One particularly special feature was that Mary and her father danced to a musical slideshow of pictures from growing up. We thought that was really touching.

A round of polka stirred the mix before the night concluded with celebratory cigars on the pool deck. We could tell that everyone was having a good time, and was overjoyed to celebrate with this awesome couple.

Congratulations Mary & Justin!

We’re very pleased to present Rebecca & Ryan’s highlights reel this week. If you’re into lavish cakes, wedding decor, rock’n'roll, and cute couples this is a must-watch.

St. Stephen the Martyr
The ceremony took place at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska. We say this all the time, but really, the church is a gorgeous ceremony venue. The skylight and unique layout adds an element of magic to the room that is very aesthetically pleasing and functional. After the “I do’s” Rebecca & Ryan took a trolley to the park to frolic and take pictures together. They didn’t get into too much trouble, and soon headed to their reception at Omaha’s Embassy Suites Conference Center.

Embassy Suites
Embassy Suites was a very impressive wedding venue. It’s great for a large 250+wedding, and an extremely elegant room with a flexible layout and large dance floor is hard to come by. The reception started with a cocktail hour in the same room as the reception, but cordoned-off by black drapes, which were later removed after the grand entrance to open up the room and allow access to the bar.

The room can be customized in almost any configuration imaginable using these curtains, which makes the Embassy a very flexible option. Rebecca & Ryan’s cake looked gorgeous adorned in the center of the dance floor.

The service at Embassy was of high caliber considering the number of guests. All the dinners were timely and events were executed with precision. Equally impressive were the mini-bars that popped up all around the room during and after dinner allowing optimal access to libations.

The only downside to the layout was that the head table was across the dance floor from the guests, which made it hard to see the lovely couple’s expressions as trusted friends razzed them. But this will be an issue that is nearly impossible to avoid with any larger wedding.

A Rockin’ Reception
Soon after toasts, a full band started out the night of dancing and revelry, and eventually Ryan jumped up on stage himself to play a few licks for his glowing new bride.

We had a magnificent time with Rebecca & Ryan, and we were so honored to be able to capture their fond memories with them. Make sure to check out their highlights at the top of this page!

For more great wedding videos, click here.

As a team of videographers that shoot weddings, we’ve seen a lot of things.

Most of the things we get to see are good. But one thing we’ve noticed are brides and grooms spending money on traditional photo booths that sometimes would just sit in the corner and guests would never even notice. Now the bride and groom had great intentions – they wanted to do something fun for their guests!

So what happened? Where has this fantastic idea of photo booths lost its way? Everyone knows that photography is more popular than ever – shouldn’t photo booths always be packed? There has to be something to it.

We decided to take our own approach and reinvent photo booths for maximum fun. We believe a photo booth is meant to engage guests. It’s meant to let them interact, have fun with each other, and get the party started! Photo booths are meant to be an experience.

That’s why we’ve created Photo Booth Dudes here in Omaha as a sister brand to Wedding Memories of Omaha.

Instead of a rental unit, we provide a photography in an open studio. It’s a backdrop with lights and the photographer has a high-end DSLR to take the photos and invites guests to participate. We call the photographer a Dude or Dudette, because he or she has to have a fun personality that can engage people. You know the kid in the class that made everyone laugh and have a good time? That’s the Photo Booth Dude.

What really takes our photo booths to the next level and fills the experience is our use of the latest technology. Instantly when the photos are taken, your guests can share them online right away from an iPad! It’s wireless. It’s fun, it’s intuitive, it’s insta-fantastic!

Since this is run by the same people as Wedding Memories of Omaha, you can expect the same commitment to service and quality that we have for everything else!

I hope you’ll check out Photo Booth Dudes and consider referring us to a friend, or for your own wedding,

-Mark Hennings, Creator of Wedding Memories of Omaha and Photo Booth Dudes

There are many wedding blog and websites out there that offer great ways to save you money on your wedding. As the Do-It-Yourself trend continues, how can you make items for your big day that look professional? Many sites offer free printables or templates to help customize and create your own stuff. From favors to invitations, you can make almost anything yourself. Here are some great sites that offer completely free printables for you to use on your big day!

1. Martha Stewart Weddings We all know Martha is the queen of all things crafty, so it is no surprise that her website offers all sorts of free printables and templates that you can customize with your names!  Here one of our favorites- a customizable wine bottle and match box wrap. For more from Martha Stewart Weddings, click here.

2. Wedding Chicks This multidimensional website offers free “invitation suites” thats allows you to use one of their templates, and customize with your information and colors. The best part? The downloadable file, including the save the date, invitation, RSVP, program, thank you, and favor graphic, is completely free! For more from Wedding Chicks, click here.

3. Offbeat Bride Collected here are over 80 links to free printables. They have a little bit of everything, including invitations, photo booth props, centerpiece decor, favors, and much more. One of our favorites is the “Made with Love” tag for a homemade treat favor. For more from the Offbeat Bride list, click here.