We were talking weddings the other night as a family over dinner and my sister-in-law said she has one regret about her wedding day: She didn't hire a videographer.
"I guess I just figured someone would record it on their phones or something," she said. "But I don't have anything. Not the ceremony, the speeches, the cake, the dance - none of it. No one recorded a thing." It was true, there weren't a lot of cell phones out that night at The Log Cabin - we were all having too good a time to document it. Whenever I hear about wedding day regrets, it's almost always not hiring a videographer. Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life: the party, the family and friends, the commitment - you're going to want to remember it vividly for years. Photos do a great job capturing the sentiment, beauty and emotion of the day, but they can't do things like recite the best man's speech or recreate the bride's dance with her father. Video lets you hear their voices again and brings you back to the moment in a way photos can't deliver on. As the years slip by your video will become more and more treasured. 
Videography has become a wedding standard with over 60% of local couples choosing video. It's joining services like caterers, florists and music as a wedding essential.
Finding the right videographer for you is easy. (There's me, for one!) Check out the websites of videographers in your area and watch a few of their short wedding films to see if you like their style and quality of their equipment. You want to make sure that the videographer has the tools to make you a cinematic film worthy of your wedding day - outdated camcorders are going to make you an outdated video. For a very posh look, get someone who uses an assortment of lenses ...and it's a bonus if the offer drone shots. 
Once you find someone's work that you like, call or send an email for a chat or to set up a time to meet to discuss your wedding and vision for the film. For the best selection, try to hire your videographer early on in your planning process before too many of them get booked up for the season.
Let's roll!
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The Mountain Rose Inn is a stylish, new wedding venue in Greenfield, Massachusetts, with lush grounds and loads of charm.
Promoted as a great place to have an outdoor wedding, The Mountain Rose Inn has landscaped gardens and lawns set with stone pathways. There is also a cozy gas firepit. And, of course, lots of roses! But the show stopper is the view: from The Mountain Rose Inn you can really get a sense of the Pioneer Valley’s majesty. It was the view that drew owner and manager Kasey Richards to the Inn in 2018. “You pull into the driveway and the view is stunning - it just kind of takes your breath away,” Richards said.
The Mountain Rose offers guests the use of a tented ballroom with satin-draped ceilings and elegant chandeliers. The posh canvas can accommodate up to 175 people. Couples also have the option of renting out the 6-room Inn to host out of town guests or just to have extra room for relaxation and fun. 
Gorgeous ceremony spot overlooking the valley
Richards said one of the reasons her venue stands out in Western Massachusetts is that she renovated with an eye to high-class elegance as opposed to traditional, rustic New England chic. Though if rustic-chic is what a bride and groom wants, The Mountain Rose Inn can make that happen, too. The venue is customizable to any couple’s unique style. “We’re a blank slate,” Richards said. “Any vision can fit into this space.” Because it is mostly an outdoor venue, the wedding season at Mountain Rose is May through October. In the future, Richards said she’d like to have the venue open and hosting weddings year round. 
Covered bridge near the Mountain Rose Inn in Greenfield
The Mountain Rose Inn on Smead Hill Road was purchased by Kasey Richards in 2018. She owns and manages the venue while Ryan Harrison is the grounds manager. Before Richards’ incarnation, The Mountain Rose has lived several lives in Western Massachusetts. First it was a bed and breakfast called The West Winds Inn. In 2013 it was purchased and renovated into a wedding venue called Alexlee House. Under Richards’ ownership, the Inn has been painted inside and out, the driveway has been freshly paved and many upgrades have been made to the aesthetic. For more information on The Mountain Rose Inn, visit their website. |
Brian HaleHi and welcome! I'm the lead videographer and owner of Western Massachusetts-based HaleChannel Wedding Films. I have two studios, a cinematic film production company that focuses on weddings and events as well as custom promotions and videos; and a wedding and real estate photography business. HaleChannel launched in 2011. Archives
August 2023
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