My name is Lucien R. Cole. I am a Videographer. I have been doing this and photography work for approximately 25 years.

I like to work with brides and grooms-to-be in planning the special action portion of their wedding. I hope to give them the ability to Share with their family and friends the importance of the day and the historical significance it brings in the future. Also the document Helps them to remember just what did happen that day when all was a whirlwind of memory fogging excitement, worry and anticipation. What I like and what you like may be totally different. You plan your day your way. I will follow your direction.

I am asked many questions when preparing a wedding. I include some suggestions, and I ask a few questions of my own. Page 3 has these questions. Please take the time to fill this out. It is written in Microsoft Word.

How much time do you devote making our wedding day video special?

Usually I devote a minimum of 10 hours that day. I like to start ½ hour before you, the bride, arrive at the church with your entourage. I have time to become familiar with the setting and can choose the best places to work. I sometimes have a chance to meet the clergy to get their input and possible advantage spot (s). I try hard to follow their orders and not break any rules.

• I arrive ½ hour before the bridal party comes to dress.
• I like to start my video with a few quiet moments to set the scene.
• I then will video the bridal entourage entrance with possibly the groom's party following.
• I like to catch antics of worry in the parents and grandparents of the bride and /or groom.
• Where possible I like to candidly interview some parents, grandparents, or relatives.
• I like to catch any decently dressed bridal party members putting on make-up or "primping" at a mirror.
• When the bride and her attendants are dressed, I like to video them in the dressing room along with having the bride show off her dress especially the back and train. Your attendants will probably want to take some snapshots at that time also.
• I also try whenever possible to catch a moment with the bride and her mother sharing the last moments of togetherness.
• Pictures are usually taken before the ceremony. I like to leave this work to your photographer. My video work enhances but does not take the place of your photographer. He (She) takes Stills, I do Action! (I take a few stills but only for the video)
• I do attempt to video the picture taking of the bride, groom, and the grandparents. This is for historical documentary reasons.
• I then do a mini-closing to await the ceremony. The Ceremony is the highlight of the video.

At this point it must be mentioned that the wedding vows are private between the bride and groom. If they are not heard on video, that is perfectly all right. If you want your witnesses in the congregation to hear your vows, you must speak loud enough for them to hear you. I will at that point be able to pick up the vows on my video. I will never invade the alter area putting the camera or special microphones on you, your clergy, your wedding party, or around the immediate area.

Many ceremonies end with the bride and groom ushering guests out. I feel this is preferable to the other means. Weather permitting; it is fun to catch the crowd outside milling waiting for your departure. Whenever possible I try to catch your wedding party departing from the church with the rice, bird seed, bubbles, or mini-bell ringing to the decorated vehicle(s).

I do a closing at the vehicles depart to the sounds of car horns. I then relocate the video equipment to the reception. I attempt to catch the bridal party arriving. If you have planned a "grand entrance", I will attempt to capture that moment of live action. I then follow your photographer around for the cake cutting, picture of the rings, and just a little crowd scenes.

Please leave a "clear view" place open near the head table for me to record the "toasts, roasts". Please have amplification available.

Now the 'kissy scenes'. You can let the crowd clang on glasses with silverware, or you can have them make up poems of love, sing songs with love in them, ring mini-bells placed on the tables. To add just a flavor of difference though, have your parents stand and kiss one or two times. Then, how about any grandparents? At some point you may tire of this. Don't be ashamed to call a halt. It can get old after while.

I can follow the Bride through the crowd and capture any persons who will make comments and well wishes to you if you wish. Usually there is a period of time after the meal for this. I will ask you to decide on this at the time.

I will stay for as long as it takes to get the final festivities going smoothly during the dance. Your DJ will usually plan an introduction of your wedding party. I like to video this. It adds elegance to the event followed by the:
1. Bride and Groom first dance alone.
2a. The Bride and her Dad dance.
2b. The Groom and Mother dance.
2c. The Bride and Groom dance with Grandparents.
3. The whole wedding party dance.
3a. Bride's Bouquet/Garter Toss.

Proper Dress proof to the poem: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue.

Shortly after these events I try to close the video and end it. Total run time of the video for your audiences should be no longer than two hours I have had requests to stay and video the whole dance. This can make a video of at least 3 to 4 hours long. It's too long for people to view after a few months. I liken the video to a "Home Movie" with the length of the movie "Titanic". You've sat through that 3-hour movie no doubt You know the movie is good but 3 hours is a long time without an intermission.

When can we expect our finished copies?

I do my editing over the 3 weeks following your wedding, delivering the finished copies in the third week. Editing takes a minimum of 8 hours - Copying is in real time 2 tapes or 1 DVD at a time. It is labor intensive making this special for you.

We have a special need for additional video copies. How many do you furnish?

I furnish 3 to 4 copies for the basic charge.
a. A copy for the Bride & Groom.
b. A copy for the Bride's Parents.
c. A copy for the Groom's Parents.
d. I know there are families of parental divorce. I will furnish an additional copy for this situation at no extra charge.

How much will additional video copies be if we want to give everyone in our bridal party a copy?

Additional copies can be made for $25.00 per copy. Additional copying work is sub contracted to a service. I pass the cost to you.

How many hours do you spend total putting our video together?

Historically I have found that I invest at least 45 hours from event inception to videotape delivery.

How much can we expect to pay for your services and what is your payment schedule?

I charge approximately $20.00 per hour for my work. In weddings where I must travel farther than a 25 mile radius of Stewartville, MN. I do charge mileage. For local weddings I charge a flat $750.00. I charge 44 cents a mile travel for out of town weddings plus hotel/meal reimbursements for event locations requiring these. Please refer to my contract. It is straight to the point placing the terms of service with a payment schedule.

Do you video other events like proms, anniversaries also?

I also video Proms, Wedding Anniversaries, Christmas Parties, Baby Showers, Wedding Showers, Birthday Parties, Parades, School. I can video any activities/events that involve people. There are exceptions. Check with me.

If we contract your services, what information do you need to know about my groom and myself?

I would like the following. Please take the time to answer these questions. Please keep this part for your records. Snail mail or e-mail me the questions page!!! (Again, the "questions page" is a Microsoft Word document, so you will need Microsoft word to open it.)

a. The name, address, e-mail address and phone number of the Bride or Bride's parents also number & Type of copies you desire.

b. Your intended color theme. Will your Wedding Party be Dressing at the Church or Location? Arrival time?

c. The properly spelled Legal Given names with middle initials/names along with the Bride & Grooms Birth Dates mmddyy.

d. Will the bride take the groom's last name YES_______ NO____(Proper Name Then)________________________________

e. The Date and Times of the Wedding, Reception, and Dance; also what time the wedding party will arrive for each.

f. The Name and Address of the Church or Location of the wedding ceremony, and the name(s) of the presiding clergy.

g. The address of the reception and dance, if different from wedding ceremony location.

h. The best vantage point to video your wedding in your opinion based on permission from your clergy.

i.. The name and address of your photographer. j. The name and address of your DJ.

k.. The address where I will be delivering the finished copies including e-mail address and/or phone number.

Please, keep this for yourself. Then mail or email my questions page to me. Contract to follow. I am looking forward to helping YOU!

Lucien R. Cole

weddings@lrcole.com

510 10th Ave. NE
Stewartville, MN 55976
Phone: (507) 533-4477