For My Dad

I don’t remember a lot from my school days, but one of the few things I do recall, is my English teacher (I can’t remember her name) explaining to me that when writing a story, it was always the introduction that I struggled with and that I should spend time working on it at home. 

Since then, I’ve written a grand total of two full stories. One was a lacklustre attempt at writing a children’s book during lockdown and the other is a blog on this website (A Lasting Impression). You might notice that there are 3 other blogs on here, but I’ve already previously confessed that chatGPT did the legwork. I’m not apologising again.

Nevertheless, I think my English teacher, Mrs English, although doing her job correctly, was wasting her time with someone who would so rarely put pen to paper or fingers to keys, over the next 17 years. Truthfully, I just don’t think I’ve had much of an excuse to write. I’m only motivated to articulate a story if there’s some meaning behind the words, and it’s rare that I find something worthy of writing about. Until now.

And just like that, my introduction to this wedding blog has sent you off in a completely different direction to the actual topic, that I’m yet to even establish. So let me tie it all together just in case Mrs English or an English exam adjudicator is ever reading this and cringing at the grammatical chaos.

You see, I like writing. I find it therapeutic and a type of artistic release, but I never prioritise it. My time seems better spent, trying to juggle the never-ending list of commitments, not agonising for hours over the misuse of punctuation/ Furthermore, I personally never read blogs. Maybe that’s because I’m not much of a reader but my assumption has always ignorantly been that if I don’t read blogs, then obviously no one else is reading them. Lolz. It’s just for SEO, right?

Well, I was proven wrong and genuinely quite flattered, when I was complimented on my last post, during a Zoom call with a potential future client. Someone had read the second story which I’d written since high school and spent 7-12 minutes out of todays, fast paced content, zero attention span world, to stay engaged in a story that I’d written. Bloody lovely that. So, whilst I’m here, thank you too, anonymous reader. If you’d like to tickle my ego a little bit more, please feel free to leave a comment on the post that directed you here. It will no doubt bring some joy to my day which I will attempt to return with a witty and original reply, only to panic at how long I’m taking and just write “thanks” instead.

Anyway, back to the story. Fast forward however long it was from that initial Zoom call to their wedding day, and like I just gave away, the couple Millie & Tom, had chosen me to film their wedding day! Millie and Tom’s wedding was one of the highlights of my year. Their wedding had it all; emotional moments, great weather, stunning venue, top crowd, brilliant suppliers. The list goes on but that’s not enough of an excuse for me to stretch out the digits and start tapping away at my keyboard. For me, what stood out above all of that, was a moment that I shared with Tom’s grandparents that without exaggeration, perfectly sums up why I love having the privilege of filming any couple’s wedding day.

Jumping back in time to before Millie & Tom’s big day (I know, the chaotic narrative continues), as part of my pre-wedding prep, I send my couples a questionnaire, aimed at helping me to plan things from a videographer’s perspective. Millie and Tom were super laid back with only a few requests, but they did make a note, asking for plenty of footage of Tom’s grandparents to be included in the highlight film and of course, I was happy to oblige!

Back to the future [insert photo of Doc & Marty] at Millie and Tom’s wedding day and I’m doing my thing, capturing footage of the evening, hiding behind foliage for that cinematic look, cautiously flying my drone over a lake, trying not to fall in said lake whilst hiding behind foliage for that cinematic look. All the usual goings on for a wedding day. But for whatever reason, on this day, I decided to go a little off script. Seeing how much Tom’s grandparents meant to both Millie and Tom, I had the idea of filming a short message with Nan and Grandad Green, as a surprise for the newlyweds. I snuck off with the grandparents, out of view from Millie and Tom, and what followed was the purest, most heartfelt moment that I’ve ever captured. I knew instantly how much it would mean to both Tom and Millie.

I felt the importance of this moment in my bones for a reason very personal to me. For those who don’t know, I lost my dad in 2012. He was only 47 years old, often described as a man who could charm the birds from the trees and although I don’t need to detail the impact that his passing had on my life, what I can tell you about, is the one video I have of my old man. It’s a 60 second clip of him pottering around the front garden with my nephew, teaching him to avoid the stingers (nettles), whilst bantering with my mum, who narrates from behind the camera. 2012 was still the early days of smartphones and personal video wasn’t anywhere near as common as it is now and so I cherish that video. I watch it back regularly to remember his voice and to see his smile, and although it can sometimes be painful, I’m thankful beyond words that my mum thought to document that seemingly underwhelming moment in time because without it, well, I’d have quite easily forgotten the cheeky shine in his eyes or the way he pronounced “Alriight” in his thick Gloucester accent.

And that’s where my love for this job comes from. I often say that I care very little about my video content going viral for millions to see, only that it truly means something to someone. Reflecting on that moment that I shared with Tom’s grandparents has shined a spotlight on the true joy that I get from producing a wedding film. Just like the blog post that prompted Millie to reach out before choosing me as their wedding videographer, if my art can resonate with just one person, to me it’s all worth it.

When piecing together a wedding film, I’m always aware that the film I produce will be watched for many years to come, shared with children and grandchildren, and forever be a lasting reminder for the couple that I’m shooting for. For that reason, I will always give my very best.

The lack of footage I have of my dad, inspires me to pick up my camera and capture those special moments for others. It gives deeper meaning and reason to my work and ultimately my life. I never set out thinking that one day I’d be a wedding videographer but my journey through life has guided me into a career that I wouldn’t change for any other.

I asked Millie and Tom to film their reaction whilst watching their highlight film. To see how much it meant to them both, as Tom’s grandparents made their surprise appearance at the end of their highlight film, was something that will stay with me in the memory bank, for years to come. I couldn’t be more grateful for them allowing me to be a fly on the wall. 

A massive thank you again to Millie and Tom for choosing me as their wedding videographer. I wish you all the very best in your future marriage together. You don’t need to look very far for an example of true love, do you?

Until next time and as my dad was remembered for saying…

Be lucky x

Side note and to continue the theme of unorthodox writing, a previous paragraph got me thinking about how many future generations will watch your wedding film. I know if I had access to my family’s wedding videos from 1800, that I’d be curious enough to hit the play button.

So, if you’re on the fence about getting a wedding videographer for your wedding, think about your great-great-great-great-grand non-binary children. Do you really want they/them missing out on the opportunity to watch a slice of ancient family history on YouTube v100? I thought not. Drop me a line.

Ta’ra!