Wedding Blog
One month ago on this date…
a blissful bride and an emotional groom wed under a cherry blossom chuppah;
two proud, happy families laughed and cried together at a tea ceremony;
264 enthusiastic wedding guests danced their socks off during a record-breaking hora;
[Click here to watch this video on high def on Studio West’s site.]
and one diligent and unobtrusive videographer was thankfully there to capture it all.
As I’ve said before, I initially wasn’t sure that we had room in our budget for videography, or even that we wanted it. But if not for Dirk of Studio West Video, we would have missed so many wonderful moments: the festive dance of the lanterns moving in the breeze during our ceremony; my funny muppet-like movements as I nervously approached Mr. HC at our “first-look”; the wonder and delight in the “wow” that escaped my husband’s mouth after we exchanged rings; the pure joy on our flower girl’s face as her father carried her proudly on his shoulder during the hora…
With his calm, reassuring personality and inconspicuous, but steady presence, Dirk made it easy for us to be natural and in-the-moment. And because of his work, we’ll have hours of footage to supplement our memories.
I think Mr. HC and I will watch our wedding highlights video today and will make a tradition of watching it on every anniversary.
How will you celebrate your first month anniversary? And newlywed bees, did you have any last-minute expenditures that you ended up being very pleased with?
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Share this post: A Preview of Our Chewish Wedding
wow, you two are so adorable together!
I totally teared up watching your “first look”!
i almost cried too! this was all so sweet. thank you for sharing!
That was absolutely beautiful! 
I don’t have a videographer booked right now, but after the great videos I’ve seen lately on Weddingbee I’m starting my search for one tomorrow.
Can you tell me who is singing the second song in the video? I absolutely adore it and so does my fiancee.
Could you two be any cuter? I don’t thin so! Your ring exchange had me in tears!
Between you and Mrs Kitten, you’ve convinced me we need a videographer… now I just need to convince Mr FB.
:’) The first look was sooooo sweet…Could Mr. HC have had a more adoring look on his face? I think not!
This made me so glad we just booked our videographer. You and Mr. HC look so happy!
i loved that video. It’s the first thing on this website that has made me cry.
Makes me think I should get a videographer too. Mind if I ask how much yours was?
I don’t have a lot of extra money for my wedding. I wonder if I could get one for a couple hundred dollars.
ok I loved seeing Mr. HC get teary when he saw you for the first time. I almost cried too. Your wedding looks like so much fun. I cannot wait to see more!
Aw, Mrs. Hot Cocoa, I cried right from the very start and then all the way through! What a beautiful day — and you looked so gorgeous. You never stopped smiling!
As soon as Mr. HC started crying, I did too! What a beautiful wedding. I am so happy for you!
The first look just gave me chills…what a beautiful memory you have forever.
I got goosebumps as soon as it started and I’m such a girl…totally teared up, especially with that song!
It looks like you got some man-tears out of Mr. HC! His sweet reaction to seeing you for the first time was so adorable!
I love your video! More proof that a videographer is a MUST. You and several bees before you keep reminding me!
Very beautiful wedding. It must cost a lot. I don’t think my dad can afford it even I would like to have something like that.
Thanks for the kind comments everyone!
@Emilydll: The second song on the Youtube version by Springsteen. The version on Studio West’s site is different; Dirk tweaked it a bit b/c he thought two Springsteen songs was overkill.
@Andrea: Dirk had a special at the time, which was $1250 for 6 hours of coverage. It’s really reasonable for LA, where videography can be upward of $3K. Even if you hire a fledgling videographer off craigslist, I think you’d be happy having some video record of the event. 
@Mrs. Kitten: LOL. I definitely squeezed some man tears out of him. And I made many ugly cry faces.
@Miss Labrador: I definitely think so! At the end of the day, we probably would have been happy even with just straight coverage, no editing; just having a video record is so so lovely. We were lucky to find Dirk, who gave us an affordable means of getting both coverage and editing.
so nice! congrats again, Mrs HC!
your dress & bustle were fab!
I totally burst into tears at a Panera during your first look. Now I’m that crazy girl with the huge cinnamon roll, computer and tears…thanks A LOT CHEWISH WEDDING!
This put such a smile on my face. I loved:
1) Your first look - the ‘wow’ was tear-making.
2) Your veil.
3) The huuuuge grin on your face the whole time - that’s pure happiness right there, and I love it!
4) The hora - I want to be Jewish so I can have one!
This is happiness incarnate. Just fantastic! You and Kitten are really making me think of getting videography!!
What a beautiful video! It seemed to really capture the tenderness and fun in your relationship. Congratulations!
Mr. HC is making me get all teary eyed and I’m not even done watching. You two are just too cute together!
@lreighard1: LOL. Panera, with all of its beautiful carb products, often makes me want to cry.
@Ruby Slippers: You should have a hora anyway! We actually hired our wedding band after seeing them perform an insanely awesome hora at our non-Jewish friends’ wedding.
So I started watching this last night with FI sitting right next to me. Yeah…I got through the ring exchange and had to turn it off. I was like “I’m not doing this in front of you. I’m going to cry through the whole thing, but I’ll do it tomorrow in front of the cats while you’re at work.” He didn’t quite get it, but needless to say that was a fantastic preview. Can’t wait to see more!! Oh damn…I’m tearing up again…
omigosh, you and Mr. HC are so cute! And I have such a girl-crush on you! I am planning our French-Jewish wedding, and you are such an inspiration!
Off to watch the video again!
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Mrs. Hot Cocoa, Boston/Los Angeles
Age and Occupation: 31, JD/PhD Student
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Medical Student
Engagement Date: May 30, 2008
Wedding Date: March, 2009
Blogging Since: April, 2008
Venue: Ritz Carlton, Marina Del Rey
About Me:
I am a professional student by day and an amateur cupcake taster, bargain shopper, and wedding planner by night. I am obsessed with NPR, the Food Network, paper, dance shows, Anthropologie, post-structuralist theory, Weddingbee!, "The Office," and celebrity gossip. When not procrastinating from my dissertation, I spend time catering to Jellyby, our overly anxious shih tzu, and getting to know Mr. Hot Cocoa. We have only been dating for fifteen years, so it's like I'm in love with a stranger! From the East Coast, we are planning a Jewish-Chinese Extravaganza in L.A., where we both grew up.
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