Cliff,

Any couple should be honored to receive a treasure like this. This is one of the few videos I've watched all the way through.

1) The 'e' at the end of "Marriage" is too far away.
2) I loved how you had everything in B&W except the blue bowtie at 00:40.
3) Good timing at 01:02 with the kiss and the words on the song.
4) Perhaps too many changes in the music; maybe not.
5) What do you think about adding comments from the bride and groom? For example, they could say something like, "I really liked it when..." Then show whatever scene that was.
6) I liked the shots going from wide angle to close-up and different angles during the ceremony. This made it more interesting.
7) Another great moment was the toast from the best man while showing footage of the bride and groom.
8) It appears that you captured the essence of the emotions on this special day.

Overall great job!

Thanks guys - I'd like to bump this and see what anyone else thinks.

The past couple of days have been trying as I'm having issues again that have come out of nowhere since upgrading to 8.0c.

Cliff Etzel - Solo Video Journalist
bluprojekt | solo video journalism blog

You say this is a "highlights reel", so is it not the wedding video? Makes a difference when commenting.
I expect that the couple were pleased with your work. Captures the happiness of the event and its venue. The camera work is generally good with a good variety of angles nicely intercut.
In terms of style, that is a personal thing. Some people like to engage the guests and couple in interviews about the couple/event, some place emphasis on the beauty preparation of the bride and party, some like to dress up the romantic atmosphere with effects. Clients generally choose to get a style that appeals to them (or because it's cheap!).
Personally I don't care for the interview approach and prefer the more documentary style you used here. Central to a wedding is exchange of vows and here I would have liked better audio and closer camera work (closer rather than longer lens). Not everyone wants the cinematographer up there with the celebrant, but the result is much better when they agree. Audio is important. I found continuity lacking a bit and would have liked more observations of guests (not mugging); guests are very important to the couple and you could have more shots of them and fewer of the couple. You didn't seem to have any of the band on the track and I would make more use of them (unless they were awful). The use of copyright recordings is a bit of a problem.
But it's always easy to pick holes and hindsight is wonderful, as you know.
The production is good.

I realize the issue surrounding the music copyright. It's a bit confusing when companies like Bluecore Media - well known for their unique style of wedding video's uses quite a bit of music that is considered copyright recordings - So maybe someone could enlighten me around this issue as I don't want to make the same mistake twice.

Cliff Etzel - Solo Video Journalist
bluprojekt | solo video journalism blog

In answer to your question about copyright music. Here in Australia it is permissable to use copyright music if a fee is paid to the Australian Performing Rights Association.

Essentially it is a royalty. This money gets distribute to the Artists concerned. I had to pay $50.00 AUD to use copyright material as backing for a 50 minute home movie of my travels that was only ever going to be seen by family members.

I don't think I would be wrong guessing that similar schemes operate in other countries. For a commercial production like yours the question becomes "Will the fee be beyond what my customer will pay?" and in the case of my "home movie" the question is "Is this worth the bother and expense?"

I ended up getting some royalty-free music for my home production, despite having approval to use the music verbally granted by the Band I was featuring. It seems that although they did not have an issue with it but they are contractually obligated, as members of APRA, to abide by the licencing regime.

Even more bizarre is the fact that they let me take cameras into one of their concerts, where I filmed the entire concert with two HD cameras. Apparently they have more control over the intellectual property rights of their live performances.

Too bad the "live" sound quality wasn't adequate enough for the "home movie" I made.

Russ.