Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/642147
32 who's who WEDDINGS Weddings MUSIC & VIDEOGRAPHY WHEN THE BAND IS PLAYING YOUR SONG, THE FIRST WEDDING DANCE IS ALL ABOUT ROMANCE. After that, it's time to get the party started. Whether you choose a DJ or a live band, professionals can help make crowd-pleasing song selections for multiple generations. Guests will recognize popular performers in groups like the Big City All Star Band or Danny Kramer Dance Band, both of which make beautiful music in a variety of genres. Repertoires include classic rock, pop hits, jazz standards, country, gospel, R&B, disco and even Broadway showtunes. Couples can hire a solo pianist or harpist, a jazz a quartet, a band of five to 12 members or a big band of 23 musicians or more. Danny Kramer says his band sometimes partners with a DJ, but nothing compares to live music — you might even find yourself onstage singing with the entertainers, and you can be sure your guests will have the time of their lives. "I guarantee you're going to have a packed dance floor," Kramer says, adding live music is a moving experience in many other ways. "We provide them with memories that will last a lifetime. There's something about live music is wonderfully powerful." ❦ Shall we Dance? PLAY IT AGAIN An epic romance deserves the cinematic treatment. A Moving Picture Studios creative director Sean Philips says a video brings memories of your wedding day to life in ways still photos cannot. Along with the complete ceremony and speeches, artfully edited five, 10 or 15-minute mini movies tell the story of your wedding. "The goal is really to represent the emotion and feeling of what it was like to be there on the day," he says. "So it isn't even always chronological. Sometimes we'll start with vows or the first kiss and then we'll build a story around the events of the day." Philips advises couples to contact a videographer up to a year in advance and be sure to meet in person. On the most important day of your life, he says it's vital that you find a good fit. ❦ Photo by Pearl Angelini Photography