United Wedding

When we first met Mike and Bonnie we knew their wedding would be a blast!  What we didn't know was just how much fun we would have with them before the wedding.  We set out to film Mike and Bonnie's "engagement video / love story" just several days before the wedding, but once we saw the footage from the big day we just had to include some of it in this piece.  It is so obvious that they are so in love with one another!  Mike and Bonnie, Martin and I had so much fun with you both!  Thank you for all of the good times and the wonderful smiles, hugs and kisses!  Your wedding film will be that much more meaningful because of your passion for one another and your desire to have such a wonderful keepsake memory of your most magical of days! The Reception was held at the new Westin Richmond, be sure to notice the "way cool" water fall they have in the lobby! Mike and Bonnie didn't just get to enjoy the dream team (Martin, Scott, Stephanie, Brian and Kevin) from United Wedding but also some awesome photography with Don and Lindsay Mears of Don Mears Photography, always a pleasure Don!  With Alan Boyle of Choice entertainment as their DJ, the evening just kept getting better and better!  Alan is without a doubt one of Richmond's finest DJ's and does a wonderful job of providing just the right atmosphere for fun and laughter.  I hope you enjoy this "love story/engagement" film as much as we enjoyed producing it!

Richmond Love Story from United Wedding on Vimeo.

What a wonderful day for a wedding!  I met up with Erin and her brides maids at her home where they were having their hair and makeup finalized, while Martin hung out with Adam and his boy's.  Jack from Down Under Limo (awesome vehicles Jack!) was at the house ready to transport the party to the church.  It was particularly touching to see how involved Bob (Erin's father) was with his daughter's wedding.  He had done quite a bit of research towards their first dance and actaully had a surprise instore for that moment.  The Manor Home at Celebrations at the Reservoir was the location of the reception festivities and everything was beautiful as always.  We were once again honored to work with DJ Mike Beene of Choice Entertainment! (Wonderful Job Mike!) Thanks to Daniel, Macee and Elise from DM foto.. what an awesome and talented team of artists you are!  It was great to work with you all and have such great chemistry...looking forward to it again!  Enjoy this "Sneak Peek" look into the most magical of days of Erin and Adam filmed by United Wedding.  Wedding day movies that are FUN to watch!

When my friend and business partner Bill Gilliam (Choice Entertainment and BRIDESight.com) asked us if we would join them in the Outer Banks for an intimate setting with family and close friends while he took Jennifer to be his wife, the answer was conditional, "...you have to let me film it"! So here is a short clip entitled "Promises". I was moved by the vows that Bill and Jennifer wrote and I am certain that you will also find them refreshing. After rehearsal on Friday we feasted on an old family recipe for sphegetti and enjoyed wine and company thru the evening. The close group conveined Saturday evening on a pier in the Outer Banks of North Carolina to witness the joining of these two people. Mother nature was present from the wind to the beautiful sunset. We were fortunate enough to have just a bit of sunlight after the ceremony, so along with Dale and Roshan Quarterman of Quarterman photography, we got some awesome sunset beach sequences. Upon returning to the Gilliam beach house we enjoyed a wonderfully catered meal by friends, Jennifer McBride (Occassions Events and BRIDESight.com) and her husband Patrick. Jennifer and Patrick not only provided the food for the evening but Jennifer coordinated this wonderful event. I hope you enjoy this 'look" into the start of Bill and Jennifer's wedding film. Thanks Bill (Mushaki, Art, Joey and Buuga) and Jennifer for allowing us to be a part of your most magical of days!

We had a blast with Amanda and Craig.  When Craig told us that they would have a good time at their wedding... he wasn't kidding at all.  These folks were full of energy and laughter the entire day!  We were at the Manor House at Celebrations on the Reservoir for both the ceremony and the reception.  Thanks so much Amanda and Craig for letting Martin and I partake in your festivities.  Enjoy your sneak peek!

When Anne Forman told me she was entering her sneak peek into the Knot's Real Wedding contest I was excited but honestly there are hundreds of entries if not thousands. I was so excited to find out that we are one of 10 finalists in the "Best Wedding Video" category for 2008 weddings! You can watch the video here and should you feel so inclined, please vote for us!

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Our short film, "Concept of Beauty" won 1st place and the peoples choice award on April 25th at the Virginia Indie Film Festival held at the Byrd Theater in Richmond Virgina. 

We have entered several other film festivals and until they are complete we are not able to post it for your viewing.  Stay tuned however!

Director: Martin Montgomery and Benny Oliveri
Producer: Scott Strimple, Jude Fagéas

Screenwriter: Jude Fagéas

Musical Direction- Ryan Corbitt & Trey Pollard of Songwire Studios

Actors: Jude Fagéas, Scott Wichmann, Matthew Hall, Angela Shipley, Alia Bisharat, Eddie Tavares, Andy Brown

Fadi Abuhijleh, Marcus Hyde, Benny Oliveri
Synopsis: A young man on a journey to find life's subtle beauty and inspiration

Stephanie and I are just back from a 3 day seminar that involved 50 of the hippest wedding film making studios in the world.  Re:Frame is an event that includes speaker/presentations from several industry leaders as well as from those outside of the wedding world who have inspiring techniques and styles.  During re:frame we are able to network with some of the most talented artists in our industry.  This is exactly where the cutting edge is located and we are grateful and humbled to be a part of this small yet progressive group of artists seeking to move the art of wedding film making to the next level.  Some of the creative inspiration that we will be bringing back to Virginia with us will be the addition of true 8mm and 16mm film incorporated into your wedding day memories.  While there are plenty of digital  "look a likes" there is no true substitution for that nostalgic film look that is such a part of many families history.  Many brides today are eager to include some actual film footage into their wedding day movie and now at United Wedding we are able to bring this to you. While we are known for our Sneak Peek Trailers that are available shortly after you return from your honeymoon, you can now share with your guests what is known as the Same Day Edit.  It is a wonderful way to let everyone who is emersed in your most magical of days review a creative recap of what has just happened.  Imagine your wedding up on the big screen just after dinner and before the dancing starts!  Our artistic style of production takes advantage of many new techniques and tools that allow us to continue to bring you new and artistic styles of wedding day movies.  Enjoy this clip from re:frame 09 while about 40 studios with cameras take to the streets of Austin for a Texas style "shoot out".  Compliments of my friend David Perry - David Perry Films   Thanks David!

Re:Frame Day 2 04/28/09 from David Perry on Vimeo.

I had the pleasure of working with Martin while shooting the engagement video at the Jeffereson in late November. We subsequently were invited down to Birmingham Alabama to produce Shalini and Chetan's wedding film.  What a wonderful event!  It started on Thursday with a small gathering of 100+ people for the Sangeet and then picked up on Friday evening at "The Club" on top of the ridge overlooking downtown Birmingham with a cocktail party gathering.  The band featured was the "Indian Idol" winner!  Saturday started early at the elegant Ross Bridge Golf resort and spa with Shalini and the Chura ceremony and Chetan with the Baraat.  It rained pretty much most of the day, but there were some dry moments that made for some fun outdoors.  The ceremony was breath taking and it was attended by close to 500 people.  After the some fun on the golf course the couple adjourned to the cocktail hour mixer where they had an ice sculpture of the apple logo and the starbucks logo, in addition to a 5ft. long chocolate horse drawn carriage.  The reception followed with wonderful music, lights a 6 ft tall cake that was to die for and lots of dancing.  We had the pleasure of working with Arden and Brett from Arden photography, what great photo artists they are!  Thanks Shalini and Chetan for letting us be a part of your most magical of days... it is truly our honor to have been involved!  Martin, you are the most talented editor!

You saw the Trailer ... now here are some highlights from the reception. Set in the picturesque "Celebrations" pool house, Megan and Steve  enjoyed their wedding day festivities. It was just around 9pm when the idea of jumping in the pool started to circulate amongst the crowd. Although we didn't see the bride enter the water, we did witness most of the wedding party go "wet"! Once again we had Bill Gilliam, Choice Entertainment at the helm of the reception festivities! Always a pleasure Bill... thanks for all you do! Megan from Da Da Video.. it wouldn' t have been possible without your help either!

Enjoy some of the moments from this wild evening that lead up to the group swim.

The United Wedding crew took off to Tappahannock, Virginia this week-end to film Angela and Harold's wedding.  If you don't remember Angela  is the bride we posted on the blog "Bridal Portrait Shoot" that we worked with Dale and Rashon of Quarterman Photography.  Dale and Rashon were also the photographers for the wedding. Angela and her mom Sue wanted us all to work together to create a dvd like no other.  Sue, being a scrapbooker, wanted to make sure every detail was captured with still shots and motion shots put together for a one of a kind creative and artistic wedding video.  Working together, we were both able to get some amazing shots that will work great in our collaboration to produce a new and exciting way to show everyone your wedding day.  Everyone works with great attitudes and enjoys every minute of it.  OK, so we may have overdone it with "who could be the most creative" but that certainly won't hurt the bride and groom.  They were game for anything!  The reception was held at the Tappahannock Fire Department.  The bride and groom were surprised when their wedding party entertained them with a song from "The Village People" and two of their guests serenaded and acted out "Summer Nights" from Grease.  The video will be on display at The Greater Richmond Bridal Show on January 11th!  In the meantime, check out their "sneak peak" it was a great day!

We are always trying new things out at United Wedding. We got together with Dale and Rashon Quarterman from Quarterman Photography at their studio to work together on a Bridal Portrait Shoot. We had an awesome afternoon with the bride, Angela, and her mom Sue who both were so much fun to work with!! We didn't know whether the weather would cooperate so we had lots of umbrellas on hand and used them throughout the shoot. Dale and Rashon got lots of great pictures while Scott and I captured the excitement of the day. The sun came out long enough for us to go out on their deck and catch some footage of the beautiful fall foliage.  Her guy plays baseball for Kansas City so the baseball cap was a fun surprise for him!  Shadow, the Quarterman's kitten also got in on the action and made it in the video.  They loved the pictures and the video as both were on display at their reception.  Let us know if you would like for United Wedding and Quarterman Photography to work with you or someone you know on a very unique Bridal Portrait Shoot!

 What an awesome couple!!!  We had such a blast filming their big day.  The filming process was a true example of how educating your wedding party about videography makes for exciting video.  Everyone was very comfortable with having us there which lead to some exciting facial expressions and shout outs to the camera.  Chandra and David are a Wedding Videographers dream couple.  We have had several videographers tell us they wish all of their Brides and Grooms were that fun and exciting to film.  When we heard this we just smiled cause little do they know that United Wedding Productions gets all the fun and exciting couples.  So a big shout out goes to Chandra and David for sharing their excitement for video with us and everyone at their wedding.