Infinite Films

We’d like to announce our newest service called Infinite Films - we promise you have never seen anything like it.

Infinite Films are custom-made 16mm film loop installations that screen handcrafted films about you. It’s an extraordinary viewing option for your personal and private screenings that not only showcases the beauty of your film, but the beauty of film itself. A unique focal point at any venue, whether it be your own backyard screening of a family film to a grand presentation at your wedding reception, your guests will be treated to a memorable viewing experience.

You and your guests can watch your special moments as captured by { First Kiss Films } flicker on-screen and see the film actually moving through a custom-built looping system…all the while the projector purrs that classic sound we all love.

Recent groom Ryan wanted to surprise his bride Sophie with a continuous 16mm film screening of their engagement film. She obviously knew we were making a film but we were able to keep the film loop installation a secret right up until their big day. Their Infinite Film was a surprise to Sophie and her 80 guests and was screened during the reception of their stunning garden wedding.

Infinite Films are exclusively a { First Kiss Films } offering and commissions include the creation of a handmade vintage film, photographed with gorgeous 16mm black and white film stock, and a custom designed film loop.

*Photographs of film loop courtesy Mango Studios 

The grandest wedding venue

It’s hard for me to express the countless reasons why I fell in love with film. But one of these reasons is that without film in my life I probably would have never met my husband. So it only made sense to hold our wedding  in a cinema here in Ottawa. But had we tied the knot in Toronto, we would have LOVED to have celebrated at The Eglinton Grand. Let me show you why.

The Eglinton Grand is a 1930′s former movie house has been transformed into a charming full-service facility that can host receptions for up to 750 guests. It still has all it’s stunning original art-deco details that look great on film such as a handmade etched glass mural in the theatre lobby and majestic siren statues that grace the sides of the beautifully decorated theatre screen. Plus, events are truly private at the Eglinton Grand as the venue is always exclusive for the evening!

A few cinematic details that I just love: having the bride and groom’s names on the marquee along with the title of a favorite film or a line from their first dance song…

…and creating a faux movie poster and hanging it at the theatre’s entrance. Both are such romantic and creative ways to set the stage as your guests arrive and showcase your love to anyone who passes by!

So if you live in Toronto, hopefully { First Kiss Films } will soon be coming to a theatre near you!

Photography courtesy HRM Phototgraphy.

8 movie-themed wedding ideas

Are you are planning on having a movie-themed wedding? Maybe you went to the cinema on your first date or perhaps watching movies is a special activity that your and your fiancé just adore?

A wedding theme can be lots of fun and can be helpful during the planning stage by narrowing your field of vision to focused ideas. Here are just a few ideas to get you thinking about ways to incorporate the silver screen into your celebration:

1. Set the stage by sending out save the date cards or wedding invitations designed in an admission ticket style.

2. Purchase 3-D glasses and handout to guests as a prop and a great momento. Fun for group shots and for guests’ personal photos.

3. Ask a cake designer to create two golden academy award cake toppers – one modeled after the actual statue and another female version to stand side-by-side.

4. See yourself on the big screen and have your engagement film screened during the reception.

5. Place flower arrangements on vintage film reels to create interesting centerpieces. You can leave the reels natural or paint them to match wedding colours.

6. During cocktail hour serve mini popcorn bags filed with alternating sweet and savory flavours.

7. Candy buffets are really hot at the moment, and you can tweak this fun idea by making it suitably thematic. Simply add a “Concession Stand” sign to the buffet and have someone collect tickets from each guest when they visit. Or consider a candied popcorn buffet!

8. Create a slide show of modified movie posters that feature your guests! Select posters that represent who they are or any hobbies and interests they may have. It’s a nice gesture to acknowledge how happy you are to have them there with you to celebrate.

My hubby and I used about half of these ideas in our wedding last year, but I know there are so many other ways you can add the fun and elegance of cinema to a celebration of love. Please feel free to share any other ideas you might have in the comment section below!

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A premiere wedding venue

Think you’ve explored all the best wedding ceremony venues Ottawa has to offer? Think again.

The Mayfair Theatre is one of the very few settings in Ottawa with style, history and drama. Only a handful of weddings have been held at this grand venue since it was built in 1932 so it’s a unique option that your guests will never forget. Another plus: it is without windows so if you were hoping for a candle-light ceremony mid-day then the Mayfair is a fabulous option.

I love this venue so much that this is where my hubby and I decided to get married. Since we both are filmmakers and it was filmmaking that brought us together it felt like a natural location for us to say our vows. The following images are from our own wedding this past September (thanks AMBphoto!).

The Mayfair Theatre is already such an incredible space so we only needed to add just a few details to create a personalized ceremony. We decided to keep the theatre curtains drawn back take advantage of the large cinematic screen in three different ways. Before and during the ceremony we projected a hand-made video backdrop which was tinted one of our wedding colours – apple green. It gently sparkled behind us just like the candles that surrounded us without distracting from the “main attraction”.

Afterwards, our guests mingled, enjoying drinks and passed appetizers while a slideshow played in the background. Each one of our guests were represented in the show by either photoshopping them into relevant movie posters or featuring them in trivia. It was a great way to get guests to learn about each other and encouraged conversation.

We used the screen one last time to project a short documentary we shot a few months before the wedding starring about 20 family members and friends. The goal was for our guests to learn a bit more about us and each other and was screened before we all left for the reception.

Afterwards we enjoyed an amazing meal at LAGO and then danced the night away with our guests. We both agreed that the day could not have been more perfect. Going to the movies will never be the same. *sigh*

10 hot wedding trends for 2010

The Knot recently published an article showcasing the hottest wedding ideas for this year - guess what’s on the list? No surprise here but super 8mm wedding films are in the top ten!

According to The Knot, having your wedding captured on motion picture film isn’t the only vintage trend making a come-back. Almost half of these suggestions highlight ideas with that lovely retro-chic vibe that is so hot right now.

A few of my favorites? Shorter tea-length wedding dresses, turn table DJs, and the return of the classic, three-tiered white wedding cake.

Click here to get the full scoop on the top 10 for twenty-ten!.