As I look back over the past year I see how incredibly blessed we are as a business. I can’t help but think about the night Jeff and I sat down exactly one year ago laying out our goals for Serendipity Videography for 2009 on a torn out piece of paper and jotting them down. We have accomplished those goals and then some. The part I am most proud of is that we accomplished those goals in one of the most challenging economies this country has seen since The Great Depression. Some of the goals that we set for ourselves in 2009 were:

*To grow our business. We did more than grow our business, we doubled it which I am so proud of!

*I wanted to find a better work/life balance. Now this was a hard one for me. I am a self proclaimed work-o-holic and control freak but with 2 small children I needed to find a way to take a step back from working the weddings so that I can be with my babies on the weekend because they are only young once. I wanted to do what I am best at which is running and growing the business and working with our brides. So we hired 4 fabulous gals to take over the actual on site at the weddings and I couldn’t be more pleased with our selection and choice to do so. Delegating control was the toughest part of that goal for me, I admit it.

*We wanted to make our wedding films be the best quality, the best told story and shot by the best Videographers we could find in this town. Check! We have come into our own. We have developed our strength which is our ability to tell our couples story through the use of audio in their film which has always been our signature but we have taken it up a notch.

*We wanted to win awards for our Videography. Done! This year we won both “Best Videographer” from Arizona Bride Magazine for the 2nd year in a row and “Best Videographer” from The Wedding Chronicle Readers Poll.

*We grew our staff to 20 people including Videographers, Editors, Video Coordinators and Administrative

Some of the best parts of this year were the experiences that we had and relationships that we forged….

We got to work with some AMAZING photographers this year when we shot weddings that quickly turned into friendships and business relationships.

*Sergio Photographer shot the core Serendipity Videography team which was SUPER FUN!!

*Melissa Jill Photography shot my family photos. We had shot a number of weddings with her and I just love her style. These are a couple of my fav’s.

*Kimberly Jarman Photography and Jennifer Bowen Photography whose Create Better Images workshop I took shot my entire family which was so important to me because we had NO professional photos of my parents with my kids.

*We shot Stephanie Fay of Stephanie Fay Photography’s wedding which was awesome considering she could have picked any Videographer in this town and she chose Serendipity Videography

*Stephanie Fay’s Photographer was Jasmine Star Photography who is an icon in the Wedding Photography world and she had us do a special project for her… details to come soon on her blog… She sent us this yummy treat to thank us which was so incredibly nice!!

*We shot for 3 different Wedding TV Shows this year including A Wedding To Remember TV, TLC’s Amazing Weddings and a reality wedding show in development focusing on Wedding Planners

*We Re-Launched our website and blog which is a HUGE feat and labor of love

*We did 2 celebrity weddings this year which was just cool

So what’s up for 2010 for Serendipity Videography???

*We have a number of Destination Weddings booked which is awesome because this is an area we would like to see our business expand to

*We have something totally new, fresh and brilliant that we are launching next month that will blow this market’s mind and will take our business to yet another level

*We were just notified that we won TheKnot.com “Best Of Weddings” for 2010 which I think it weird because we haven’t even started 2010 yet but we’ll take it!!

*We are apart of the first ever Bridal Bootcamp 2010 which is the brainchild of the fabulous Victoria Canada Weddings and Events which is sure to be a smashing success!

We are off to a great start!! Join Serendipity Videography for the ride!!

A lavish wedding giveaway is happening at the Sedona Bridal Show and Serendipity Videography is a part of it!! First the details of the Sedona Bridal Show. Brides and Grooms will meet on January 17th at 8am to load onto limo busses that will take them to Sedona. Kiss 104.7 and Mix 96.9 are holding a contest giving away seats on the limo bus so check out their websites to enter. There will be Sedona Wedding Planners on the limo buses to talk wedding and answer any questions. Or you can make your way up in your own car if you don’t want to do the limo bus thing. Sedona is only 90 minutes from North Phoenix and a beautiful drive this time of year! Couples will be taken to L’Auberge, Amara and Tlaquepaque to visit with the vendors and to register to win a $40,000 lavish wedding!! This is a fabulous high end wedding giveaway…. we are talking incredible vendors providing their services to the couple who wins. So here are the participating vendors and what they are providing:

• L’Auberge is where the Ceremony will be held and they are only charging $50 per person to have your wedding there which is an absolute steal!
• L’Auberge is also giving away a 2 night Honeymoon stay for the Bride and Groom.
• Rehearsal Dinner at Tlaquepaque provided by Main Street Catering
• Photos by Sedona Bride
• Videography by Serendipity Videography
• Cake by Sedona Cake Couture who has been featured on the Food Network!!
• Wedding Planning by Sedona Wedding Planner
• Floral by Events By Showstoppers
• Officiant is Sterling Weddings
• Limo by White Tie Transportation
• Photo Booth by A2Z Photo Booths
• Gown by Mariee
• Rentals by Tri-Rentals
• Suit by Saviero Custom Clothiers
• Hair and Make-up by Patricia Vega
• Artists In Rhythm who is the band for the reception

So here’s the skinny on the tickets. It’s $10 per person or $15 per couple for those that drive themselves up. And it’s $25 per person or $35 per couple for those that want to come up in the bridal buses. The Sedona Bridal Show is sponsored by The Wedding Chronicle. For a complete list of vendors at the show and tickets to the show visit the Sedona Bridal Show website. See you there!!

Sarah & Chuck have a great love story. It’s a modern day love story that we are seeing more and more now with the invention on My Space, Facebook and Twitter. Sarah and Chuck met on My Space. Sarah had moved to Arizona and didn’t know anyone. Chuck had gone to college in Illinois where Sarah was from and they just got to chatting online due to their Illinois connection. When they met for their first date it lasted 48 hours and they never spent another night a part again. I remember meeting Sarah and Chuck for the first time and she said to me that their romance was such a whirlwind. They met, dated for a few weeks and immediately moved in together in just a few months. She said that if a friend was telling her about this romance she would have told her to “slowdown!!!” but Sarah and Chuck just knew that this was it. There were a couple of things I loved about their wedding. Sarah’s dress… I swear I say that in every blog posting about each bride but she just looked so classic and elegant. There wasn’t a lot of detail to her dress but that is what I loved about it. It fit her style perfectly. I also loved that she used fruit as her place cards and centerpieces. This is an inexpensive and fun way to decorate the tables. When I met with Sarah and Chuck I immediately connected with them and loved them and had to shoot their wedding film. I cried multiple times watching their wedding film because their love just touched me. Congratulations to Sarah and Chuck I know that you will live a long and happy life together!

Here were the vendors that were apart of Sarah and Chuck’s wedding celebration:

Val Vista Lakes

Rebecca Bouck Photography

Birkett Entertainment

Blume Events

Introducing Bridal Bootcamp 2010!! This event is a must do for the bride to be who is busy planning all of the intricate details of her wedding. This is not a bridal show where you will be chased by vendors shouting at you and stuffing fliers into your bag. This is an event with vendors who are experts in the wedding industry who are there to share advice, give valuable information and help you with ideas to make your wedding day truly about you and your vision. Serendipity Videography is one of the vendors who will be there to guide you along with other best in the business vendors. So here is the skinny on the event…

The Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa has teamed up with some of the most stylish & knowledgeable wedding experts in The Valley for a day that we guarantee will “shape up” your wedding.  No matter where you are in your planning process- we promise you will have a fun learning tips and tricks from these well known pros.  You will be able to mix and mingle with nationally recognized Event Planners, Make-up Artists, Designers, & Chefs. Learn to unleash your glam side on your wedding or simple ways to personalize your ceremony and reception.  Grab your best girl, your mom or your sweetie.

Space is limited for this event! Tickets are $50 for you and a guest.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Registration 11:00 AM.

At the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa

Purchase tickets at

http://www.arizonabiltmore.com/weddings/bridalbootcamp.aspx

Of course there is a Facebook Page for Bridal Bootcamp 2010 to give you all of the latest and greatest updates about the event.

Purchase Tickets at:

http://www.arizonabiltmore.com/weddings/bridalbootcamp.aspx

Here are the fabulous Venders who will be participating in Bridal Bootcamp 2010:

Bridesmaids Dresses by Twirl

Cakes by Sedona Cake Couture

Sponsorship by Phoenix Bride and Groom Magazine

Audio Visual by Swank Audio Visual

Venue and Catering by Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa

Rentals by Tri-Rentals

Ceremony Music by String Serenade

Disk Jockey by MT Sounds DJ Service

Disk Jockey by Ray the DJ

Floral by Avant Garde

Floral by Petal Pushers

Floral by Table Tops, Etc.

Hair by William Zecco

Paper Products by Celebrations in Paper

Make-up by Corinna Cooke

Photography by Melissa Jill Photography

Photography by Eyes 2 See Photography

Linens by Southwick Linens

Tuxedos by Mr. Formal

Videography by Serendipity

Coordinated by Impact Events

Coordinated by Victoria Canada Weddings & Events

Wedding Dresses by Destiny’s Bride

Wedding Officiant by Arizona Wedding Ministers

The Arizona Biltmore is one of Arizona’s premiere luxury resorts. With architecture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright this sprawling resort has multiple Ceremony sites and Reception Venues. With it’s perfectly manicured gardens and beautiful fountains throughout the property a bride is sure to fall is love with the ambience. All things are possible at The Arizona Biltmore.