For most brides, picking the right wedding dress can be a big challenge. But for our lovely bride Annie, the search became a cherished memory. “I was so excited when we found the dress,” she said at her wedding.

“My dad and i started dancing around the store and everybody was gathered at the window and they for cheering for me—it was just a very cute moment,” she added.

Annie and Carl tied the knot on November 19th in a Catholic ceremony at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, which was followed by a reception at the Rosewood Crescent Hotel. Their wedding cake also had a unique touch: a layer of Pillsbury Funfetti!

The love between Annie and Carl is truly something to aspire to, but what is more important is the warmth of their families. From the lighting to the music to the atmosphere, this wedding was at the pinnacle of elegance with a spark of romance. We hope this spark will light the lives of Annie and Carl as they begin their journey as husband and wife!

The clock keeps ticking. Time slows down. The anticipation builds.  And then with the blink of an eye, it all changes. The beloved walks in, tapping your shoulder, and you know the moment has arrived.

The moment of the reveal varies from couple to couple, but its essence remains the same. The reveal, or the moment of the “first look”, marks the beginning of a bond between husband and wife. Like the rest of their wedding, Hannah and Walker’s moment of the big reveal was also very special. The couple celebrated their big day with a ceremony at the Saint Michael and All Angels Church followed by a reception at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

We at Hakim Sons Films are really thankful to have been part of Hannah and Walker’s wedding festivities. We hope that their marriage will be a bond of happiness, strength, and unwavering friendship.

Other vendors that made this possible:

Ceremony : Saint Michael and All Angels Church
Reception: The Ritz Carlton
Photographer: Edmonson Weddings
Wedding Planner: Paige Chenault
Lighting: Absolute Entertainment
Floral: Junior at Garden Gate
Gown: The Bridal Salon at Stanley Korshak

The runway was assembled, the models were ready, and the guests were on their way; but Ruby Bhandari’s fashion show was missing a key component: her designs.

The massive ash cloud in Europe was about to become a “showstopper” on Ruby’s runway – literally. Her cousin, who was responsible for personally delivering designs from India, was stuck in the midst of flight delays following the Icelandic volcano eruption. With airport hubs closed in Europe and her designs stuck in transit, Ruby and her team were frantic.

This time, though, the show did go on. Ruby’s cousin rushed into the venue just hours before the big show with all of the designs in his suitcases. Talk about saving the day!

Reflecting back on the experience, Ruby described it as “blood, sweat, tears, laughter then joy.”

Ruby Bhandari, the President of Silk Threads, has been in the fashion industry for years. Her story is one of dedication, talent, and vision. This month, we would like to feature Ruby and her inspiring journey.

In college Ruby worked part-time at JCPenny, but she did much more than just assist customers – she taught them how to dress.

Ruby’s passion for fashion went beyond just sales, though. She wanted to be a designer. Opportunity came knocking when her college sweatheart, Raj, proposed for marriage. Shortly thereafter, Ruby left for India to design her own wedding trousseau. Her first set of designs quickly became popular, and requests for garments came pouring in.

Now, 20 years later, Ruby dresses clients with designs from her own clothing lines, Silk Threads and The Socialist, her latest venture.

Ruby Bhandari’s work reflects her Indian heritage and her Western sensibility. Silk Threads features two in-house designers and serves the fashion needs of the Indian and Pakistani community, while The Socialist offers a fusion of Eastern and Western styles.

Ruby has worked with numerous brides to design their wedding trousseaus and treats every client like family. Her down-to-earth personality is truly an inspiration for us here at Hakim Sons Films!

Ruby is also a firm believer in giving back to the community. She regularly hosts fashion shows, the proceeds of which benefit nonprofit organizations.

In fact, we had the honor of capturing an exclusive Silk Threads fashion show just last year, the proceeds of which benefited the American Cancer Society. Take a look at the film from the event.

While Ruby’s business mind is influenced by her mother’s confident and compassion personality, her designs are influenced by gardens.

“Combinations presented in a flower show designs that can be put together in clothing,” Ruby says.

Our friends at Silk Threads are visionaries in the world of creativity and fashion. We at Hakim Sons Films are so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Ruby and her team. We hope to cultivate this friendship for years to come!

Here’s the story straight from CW 33 TV. You can read the full story below & watch the news segment on the channel’s website.

Music Industry Cracking Down on Wedding Videographers

By: Giselle Phelps

December 15, 2011
DALLAS, TEXAS—

If you’re a bride in the market for a wedding video, listen up! Records labels are cracking down on videographers who use mainstream music without the rights. It means the chances of your wedding soundtrack including your favorite artists may be slim.

We spoke with a local expert in the Dallas wedding film industry. They say this has become a huge in the last six to eight months. They’re choosing to stay clear of popular music, because buying the rights to someone’s favorite song comes with a big price tag.

Rachel Verville and her husband Greg have been married just seven months. They couple still loves watching their wedding video.

Verville says she wanted just the right music to capture the big day.

“I didn`t want anything that would take over the video,” said Frisco resident Rachel Verville.

The couple chose to stay away from popular music, opting for licensed instrumentals; a move more brides have to make.

“It`s a very new territory, it`s intimidating, it`s scary,” said Hakimsons Films Managing Partner Shezad Manjee.

The partners at Hakimsons films in Dallas say the music industry has been cracking down on the use of unlicensed songs in wedding videos.

Earlier this year, a video of Cowboy’s quarterback Tony Romo’s wedding with a Coldplay soundtrack went viral.

The band’s label reportedly sued the Austin-based filmmaker.

“It`s not unusual for one of our films to get tens of thousands of views on YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook,” said Manjee.

Manjee says that’s where the problem lies.

“When thousands of people are watching your film and you if don`t have the rights to the music that certainly puts you in a very troublesome spot,” he said.

Hakimsons films say they hire composers to produce original pieces and educated couples on the importance of using licensed songs.

“I can go online and search through thousands of songs and for under $100 d purchase music that I can use for streaming and syncing, full licenses,” said Manjee.

Even though Rachel and her hubby decided to play it safe, they say they couldn’t have been more satisfied.

“It was one of the happiest days of our lives and they can see the love between us,” said Verville.

The company that made the Romo wedding film reportedly settled with Coldplay’s record label.

Hakimsons Films say they want to avoid that kind of litigation all together.

In 2010, we gifted a Christmas gift to 12 individuals from all across the country who entered into our Holiday giveaway contest. And now because we’ve gotten requests from our friends and fans to bring this back, so we’re doing it again!

Are you ready for the Holidays? There are less than 12 days left til Christmas and we’re going to help you get in the spirit of the Holidays. We’re giving away a GIFT EVERYDAY to someone who tweets us their favorite Holiday movie on our twitter handle — @hakimsonsfilms . Hope you enjoy this little Holiday greeting from our family to yours!

Here is the official contest video from Santa himself…

You turn on the TV and flip through channels until a bright football field lights up the screen. During the commercial break, you quickly place an order for a pizza delivery. To many Americans, this Italian dish is an integral part of the football tradition.

But Italy has more to offer than just pizza, pasta, and Snookie. Italian culture is warm, vibrant, and very family-oriented, which is best-reflected in Italian wedding traditions. See what our friends at theknot.com have to say about Italian weddings:

When: In Italy, wedding festivities usually kick off in the morning, ideally on a Sunday. According to regional Italian folklore, you should never marry (or leave for your honeymoon) on a Friday or Tuesday, or you’re bound to have loads of bad luck, while Saturdays are reserved for widows getting hitched to husband number two (or three, or four…).

source: weddingwithaview.biz

Attire: Don’t bother with makeup since in addition to a white gown, you’ll wear a veil — a symbol of virginity (don’t worry, it’s just for show). Tearing the veil, however, is considered good luck (Why? Just use your imagination). Meanwhile, the groom can lug a piece of iron (preferably a small one) in his pocket to ward off evil spirits.

Activities: Traditional Italian brides and grooms forgo the limo and make it to the chapel on foot. In certain villages, residents throw symbolic obstacles in your path to suss out your future as man and wife: If a broom lands at your feet and you pick it up, for example, you’ll be one helluva housecleaner. After the wedding ceremony, the couple shatters a glass or vase — and does their best to pulverize it, since the number of pieces represents the amount of years they’ll stay happily married. If someone hands you a double-handed saw, you and the groom must cut a log in half to prove you can work together without driving each other insane.

The Food: A roasted baby pig or lamb accompanied by wanda, bow ties of fried dough dipped in powdered sugar. Women sip Marsala wine, men guzzle the much stronger grappa (go ahead and guess who’s in store for a hangover). Confetti — sugar-covered almonds (or Jordan almonds, as we know them) representing the bitter and sweet of life — serves as snacks or, yes, projectiles thrown at the newlyweds as they make their exit.

The Music: Possibly a jaunty jig called the tarantella. Legend has it that a woman who was once bitten by a poisonous tarantula cured herself by shakin’ her booty better than Beyoncé on a very good day. The least it can do for you is to keep you from passing out due to too much Marsala.

Added Perk: Money — lots of it. Forget toasters and towels: Guests place cold, hard cash in a white satin bag called la borsa.

Weddings solemnize a bond between two individuals, and people of different cultures have different ways of celebrating this union. Last week, we discussed Catholic wedding ceremonies. As promised, today we will take a closer look at some Hindu weddings customs, which rely heavily on three key values: harmony, happiness, and growth.

Couples typically get engaged in a ceremony referred to as the “mangni” or “sagayi” months before the actual wedding. The engagement ceremony typically involves an exchange of gifts and sweets among the families of the bride and the groom, and an exchange of rings between the couple.

Although Hindu traditions vary from family to family, the date of the official wedding is usually finalized in consultation with an astrologer. This is to ensure the wedding will be held at an auspicious time in keeping with the three values mentioned above.

Ceremonies leading up to the day of the wedding include the Mehndi (or Henna Application) Ceremony, the Haldi (Turmeric Application) Ceremony, and a Puja (offering of prayers).  These vary by culture and region. Mehndi, or Henna, signifies the strength of the bond between the couple to be wed. It is believed that the darker the color of the Henna, the stronger this bond will be. Haldi, or turmeric powder, is ceremoniously used for cleansing and beautification of the bride and groom prior to their marriage.

On the wedding day, the groom’s family partakes in a ceremonial procession to the bride’s house. Hindu weddings in America may be slightly different though. The wedding may take place at a rented venue instead of the bride’s home.

The wedding ceremony commences with an exchanging of garlands between the bride and groom to mark a gesture of acceptance and mutual respect.

The kanyadan, which translates as the “giving away of the bride” is initiated by the bride’s father. Here, the father places his daughter’s hand in the groom’s hand in a gesture asking him to accept her as an equal partner.

Hindu wedding ceremonies are conducted around a ceremonial fire, which is considered sacred in Hinduism. After offerings to the sacred fire are made, a close family member places scarves around the couple and ties a knot, again signifying their bond.

Next, the bride and groom walk around the sacred fire four times. After each round, the bride and groom will stop to touch a stone in their path with their feet, which symbolizes the obstacles they will face in life as a couple. The circling around the fire represents four goals in life: religious and moral duties, prosperity, earthly pleasures, and spiritual salvation.

Now the couple will take seven steps around the fire together, each of which symbolizes what is expected of the couple as husband and wife. Here is a summary (source: weddingwire.com):

• First step: To respect and honor each other
• Second step: To share each other’s joy and sorrow
• Third step: To trust and be loyal to each other
• Fourth step: To cultivate appreciation for knowledge, values, sacrifice and service
• Fifth step: To reconfirm their vow of purity, love family duties and spiritual growth
• Sixth step: To follow principles of Dharma (righteousness)
• Seventh step: To nurture an eternal bond of friendship and love

Another key aspect of Hindu wedding is the vermillion ceremony, in which the groom places a pinch of sindoor (or vermillion) on his bride’s forehead. Vermillion is a traditional red cosmetic powder that is adorned by married Hindu women and is first applied to the woman by her husband on the day of her wedding.

It is customary for the couple to seek the blessings of the priest (the “pundit”) and the couple’s elders to solemnize the marriage. At the conclusion of the wedding, the bride’s family and friends bid her farewell as she embarks on a new journey with her husband and his family.

image by Greg Blomberg

Greg Blomberg picked up his first camera when he was just seven years old. And by the time he was eleven, young Greg already knew what he wanted to be when he grew up: a professional photographer.

“I’ve been in love with photography since I picked up my first camera. It’s my life, it’s my passion,” Greg says.

The creative mastermind of Blomberg Weddings and Greg Blomberg Photography, Greg Blomberg has worked with both film and digital cameras, which attests to the valuable experience he has in the industry.

Although Greg began his career as a photojournalist in high school and later as a commercial photographer, he eventually found his way into wedding photography.

The team at Blomberg Weddings stays on the cutting edge of technology, while trying to think ahead in terms of what will capture a bride’s eye.

Greg is a dear friend of ours here at Hakim Sons Films. We are always marveled by the sincerity in his work and the spark of humility in his eyes.

Greg doesn’t just point, shoot, and print; he goes out of his way to take a shot that is meaningful by keeping technicalities and the bigger picture in mind: his couple’s story. In fact, he has even become associated with the tagline of “telling your story” over the years.

“Every couple has their own story, and I try to portray that through the use of images,” Greg says.

image by Greg Blomberg

As filmmakers, we have had the pleasure to capture an array of marriage ceremonies that vary from couple to couple. In essence though, a wedding is the culmination of a lifelong bond between two individuals.  It is an expression of love, commitment, and tradition.

Today we will highlight a few key aspects of a Catholic wedding.

image source: http://www-wedding-s.com/2011/10/catholic-wedding-mass/

A typical Catholic wedding begins with an opening prayer led by the priest. Here the couple asks for God’s blessings on their wedding day. Next, verses from the Bible are recited. The couple’s close family members usually read these passages. A short sermon on marriage by the priest follows. In the next set of rituals, the congregation—the people at the ceremony—stands to witness the exchange of vows between the couple.

Vows are a key sacrament of the Catholic marriage ceremony. Symbolizing consent, the vows form a covenant among the couple and depict the couple’s commitment to each other. The vows of a Catholic ceremony are typically as follows (see an example here):

Priest: (Name), do you take (name) to be your wife? Do you promise to be true to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and honor her all the days of your life?

Groom: I do.

Priest: (Name), do you take (name) to be your husband? Do you promise to be true to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and honor him all the days of your life?

Bride: I do.

Catholic wedding vows may also take the following form:

Groom: I, (name), take you, (name), for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

Bride: I, (name), take you, (name), for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

After the bride and groom have exchanged their vows and have said “I do”, the best man will hand the bride’s ring to the priest. The ring will be handed to the groom to place on the bride’s finger after is it blessed by the priest. After a similar set of rituals, the groom’s ring will be handed to the bride and the rings will be exchanged.

Another aspect of the Catholic ceremony is the decision of the couple whether or not to hold Mass. If the ceremony includes Mass everyone shakes hands with their neighbors when the the priest asks for a “sign of peace.” Holy Communion follows. Finally, a concluding prayer is recited and blessings for strength and protection for the couple are sought.

Look out for our next blog post, in which we will take a closer look at the rituals of a traditional Hindu marriage ceremony.

I came across this blog post in BridalBuzz by DMagazine today and hope it will be useful as you plan your big day.

“Wedding Advice: Don’t Let The Details Get You Down

Thanks to Marissa Benners for today’s wedding wisdom:

‘I wish I had not spent so much time obsessing over all of the little details during the planning process. Everything really will fall into place, especially if you choose the right vendors. Enjoy the experience and don’t let the stress wear you out. And finally, live in the moment and soak it all in because after spending so many months, and even years planning, it all goes by in the blink of an eye.’

Are you a South-Asian bride preparing for your ‘Big Fat Indian Wedding’? Indian weddings are colorful, full of flair, and pack large reception halls around town. Hakim Sons Films has been blessed to be working with South-Asian brides, grooms & their families for the past 11 years.

We have work with brides and grooms of all different nationalities, cultures, faiths, and unique preferences. We have filmed so called ‘Indian’ weddings all over North America and we are excited to share with you our latest reel from these events.

Our experience in South-Asian cultural weddings makes us the “GO TO PROS” for many of the top wedding professionals across the country and we’re thankful to all of them for their continued love & support.

We have filmed in places of worship for many of the world’s religions and we understand cultural events & family dynamics. Feel free to connect with us to discuss your family’s next wedding.

From searching for hours on Google to tirelessly flipping through magazines, finding ideas for your wedding can get a little tough.

There is still over 1 month until the New Year, but that hasn’t kept future brides from making plans for 2012 weddings. In fact, our brides have even started commissioning us for 2013!

We’ve been part of countless weddings, and we know what goes on behind the scenes at a wedding. We know about the overwhelmed sighs and raised eyebrows.

So to help you out, we’ve compiled a list of top 2012 wedding trends (This is our take from a great article that we recently read on the Weddings InStyle blogspot).

Source: Weddings InStyle Blogspot

Wedding gowns:

·      From corsets to chokers to high-collars, 2012 will enter in style, bringing back the lavish full-length skirts. Get ready for weddings inspired by Victorian styles!

·      There doesn’t seem to be an end to the separate reception dress. Many brides will choose an ornate dress for their wedding ceremony, and will change into something more casual and manageable for the reception.  The reception dress will feature a more relaxed and funky look.

Colors

·      While some couples will settle on bold color themes (think deep pink and sunny yellow), others will opt for a more tranquil color palette like pale blue and beige.

·      Nature-themed weddings are becoming increasingly popular, and a lot of brides will choose real flowers or exotic plants for centerpieces and décor. This also means that many weddings will feature more natural, earthy color palate.

Décor

·      Though it isn’t a new fad, do-it-yourself is the latest trend in weddings. Homemade wedding invitations and décor are no longer seen as money-saving techniques. In fact, they showcase your personality as a couple to your guests. You can create centerpieces, escort cards, guest book alternatives, photo booths, favors, and even table numbers through the DIY technique to personalize your wedding.

Food

·      Pies.  Cupcakes. Brownies. Yum! 2012 will showcase full-on dessert tables with homemade treats. Some couples will also plan for an additional “Goodnight” station at the end of their reception to pamper their guests. The send-off treats can range from doughnuts to traditional ice cream sandwiches to bagels or even heart-shaped cookies.

View of our new studio from the Crescent Court

 A quick snapshot of the client lounge & conference area

 Usually we are either on location filming for events or working on post-production tasks at the studio, but yesterday was a very exciting day for us here at Hakim Sons Films.

You could say we had an indoor block party, but for us it was much more than just that. As you may already know, we moved into a new studio just recently and wanted to waste no time in getting to know our neighbors. We kicked this off by hosting the weekly Stanley Korshak staff meeting at our new studio yesterday and made over sixty new friends!

Just some of the folks watching our films in the lobby

At the beginning of the meeting, our team was introduced by the owner of Stanley Korshak—Crawford Brock—who gave us a really warm welcome into his Stanley Korshak family. Also during the meeting, Shezad gave a brief presentation about Hakim Sons Films.

The Stanley Korshak team was very pleased with our demo reels for the store. Staff members kept saying that our work was “beautiful”, “fabulous”, “amazing” and many more kind things. You can see what the hype is all about here: (Dallas HD Film Demo Reel and Hakim Sons Films Demo Reel ).

What’s a meeting without scrumptious food? Ours had Tinstar breakfast tacos, freshly baked cookies, poundcake and lots of orange juice!

Our history is rich with fond memories, from weddings to engagements to concept films. We are thankful to have made so many friends along the way—including our neighbors at Stanley Korshak. We hope to host similar events to build new partnerships very soon!

Since the age of cavemen, human beings have found excuses to evade the most unwanted of situations.

“Hey, do you want to stop by for dinner sometime?”

“Sorry, I can’t. I have to take Max to the doctor for his headache.”

Wait…the doctor’s office closes at 5, way before dinner.

Time—it’s precious. And we look for ways to make most of it. The same holds true for our wedding videos. Think about the last wedding video you watched. How many people did you share it with?

Each one of our films at Hakim Sons Films is customized to our client’s vision.

Our wedding feature films typically range from 30 to 60 minutes, but their lengths vary to cater to the needs of our valued clients. While some couples prefer to highlight the main features of their weddings, others would like to see each ceremony unravel before their eyes.

There is a common belief that longer films are better than shorter wedding films.

Contrary to popular belief, shorter wedding films can deliver the same flair as a longer film.

Shorter films weave together the crux of your wedding through a series of carefully selected shots, allowing for the story to resonate emotionally with your friends and family.

Because shots are chosen carefully, we create your “featured film” by including time-shifts and meaningful details.

For technologically savvy couples, our “highlight reels or trailers” can easily be shared on social networking sites and be flaunted by your friends and family. So even aunt Matilda in England can take a break from her tea party to enjoy your wedding video.

At Hakim Sons Films, we aspire to produce a timeless memento for your wedding. Each video includes a trailer or highlight reel, feature film, and bonus features (chapters for ceremonies, toasts, and performances).

We can also add same-day edits or concept films to your video experience.

So if you want a breath taking feature film that captivates and moves, at Hakim Sons Films we’ve got you covered.

Bingo.

The wedding industry is very special; it is a reservoir of talented professionals who know your taste, and know how to tailor their work to your expectations.
And for some, this talent runs in the family? Literally.

Today we would like to highlight our friends at Stanley Korshak, a boutique that has served brides for over two decades. Its designs have dressed celebrities, top models, and musicians.

Stanley Korshak was opened in Dallas by famous heiress Caroline Rose Hunt; it has been operated by Crawford Brock and his family since 1987, and in 2002 he acquired the business.

The Bridal Salon at Stanley Korshak, in particular, houses four consultants and three master seamstresses who are genuinely very caring and have a vested interest in your wedding needs.

As Laura Hodgkinson (3rd from the left), a buyer and director for the salon, put it: the Stanley Korshak team walks down the isle every Friday, Saturday, or Sunday with their brides.

Laura has worked for Stanley Korshak for over twenty years, and since then has helped dress countless brides, including two of Brock’s daughters.

“I tell my brides to put on the dress that makes them feel beautiful today in this moment”, Laura said.

Beyond sales, the boutique seeks to give back to the local community by partnering with numerous charity organizations. In fact, we had the opportunity to witness this partnership a few months ago when Stanley Korshak hosted the “Rock-N-Runway” show, the proceeds of which benefitted the underconstruction Woodall Rogers Park. We have always enjoyed working with Stanley Korshak, and we are very excited to call them our new neighbors! (Our new office is located in the heart of the Crescent Hotel next to the bridal salon — we’re on the second floor of ‘The Shak’)

You’re engaged, and now it’s time to turn your dream wedding into a reality.

But where do you start?

The guest list? The venue reservation? Or the invitations?

Recently, I came across a book that caters to future brides and grooms. Written by ace wedding planner Mindy Weiss, The Wedding Book is a collection of tips on how to announce the engagement, what to do when someone isn’t happy about the news, creating a budget, drawing up the guest list; planning the ceremony (and how to personalize your vows), dress and tuxedo shopping, and even strategies for the rehearsal dinner.

Here are some of Mindy’s top tips:

1. You should walk around the tables at the reception and try to say hello to the guests. When everyone is seated, take a bite of food and then set out to greet your guests.

“It is exhausting and wipes out a lot of my couples,” Weiss says, “and standing in one place for an hour ruins your feet for the rest of the night.”

2. Don’t forget to thank your parents sometime during the reception.

3. If you know it’s someone’s birthday or special anniversary on the day of your wedding, acknowledge it.

4. Try not to be separated from your new spouse during the evening. Nothing is worse than to have to hunt down the bride or groom when a speech starts.

5. It’s always nice to write your groom a note before you walk down the aisle. You can have a friend deliver it on the wedding day.

(some of our couples like to integrate this letter into their wedding video. Here’s an example: Anita & Ajesh)

6. Don’t forget that you need to eat during the day. Also, feed your wedding party if they are hanging with you. If the makeup artist and hair dresser are with you all day, it is nice to offer them lunch too.

7. My favorite party favor is a donation in the guests’ names to your favorite charity. It is a gift that keeps on giving.

8. If one of your parents has a favorite song, it is nice to dedicate that song to your mother or father during the evening.

From the beginning, Holly Tripp has loved to check off things from her list of things to do. The native Texan started out as a corporate event planner, but when her task became too “cookie cutter”, she said it was time to transition into something more fun and exciting: weddings! Having been in the wedding planning business for over a decade, Holly is able to tailor every wedding to the personalities of her couples.

“It’s different every time, from the personality of the couple to the budget to the vendors and even to the style of the wedding,” she said.

“And just when you think you’ve figured it out, there’s something new,” she added.

Most brides worry about the overall picture of their wedding when they come through the doors at Holly Tripp Event Design.

The brides really want everyone to be able to relax and have a great time. And Holly Tripp Event Design allows its brides and their guests to do just that: relax.

One thing we at Hakim Sons films admire is the approachability and humility of our friends at Holly Tripp Event Design.

They are truly able to put together a breathtaking wedding that reflects their couple’s vision.

“We want our brides to realize that it isn’t all about the wedding day; it’s about the marriage, and the life that they’re going to be building with their future spouse,” Tripp said.

Over the past few years, we’ve had so much fun working with Holly Tripp & her entire team, and are so happy to feature her as our vendor spotlight. We want to take this opportunity to thank Holly’s entire team for all the great memories that we’ve shared, and look forward to many more years of working together.

From the makeup session to the first dance to the reception’s concluding song, you and your future spouse will be under a constant spotlight on your big day.

But when this spotlight diminishes, will you wish you did things differently?

I hope not.

Today I read an article from one of our favorite bridal blogs, BridalBuzz by D Magazine, in which a recently wedded bride shares what she would change if she could have her wedding again.

Check it out:

“Thanks to Tiffani Tedrow Kocsis for today’s wedding wisdom:

‘If I had it to do all over again, before booking the venue, I would make sure it wasn’t too big. We didn’t plan for how large ours was and getting people in one place for the big moments wasn’t easy. Also, my husband and I both agree you need make sure to EAT! We had a grilled cheese station, burger and corn dog station, and seafood station and we got NOTHING! We were bouncing all over the place so neither one of us got the chance to grab anything – and we heard it was awesome! Lastly, I wish we had taken a little time for ourselves. We were pulled every direction and we only got to dance together once!’”

Weddings are a time to celebrate. And in doing so, you should also kick back, relax, and cherish every moment with your closest family, friends, and of course, your spouse!

From a filmmaker’s perspective, if you’re having fun trust us that you’re friends and family will have a blast. A wedding film will capture the behind the scenes action that you’ll usually not see until after the day is over but when you’re in the moment, remember to ENJOY YOURSELF!

Hit the play button on the “workout” mix from your ipod, put on your sporting gear, and smother on some sunscreen. Do you have what it takes to compete with the nations finest Ismaili athletes?

900 people said yes.

This weekend, Texas welcomed the nation’s most talented Ismaili athletes and coaches—both young and old— from all over the country to compete at the 2011 USA National Sports Tournament.

As the official video team for the event, we got to capture the festivities through the lens of our cameras.

During the opening ceremonies on Friday, a crowd of about 4,000 spectators erupted in cheers as the brilliant performers rocked the chilly night away.

Throughout the weekend, participants went head-to-head in flag football, basketball, table tennis, badminton, golf, cricket, softball volleyball, soccer, and even chess.

Athletes will compete for the remaining titles today. Winners will travel to Malaysia to take on players from around the globe.

In the past we have had the honor to film the International Golden Jubilee Games in Kenya in 2008.  Our studio is also very excited to film the next International games to be held in Malaysia this upcoming summer!

It has been an electrifying weekend for us, and we hope the same holds true for the athletes (you can catch images from the weekend on Facebook).

We are working still in the midst of working on a final video presentation that will be shown at the closing ceremonies later this afternoon. In the meantime, check out the video that we uploaded from the opening ceremonies.

One piece of advice that was shared with the athletes was: “When all is said and done, it’s not the shots that won the championship that you remember, but the friendships you made along the way…The trophies and medals will be stowed away on a shelf and the jerseys will be stashed into the closet, but we hope the experience will last forever.”

So you’re planning your upcoming wedding and are now thinking about at how will you preserve these moments forever. Well then, video is probably at the top of your list. Now the question becomes, which filmmaker do you commission? Here at Hakim Sons Films, we take our wedding films very seriously and document each event with a special passion. Take a look at our 2012 wedding demo and see for yourself…

Open a magazine lying around your coffee table and flip to the fashion section.

They say a picture can paint a thousand words, but what about the elements that come together to paint that image? Ever wonder where that photo shoot took place? Or where the photographer stood to take that ‘WOW’ shot? Or why the model struck that pose?

Behind each page there is a vision; it takes a creative designer, a talented photographer, and a focused writer to deliver this vision to you.

And we want you witness this undertaking.

This week, we will spotlight behind the scenes videos from the Brides of North Texas Magazine, which showcase different photo shoots ranging from makeup and hair sessions, photo shoots for footwear, table arrangements, bridal wear, and much more.

From modern to Victorian to French themes, this exclusive footage will also shed light on the inspiration behind table arrangements and the finesse that helps put them together. It will also introduce you to the masterminds behind each shot.

He has stepped over conveyor belts. He has visited some of the oldest churches in America. And he has even been strapped into a harness above an oil well. Although Luke Edmonson is no stunt man, he has repeatedly crossed the line, all for the sake of his photography.

Photography is to the Edmonsons as videography is to Hakim Sons in that it is a business that runs in the family.

Luke began working on commercial photography with his father in 2001 when he returned from film school, but the idea to focus on weddings came a couple years later.

“I went to my dad and said, ‘Dad, we’re not doing what I hoped we would do when I said we wanted to be photographers together,’” Luke said.

David Edmonson looked at his son, bewildered.

“I turned to him and said, ‘Well, what about weddings,’” Luke added.

And so in 2003, the father-son duo turned to wedding photography. Since then, Edmonson Weddings has been part of over 900 weddings.

Something that is important to us as photographers is how the couple will tell their story to their future daughter or son, Luke said.

“That is what we focus on,” he added.

Luke and David Edmonson are delightful to work with. They are easy-going, but very serious about their work.

The relationship between Edmonson Weddings and Hakim Sons Films is very special to us. It is a bond of trust and friendship. We filmed Luke’s wedding and Luke’s father, David was the photographer at Shezad’s wedding!

Photography is truly what Edmonson Weddings does best, and their team’s talent can be seen in every image they capture.

Hey everyone! I am Daiana. I am an editor at Hakim Sons Films and your guest blogger for the day!

This past weekend was monumental for the team here at Hakim Sons Films and for our lovely couple, Sharmila and Jasim.

We showed a same day edit/concept film at Sharmila and Jasim’s wedding. I wish I could explain the rush I felt on Saturday! It is such an amazing feeling when you see, projected on a big screen, exactly what you saw in your mind.

It then becomes an even greater feeling when you look at the audience and everyone is in love with your video as much as you are. Between my rookie directing, pre-production, and color, Paul’s editing and amazing “After Effects” skills, Andrew, AJ, and Shezad’s amazing shooting and leadership skills, and my husbands perfect storyboard — we pulled off a product that makes me feel proud. I could not be part of a better team.

Even though the weekend was memorable for the team at Hakim Sons Films, let’s not forget our couple who entrusted us with the responsibility for making their wedding celebrations so special!

Sharmila and Jasim were a delight to share this moment with. They were patient during the entire shoot, and they were just as excited as we were during the concept reveal!

Here is what Sharmila had to say about the Concept and Same Day Edit:

“The concept was featured as a prelude to our entrance, and everyone’s reaction was phenomenal! Each and every person who watched the film was awed and moved. There were tears, laughter and heartfelt congratulations on an amazing masterpiece. Jasim and I were asked if we took acting lessons for our film, and our response was simple. Our filmmakers made us look like movie stars. Many thanks to Shezad and the Hakim Sons team for allowing our vision to come to life! ”

On behalf of myself and the whole Hakim Sons Films, I would like to thank Sharmila and Jasim for trusting us every step of the way, and for allowing us to be a part of their wedding!