The Wedding University

Visit our new WEBSITE and BLOG!

2009-11-13T20:57:00.001-08:00

We have a brand new website and blog! Please visit both sites for continual updates for our upcoming events. We will no longer be posting on this blog. Thanks so much for your interest and support!!

The Wedding University 2010

2009-04-20T23:45:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that the next Wedding University will take place on January 31, 2010. We are also going to have a brand new website and blog by June 2009. We look forward to giving ourselves this 'face lift'! The blog will feature a number of experts who will offer great tips for brides and grooms in all different aspects of the wedding planning. It will also give you updates on the planning progress for TWU, and guess what--we're planning more than one for 2010! Stay tuned!

The Inaugural Wedding University--Part II.

2009-02-19T21:58:00.000-08:00

At 10am, we (The Deans) were brought upstairs to the suite for an interview with KMTP, a new local 24/7 Wedding Television network airing on Channel 32. I was a bit nervous, but Christina, the host and producer of the show, was extremely easy going as she interviewed us which put us all at ease. I actually enjoyed it!!
After the interview, we went back downstairs and was delightfully surprised to see that a few students had arrived already even though it was not 11am yet. They admitted that they wanted to come early, because they were so excited about the event! We arranged a warm welcoming for all the students, with our modeling brides and grooms as greeters, passed champagne, and the beautiful tune of a harp. Our registration table was ready to go, filled with smiling volunteers to help students find their name tags and student folders.
During the first 40 minutes, students enjoyed sampling fine culinary creations from the Four Seasons, including a prime rib action station that was the most popular. They also relaxed with hand massages from the Four Seasons spa, and got inspired by the different tablescapes in our design and decor room.
At 11:45am, all the students were seated in Ballroom A. Kelly Nelson, Director of Marketing at Four Seasons Silicon Valley (and also one of our Deans for TWU) gave a warm welcoming before Jean and I went into our presentation on Planning + Logistics. Following that was the presentation on Menu Planning by Julie Kiendra, Catering Manager at the Four Seasons Silicon Valley.
After the first hour, students were separated into 3 groups, based on the colors of their name tags and student folders that we had preassigned them. Each group had one of our volunteers as their 'group monitor', to guide them and to answer any questions that they may have throughout the day. There would be 3 different presentations going on at all times:

MUSIC + ENTERTAINMENT

(Professors: Carl Mindling + Peter Rudolfi + Ron Grandia + Cynthia Glinka)

Cynthia was her usual enthusiastic self, bringing so much laughter and excitement in the room as she taught students how fun dancing can be. At the end of each class, she even asked all the students to get up and do a few moves together. Everybody had a great time.

DESIGN + DECOR
(Professors: Gloria Wong Tritasavit, Nancy Liu Chin, John Woods, Viola Sutante)

PHOTOGRAPHY + VIDEOGRAPHY
(Professors: Lara White, Kevin Chin, Chuck & Jewel Savadelis)

As students transitioned between each class, they were surprised with new food stations set up for them. These included sushi and a variety of small plates, fruit, candy, and an awesome dessert bar.
For the last hour of the day, all the students joined together in one group again in Ballroom A and listened to the final presentation on beauty and attire by Armando and Gabrielle. The models were asked to do a small fashion show as Gabrielle described the various wedding gowns that they were wearing and Armando picked a student to do a live updo demonstration. During this hour, all the grooms were asked to follow Bennie of Eli Thomas to a separate room to learn about trends in tuxedos and suits.
We ended the day with the much anticipated drawing--first for the 3 night stay at one of 3 Four Seasons Resort including Lanai, Bora Bora, and Whistler. The second prize was a complimentary engagement session from the fabulous Kevin Chin. The two lucky winners sure left with big smiles on their faces, but every student got to leave with a goody bag that included special gifts and never-before discounts from some of the top event professionals in Northern California!
All photos above by Janae Shields

The Inaugural Wedding University--Part I.

2009-02-19T21:56:00.000-08:00

Previously on my own blog, I posted some tidbits on the night before our big event--the inaugural Wedding University. Now, I am ready to start blogging a series about the day of, providing you some behind the scenes exclusives!

The morning started off early for many of us--6am! Ofcourse, John Woods and his crew were the exceptions--they were up the entire night installing the drapery and lighting! The whole design team and our volunteers were hard at work at the crack of dawn, setting up the various tables in their different themes.

The Deans--Jean, Julie, Kelly, and myself, took on a role that we were not quite familiar with. Rather than having our sleeves rolled up like we normally do at an event, we were instead taking turns having our makeup and hair professional done by the fabulous Armando of Get Your Do Up and his lovely assistant of the day Joey. I have to admit...I loved every minute of it!

At 9am sharp, all the Deans, Professors, and Volunteers met in the Conference Room for our 'Staff Meeting'. The Four Seasons provided coffee and pastries to bring everyone's energy up as we went over the timing and logistics of the day together. I could sense the excitement, anticipation, and enthusiasm in the room!

Janece was our very competent leader for the registration process, which was crucial to the success of our event. She delegated various tasks to our many volunteers that day, making sure that each of them understood their roles and responsibilities clearly.

My fabulous Production Lead Amanda was our 'day-of coordinator', making sure that we were on schedule, and being the go-to person for questions and support. While she was managing the final set up in the various rooms downstairs, Armando and Joey continued working their magic upstairs in the spacious suite--this time on the models that we had casted for this special event.
Gabrielle of Gabrielle's Bridal Atelier was also there to help style each model, as they got dressed in her beautiful gowns.

With less than one hour before the students were due to arrive, the professors began doing one last 'practice' run with their presentations. We were ready to rock!!

All the above photos by the fabulous Janae Shields, who was present from 8am-6pm to document the entire event for us from beginning to end.

Stay tuned for Part II...for our television interview and the arrival of TWU students!

What a classy event!

2009-02-13T09:10:00.000-08:00

We are so proud to share the Wedding University Slide Show, put together by Janae Shields, our "behind the scenes" photographer, who was a part of the action throughout the day. Please click the link below to enjoy the show! Thank you, Janae, for the memories!

http://www.janaeshields.com/slideshows/TheWeddingUniversity/

Early next week, Jean and I will be sharing the part of our presentation we could not fit into the time allotted for the opening seminar; there was so much to share, and so little time!

We are already in the process of planning next year's Wedding University! We want to incorporat the wonderful feedback from the students' evaluations, our professors' comments, as well as what we learned, and would do differently, next year!

There is no doubt that the concept of offering honest, helpful wedding planning tips, in the context of an elegant and relaxed setting, is a winner! You will be hearing more about our plans in the months ahead!

Full House

2009-02-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

What an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. weekend. We had a full house at our inaugural Wedding University at the Four Seasons in Silicon Valley. Excited students arrived well before 11am, excited and eager to learn all about wedding planning. There is so much to blog about I don't even know where to start! I am still sorting through photos, and comments from the student evaluations, and will be blogging all about this fabulous event very soon! Thanks for your patience. For now, enjoy the live blogging post from Stacie Tamaki's The Flirty Guide here!

What's on the Menu?

2009-02-05T15:31:00.000-08:00

Tick-tock, tick-tock.....we're counting down now. Just two more days before The Wedding University! We still have a few spots left, so please sign up right away if you haven't done so already by emailing Cassie Conching at cassie.conching@fourseasons.com

I am sure many of you are wondering...what's in store for us this Sunday? LOTS! But let me start with the food. The Four Seasons' culinary team has put together a fabulous menu for TWU students. We ofcourse want to keep it a surprise, but I think it's okay to give you a sneak preview of a few items:

Sushi Station--freshly made sushi including spicy tuna rolls, california rolls, assorted nigiri, ahi tuna, unagi, and kusshi oysters

Slow Roasted Prime Rib

Mini Brioche Buns

AND MUCH MORE...students will be delightfully surprised with a different food set up between the classes and the afternoon will end with an extraordinary dessert buffet and wedding cake! Yum!

We like the word FREE too!

2009-02-02T14:40:00.001-08:00

For free tickets to The Wedding University, be sure to post a comment on Ritzy Bee's post about us here.

Our students will get a chance to win a 3 night honeymoon stay at a selected Four Seasons resort, AND they will also be entered to win a free engagement session from the one and only Kevin Chin!

Kevin Chin is a self-taught photographer who feels that the best education comes from living life to the fullest and never having regrets. A member of Professional Photographers of America, Wedding Professional Photographers International, The Shortlist, and Here Comes the Guide, Kevin is recommended by the top event planners and venues in Northern California. His work has been published in Susie Coelho’s Style Your Dream Wedding, Martha Stewart Weddings, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Elegant Bride, Bride and Bloom, and Today’s Bride. He appeared on Evening Magazine and was voted best Bay Area Wedding Photographer in 2001. Kevin loves to travel and has been commissioned to photograph weddings in

Italy

France

Thailand

Philippines

, and

Peru

Sneak Preview

2009-01-30T15:47:00.000-08:00

Viola of Chewing the Cud just sent me a few photos of the paper goods that she is working on for the amazing tablescapes in the decor room. I'm so excited to post them here, as a sneak preview....wait until you see EVERYTHING on the 8th! It's going to blow you away.

Some tools Viola has been playing with to create the paper goods:

wax seals, aged papers, gold textures, tassels etc.

She is a fan of using the ordinary objects in unordinary ways!

TWU Preview: Design Case Study

2009-01-24T22:02:00.000-08:00

TWU's design team consists of Nancy Liu Chin, Gloria Wong Tritasavit, John Woods, and Viola Sutante. Together, these four remarkably creative and talented professionals will be presenting to TWU students a 'case study' of how to thread a concept throughout your entire wedding. Their presentation promises to be incredibly interesting and fun, and students will learn great tips for their own weddings! As a sneak preview, here is their 'Mood Board' for their case study, called 'Love Letters'!

Featuring: Cynthia Glinka of On the Dance Floor

2009-01-19T23:57:00.000-08:00

I first met Cynthia Glinka about 5 years ago, at an industry networking event. I still remember quite vividly her amazing energy, and the spark in her eyes when she described herself as a dancer. Thereafter, I began to send her my clients that needed dance lessons. As I saw the way she transformed my clients' confidence level on the dance floor, I was in awe. Even the shyest of the grooms who swore they had two left feet could be seen gracefully spinning his beautiful bride on the dance floor after just ONE lesson with Cynthia! It was magic!

Shortly after getting the fabulous feedback from my clients, I now encourage ALL my clients to do dance lessons with Cynthia. Even if they do not feel like they need it, it's a really fun part of the wedding planning process. One of my brides last year literally said she laughed so hard at the very first lesson that her stomach hurted for the rest of the night. She scheduled two more lessons with Cynthia after that, just to have fun!

More on Cynthia:

Your first dance can either be...

A honeymoon or a nightmare:

Brides and grooms like you

want their first steps in life together to be perfect.

Why not start with your first dance at your wedding?

Take ONE session and I guarantee you'll be dancing down the aisle.
That's right, ONE session!

If you can walk, you can dance! We’re not going for a trophy here folks, says Cynthia.

Spin, dip and dance to the bedroom . . .

I've transformed countless wedding couples into confident,
elegant dancers for their ‘first dance’ and the rest of their lives.

You think the wedding day will be romantic? Wait until you start dancing!

With Glinka's tips and tricks,
you'll be dancing for a lifetime.

Come meet Cynthia and see her in action at The Wedding University. She'll be spinning couples down the aisle and offering you valuable tips for your first dance!

We're Gaining Popularity!

2009-01-14T23:43:00.000-08:00

Look at all these awesome blogs that have written about The Wedding University! We are so excited and are deeply grateful for these wonderful bloggers. They sure know a good thing when they see one!

Stay tuned for even more blog posts on TWU!

Jump for Joy!

2009-01-13T22:26:00.000-08:00

I found this picture online and thought it was the perfect picture to show how excited TWU students will be after they finish a fun and inspiring day with us and realize that they will get to take home a faaaabulous gift bag full of goodies! What kind of goodies? Well, let's just say that some of the very top professionals are offering discounts for their services, ONLY for this event. It's unheard of, but that's right.....so here's another incentive to join us on February 8, 2009!

Okay, one more 'secret'. Students will also get to take home a copy of the NEWEST issue of the Here Comes the Guide book (yes, the ultra thick one), and several other popular wedding magazines!

I can't help myself....there's more! TWU students can get special room rates if they'd like to stay overnight at the Four Seasons that weekend, AND the hotel's restaurant Quattro is offering a 15% discount for those that would like to stay for dinner. Just let us know when you return your registration form and we can make those arrangements for you!

Yippppeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

For More Information.....

2009-01-08T11:28:00.000-08:00

Please also check out the following blogs, dedicated to featuring more insights on our TWU professors!

http://nancyliuchin.blogspot.com
http://savadelis.blogspot.com

Featuring: Geoff White Photography

2009-01-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

I'm really hoping that this blog is giving you a good sense of the caliber of the Event Professionals that will be speaking to you on February 8th. We have selected an amazing group of people, all experts in their fields but at the same time very personable and approachable. This is a great opportunity to ask questions without being judged!

Our photography team for The Wedding University is pretty awesome. I'm going to start with Geoff and Lara White, another dynamic husband and wife team that has captured the hearts of many couples with their amazing photos. They will be talking about the different styles of photography out there, what photojournalism REALLY means, and what couples should truly look for when seeking their perfect wedding photographer.

Here is their story...

Geoff White has established himself as one of the premiere wedding photographers of the Bay Area, employing a style that combines the crisp, contemporary elements of photojournalism with a lovely, perceptive artistry.

Geoff fell in love with photography when he got his first camera at age ten. Photography remained a hobby while Geoff and a former classmate decided to start a business in Silicon Valley using Geoff’s technical savvy and background as a computer engineer. The pair’s entrepreneurial vision took them from living out of backpacks on a friend’s couch to selling their wildly successful company to a Swedish firm after only four years. This left Geoff with the time and resources to pursue his real passion: photography. After a three month tour of North America with nothing but a camera and a Winnebago, Geoff was certain that photography was the perfect expressive outlet.

To learn the craft, Geoff apprenticed himself to a professional photographer (who would later join the Geoff White team). At the same time, he indulged his love of cutting edge technology by being an early adopter of digital photography, which allows him speed and tremendous post-production flexibility. Ultimately, Geoff is distinguished for his combination of technical prowess and artistic vision. With his wife Lara, who shares his business acumen and meticulous attention to detail, Geoff has grown Geoff White Photography into a unique Bay Area brand, where a deft understanding of cutting edge technology meets a detailed and visionary eye for design.

Geoff comes highly recommended by his clients as well as a variety of professionals. His work has been published in Wedding Bells, Professional Photographer, Wedding Guide, American Libraries, and a Destination Weddings book. TITLED? Geoff is also an active member of Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI), Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Professional Photographers of the Greater Bay Area (PPGBA), National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), The ShortList and By Recommendation Only (BRO).

Lara White is half of the original Geoff White Photography team, bringing professional expertise from her background in wedding and non-profit event planning. Lara’s passion and skill for growing a company from the ground up has been integral in making their business stand out in the field. Her sense of professionalism and her dedication to exceptional customer service round out the artistic excellence that Geoff White Photography has come to be known for, making her a natural fit as a business partner for Geoff. With her planning sensibility and solid understanding of the composition and flow of the wedding day, Lara is directing the game plan and insuring full coverage, leaving the photographer free to focus on the artistic end.

Lara’s not all business, though, and she’s always had a passion for weddings in particular. Growing up in an artistic household (with a dancer mom and a wedding photographer dad), she was always intrigued by being in a house where the walls were covered by strangers’ wedding photos. Self-described as the little girl who kept a detailed notebook of her dream wedding, Lara’s life took a funny turn when she and then-boyfriend Geoff were traveling in his native Canada. Thanks to some visa complications, Geoff’s best option for getting back into America legally was marrying a native for citizenship status. Over the course of a day, Lara and Geoff bought their wedding rings from a border pawnshop, and were married by a vacationing pastor at a Niagara Falls chapel, which Lara describes as “a cheap and dirty version of Vegas.” Lara’s outlook on this little episode is a good insight into why she’s an amazing wedding professional: every event she’s a part of is her chance to live out her fantasy weddings. Whether she’s helping to capture a little beach ceremony or a gala affair, Lara marries her professional expertise with her personal passion every time. She and Geoff share their home with her sixteen year old niece, Brittanie, and their three pound Maltese dog, Emma.

From Concept to Reality--Part II

2009-01-06T12:58:00.000-08:00

In an earlier post, I featured a very talented designer Gloria Wong Tritasvait of Sash and Sugar. She will be one of the Design Instructors at TWU. I posted a fabulous mood board that she created for one of her 2008 clients and promised to post photos to show how the mood board was brought to live at the actual wedding. Enjoy!! All photos courtesy of Anna Kuperberg.

From Concept...

To Reality...

Featuring: Viola Sutanto of Chewing the Cud

2008-12-30T11:26:00.000-08:00

One of the most creative wedding professionals that I've had the pleasure of meeting in 2008 was Viola Sutanto of Chewing the Cud. Her company name alone shows how much creativity this brilliant girl has in her! The Wedding University is extremely honored to be partnering with her in the design of our logo and collaterals.

I first became familiar with Viola's name when her own beautiful wedding was featured in one of the premier bridal magazines--Northern California Brides. I was incredibly impressed with the way her favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird, inspired her to create an entire wedding design around it. From the paper table runner to the escort 'books' to the ring bearer book 'pillow', I could tell that every element was very well thought out and designed.

When I met with Viola to get to know her, I found her to be quite charming and approachable. We had a great time chatting and when we began seeking a designer for The Wedding University's logo, I knew she would be the perfect candidate.

Viola is currently working with the rest of the design team for The Wedding University, to show our students how paper goods are an integral part of a wedding design.

Some facts on Viola:

ACHIEVEMENTS/AWARDS

Western Art Directors Club Silver Medal

Communication Arts Annual Awards

Print Magazine Annual Awards

How Magazine Self-Promotional Awards

Grace Ormonde's Wedding Style Magazine Platinum List 2009

Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book of Preferred Vendors

CREDENTIALS/PARTIAL CLIENT LIST

Designed for brands such as The Sak, Chronicle Books, Design Within Reach, and Peet's Coffee and Tea.

MEDIA EXPOSURE

Bride and Bloom

Real Simple Weddings

Brides Magazine (Northern Cal, Chicago, Washington D.C. and other regional markets)

The Knot

Brides.com

7 x 7 San Francisco

Southern Weddings Style

Featured on Style Me Pretty, Wedding Bee, Project Wedding, Brooklyn Bride, Oh Joy!, Poppytalk and other premier wedding and design blogs.

INTERESTING FACTS

Viola was named after the protagonist in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night".

She regrets that she may never take her husband's last name: put "Viola" and Ting" together and you'll see why.

Viola has an incurable weakness for found objects, used books, the streets of Paris and dark chocolate.

Below are some examples of Viola's talent:

Luxurious Honeymoon, Anyone?

2008-12-19T21:49:00.000-08:00

Here's one of the many reasons why you should attend The Wedding University...

At the end of the day, a very lucky student will get selected for our Grand Giveaway--3 nights at a luxurious Four Seasons Hotel for your honeymoon!

Any Four Seasons? No, but you can choose one of the three below which are all INCREDIBLE!!!

1. Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora--think overwater bungalows (!!), crisp blue lagoons, pineapple coladas.

2. Four Seasons Resort Whistler--think warm fireplaces with hot chocolate, superb spa, and awe-inspiring ski slopes.

3. Four Seasons Resort Hawaii , Lana'i, the Lodge at Koele--think country manor, peaceful tranquility, and golf.

What are the odds of winning if you sign up? One out of 150--odds are good! There will also be other fantastic giveaways.....more details to come later. Please follow our blog for more updates!

Teaser #2--From Concept to Reality

2008-12-17T22:01:00.001-08:00

What makes a wedding beautiful? It's design ofcourse! Think about the times when you attended a wedding or event, and you walked into a room that completely dazzled you with its incredible decor and ambiance. Well, let me tell you...A LOT of thought, planning, and hard work went behind the scenes to pull it all together.

When couples get engaged, they turn to the magazines to offer them inspiration and ideas for their wedding design. BUT....

1. How do you hone in on a concept that truly expresses your passions, style, personalities, and background?
2. How do you take one, or even multiple, ideas and turn it into a concept for your wedding design?
3. How do you thread elements of the concept throughout your wedding to make the design cohesive and perfect?

The Wedding University will be offering a design class for its students to help them understand the basic elements of design-- how to turn an idea into a design concept, and then how to turn the concept into reality!

One of the professors for the design class will be Gloria Wong Tritasavit of Sash and Sugar. Gloria has a background in design and is obsessive about color, composition, style, and how visual elements can stir the heart. Born and raised in San Francisco, she set her sights on a career in fashion at an early age. After receiving a Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in fashion design from the renowned Academy of Art College in San Francisco, she started her career in fashion by designing for DKNY Jeans in New York. She later ventured into merchandising at bebe, and then took on a role as a designer at Levi Strauss & Co in San Francisco.

Upon planning her own wedding in 2006, Gloria fell in love with the world of event design and soon converted her creative energies from apparel to weddings. She earned her ACPWC certificate for wedding consulting and in the short amount of time she has been in business, her incredible designs have already been featured in numerous publications such as Brides, The Knot, SF Brides by Modern Luxury, Bride & Bloom, Style Me Pretty, Daily Candy, and the View From The Bay.

Take a look at this Mood Board that Gloria created for one of her clients this year! The couple's favorite destination for travel was France. They got giddy when they spoke of French shops to Gloria so she immediately knew that the wedding would be heavily influenced by French design. At the same time, the bride had mentioned her fondness for Asian styling and the groom expressed his desire to keep the wedding modern and organic. Both wanted a fresh bold color palette. The result was a Modern Chinoiserie concept equipped with French tapestry, Asian geometric shapes, birds and branches, and a daring color palette of bright lemon yellow, silvery blue, black, and white!

We will post photos of the actual wedding to show how Gloria turn the ideas and concepts into reality in a later post! For now, enjoy some interesting facts about our lovely Gloria:

- She is a Brady Bunch fanatic.
- Her mother is one of twelve siblings.
- She won an art contest sponsored by Sanrio when she was 8.
- She met her best friend of 27 years and in Kindergarten, went to grammar school, high school, and college together, and were post-college roommates in New York.

Meeting of the Minds Again

2008-12-16T22:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Jean and I met with the Bridal Beauty and Attire Group, which included Armando of Get Your Do Up, Gabby of Gabrielle's Bridal Salon, and Dan of Eli Thomas. We met at Gabby's beautiful salon in downtown Los Gatos and brainstormed on ways to deliver the most valuable information on beauty and attire to the students of the Wedding University on February 8th.

After an hour and a half of discussion, we came up with a lot of fun and brilliant concepts which ofcourse I cannot reveal here but I promise students of TWU that you will learn SO much from these experts!

Some topics that will be presented in a creative way:

1. How do you select a wedding dress that best suits your body type and your wedding venue?
2. How do you choose the right hairstyle to fit your facial features and wedding gown?
3. What are all the attire options for the guys? How important is it that their choice of attire matches the girls' dresses?

That's all that I can reveal for now but you will not be disappointed at the valuable information this dynamic group has to offer on February 8th!

We are currently doing a casting call for models to wear some of Gabby's beautiful gowns and Eli Thomas' suits and tuxedos, featuring trends for 2009. More to come in a later post two weeks from now!

Teaser #1: To Have or Not to Have....a Professional Videographer!

2008-12-16T16:49:00.001-08:00

The Wedding University promises to be full of valuable information for brides and grooms planning their wedding. It is not a tactic to 'sell' at all, but rather provide you with the RIGHT information so that you can make wise decisions on your own.

This blog will feature many of the Professors for the Wedding University, with a little teaser to introduce you to the topic that they will be speaking on. Here is our first one!

Introducing...Chuck and Jewel Savadelis of Savadelis Films

CREDENTIALS

Chuck was immediate Past President of the Bay Area Professional Videographers Association (BAPVA)

ACHIEVEMENTS

-Selected for Grace Ormonde's Wedding Style Magazine Platinum List

-Recommended by Style Me Pretty, Here Comes the Guide, The Flirty Guide, By Recommendation Only and Daily Candy's Wedding Guide

-On Many Preferred Lists Including Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, St Regis, Julia Morgan Ballroom, Meadowood, Ralston Hall Mansion, and many more

-First to deliver weddings on an iPod, first to broadcast weddings live over the internet without a direct internet connection, first to record wedding in true surround sound, among the first to film in high definition.

AWARDS

-BAPVA Videographer of the Year

-WEVA Gold Creative Excellence Award

-3 "Telly" Awards

-Aegis Award

-Communicator Award

-Ball and Chain Award for Funniest Wedding Movie

-Judge, EMPixx Awards

-Spirit of NACE Award

MEDIA EXPOSURE

-Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine

-Northern California Brides Magazine

-Brides.com

-Featured in Countdown to Your Perfect Wedding by Joyce Scardina Becker

-Here Comes the Guide Blog

-The Flirty Guide Blog

-By Recommendation Only Blog

-Events by Evonne Blog

-Wedding Planning Audiocast (coming soon)

INTERESTING FACTS

-Filmed pilot for TV show, including an interview with Maya Angelou

-Chuck was a freelance fashion and commercial photographer before becoming a cinematographer and photographed 3 U.S. Presidents

-Jewel was a marketing executive for high tech companies; while Director of Marketing at Atari, she launched Pac Man

-Chuck and Jewel own a pet tortoise named Gromit who is currently hibernating

A question that often comes up is 'Should we hire a professional videographer?' Some people tend to believe that videotaping a wedding is a simple task that can be done by a friend or relative. To help answer that question, here are two short clips comparing the audio and video from an amateur to a professional's work. Take a look, and then you decide whether or not you would like to hire a professional videographer to capture one of the most important and significant days of your lives!

Ta-da!

2008-12-11T17:30:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to show off this beautiful postcard for The Wedding University, designed by Viola Sutanto of Chewing the Cud! The amazing photograph is from Geoff White. Be prepared to see this at bridal salons, jewelry stores, and other places around the Bay Area. Remember to RSVP early because space is indeed very limited (we're not just saying that to lure you in!)

Faculty Orientation Day!

2008-12-10T23:33:00.000-08:00

December 8th was the 2 month mark before our inaugural Wedding University and it was our first official Faculty Orientation! What a big day for us indeed! The orientation began bright and early at the Four Seasons Silicon Valley, where I started out by introducing the goals and visions behind WU. Kelly from the Four Seasons followed with a discussion of the marketing efforts, and Jean gave all the participants a rundown of the course schedule. We then broke into our individual presentation groups and had the opportunity to brainstorm on our topics. After 3 productive hours together the meeting concluded and we enjoyed a nice luncheon together at Quattro's.

We are all so excited about this event!!

There's me presenting the WU concept to the group

Jewel Savadelis and Ron Grandia getting their morning coffee!

Touring the spaces of the Four Seasons Silicon Valley

Here's the Design Team going through all of their brilliant concepts

Two of our music and entertainment professors--Cynthia Glinka and Carl Mindling

Jean Marks, John Woods, and Kevin Chin enjoying the lunch at Quattro

Welcome!

2008-12-06T00:19:00.000-08:00

Thank you for visiting our new blog, where we intend to post information about upcoming WU courses, inspirations for your wedding, and A LOT of valuable knowledge to educate you on planning a successful wedding! We encourage you to subscribe to or follow our blog, and we promise you won't be disappointed!