The "Perfect Wedding" may not exist

What is your relationship based on? Is it fun and games, or maybe more sentimental? What if the couple is more fun and laid back? Then they won't fit into the traditional wedding theme, right? Weddings are many times elegant, serious, and classy.

Sometimes while editing our wedding films, we come across some really unusual couples that OBVIOUSLY are far from traditional. So what if their idea of a beautiful wedding is the equivalent of a 13 year old boy's bar mitzvah party- complete with funny glasses, games, funny dancing, etc. This just represents their personalities; more power to them!

A wedding is a day you can proclaim your love and share your love with your families. Why try to mask that love with the old stereotypical ways if that's not who you are?

Sometimes brides focus on the perfection of the wedding day. They have to remember, their wedding day will never be perfect. In my opinion, they should focus more on bringing their personalities to the table than the idea of perfection. A wedding day is just another day in life, and life isn't perfect! Have fun and enjoy, rain or shine!

Untitled from Jon Gangwer on Vimeo.

Traditional Jewish Wedding

Below are two traditional Jewish wedding films that we filmed and edited. There are so many different traditions in a Jewish wedding that really make for an exciting film. For example, there's the:


Ketubah- A document the bride, groom, and their families sign which display the responsibilities of the groom to the bride. It is traditionally read out under the chupah (canopy the couple gets married under), but many times it is signed privately in a room away from the wedding madness. Many times, the document is decorated with a neat illustration that mean something to the bride or groom. For more traditional couples, however, it remains plain and in Hebrew.


Next there is something called the Bedeken, which happens after the Ketubah. The groom and his parents, as well as the rabbi approach the bride and veil her face. Many times during this ceremony, there is joyous singing. Music is taken very seriously in orthodox Jewish weddings. The musicians are not just there for a paid gig, they play spiritually and sway to the rhythm, really becoming part of the couple's emotions.


The chupah is a canopy held up by 4 poles. In traditional Jewish faith, it represents a roof where directly above is clear skies, depicting a soaring future for the couple. The entire ceremony takes place under this chupah, including exchanging of the rings and the breaking of the glass, which can represent many symbols. One of the symbols is that the couple's old world is broken and now they're entering a new world, where they are married and have new responsibilities.



And the best part of the Jewish wedding (in my opinion), the hora! This is a family dance where everyone holds hands and spin clockwise. This depicts the two families coming together and celebrating the marriage. It is custom to play musical instruments and drink during a Jewish reception.

Rebecca's Wedding video from Jon Gangwer on Vimeo.

Alison's Wedding Film from Jon Gangwer on Vimeo.