Blush & Raven A Bridal Boutique for the Modern Romantic Bride

If you are a bride and in need of a wedding gown we highly recommend that you make an appointment with Blush & Raven. They are an intimate and locally owned bridal boutique located in the Beltline of Calgary, Alberta. Blush & Raven specializes in styling the modern romantic bride in stunning, one of a kind wedding dresses from Canadian and international designers.

We had a chance to talk with the ladies of Blush & Raven to find out more about what makes their bridal store unique and where the name Blush & Raven came from. Owner Liane Knox, had the vision for Blush & Raven after her own bridal gown shopping experience left her feeling like there was a missed mark in terms of an intimate space to feel relaxed. She also wanted to inspire a space where every body could come in and feel comfortable and at ease. Having a team of knowledgeable stylists was important to her and she wanted brides to be able to shop couture gowns at a moderate price point.

Meet Liane, Sara, Madeleine and Maddie and hear what they have to say about Blush & Raven and put a name to a face when you book your appointment. They know dress shopping can be overwhelming and they work hard to reduce the overwhelm for each of their brides!

Watch the video to learn more and get excited for your unique dress shopping experience!

Hair + makeup for the B & R team by Trena Liane Makeup Artist

Video by Castaño Films

Blush and Raven Boutique Photos by Kristyn Harder Photography (above)

Photos with model by Justine Milton Photography

Fireplace Mantel and Bouquet Florals: Flowers by Janie

Planning + Styling: Moments by Madeleine

Hair: Blush and Coco

Make up: ML Artistry

Accessories: Joanna Bisley Designs

Rentals (Candleholders): Modern Rentals Weddings

Model: Anastasia from Mode Models International

7 Reasons Why you Should Hire a Professional Wedding Videographer

The one thing I regret the most from my own wedding was not hiring a videographer. This was before I became a wedding filmmaker myself and realized the importance of having someone document our wedding day in video. My father-in-law tried to do some filming on a newly purchased camcorder but it was an epic fail with mostly shots of our guest’s shoes. My wife and I don’t remember our vows, or my father’s words as he married us. We don’t remember my brothers playing guitar and singing a song they wrote us during the ceremony and we don’t remember our guests speeches. My grandfather has since passed away and I wish more than anything that I had a recording of his voice and interaction with family at our wedding.

So why should you invest in a heirloom wedding film created by a professional wedding videographer?

I’ll give you my 7 reasons below:

1. Non Photographable Moments.

   Many moments of your wedding day can’t be captured in photographs like the recording of the words said during your first look or vows, the music played during your first dance, toasts and speeches given by family and friends.

2. Missed Moments.

   The wedding day passes by so quickly and in a flash it's over. There may have been things you missed seeing like your grandma and grandpa dancing together or your partner getting ready in another location. Wouldn’t it be extra special to see what each of you were doing separately the morning of your wedding?

3. Relive the Memories.

   Wedding films can be rewatched during anniversaries, on special occasions or anytime when you want to remember the love you and your partner exchanged that day and the people who were there supporting you.

   If you choose to elope, your wedding film will be treasured by family and friends who missed being part of the wedding day but can relive the day with you through video.

4. Remembering Loved Ones.

   How many times will all of your loved ones be in the same room at the same time? This is a celebration when your most important people are there in one room supporting you. Why not have a professional videographer who can document this experience for you, capturing the true experience in a visual and audible way? It is also a very special way to remember loved ones who may no longer be with you (like my grandfather).

5. It’s Easy to Share

   Most professional wedding videographers have online links so that you can easily share your video files through their private gallery or through Vimeo or YouTube. If a friend or family member was unable to attend, this is a great option to let them experience the day with a quality film.

6. Quality Product.

   A professional wedding videographer will have the correct gear and experience to film your wedding day unobtrusively, while creating a quality film and editing with skill and technique. Professional wedding videographers know what equipment is best for capturing certain details and they have special devices for recording beautiful audio. They also subscribe to licensed music software. If you are going to be sharing your wedding videos online you can’t use copyrighted songs, which many non-professionals do.

7. A Cherished Keepsake

   A professional wedding video will turn into a family heirloom that can be passed on through the generations and be enjoyed by your children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren etc.

Hiring a wedding videographer may be an expense you hadn’t budgeted for but I can guarantee you that you will not regret having these memories preserved in film. - Oscar

Photo Credit: Twenty Twenty Photography

If you are still in need of a professional wedding videographer for your Calgary, Canmore, Banff or destination wedding or elopement, I’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch!

River Cafe Downtown Calgary Wedding

Matt and Nat were married on a gorgeous September day at River Cafe on Prince’s Island Park in Calgary, Alberta. Considering that their original venue flooded a week prior to their wedding date, these two were in the very best spirits and simply over the moon happy to be marrying each other! We couldn’t have asked for a kinder, more laid back couple to spend the day with!

The day started off with a first look on the roof top of Hotel Le Germain in the heart of downtown Calgary. You’ll want to watch the full video as Matt cries as soon as he turns around and sees Nat! It’s a really emotional first look and so special that we were able to capture it for them.

The wedding party photos took place at Prince’s Island Park and then the couple slipped away for a private lunch just the two of them at UNA Pizza + Wine. They chose this restaurant because it is where they had their first date- so romantic right?!

The ceremony took place on the outdoor patio at River Cafe with the reception following in their dining room. Matt’s dad announced the newlyweds arrival at the reception in full traditional Scottish dress and a bag pipe serenade which was definitely unforgettable.

Another highlight was the poem written and read by one of the groomsmen; one of the most hilarious poems/speeches we’ve ever heard at a wedding reception.

Watch the full video below and then scroll down to read about the creative editing process that we used to edit this film.

Here is the creative process behind the video for those wanting to know why I (Oscar) filmed and edited the wedding video the way I did.

I used the words ‘Romantic, fun, and casual’ that Matt + Nat had mentioned in the pre-wedding questionnaire that I sent them. These are the words they wanted to describe the ambiance and feel of their wedding day.

Since the wedding ceremony didn’t have personal vows, I had to approach the subject from ‘outside’ rather than from the subject's point of view. Thus, the groomsman’s poem in the reception worked perfectly to tell the story in a fun and casual way. I saw this approach visually like a circle with the couple (the subject) in the middle. The idea of the circle was reinforced later when Matt’s dad mentioned the Celtic circle in his speech and how “it has no beginning, it has no end, it just keeps going around and around… family is everything”.

This can also explain the structure of the video with music that goes from a more upbeat vibe to a slow and romantic song, and then back to the upbeat music. It also places the couple in the centre with the moment at UNA exactly in the middle of the video (where everything started). I took the liberty of finishing the part with the romantic and serious vibe with a groomsman’s joke since Matt + Nat mentioned that they like not taking each other too seriously. The groomsman’s poem was the main thread keeping all the parts together and ‘closing the circle’. I also used the windmill to consolidate the concept as it was the only circled object moving around and around that I could capture on the wedding day. The windmill is present in the beginning, middle and closer to end of the video. The video also has a 80’s vibe since Matt really likes ‘indie and 80’s’ music and because a Mad Max parade took place just outside of the venue before the reception (it was the Beakerhead Festival Weekend).

For the colour grading, I used a LUT with moody teals and tonal greens that enhanced not only the floral arch but the mood inside the venue.

I hope this explanation give you a little more insight into the creative process that goes into producing a wedding film!

A special thanks to all of the amazing Calgary wedding vendors that Mark + I had the pleasure of working with!

Florals: Flowers by Janie

Photography: Mint Photo

Bridal Gown: Pearl + Dot

Planning: Paper Doll

Officiant: Vows by Judy

Hair + Makeup: Something Borrowed Beauty

Bridal Jewelry: Joanna Bisley Designs

DJ: Local DJ

Photo Booth: Silly Booth

If you are still looking for a wedding videographer for your Calgary, Canmore, Banff or destination wedding. Please get in touch!

Destination Wedding in La Paz, Bolivia

As a Calgary wedding videographer, you can often find me filming destination weddings in Canmore, Kananaskis or Banff, Alberta. I even have a wedding in Jasper National Park planned for July 2020; but last fall I had a destination wedding that took me all the way down to the southern hemisphere.

Last September took me back to my roots for the ultimate destination wedding, to film my younger brother’s wedding in La Paz, Bolivia where I (Oscar) lived until I was 25 years old.

This was a highly emotional time for me, not only was my brother getting married but I hadn't seen him in person or been back to my home country, Bolivia, for 8 years!

Time really has a way of getting away from you. I didn’t plan to be away for so long but with starting life in a new country (Canada) learning the language, studying in college and starting my Videography company, I put off going back. Maybe I was afraid of seeing all the change or of wanting to move back because I missed family and friends so much.

I’m glad I was able to be together with my parents, brothers and new sister-in-law to celebrate their marriage!

Below is my brother Andres and his wife Greace’s feature wedding film captured by me and my wife.

You’ll see glimpses of the city I grew up in and where they still live. I can’t believe my brother is grown up now and is a married man. When I left Bolivia, he was 22 years old; a couple of days ago he turned 30. What a privilege it was to capture his wedding day and reconnect with him, get to know my sister-in -law and see extended family and friends.

This video will forever document their wedding day but will also be a cherished memory and heirloom of our family being reunited after being apart for far too long.

Wedding Inspiration at The Nash YYC

I want to start off this blog by saying that if you have never had the rotisserie chicken at The Nash YYC, you are missing out! I had never filmed at The Nash before and I enjoyed working with the creative team on this spring styled shoot. Christy and Alexis from Beyond the Proposal were amazing to work with and, with them in charge, the day ran smoothly even with very limited time. It was also a pleasure to work alongside Calgary wedding photographer Tara Whittaker and I’m really looking forward to our real wedding together this July in Banff!

This spring styled shoot had a heavy floral focus as much of my videos do. It’s a perk of being married to a florist (Flowers by Janie) and getting to film her creations. The venue was unique and I loved the natural light as well as the feature wall with the original town map of Calgary!

Enjoy the video below as well as some of my favorite images photographed by Tara.

Scroll to the end for a complete list of all the Calgary wedding vendors who participated in this styled shoot.

Planning + Design Beyond the Proposal | Photography Tara Whittaker Photography | Florals Flowers by Janie | Rentals Modern Luxe Rentals | Videography Castaño Films | Hair + Make up Glamaway Beauty | Cake Pretty Sweet | Venue The Nash YYC | Dress Blush & Raven | Accessories Joanna Bisley Design | Stationary Bexley Design Co. | Model Victoria Lang from Mode Models

Tunnel Mountain Engagement Film Session

Jordan + Jesse will be getting married in an outdoor ceremony at Tunnel Mountain in Banff, Alberta this coming June 2019! Instead of opting for engagement photos the couple chose to have an engagement film created for them. We met them in Banff at Tunnel Mountain where we kicked off the session in the exact spot where they will say their vows in June. The weather was perfect for an April evening with only a slight breeze. The mountains were perfectly majestic and we had some great sunset light! We also spent time filming at Cascade Ponds and then in an open field on the way to Lake Minnewanka! We can’t wait to film their Banff wedding ceremony with a Calgary reception following at The Pioneer!

June is going to be good!

If you are looking for a Calgary videographer to capture your surprise proposal, engagement or wedding please get in touch! We’d love to hear your story!

Isle of Skye- Scotland

Where does a wedding videographer go on vacation? The answer, Scotland (or anywhere with amazing views and culture).

After a busy wedding season with pretty much every weekend between June to September booked up to film weddings and loads of editing work after that, by October or November it’s time for a much needed holiday. My wife and I decided that our big trip for the fall of 2017 would be Northern England and Scotland. We enjoyed two weeks taking in the views of the countryside and cities by bus and train spending time in York, Staithes, Whitby, Edinburgh, Inverness, Portree, Glasgow and London. In Inverness we decided to be brave and rent a car to drive to the Isle of Skye (I really missed the wide Canadian roads and having a shoulder on the side of the highway). We spent 5 days driving around and exploring the Isle of Skye with a rad cottage Airbnb in Portree as our home base.

I tried not to spend too much time filming so I could be more present and take in the breathtaking landscape (and let’s be honest…enjoy the scotch). This is just a little bit of the beauty I was able to capture in video of the hike we did to the Fairy Pools near Glenbrittle. If you get a chance to visit Scotland, go here!

I would go back to Scotland in a heart beat so if any Canadian couples are looking to elope and want a wedding videographer to tag along with them, pick me!

Rain on your wedding day is a good thing

Rain on your wedding day can be better than a bright, sunny, cloudless day! Don't believe me...keep reading to find out why!

Cloudy skies highlight the natural colours of you and your surrounding and make the colours appear more vibrant rather than washed out. Having a sky full of clouds (with or without rain) also creates softer shadows which are easier to photograph and film under rather than harsh, direct light from the sun.

Rain also gives the day a fresh feel and a calming vibe. The aroma of nature can be enjoyed more and the senses of your guests will be heightened. Rain drops also look great on camera and the cooler weather unconsciously makes the couple snuggle closer together for warmth, creating more natural, romantic and intimate moments for photographers and videographers to capture.

Also, umbrellas, can we take a minute to stay how romantic it is to see a couple together under the same umbrella! 

Dan and Cassandra were married at Silvertip Resort this past July and they had a mix of sun, then a heavy downpour and some light rain in between. A couple of my favorite shots from their teaser video included rain; the light rain drops on the turquoise pond and the rain falling on them when they are walking together with their umbrella. Take a look and see for yourself, rain is a good thing on your wedding day!

If you are looking for a wedding videographer to capture your wedding on film in Calgary, Canmore, Banff or beyond get in touch!

YYC Bridal Shower

This past May, real bride Erin, was the winner of the #YYCBRIDALSHOWER, a contest open to real brides where they entered to win their entire bridal shower planned and designed by some of Calgary's finest wedding professionals. Castaño Films was there during the bridal shower, at Rodney's Oyster House, to capture Erin and her guests enjoying the celebration. Scroll to the end to see all the Calgary wedding vendors involved with the YYC Bridal Shower that took place on May 26, 2018.

Real bride Erin, pictured above with her maid of honour and sister, will be getting married at The Lake House on September 17, 2018. Photo + film by Castaño Films

Thank you to the following Calgary wedding vendors who made this bridal shower for Erin possible. To see more photos from the bridal shower view them on the blog by Confetti Magazine.

Event Videographer Castaño Films | Event Photographer Minted Photography | Design & Styling Jacqueline Rae Weddings Events Interiors | Sweet treats Sweet Art by Nicole | Stationary Lovesky Design | Decor Rental Modern Luxe | Venue + Catering Rodney's Oyster House | Flowers Fall for Florals | Hair and Makeup Something Borrowed Beauty | Spa Treatment Natasha Rae Skin and Nutrition | Hair Cut Rhea Hair and Beauty | Jewelry Joanna Bisley Design | Lashes Brown Sugar Artistry | Canvas Calligraphy Debbie Wong Design

If you are looking for a wedding videographer for your Calgary, Canmore, Banff or destination wedding contact us here.