On the day of May 20, 2023, Datrysiad Media had the pleasure of filming the beautiful wedding of Ella Oats and Kailan Phillips. As the chosen video production company entrusted with capturing their special day, we were committed to ensuring a seamless and magical filming experience, from the bride's preparations to the beautiful first dance.

To ensure we get the best coverage of every significant moment, Datrysiad Media always goes the extra mile. With planning and thorough preparations, we visited the Bear Hotel in Cowbridge on two separate occasions. This allowed us to familiarise ourselves with the location, explore available camera angles for the ceremony and speeches. By doing so, we aimed to deliver a well-documented and visually stunning film that would forever encapsulate the essence of Ella and Kailan's wedding day.

BRIDAL PREP

The day began with the bridal preparations at 7:30 AM. Datrysiad Media was there, capturing the intimate moments shared between Ella, her bridesmaids, and loved ones. Every candid smile, every heartfelt exchange was captured. Throughout the prep we worked with other third party suppliers to make the day possible, these have been fantastic and they are listed below.

While the groom prepared at a separate location, we made a conscious decision not to film his preparations during the morning hours since we didn’t want to risk traffic moving between places and missing any important shots. Instead, we planned to capture those moments later in the day to ensure we had ample time for the crucial events leading up to the ceremony. Our priority was to deliver a seamless and immersive experience for both the couple and their guests.

CEREMONY

As the clock struck 1:30 PM, marking the commencement of the ceremony in the elegant Georgian Ballroom, Datrysiad Media had been preparing since noon. We set up multiple cameras strategically positioned to capture every precious exchange of vows and the profound emotions shared by Ella and Kailan. Ensuring optimal lighting and audio quality, we meticulously arranged our equipment, guaranteeing that no moment would be missed.

Now we would be amiss if we didn’t explain why we use multiple cameras for one it allows use to get all the best angles of the couple to make sure we have fantastic images for the edit. The second reason is redundancy. We like to make sure that in the event of technical failures that we have backups that we can rely upon. Whilst technical failures are rare, they do occur and, in this instance, one did happen. The handheld camera had an SD card corruption losing some footage. However, because we know these things can happen it’s the main reason why we use many cameras during the ceremony and speeches.

When working with a wedding film maker the key importance is redundancy, this is something Datrysiad Media places priority on most.

**Singer - Sarah Brown -** **sarah@sarahbrownentertainment.com**

After the ceremony came the reception, its at this stage where we will capture video of the bride and groom interacting with guests, capturing perfect family moments. In addition they also had a singer, whom was fantastic.

SPEECHES

The speeches, scheduled to start at 5:30 PM, held great significance in Ella and Kailan's wedding reception. Understanding the importance of this heartfelt moment, Datrysiad Media began preparations at 4:30 PM. Datrysiad Media placed additional cameras, ensuring comprehensive coverage from various angles.

By focusing on seamless integration of audio and visual elements, we aimed to bring forth the genuine emotions expressed during the speeches, allowing the couple and their loved ones to relive those cherished words for years to come.

Originally, we were told that there was no PA system. However, 2 minutes before the speeches where due to be conducted the guests were told that they did in fact have a PA system that the speakers could use this. Normally we have a bit more time to prep for this to make sure the location of the PA speaker system does not interfere with the recording equipment on the groom, father of bride etc. In this instance the speakers look like they were embedded into the ceiling, and this did cause some reverb which had to be edited out. This took some time to do and did compromise on the final audio quality.

We do have it stated in our contracts that we are at the mercy of the venue and there are factors that can compromise audio quality, however like to make sure we mitigate this risk as much as possible. In this instance there was little time to correct it, so we had to do it in post. We hate using the term, fix it in post, however there are times when this is unavoidable.

CAKE CUTTING & FIRST DANCE

One of the highlights of the evening was the highly anticipated cake cutting ceremony, which took place around 7:45 PM. Datrysiad Media was there, capturing the joyous moment as Ella and Kailan embarked on their first shared responsibility as a married couple.

And finally, at 8:00 PM, the atmosphere shimmered with anticipation as Ella and Kailan took to the dance floor for their first dance as a married couple. Datrysiad Media carefully documented their graceful movements, their smiles, and the undeniable love between them. Our goal was to encapsulate the essence of this beautiful moment, allowing Ella and Kailan to relive it again and again.

CONGRATULATIONS ELLA & KAILAN PHILLIPS

At Datrysiad Media, we take great pride in our ability to seamlessly capture the magic of a couple's special day. With planning, execution, and a passion for storytelling, we strive to preserve the genuine emotions that fill the air during weddings. Ella and Kailan's wedding was no exception, and we are grateful to have played a role in crafting a timeless memory that will be treasured for years to come.

Special thank you to Ella and Kailan, was a pleasure for us to take part in your special day. Was a truly beautiful day.