Kathryn and Alan | highlight feature | Casa Real

This gorgeous wedding was 17 years in the making! Kathryn and Alan might have viewed eachother as awkward friends in high school, but that didn't stop them from reconnecting in college and falling head-over-heels in love. After ten years of dating, Alan finally popped the question at a family Thanksgiving dinner, and a year later they were able to finally call each other husband and wife.

Nestled in the rolling hills above Livermore, California, the Casa Real at Ruby Hills Winery in Livermore was the perfect setting for Kat and Alan's whimsical wedding. Enchanting baubled trees and an aisle lined with white flowers framed their ceremony, while shimmering chandeliers added some serious glamour to their reception ballroom. Kat and Alan's day was truly magical.

We were so excited to capture their big day, and to be surrounded by a ton of vendors we already know and love. Jane Kim of The Glamourist was on hand to work her bridal magic, Henry from Big Fun DJ kept the party going for hours, Danny Dong was in the middle of the action with us, photographing the entire day for Kat and Alan.

Watch their video below to listen to their lighthearted, touching vows, see their most romantic moments, and feel the joy that made their day special.




Kathryn and Alan | Highlight feature | Casa Real from Matthieu Meynier-CINEMATT on Vimeo.

13 minutes

Today's post is very special to Cinematt. We received an emotionally beautiful thank you letter from one of our brides, Melanie, that highlights the essence of what we believe about the value of cinematography. We are sharing excerpts from her 2 1/2 page letter and the 13-minute film that we created of her wedding day.  One particular statement really stands out, as Melanie stated, "In thirteen minutes, you literally obliterated every negative emotion I've been carrying around guiltily for nearly seven months." 
Merci et bonne journée,

Matthieu,

….I planned nearly the entire day on my own over six short months, and stressed, and stressed, and stressed right up to the very day.  When the day did finally arrive, I couldn't let the anxiety go. Once the day had passed, I couldn't really remember much about it. My feelings about it ever since have been burdened by guilt over having failed at being able to take in the wonderful reality that was finally happening for me. I needed Larry to convince me that I was actually smiling when I walked down the aisle, because all I could remember was the photographer shouting out that I had forgotten my bouquet!

I hoped that when the photographs arrived, they would help me remember all the wonderful moments; remembering it like a fairy tale, and feeling absolutely no regrets. But the photos didn't work that way. They were still moments that somehow just didn't feel real. We instantly told ourselves to lower our expectations of the video. For over five months, that's what we did.

We decided to watch your film on Saturday night. Larry cooked dinner and we had a video date night. Just before hitting play, he looked me in the eyes and held my hands and told me that the video was not going to be great - it was going to be dark, we would hate the music, we would both look terrible, and my dad wouldn't even make an appearance. 

Matthieu, how can I come up with the words to tell you what the next 13 minutes changed for me? You single-handedly gave me back my wedding day. For the very first time, I could feel how beautiful it was. I instantly saw how happy I was, and all the love in my eyes when I looked at Larry. In thirteen minutes, you literally obliterated every negative emotion I've been carrying around guiltily for nearly seven months. 

Larry and I gripped hands throughout the entire 13:23, and I could feel his tears dropping on my hands. Tears were streaming down my face too. We've probably watched it 20 times since Saturday night. My mom told me that she found my dad crying while watching it for a second time, and he told her how beautiful my speech was .. something I'd longed to hear from him. You captured emotional expressions from my dad that I've seen my whole life, and have always worried I'd never have on film to remember him by….….Larry turned to me last night, out of nowhere, and said, "I stand so, so, so very corrected. I didn't think we needed a videographer, but you pushed for it, and now it seems so obvious to me. A thousand times over, it was so worth it. It was the most important thing we did."

Matthieu, I can't tell you enough what you gave to me. Not just a beautiful video, but you gave me back the day I'd waited all my life for, just to have it slip right out of my hands. On behalf of Larry and myself, thank you so, so much for this precious gift. This email doesn't begin to explain how thrilled and grateful we are. :)

Sincerely,

Melanie

Melanie and Larry | Short film Feature | Murrieta's Well, Livermore, Ca from Matthieu Meynier-CINEMATT on Vimeo.

Kathryn and Alan | Same Day Edit | Casa Real, California

One of my favorite things to do at a wedding is to create a beautiful Same Day Film. There is nothing better than to share those special moments with family and friends within hours of it happening. Watching the film is like going to a show and having access to the backstage. Family and friends are no longer just spectators, they are also actors within the film.   I was ecstatic when Kathryn and Alan asked me to create a Same Day Film to capture their special day and love for each other that has spanned over the past 16 years. This fun-loving couple wrote their own vows about friendship and love; a great beginning for a wonderful storyline. Thank you Kathryn and Alan for making us part of your wedding day.

Merci et bonne journée!

Venue: casa real
Photographer: Danny Dong
Make up artist: The Glamourist
DJ: Big Fun DJ
Cake artist: Sweet tooth confection
Florist: Asiel Design

Another wonderful letter

I love my work, LOVE it. It's so rewarding to be there when 2 people say I do. You witness the most important of moment in their life and their love for each other. It's a milestone that I feel privilege to witness, 20 to 30 times a year. Each one is unique. Each story is different and my goal as a cinematographer is to be able to bring the day back to them, as authentic and candidly as possible.
So when I received the following email from Elisa and Michael, I felt like a million box!

hi Matthieu!

You have no idea how much times we watched it over and over again last night (or maybe you do)!

We love it!  It was really like re-living one of the happiest moment of our lives!  Thank you for capturing and putting it into a very personal and touching story.  Elisa and I wanted to properly write you a thank you email, but we watch the video till mid-night, and I have to go back to the lab and finish my work.  We still need to properly write you about how we felt about the video.  But for now, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

Enjoy their story as much as I enjoyed seeing it unfloding.

Bonne journée.

Matthieu

Thank you to Jeremiah and Robb for doing such a great job on the day of, and a special thanks to Emma and Alfred Salom for referring me to Elisa and Michael. I love working with you guys, and hope we can do it again soon.

Photographer:

Alfred and Emma Salom 

Ceremony Location:

Bancroft Hotel

Caterer:

Hong Kong East Ocean Restaurant

Florist:

Virginia Ho, S&V Collections

DJ or Band:

ceremony: Frank Diaz, SF style string

reception: eone production

• 
  

Taylor and Joseph – Short film – Los meganos, Brentwood, CA

Where to start about Taylor and Joseph’s wedding? Well for starter it was a repeat, since I had shot Taylor’s brother’s wedding last year. Therefore, a lot of familiar faces for me in this wedding. It’s always nice to come and people recognize you and praise you on the last film you did for them. It’s also added pressure as you know the expectations are going to be high and there is no way you want to let them down.

But with a great setting at beautiful  Los Meganos Club in Brentwood, and a great team, very touching vows, and great speeches from friends and family, this wedding had all the elements you want to create a memorable wedding film. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I enjoy putting it together. Thank you for watching and happy holidays to all of you.

Matthieu


Reception Venue: Club Los Meganos
Wedding Coordinator: Dante Thomas
Photographer: Ashley Cain, Cain Photography
Caterer: Cafe Soleil
Florist: Diane O'Brien, Ribbons and Roses

• 
  

The Bridges golf course -Ashley and An-Yen - San Ramon

Well it took me a bit longer than expected because moving always take longer than expected, but I'm ready to share my first film of the year.

When Ashley and An-Yen contacted me to film their wedding I was really ecstatic, because they are:
 a) a really cool couple
b) their wedding coordinator was Patty Lee of 8events. If you don't know Patty, then check her website, she is awesome.
c) their location, the Bridges in San Ramon , was literally a mile from where I used to live
d) I was also working with a great photographer Thai  Mai, and a wonderful make up artist Giao Nguyen, who are super talented, and who have since then  become really good friends of mine.
e) James Burkart of Burkart studios was my side kick on the day of and it means that I did not have to worry about a thing
So everything was united to make their wedding really special.
I don't know what was my favorite moment of the day, but I think that An-Yen walking with his eyes close to Ashley when they saw each other the first time, was pretty powerful. Both of their vows were very poignant and the speeches throughout the evening depicted a great couple who couldn't be more in love.
Watch their Trailer and see for yourself. I hope you will enjoy it, and as usual don't hesitate to press the like button.
Thanks for stopping by and watching.

Matthieu

Heather's Farm - Walnut Creek - Sara and David

This past June I was lucky enough to take part in Sara and David's union. David is a pastor and found love a year and a half ago when he met the beautiful Sara.
In front of their friends, and their family, they professed their love for each other, and had an intimate reception following.
One of my favorite moment of the day was definitely when David and Sara saw each other for the first time. Sara was so cute, and so nervous at the same time as she walked toward David's who was just looking at her with gazing eyes and a cool demeanor, but shade a few tears as she turned the corner.
Another great moment was when their matron of honor actually addressed the crowed and asked for Pastor David's fellowship to welcome Sara as one of their own. That was a great moment and something i had never seen or heard before.
Congratulations to the beautiful couple and I will be following on your many adventures.
So without further do I would like to introduce to their beautiful wedding film.
I hope you will enjoy it and if you like it then just press the like button or leave a comment. Your inputs definitely help me to improve my craft.
Bonne journee et a bientot.

Matthieu

Kerri Ann & Kenneth, Santa Maria Orinda, California

Click to Play

This is a very exciting movie for me as it launches my new package: Highlights only. Many of you have been asking if it's possible to get a shorter version of your wedding as in a highlight only which would capture accurately the day. Well I listened and here it is. Please call for pricing information as well as for details on the content.

Now onto Kerri Ann and Kenneth; when I met them I instantly knew that they were going to be a lot of fun with a really laid back attitude. And despite a down pouring rain on the day of the wedding, everything went exactly according to plan with a great ceremony at Santa Maria, and a fabulous reception at Postino in Lafayette.

It was great to work with Caroline and Dan from Tinywater. Their work is simply amazing.

Thanks so much to James from Burkart Video and Chuck from Savadelis films for their help shooting this one.

Ok! Enough with the chit-chat. As usual feel free to comment on it.

Rowena and Ben. St. Joseph Basilica, Alameda, California

Click to Play

Rowena and Ben were married Saturday september 6, 2008 at Saint Joseph Basilica in Alameda. Everything was picture perfect after month and month of planning. The beautiful ceremony was followed by a great reception at Marriott Oakland. They too had a same day edit, but in their case I decided to go another route than Victoria and Ming (see below). I hope you will enjoy it, and as always your comment are more than welcome. Thank you to Van Hsieh from ocean blue videography for helping me to get some really amazing footage. And a special shut out to Kurty from Kurty Photography who not only referred me to Rowena and Ben, but also has been a mentor to me for several years. Thank you Kurty for all the good advice you have been given me.