LJ AND JIM: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

It was very serendipitous. I was in Exposed Down Under in Australia and got a call from LJ verifying for real that she was getting our services for her wedding.  I was ecstatic.

Laguna? Makiling? or perhaps Los Banos?

Nope. Laguna Beach, California.

Ooooh K.

Seriously, the weather was perfect last Thursday.  Very much in tune with the California vibe, everybody was just chillin’.  We all know how Jim is a clutch player but he totally lost in during his vows.  Pastor Rob (a former player himself before responding to his call to be play a more active role in the church) was a bit more anxious than usual.  It was his first wedding to officiate alone.  And it was a sweet first time because the couple was very dear to him.

I love celebrity weddings where there’s no paparazzi.  This was one of ‘em.  Save for the small ABS crew during the preps, it was a very private affair.  The way Jim wanted it.   The only other artista around was Rufa Mae.  But we got introduced so I have the liberty of calling her Peachy now. ;-).

The wedding was co-shot by Oly Ruiz, a cousin of the Moreno’s. 
Thanks to Mon Villacorta for the excellent second shooting and big props to Edelweiss and Noel who helped along in the shoot. You guys rock!

Enjoy the Same Day Edit!

I’s been a crazy busy trip so far with no room to breathe.   I’m quite fortunate to have worked with the bestest couples, the most awesome second shooters and assistants.   Things are slowing down at least this week. Allow me to share a still from last Thursday’s wedding.

She was just positively radiant!  Please stay tuned as I will be posting her highlights video real soon.

The next day, I checked in at this fabulous hotel in Long Beach where my equally fabulous bride, Charlene, did her preps.

Hotel Maya was something else.

Also watch out for her SDE to be posted soon.

Just several hours later, we were shooting a Save the Date video for Diana and Jose in Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas.  My groom saw elephants on the formations,I saw litlle cute bunnies and twinkies. No, I wasn’t high

They heighed me off to the airport right after and so now I find myself in Disney World in Orlando.  Excuse me while I go find and harass Goofy.

It’s been quite a while since me Les and Mark have been emailing about the wedding and the trip.  It was actually quite surreal to have finally met everyone at the rehearsal dinner.  One thing proved true, Filipino warmth and hospitality remain in the heart wherever the Filipino may be =).

Lesley and Mark: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

We managed to edit an SDE despite the hectic wedding day sked.  The response was FANTASTIC!  and I’d gladly do one again in a heartbeat (despite the logistical difficulties).

Major thanks to Fiel Pranga and Tyler Faires who helped big time with the shoot.

(An SDE in HD)

Twice in Waikiki in four weeks?  Crazy right?  Well we were never known for our sanity.

You then realize how Hawaii is a favorite destination wedding location - the perfect weather, the laid back vibe and the kind and gentle people.

…

Friday morning.  It was chaos entering the bridal suite.  A good kind of chaotic - the happy, excited anxious, let’s rock this joint kind!

The groom preps were no less frenetic.  With the cute bearers almost upstaging the groomsmen (as you will see in the video).

We shot in the same church as before - St. Agustine, but this time around, we had the dinner-party at the breathtaking Lanikuhonua.

…

Thanks for having us guys!

Grace and Laurent from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

We had the wonderful opportunity again to work with Randy Panado (colourcraftmedia) and Joel Campos (StudioRed). And of course, It was lovely to shoot alongside Hawaii’s finest photog - Frank Amodo.

Florence and Marc got married in Saint Augustine Church in Waikiki, Hawaii and had their reception at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.  They couldn’t have picked a more picture perfect location.

Chill.  The best way to describe life in the big island, the vibe on the wedding day, the disposition of the people (and Flo’s blue Loubatin’s).

What made the day extra special was having the oppurtunity to shoot with the finest video talents of the Island.  Much thanks and props to Kolby of Aria Studios and Randy Panado ( a brother from another mother- check out his spankin’ new blog!) who lent us his exceptional “flying skills” (not to be missed of course is Mervin of MG Digital  Video - my cross-state buddy).

The big applause after the SDE’s screening is very much shared with the crew who made it possible.  Even though the sked was tight, we were glad to hang out with other Fil-Am videogs in Hawaii including StudioRed.

We were much loved.  Mahalo!

Flo and Marc from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

Stepping on hallowed ground on a historic date makes you stop and think.

But Jeff said, let’s bring something postive out of it. And thus their wedding date was set on 9/11. Nine years after the fact.

Rain was incessant but spirits weren’t dampened.

It was a crazy day for me and Mervin who shot the wedding with me (thanks MG!). We had to work extra hard as there were no assistants to help us during the shoot. And therefore we are in gratitude to the folks over at MyPinoywedding who did the photography (helped us with our stuff too and had me taste the best Chinese take out in the WORLD!)

Jeff and Kristine! Thanks for having us!

Here’s their same day edit -

Kristine and Jeff from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

King Gimp: The Morning of the Wedding from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

The Day started very early for us last April 1.

Me, Dino and Ryan wanted to get an early establishing shot of the Senator theater sans wedding party and guests.

We returned shortly after to the hotel. We could not have come back at a better time!

This was just the right moment when Dena was setting up her morning surprise for her groom Dan “King Gimp” Keplinger.

Any later or sooner and we would have missed her in the lobby. This was meant to be documented.

Like I said, we were virtually the groomsmen during the preps as we trailed Dan and TJ to look for cigars for the wedding. What a day!

related links:
Dino’s Entries
The Night Before

This was a perfect end to a perfect vacation.

At the tail end of our US trip, we were lucky enough to be asked to shoot Janna and James’ wedding.  After bouncing emails with James and their friend Jan (who hooked us up, not to be confused with Janna the bride) for more than 6 months. It was great to have finally met them.  And James gave me a great big American welcome - he took me to Hooters for lunch.

The schedule was crazy - makeup starting at 5AM in preparation for the 10AM wedding ceremony at the local Iglesia ni Cristo chapel.  Reception followed out at the Embassy Suites in San Rafael.

Major props to Dino, Florian and Sir Carlos Mariveles who helped with the shoot.

Congratulations guys!

Janna and James from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.