A videography project in Malta

Although we specialize in wedding filming, we do have sometimes the opportunity to make travel films as well. This is how me and my colleague ended up creating a short film about Malta, a small and sunny nation in the Mediterranean that is rich in picturesque views and historic sites. Besides our travel clip, we also had the chance to film a save the date video for a Maltese couple we befriended, just click on the link to read the story. For the technical part, we used 4K equipment that was travel appropriate: DSLR cameras, steadycam, monopied and drones. The journey to the destination was also exciting, as we had a layover in Barcelona, where we took some nice shots as well. Fortunately, we met in Malta the founders of PR Holidays, two young entrepreneurs who offer both accommodation services and mini-tours of the surroundings. With their help we managed to get to know the less touristic areas and enjoy a local’s experience.

The main island and Valletta

Valletta was designated the European Capital of Culture in 2018, and a stroll along its winding alleys most definitely supports the choice. The city is a bridge between East and West, and is charming through its contrasts. Malta has a high living standard, with splendid buildings that reflect British, Sicilian, Turkish and Arab rule. This cultural mix is exactly what makes the country unique: it is a European destination with oriental influences that can be seen in the vibrant colors and exotic flavors. On the main island, besides Valletta, an important attraction is Mdina, the old capital of the region which looks unchanged for centuries. Because history and traditions are important to the nation, every day at noon there is saluting cannon fire from Valletta’s citadel. Outside the city, we enjoyed immensely filming around Blue Grotto, a series of water caves that can be visited by boat, and Dingi Cliffs, a huge seafront with stunning views.

The wild coast of Gozo

Gozo, the second biggest island in the country, is famous for the Azure Window, a rock formation in the shape of an arch that connects sea and land. In 2017 the structure collapsed, and since then it has transformed into an exceptional diving site with a large marine diversity. In the film, we highlighted the impressive coastline that charmed us with its crystal lagoons and wild cliffs. We also admired Ggantija- a complex of temples 5500 years old, which are claimed to be the second oldest man-made structure worldwide. However, local legends say that the temples were built by mythical creatures similar to giants. West from them lies Victoria, initially called Rabat, the fortified city on top of a hill which features the same oriental architecture like Valletta. And by the way, the name “Gozo” means joy, a word that accurately describes how we felt during our stay.

Destination wedding in Malta

Malta is a picturesque and affordable destination not only for tourists, but also for couples that wish to hold their big event in a special place. Among the things that make it so attractive for this purpose are beautiful Mediterranean wedding venues as well as a number of agencies that specialize on organizing destination weddings. Furthermore, though Malta can be crossed in under 45 minutes by car, it features 313 chapels and churches that officiate ceremonies. Last but not least, one of the reasons we want to share through our own experience are the stunning sunsets, like the one we witnessed at Għajn Tuffieħa. Personally, we made very exciting memories from Malta and can’t wait to go back?

Filming the save the date video in Malta

In our job as videographers, we have many opportunities to travel and to meet as well as collaborate with awesome people and a good example was this save the date video in Malta. Actually, it was one of our most fun projects during our stay in Malta. Such clips are more and more popular, and for good reason: it is an interactive and special way of announcing the big event. In addition, it is a lively memory which you can come back to for years to come and which you can share with your loved ones. Jennifer and Pierre are a couple that loves to travel, and so they don’t miss any occasion to get to know new places and people. Nevertheless, their favourite country remains Malta, the place their birthplace and where they currently live. And since we came to film clips in this magical place, their idea to shoot a save the date video together was a natural and welcome extension to our interests and activities.

Our impressions about the island nation of Malta

Malta, European but exotic, with its historical ports and oriental charm, amazed us from the first moment. But from the airport towards our accommodation we didn’t have the time to enjoy the scenery, as driving the English way on the left side of the street turned out to be quite an adventure. The accommodation, offered to us by some Hungarians we met earlier was an excellent option as we basically staid at people we already knew and became friends with. Together we visited the main attractions of the country and, implicitly, the capital. Valletta, despite being the smallest capital in Europe, it has the biggest concentration of historical moments per hectare, according to UNESCO, so it’s a perfect sport for a save the date video in Malta. Therefore, our single problem was choosing which ones to film ? So this is a short summary of our week before Jennifer and Pierre contacted us.

Filming the save the date video

Some of the filmed sequences were on water, on a picturesque ferryboat ride towards Valletta, from Sliema. There, we filmed on the promenade with views to the St Julian’s Bay, a place that blends the charm of a fishing port with classical hotels, traditional restaurants and an esplanade with palm trees. In fact, these towns, along with remarkable churches and serene beaches turn Malta into an attractive spot for destination weddings. Among the particularities that make it so appealing to future brides and grooms are: financially accessible but beautiful venues with amazing scenery, fresh Mediterranean menus and the greatest number of yearly sunny days in Europe. With regard to Jennifer and Pierre’s wedding, from June 2018, the chosen location is Vila Bighi. Initially an administrative building in neo-classical XIX century style, it now hosts events, featuring panoramic views of the Grand Harbor and splendid terraces. As an interesting closing fact, Malta is in the top of the world’s happiest countries, and we have to admit that during our stay there we totally saw why.

Exotic looking and inspiring autumn wedding

The autumn wedding of Geanina and Norbert will always stay with us as an example of how to savour each moment spent with your loved ones. Even though Norbi works as an engineer at a Rolls Royce unit in England, and Geani studies medicine in her final year, the distance was not an obstacle for the couple, but quite the opposite: a reason to cherish the time spent together. And so, on our way to the to film a few creative frames with the couple, Norbi told us how his apartment from England was empty on the weekends, and how he accumulated a lot of flying hours back home each Friday ☺. The special relationship between the two was also evident while we were filming scenes during the after shooting. The couple was relaxed and acted naturally in front of the camera, while we shot the video frames at the so-called Dragon’s Garden, in the middle of awe-inspiring autumn scenery.

The wedding day was all about emotions and happiness.

The wedding day unfolded entirely in Satu Mare, a multicultural city in the Northwest corner of Transylvania. The chosen location for the autumn wedding reception was Majestic Restaurant. During the whole day, the bridesmaids played a special role, helping her with the preparations as well as delivering a little speech when the groom appeared. And what about their plans for the future? The next year will be further spent as a long-distance relationship until Geanina graduates from college. Luckily, there are more and more flights connecting Transylvania with Western Europe! And, because we already know that distance does not frighten the couple, their honeymoon will be spent in exotic Mauritius, an adventure planned for the winter holidays.

A casual yet energetic wedding in Transylvania

Another wedding in Transylvania, in the town of Satu Mare, that is very dear to us is the one of Ramona and Raul. Besides the fun party to the music of XXL Band, the wedding was also a history tour of the surroundings. This also was very fit for the couple’s personality, as they are both travel enthusiasts and love to explore new places. Therefore, the filming contains moments from both the Karolyi castle and the roman-catholic Calvaria church. The passion for travelling was also evident in the decorations of the party held at Esedra restaurant’s, Monte Carlo room. For example, we enjoyed a lot the photo collage placed on top of the candy bar, as well as the caricatures of the bride and groom holding direction signs on the wedding cake.

In addition, Ramona and Raul have moved to Denmark, and so the guests were from both Transylvania and basically all other corners of Europe. Although the number of guests was not big, the party was very exciting. There was a lot of dancing to the music of the excellent cover band XXL, and everybody enjoyed themselves, so almost endless opportunities to capture amazing shots for the wedding video. It was a wedding day on a late September Sunday, and the preparations were done simply, with the help of friends, at Hotel Poesis. The religious ceremony was held at Calvaria, 5 minutes walking distance from the hotel. The church, recently renovated, is considered an emblem of the Neolithic style; currently, the church also serves a German parish.

Filming & photo shooting at the Karolyi castle

After the ceremony, we planned together with our photographer friend Tiberiu Görbe, wedding photographer at Love Clip, during which we could also do a little videography work.

The castle is located in Carei, a city 35 km away. The castle, built in a baroque style and recently refurbished, is one of the most visited places in the county, surrounded by secrets and legends. One legend claims that Prince Rakoczi rode off on his horse during wartime through a mysterious, impressive 5 km tunnel. Another legend tells how the castle’s cellars host huge treasures confiscated and stored by the Nazis. So it’s a lovely sport for doing creative shots for a wedding in Transylvania. During the photo shoot, we only chose to wander through the garden that is home to diverse species of plants and trees, as well as explore the interior exhibiting furniture from the XVIII century.

Two artists opting for a wedding in the woods

Zsófi and Laca decided to make a wedding in the woods that was nothing short of show performance. And the selected locations, from the Medieval Cistercian church of Bélapátfalva to the De La Motte Castle and finally Oxigén Hotel in Noszvaj, were a perfect choice. As can be seen in the wedding video, it was a bit challenging but also extremely rewarding to do our videography work in these beautiful locations. It is actually natural for their wedding to be rather eccentric, given that the bride and groom are both artists. Zsófi actually started her singing career at an early age and ever since music is her life and passion while Laca is, too, a musician, playing the guitar. At the moment, the couple is living in Austria, where they further pursue their passion for music. The two of them also surprised the guests by singing and playing songs themselves during the wedding. They held mini-concerts oftentimes during the party, including at their wedding dance.

Arriving at the wedding ceremony on horseback

Another artistic aspect was the groom’s outfit: because he has been passionate about horseriding since his childhood, Laca adopted apparel that reflected this hobby. In addition, while Zsófi was lead to the altar by her father, Laca arrived at the church riding a beautiful horse. Here he saw Zsófi for the first time in her wedding dress, so the couple’s first look actually happened in front of the altar, in one of Hungary’s oldest medieval churches. In fact, this was their desire, to prepare individually and then to meet at the ceremony. This whole scenario offers also excellent options and angles for us to film at this lovely wedding in the woods.

The church is actually, one of the most well-known touristic attractions of the area, was home to the Cistercian order beginning from the XIII century. Inside the building also lies the oldest organ from Hungary, a reason to host many yearly concerts. As can be seen in the wedding film, the civil ceremony itself took place on the ancient ruins that date from those centuries.

Filming creative shots our wedding in the woods

After the ceremony, the wedding continued with a reception at the De La Motte castle, a beautiful property situated in Noszvaj. The castle, built in the XVIII century, exhibits a collection of wonderful paintings. Here we filmed many of the sequences of the highlights video, while photographer Lisa Prins held a short photo-shooting. Lisa, originally from New Jersey, met Zsófi and Laca because of their common involvement in the non-profit sector, more specifically charity. Besides, many of the guests were friends that are active in this field. The wedding was quite small, with around 80 guests. The party was held at Oxigen Hotel, the same place where the bride and groom prepared for the ceremony. In addition, many guests were accommodated there overnight. Before the dance started, there were several speeches, most notably from the godfather of the bride. The music was a combination of typical wedding songs and the genre preferred by the couple.

The nice story behind the custom made wedding rings

An interesting detail is the story of the wedding rings, or for that mater, the custom made rings for this wedding in the woods by the groom himself. And even more interesting is the place where he created them: at the dental lab that belongs to one of his friends. For two days, one month before the wedding, he melted his grandmother’s wedding ring and some of his mother’s jewellery into two identical wedding bands. At the party, he joked with his friends that a dental lab can be more useful than a jeweller. And here our story about their event ends with this thought: that a wedding can be eccentric, but still simple and authentic.

Baptist wedding with an amazing couple

Thanks to the very own nature of our activity as wedding videographers, we have the opportunity to meet a lot of amazing people, and Daniela with Sabin was no different at this lovely Baptist wedding. The filming of the wedding, or more specifically the after-shooting, was held in one of our favourite places: the Karolyi Castle from Carei. We also got along perfectly with the couple as both of them are calm, nice and their love is still pretty much innocent and honest till this day. This was especially visible during the after shooting video session when they were focusing just on each other and there was no schedule or other moments to pressure us in any way, so we had the opportunity to film some nice shots with the bride and groom perfectly relaxed. This shooting was actually held on a different day than that of the Baptist wedding, as there was some distance between the castle and the venue on the wedding day. The castle was recently renovated and is a very appreciated place in the county. The rich history as well as the legends create a special mysterious aura, attracting many visitors. And it is a great place for romantic shots!

The reception of this Baptist wedding was held at the Crystal Restaurant in Satu Mare. We liked a lot how the two made the wedding arrangements, as everything was prepared with attention to detail.

Daniela, originally from Moldova, and Sabin, from Satu Mare, have been living for many years now in Belgium. He is working and she is a student. Therefore, there were quite some guests from abroad. During the wedding, we worked along with Rad Ligia and her husband who were the photographers charged with creating memories in the form of still images. Their work is wonderful and they are both extremely nice, so we definitely recommend checking out their work.

Special wedding ideas for the reception

After the preparations, the Baptist wedding started with the religious ceremony held at a local Christian Baptist Church. The reception, at Crystal restaurant, was elegant without being fancy. An interesting detail that we highlighted in the video is the (photo) frame with the wooden set of hearts. On these hearts, the guests could write personalised messages from the wedding, which were then thrown on the frame. We found the idea highly original and a beautiful wedding memory as well as a nice opportunity for the guests to express their creativity. In addition, there were many activities, including creative games for both children and adults. The songs were live contemporary christian music songs played by the the tallented Andrei and Camelia Ciurdas.

Team player as a wedding videographer in Cluj

DaVinci Cluj, the elegant restaurant featuring panoramic views as well as a splendid garden, is the perfect place for people who love nature, such as Alexandra and Alexandru and also a perfect spot for a wedding videographer in Cluj to shoot fabulous memories. The wedding’s event planner, Geta Ungurean, together with her team, intuited this perfectly when organizing their event at this venue, which gives you the feeling of intimacy and quietness, yet it’s so close to the heart of the city. What we noticed and enjoyed was the extreme attention to detail as well as the personal touch that Geta subtly incorporated, which we tried to capture in our wedding film as well. However, both for us and for our friends, Stefan and Andra, from Stefan Fekete Photography, the biggest advantage of the external organization was the joy and peace of the couple, which translated into a very natural and relaxed event.

Our bride and groom are passionate about nature, they are the typical travelling couple if there is such a definition anyway. So the shooting on the wedding day took place in the botanical garden of Cluj, where the two also met for the first time as we orchestrated a nice first-look scenery for the bride and groom. Between the shooting and the religious ceremony, the civil ceremony was held, officiated in the central park by the City Mayor himself. The party, at DaVinci Restaurant, which presents amazing opportunities for any wedding videographer in Cluj, was exuberant and full of dancing, thanks to Arpy & Zip Band who created the perfect party atmosphere, so we were able to blend in perfectly with the guest and film some amazing party sequences.

Hobbies and passions reflected in the wedding details

Alexandra and Alexandru have a variety of passions: they love travelling, sports (especially hiking and skiing) as well as nature. And, since we are interested in the very same things, we enjoyed looking at the spinning Earth globe next to the candy bar and the little framed tree that encouraged us to try all the delicious cakes. Nevertheless, our favourite part was the wedding favours, in the form of a little Sequoia tree. The couple fell in love with this plant during one trip to San Francisco, and so they got the idea of this wedding memory that lasts… 3500 years and must be planted in a pot. Thus, the wedding favours were not only highly original but also environmentally friendly. Personally, we can’t wait to see what they will come home with from their next adventure, Machu Picchu!

Outdoor wedding in the vicinity of Budapest

In June 2017 we had the opportunity to film a very special vintage wedding near Budapest, held outdoor in a small town close to the capital. Both the story of the wedding couple and the story of the location are remarkable. We met the Béki family, the owners of this lovely place, two years ago, when the elder sister was planning her wedding. She saw some of our videos and decided to choose us as wedding videographers. We were very happy to hear about it, as it was our first event in Hungary. Meanwhile, we stayed in touch, and soon afterwards her younger sister, Martina, proposed us to be videographers at her wedding as well. Martina is a racing pilot, practising it in her free time, having won several regional contests. She also has a line of trophies and diplomas exhibited on the wall. Thus, speed and cars are an important part of her life. So it was only natural that she and her husband Roland arrived for their religious ceremony in a vintage, convertible Mustang.

The venue behind the vintage wedding in Budapest

The lavender is a very beloved plant, with a romantic touch that transports us to the lila fields of Southern France. It is also very often used at weddings, most frequently for decorations and the bride’s bouquet, but also for wedding favours, for example in the form of small bottles filled with lavender flowers. Therefore, this plant is highly popular, and the Béki family decided to start a business in this field. This was happening at the same time when the elder sister was looking for a wedding venue. Having already the necessary space, the family decided to build Levendulás: the perfect restaurant for a rustic outdoor wedding. As a funny fact, in 2015, two weeks before the first wedding, we visited the family and saw that the restaurant was still under construction. Nevertheless, they finished it on time and the event ran smoothly. So this will become one of the best venues for a vintage wedding around Budapest.

The venue is ideal for people who love nature. It is approximately 30 km away from Budapest, on the outskirts of the town Inárcs and next to a forest. It features an outdoor ceremony area and a vintage reception hall, with separate bar and kitchen. The restaurant is decorated primarily with wood, creating a cosy and home-like atmosphere. And the beauty of the building is complemented by the beauty of the lavender plantation, which blooms in May, July and the second half of August.

The wedding ceremonies

Martina prepared at home, while Roland’s preparations were in a small wooden house near the restaurant. This house is available to the couples for preparations as well as the night after the party. The religious ceremony was held at a Roman Catholic church nearby, and the civil ceremony in the specially designed place. This was decorated with tens of candles, torches and led lights so that the ceremony took place after sunset and culminated with fireworks, a surprise from Martina’s parents. Before the ceremony, the guests could take pictures with the bride and groom, socialize over a cocktail or taste different lavender syrups. The photographs were taken by my colleauge and friend from Transylvania, Tar Attila. As for the party, it was full of dancing, animated by the good music and the lavender perfume.

Accessories of the travel themed wedding

As videographers, we enjoy filming not only weddings but also beautiful cities and countries, so a travel themed wedding is a nice combination of these two. We simply love to travel, and so weddings that have a travel theme are always close to our hearts. Thus, we were very glad when Luminita and Madalin proposed to us to be videographers at their wedding in Satu Mare, at Crystal Restaurant. The event was organized by wedding planner Ioana Mihet and included plenty of elements about travel. The guests were not seated at regular tables but instead “visited” islands such as Seychelles or the Island of Cuba. In addition, the decorations included a stylish miniature travel suitcase on the candy bar and an Earth globe. But our favorite accessory was a wristwatch whose hand ended in the form of a small airplane. All the details were perfectly in line with the couple’s personality, as Madalin runs a specialized travel website with tips & tricks about plane tickets and other travel tips, which can be accessed at promotrips.ro.

Wedding planner for a carefree event

As mentioned above, the travel themed wedding was organized by I, a wedding planner from Cluj-Napoca. Ioana’s service was a gift from the godfathers after they have been thrilled with her services and planning skills at their own wedding. From the preparations at City Hotel to the religious ceremony at the Orthodox Cathedral and the first look in the small wooden house of the hotel’s courtyard, everything ran smoothly and without haste. After the religious ceremony we held a shooting at the Cathedral before we headed to the restaurant. The party was very animated, also because of the cover band Aldo Blaga & Tzika Sax and the renowned DJ Dacian Codreanu. Overall, we felt that the presence of a wedding planner was a very welcomed addition at this travel themed wedding. We were especially happy because there was sufficient allocated time for each part, which also helps us with planning and the bride and groom were perfectly relaxed and confident that everything will be fine. Moreover, Luminita and Madalin could enjoy their big day without worrying about every detail or small aspects of organising things. And Ioana is not only a meticulous professional but also a very communicative person with great attention to detail, who, in her words, tries to move past cliches and create a very customized and unique wedding.

A casual yet energetic wedding in Transylvania

Another wedding in Transylvania, in the town of Satu Mare, that is very dear to us is the one of Ramona and Raul. Besides the fun party to the music of XXL Band, the wedding was also a history tour of the surroundings. This also was very fit for the couple’s personality, as they are both travel enthusiasts and love to explore new places. Therefore, the filming contains moments from both the Karolyi castle and the roman-catholic Calvaria church. The passion for travelling was also evident in the decorations of the party held at Esedra restaurant’s, Monte Carlo room. For example, we enjoyed a lot the photo collage placed on top of the candy bar, as well as the caricatures of the bride and groom holding direction signs on the wedding cake.

Save the date video in Valletta – behind the scenes

We initially went to Malta to film different projects, but ended up also doing a save the date video for Jennifer and Pierre, a couple we met during out stay and befriended. Jennifer works in the education field, while Pierre is in the gaming/betting industry. The two of them are Maltese and live and work just outside the capital. We got along from the beginning and, since they are about to get married in 2018, had the spontaneous idea of doing a save the date video. Discovering the same passion for travelling, we decided to incorporate this theme in our video. Therefore, they brought some accessories to help set the proper stage.

For the first part of the video shooting, we met with Jennifer and Pierre in St. Julians Bay, a place popular with both tourists and locals. There, in the sunny afternoon, we filmed the first sequences. Afterwards we hurried to catch the ferryboat that connects Sliema from Valletta. When we arrived in the capital, the sun was starting to set, making for a very picturesque filming on the winding city alleys. For the last shooting sequences we went in the Upper Barakka Garden park, a great setting which features white, tall archades and offers panoramic views of the Grand Harbour. A nice coincidence was that from this park, we could see the Villa Binghi restaurant, the location of the future wedding. Regarding the save the date video, it will soon be uploaded on our webpage, so stay tuned!