Tag Archives: How To

Keep Calm and Marry On: Dos and Don’ts of The Wedding Video

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Avoiding Disaster: Dos and Don’ts of The Wedding Video

With the release of The Wedding Video across our cinema screens this weekend, professional wedding and events planner Ailish McDonnell, from Keep Calm and Marry On, advises on how to avoid a wedding day video disaster.

Ailish says: “Couples want to relive their wedding day exactly as it happened, preserving on film one of the most memorable occasions of their lives. The last thing you want on such a precious day is to dread watching the video back in case it doesn’t live up to expectations.

“In my experience, if a couple are debating whether or not to have their wedding filmed, if they can afford it, I would always advise on having a professional videographer film it. The day passes so quickly and with having all those special moments captured, it’s better to be able to see your ceremony, your first kiss and dance as a married couple, than regret not having recorded any of it.”

Award-winning Cheshire wedding videographers, Unforgettable Memories, know only too well the importance of capturing a wedding day on film.

Craig at Unforgettable Memories says: “A lot of wedding video suppliers have a bad reputation, but that’s because they haven’t moved with the times. They are still in the age of the large shoulder mounted camera which they point at people and expect them to “perform”, having a video doesn’t have to be like this nowadays.

“Don’t have a relative or member of the wedding party shoot your video, as they do in The Wedding Video, unless of course, they are a professional videographer. Remember these people are guests at your wedding and may well be busy with being a guest as opposed to capturing your big day.”

Wedding Planner Ailish from Keep Calm and Marry On and Craig from Unforgettable Memories suggest the following tips to bear in mind when choosing your wedding videographer:

Decide on what elements of the wedding you would like to capture: Bride getting ready; Groom getting ready; guests arriving; bridal party and bride arriving to the ceremony; the ceremony; drinks reception; bride and groom entrance to dinner; dinner and speeches; cutting the cake; first dance; party with guest dancing.

When choosing a professional videographer make sure you know what style you would like – standard static or fly-on-the-wall documentary.

Always meet and discuss your ideas with your videographer well in advance. You need to make sure your personalities don’t clash and that they are sensitive and respectful of your needs on the day.

You should also try to secure your videographer as far in advance as possible. The more popular your chosen professional, the greater chance you’ll be disappointed if you leave it too late to book him or her.

Be clear about what your ‘package’ includes and what, if any, add-ons are required to meet your final film requirements and that it matches your budget so you don’t have a hefty surprise bill.

There is a rising trend in couples having a pre-wedding shoot in the build-up to their big day. This may involve having a pre-wedding party filmed. Likewise, some also have a post-wedding shoot, such as a family gathering the day after the wedding and this might be something to consider.

Prices will vary depending on the type of equipment the videographer uses, whether they’re a part-time or full-time business, if they use broadcast quality, the number of people in their crew and so on.

Always ask to see previous examples, speak to past clients and if it seems too cheap and too good to be true – it probably is.

Remember, a golden rule is that ultimately you get what you pay for.

For advice on any aspect of planning your wedding or event please contact Ailish McDonnell on 07732531910 or email info@keepcalmmarryon.com. For more information visit www.keepcalmmarryon.com.

Alan Titchmarsh shares his top tips to growing a sunflower:

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B&Q celebrity ambassador Alan Titchmarsh shares his top tips to growing a sunflower:

“This is a fun way to get children inspired to garden and what better way than to start with everyone’s favourite flower, the sunflower:

1. Make sure you plant the sunflower in a spot where it’s sunny all day long, these plants love the sun

2. Ensure that the plant has enough space, roughly 30 inches apart from other plants.

3. Water the plant as soon as you’ve planted it and remember to water infrequently to encourage the roots to grow deep.

4. When it gets to roughly 30cm high, support the plant with a bamboo stick. Doing this will encourage the plant to grow as tall as it can with the support of the stick.

5. To protect the plant from animals, buy some netting to drape over the plant. That way the plant will produce lots of seeds which are a tasty snack for birds

To see how to grow your own sunflower just log onto www.youtube.com/bandq.

OCADO MEALTIME MASTERCLASSES: A UK FIRST COOKALONG

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Ollie Lloyd and Catherine Balavage

As Ocado continues to campaign for the nation to remix the recipes they regularly concoct, they offered lucky participants the chance to cook along live with the Great British Chefs Galton Blackiston, Simon Hulstone and Josh Eggleton via exclusive Google+ Hangouts. These consumers were able to interact directly with the chefs receiving cookery tips and five-star advice whilst ultimately experiencing the heat of a professional kitchen in the comfort of their own home. I was lucky enough to take part and had a lot of fun.

Those who chose to simply sit back and watch the chefs, could see the whole thing live on Ocado’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/ocado. Fun fact – streaming to YouTube from Google+ is a UK cookery first!

Now the live cook-a-longs with Britain’s greatest chefs (all of whom have been awarded Michelin Stars) are easily accessible to everyone via the Google Ad Network and YouTube.

The videos feature:

· Simon Hulstone’s curried chicken Kiev with squash sag aloo, filmed at The Elephant restaurant in Torquay

· Josh Eggleton’s Pimms Jelly, filmed at the The Pony & Trap near Bristol

· Galton Blackiston’s Scotch eggs with bois boudran dipping sauce, filmed at Morston Hall in Norfolk

How to Skateboard.

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Skate Tricks: (D-Street)

Whether you used to know your way around a skateboard in the hazy days of your youth, but time has eroded your skills – or you’re completely new to skating and want to ‘get on board’ with the hot new trend – then here are some top tips on how to perform a few simple tricks.

Joe Habgood, rider for stylish new skateboard brand D-Street, said: “An Acid Drop is a great trick to start with. It’s the simple act of riding off something and free falling to the ground, which is really easy to master and will give you that cool factor in an instant.”

Acid Drop:

Step 1: Position your feet over the bolts of the board and start skating at a speed you’re comfortable with.

Step 2: Roll up to a curb or ledge, keeping the momentum going.

Step 3: Roll over the edge and ride off smiling!

Joe said: “Once you’ve mastered that you can move on to more advanced tricks such as the Hippy Jump – a trick where the rider jumps over a bar, whilst the board goes under the bar or obstacle.”

Hippy Jump

Step 1: Find a small obstacle such as a bench or a bar.

Step 2: Place feet over the bolts and ride towards the object with enough speed to clear the obstacle.

Step 3: When you’re nearing the obstacle, bend your legs and crouch down a little, then jump over the obstacle. The board should continue along the ground.

Step 4: Land on the board on the other side of the obstacle with your feet on the bolts and bend your legs a little to absorb the impact.


The 360

Step 1: In a stationary position turn your shoulders in the opposite direction the way you want to spin as if winding up a spinning top.

Step 2: Now spin your shoulders (and arms, for balance) back into the direction you actually want to spin and lift the front wheels off the ground.

Step 3: Your board and legs will follow the twist of your body and you’ll pivot around on the back wheels.

Step 4: Spin as many times around as you see fit before putting your front wheels back down. 360, 540, 720 degrees – spin until dizzy.

Beercan slalom.

Step 1: Gather fellow skateboard enthusiasts.

Step 2: Distribute cans of beer, lager or cider. Hell, even those ready-mixed Pimms or G+Ts.

Step 3: Empty cans in a suitable fashion.

Step 4: Position cans equally spaced in a line. About 5 feet apart should do it.

Step 5: Ride skateboard towards cans and weave through the gaps without knocking any over.

Urban Dictionary of Skate Lingo

“fakie” means riding backwards.
“kickturn” is the act of turning corners by lifting the front wheels off the ground.
“frontside” means facing to the outside of the turn.
“backside” means facing to the centre point of a turn.
“Carve” to skate in a long, curving arc.
“Goofy-Foot” is a skater who more comfortably rides with the right foot leading.
“Switch Stance” is riding the board with the opposite footing than usual.
“Air” means riding with all four wheels in the air.
“Set” means a set of stairs.
“Kinked” means a rail with bumps in it.
“Session” is a time that you go out and skate.
“Bail” – the act of falling off your board intentionally

“Slam” is to fall off your board unintentionally

75% of Brits don’t check car’s engine oil

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· Three-quarters of UK motorists don’t know how to check their car’s oil – a vital element in basic vehicle maintenance

· Half of drivers don’t even know why oil is used; majority unaware of damage caused by lack of lubrication

· Improved fuel economy and reduced engine wear proven from using quality synthetic motor oil

· Save Fuel With Mobil 1 offer sees Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 five-litre packs offered at selected Esso service stations with £10 discount

A staggering three out of four Brits don’t know how to check the oil in their car, according to new research from Mobil 1. More worryingly still, almost half of the drivers questioned were oblivious as to why oil is even used in their vehicle’s engines.

The research also found 94% of motorists were unaware that using the correct oil can significantly prolong the life of their engine, as well as potentially improve fuel economy. All of which means that at a time when British car owners are feeling the pinch like never before, they could be driving blindly towards expensive engine problems in the future.

Mobil 1 commissioned the survey in order to gain insight into motorists’ habits, specifically in the areas of engine maintenance and servicing. The study discovered that although as a nation Britons are typically on the lookout for ways to save money, they are significantly less savvy when it comes to understanding how to cut their motoring costs.

“It’s clear from this research that drivers are largely unaware of the benefits of using synthetic motor oil – and in some cases people don’t even have a basic understanding of the fundamental role played by engine lubrication,” said Dan McGoldrick, Field Marketing Advisor UK, Nordic and Benelux for ExxonMobil Lubricants & Specialities, makers of Mobil 1. “Using the right oil for your engine can potentially improve fuel economy, reduce engine wear and save lots of expense in the long run. Our aim is to help make drivers aware that checking oil is essential for keeping cars running smoothly and efficiently.”

Expertly developed to help prolong engine life and optimise efficiency, Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 is designed to help provide exceptional cleaning power, wear protection and overall performance. The oil has the potential to improve fuel economy and save you money.

Mobil 1 is currently helping consumers to stay on top of engine maintenance by offering a Save Fuel With Mobil 1 £10-off price when purchasing five-litre packs of Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 in selected Esso service stations. By taking advantage of this offer, drivers can save at the point of purchase, and further down the line thanks to potential enhanced fuel economy. The offer price means packs can be purchased for £44.99 (down from £54.99). Further details on how to Save Fuel With Mobil 1 can be found on www.mobil1.co.uk where Mobil’s online product selector, ‘Which oil’, makes it easy for consumers to identify the correct engine oil to optimise their vehicle performance by simply inserting the registration number of their car.