An Original 1970s Super8 Movie ~ A Reader Shares His Parents Wedding Film…

I love to feature wedding films in the run up to lunch time, so that my readers can enjoy them whilst taking a break.  And I'm a huge fan of super8 movies – a format of film production that our sponsor Mark W. Brown specialises in and talks about here.

Today's lunch time film came in from film maker Will Cummock, the creative behind Cine Reportage. Will took an original Super8 recording of his parents wedding day, back in 1976, had it transferred to digital video and then, using his editing skills, created this delightful movie below – and the results are enchanting!  I adore the insight we are treated to 1970's bridal fashion {the 1970s was the first decade that truly started to look to the past when it came to bridal design – though it was all about the 'retro' back in those days, not 'vintage'). 

Watching this movie makes me consider the timeless nature of wedding day celebrations and what the legacy of our weddings is – what, and how we hand down memories to our loved ones.  And frankly, with the popularity for vintage on the continual rise, I am certain that that wedding dress and veil would look as fabulous on a bride today as it did thirty years ago on Sarah, Will's mum.

Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Film Editing Copyright (c) 2012 Cine Reportage

Will's Father shares his 1976 wedding day story…

"It was a hot summer's day in July 1976.  Sarah's family home was in the village of Colgate, West Sussex and the wedding took place in Colgate Parish Church.

We met in India, where we had spent several years, and had many friends.  One of them Pankaj Shah,  took the wedding photos without charge, (he later became a successful commercial photographer) and Blair's brother Melville shot the film…"

"Sarah's dress was made by her sister Mary from silk which was a gift from friends in India.   Blair,
from Scotland, wore the Graham of Menteith tartan which is associated
with his family name. His best man, Ian, also came from Scotland.
  Our nieces Juliet and Sandra, aged about three, were the bridesmaids and their dresses were hand smocked by a local dress maker."

Happy couple

Off on honeymoon

"Mr
Wadey, the gardener at Sarah's family home led a group of
handbell-ringers outside the church. The bells had been in his family
for over 150 years.
  The
reception was held at Elenge Plat, Sarah's family home. We had no
marquee, so the guests were able to mingle freely in the garden after a
buffet lunch, on a lovely warm day.

After the reception, we drove off on in Sarah's father's Morris Minor on their way to honeymoon in Scotland."


With Bride's parents (Pamela & Ian)

Isn't that delightful?  This film truly has inspired me and I'd like to thank Will over at Cine Reportage for so kindly sending it in.

We did have our wedding day recorded on film – although I have never seen it, would you believe?!  We finally got a set of unedited tapes back from a family member last year and we just haven't had time to sit and savour the footage yet.  After viewing this film however,  I'm going to make time to watch the film this week with my husband. And I'm going to invest in having them professionally edited, as a keepsake and legacy of our own beautiful day for our children, grand-children and beyond.

I'd love to hear back from readers – are you planning on having your wedding day filmed?  How important to you is it that your wedding day is documented in photographs and maybe film too, to preserve memories for the future? Do you have parents who tied the knot in the 1970's?

Much love,

Annabel

Heart

Annabel

Annabel View all Annabel's articles

Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.

Close
Top