Turning Wedding Videography Land into Barbie Land

Image: Ella & Oliver - Norfolk Wedding Videography (Southwood Hall, Norfolk)

Inspired by the recent smash hit ‘Barbie’ Movie by Greta Gerwig starring Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling and the powerful & positive metaphors of the world of Barbie in general, led me to see lots of parallels that mirror the idea of weddings, wedding videography and romance of all of you Barbie & Kens out there in Norfolk & Suffolk in the ‘Real World’.

So let’s see how adding a small, yet elegant touch of ‘Barbie’ into ‘wedding videography land’ can elevate your love story with magical visuals and storytelling….

"Every night is girls' night." — Barbie

5 Star *****

SOUTHWOOD HALL Wedding Videography Review

“ Ben is amazing! From first meeting him at our best friend’s wedding, to discussing ideas and then seamlessly capturing our own wedding day, I could not recommend Ben enough. He makes you feel at ease and comfortable for the entire duration and caught moments we will cherish forever. The videos produced are incredible and make me cry every time I watch them. Thank you so much, Ben! “- Ella & Oliver

From Barbie Land to the Real World of Wedding Videography Land

Let’s start at the beginning, in fact, Barbie’s history goes all the way back to 1959. It was introduced in March 1959, by Mattel, a southern California toy company. Ruth Handler, who cofounded Mattel with her husband, Elliot, spearheaded the doll's introduction. Ruth Handler named the doll after her daughter Barbara.

In Ruth’s memoir, "Dream Doll: The Ruth Handler Story," she wrote: "I named the doll Barbie after my daughter Barbara. I wanted to create a doll that would allow girls to dream of their futures as adult women.’

Now, this reminded me of how mums are so important and play a vital part in our wedding day. Mothers see their baby girls (Barbies) and boys (Kens) grow up from small children to teenagers, to adults and the evolution from daughter to wife and daughter to mother, It’s a really special day and pivotal moment in one’s life. It is also that fairytale dream, maybe being a young child playing with dolls or dreaming of getting married one day.

"We mothers stand still so our daughters can look back to see how far they have come." — Ruth

Barbie is a very popular collectable. Aficionados are interested in both old Barbies and the special edition Barbies that Mattel creates to cater to this market. Although Barbie’s sales since the year 2000 have not risen as steeply as they did in the 1990s, they still amount to more than a billion dollars annually. Every second, Mattel calculates, two Barbies are sold somewhere in the world.

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"I don't have anything big planned. Just a giant blowout party with all the Barbies, planned choreography, and a bespoke song. You should stop by." — Barbie

In response to consumer demand in 1961, Mattel brought out Barbie’s ultimate “accessory”—her boyfriend, Ken. (The Handlers’ children were named Barbara and Ken.) In 1963 Mattel added Barbie’s best friend, Midge, and in 1964 Barbie’s little sister, Skipper. Other siblings later appeared, but it was not until 1980 that the Barbie doll itself was released in an African American incarnation. That year also saw the debut of a Latina Barbie.

Mattel registered Barbie as a work of art, but the doll has also inspired works of art, including a 1986 Andy Warhol portrait and photographs by William Wegman and David Levinthal. Novelists, including A.M. Homes and Barbara Kingsolver, have used the doll in fiction.

In 2023 Barbie made it to the big screen in a film directed by three-time Academy Award nominee Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie in the title role and Ryan Gosling as Ken. I must say Greta Gerwig did really get it right, for lots of reasons, and I suppose this is what inspired me to add a small, yet elegant touch of ‘Barbie’ into the ‘wedding land’ of Wedding Videography.

HOW THE BARBIE DIRECTOR WAS INFLUENCED BY Old Hollywood

Gerwig revisited the films of Old Hollywood to capture the look of those stories. Rather than using a green screen to ensure that there were only bright blue skies in idyllic Barbie Land, Gerwig’s team hand-painted the backdrops to look like old soundstage musicals. In an early scene, Ken tries to interact with a set backdrop with disastrous results.

Barbie Land comes to life in the details. the Barbie Director obsessed over it all, and the props that populate the fantastical space imbue it with a surprisingly lived-in quality, like a Barbie version of the book Moby Dick on a side table. All the letters in Barbie’s mailbox have been scribbled upon in nonsense language, as a child might write. Barbie devotees know that Pantone 219 is Barbie’s very specific shade of pink. A giant Pantone 219 chip sits outside the Barbie conference room at Mattel. But the set used so much pink paint—in that specific colour as well as secondary and tertiary shades—that it precipitated a worldwide shortage.

THE BARBIE EFFECT ON WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHY: Elevating Your Love Story with Magical Visuals and Storytelling

A small and tasteful addition of some wedding videography-inspired colour grading and aesthetics offers couples a chance to elevate their love stories with magical visuals and enchanting storytelling. Imagine your special day captured through the lens of a fairy tale, where every moment is transformed into a whimsical journey reminiscent of Barbie's timeless allure.

With a Barbie-inspired wedding video, you can bring your romantic narrative to life in ways that transcend traditional videography. From dreamy settings to elegant details, each frame is carefully crafted to evoke the essence of a modern-day fairy tale.

Fairy tale wedding videography goes beyond mere documentation; it weaves together moments of love, joy, and connection into a cinematic masterpiece that will be cherished for years to come. Through expert storytelling and magical visuals, your love story can unfold like never before – capturing the essence of your relationship in a way that feels truly extraordinary.

Whether you're exchanging vows in a grand ballroom or dancing under the stars, incorporating elements inspired by Barbie's enchanting world can add an extra layer of charm and wonder to your special day. Let your love story shine brightly through the lens of magical storytelling and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Whatever type of Barbie or Ken you are… adding some Barbie effect and a small injection of Hollywood filmmaking can add some really fairy tale and movie like qualities to your wedding videography!

"I want to be a part of the people that make meaning, not the thing that is made." — Barbie

"I am Kenough." — Ken

Working with your Wedding Videographer TO CREATE A HOLLYWOOD-STYLE WEDDING VIDEO

When it comes to capturing your special day, working closely with your wedding videographer is key to getting the most out of your video package. Communication is key during filming, so here are some tips on collaborating effectively with your videographer;

1. **Discuss Your Vision:** Share your vision and expectations for the video early on. This will help align both parties on the style and mood you want to capture.

2. **Plan Ahead:** Schedule a Wedding Videography Q&A on ZOOM with your videographer before the big day to go over details like shot lists, important moments, and any specific requests.

3. **Be Open to Suggestions:** Your wedding videographer is a professional with creative insights. Be open to their suggestions and ideas for capturing moments that you may not have considered.

4. **Clear Communication:** During filming, communicate openly with your videographer about any last-minute changes or preferences to ensure everything runs smoothly.

By fostering a collaborative relationship and effective communication with your wedding videographer, you can create a beautiful video that truly reflects the magic of your special day.

RELIVE EVERY MOMENT WITH SOME HOLLYWOOD-INSPIRED WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHY

Reliving every magical moment of your special day is priceless. Investing in a professional wedding videographer captures the essence of your wedding day, ensuring that you can cherish and share those memories for years to come.

The beauty of your venue and the emotions of your big day are expertly captured through the lens of skilled wedding videographers. Their expertise in wedding videography transforms moments into timeless memories that you can revisit whenever you want.

Choosing a professional wedding videographer ensures that no detail is missed, allowing you to truly immerse yourself in the joy and love of your special day every time you watch your wedding video.

CAN I HELP WITH YOUR NORFOLK OR SUFFOLK Wedding Videography?

If we were in your shoes - planning a wedding you will no doubt have lots of questions about wedding videography such as; ‘how much does a wedding videographer cost?’, ‘Can we get drone footage?’, ‘what’s included in our wedding films?’, ‘how easy is the process of booking a wedding videographer?.’ As a professional Wedding Videographer - my role is to make sure all your questions are answered. Feel free to get in touch to see if I am available to film your Norfolk or Suffolk Wedding.