The Art of Wedding Filmmaking
Cinematic artistry. Authentic moments. An unobtrusive presence.
The Beauty of Being Present
A wedding deserves to be experienced, not produced for the camera.
I create cinematic wedding films through observation, anticipation, and an artist's eye, capturing extraordinary celebrations as they naturally unfold. My approach is intentionally discreet, allowing couples and their guests to remain immersed in the experience while I preserve the beauty, emotion, and atmosphere of the day.
Personally commissioned wedding films by Charles Maring. New York, Savannah, and destinations worldwide.
A New York Love Story at The Plaza Hotel
There are places that seem to carry their own sense of history, romance, and possibility. The Plaza Hotel in New York City is one of them.
For this wedding film, I wanted the city to become part of the story. Its architecture, movement, and unmistakable atmosphere provided a cinematic backdrop to an intimate human celebration. Working in black and white allowed me to explore the relationship between light, shadow, texture, and emotion, creating a visual interpretation that feels both timeless and distinctly New York.
The film moves between the grandeur of the setting and the quieter moments that give a wedding its meaning. A glance, a gesture, an expression that might otherwise pass unnoticed. These are the moments I look for, regardless of how elaborate the celebration may be.
Filmed by Charles Maring, this cinematic black-and-white wedding feature transforms an elegant celebration at The Plaza Hotel in New York City into a timeless visual story. Blending the grandeur of Manhattan's architecture with intimate expressions, spontaneous moments, and genuine emotion, the film explores the beauty of light, shadow, and human connection. Through thoughtful cinematography and an artist's perspective, the city itself becomes part of the narrative, creating a distinctive interpretation of an extraordinary wedding.
Every wedding offers its own visual possibilities. My role is to recognize them and shape them into a film that belongs to that particular couple, in that particular place, at that moment in their lives.
Selected cinematic frames from a wedding film at The Plaza Hotel, New York City.
A Wedding Among Art and Architecture | Cornell University
Every wedding has its own rhythm, its own atmosphere, and its own visual story. For Elsa and Jeremy, the remarkable architecture and natural beauty of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, provided an extraordinary setting for a celebration filled with warmth, color, and genuine emotion.
Their ceremony took place on the terrace of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, where the surrounding architecture and expansive views created a beautiful sense of place. The celebration continued at The Statler, bringing together family, friends, and the spontaneous moments that make every wedding uniquely personal.
Personally filmed by Charles Maring, Elsa and Jeremy's cinematic wedding feature captures the beauty, warmth, and genuine emotion of their celebration at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. From their ceremony on the terrace of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art to their reception at The Statler, the film weaves together remarkable architecture, natural beauty, and authentic human moments through an unobtrusive, artist-driven approach to storytelling.
I filmed this wedding personally, allowing the day to unfold naturally while anticipating the moments, expressions, and changing light that would become the foundation of the film. My approach was to remain attentive without becoming the center of attention, finding cinematic compositions within the celebration rather than arranging the celebration around the camera.
For me, wedding filmmaking is about more than beautiful imagery. It's about recognizing the relationships, emotions, and fleeting interactions that give those images meaning. Every creative decision serves the story of the people who lived it.
A Wedding at Sea | Star Jones & Ricardo Lugo
Some celebrations are so full of joy and anticipation that the story begins to be shared before the festivities have even ended.
For Star Jones and Ricardo Lugo's wedding at sea, I created a short cinematic teaser that Star could share while their wedding cruise was still underway. The film offered an immediate glimpse into the romance, theatrical elegance, and emotion of their ceremony.
Created for Star Jones to share while her wedding cruise was still underway, this one-minute cinematic teaser captures the romance, elegance, and genuine emotion of her wedding to Ricardo Lugo. Personally filmed by Charles Maring, it offers an intimate glimpse into an extraordinary celebration at sea, preserving the excitement of the moment through discreet observation and cinematic storytelling.
Working personally and discreetly, I captured the moments as they naturally unfolded, then shaped them into a brief visual story designed to convey the feeling of the occasion.
This film represents another dimension of my approach to wedding storytelling. Sometimes the goal is a richly layered documentary. Other times, a carefully crafted minute of cinema can preserve the spirit of an extraordinary moment.
A Love Story on Newport Harbor | Rhode Island Wedding Film
Harbor became more than a beautiful backdrop. It was part of the experience itself, with its historic sailing vessels, changing light, open water, and unmistakable New England character.
Their wedding ceremony aboard a schooner offered an intimate setting surrounded by the natural movement of the harbor. The celebration continued at The Bohlin, where the waterfront atmosphere brought another dimension to their story.
Personally filmed by Charles Maring, Kayt and Angela's cinematic wedding film captures the romance and natural beauty of Newport Harbor, Rhode Island. From their intimate ceremony aboard a schooner to their waterfront celebration at The Bohlin, the film blends authentic moments, changing coastal light, and distinctive black-and-white and infrared cinematography. An artistic interpretation of a wedding at sea, captured with an unobtrusive presence that allows the experience to unfold naturally.
I filmed their wedding personally, working quietly among the guests and responding to moments as they happened. The movement of the boat, the changing perspectives, and the spontaneity of the celebration called for an intuitive approach to cinematography. Rather than imposing a predetermined visual style, I allowed the setting and the people to guide my creative decisions.
The film incorporates black-and-white and infrared imagery, interpreting familiar scenes through light, contrast, and texture. These artistic choices were made to complement the character of this particular wedding, creating a cinematic memory that feels both personal and connected to its extraordinary surroundings.
Personally Commissioned Wedding Films
Every wedding has its own character, and every couple has a different story to tell. I believe the filmmaking experience should be just as individual.
Some celebrations call for a short, expressive cinematic film that captures the atmosphere and emotion of the occasion. Others deserve a more expansive documentary, preserving the voices, relationships, traditions, and fleeting moments that become increasingly meaningful with time.
My approach begins with understanding what matters most to you. I consider the setting, the rhythm of the celebration, the people involved, and how the story might best be preserved. From there, I thoughtfully shape the filmmaking approach around the experience rather than asking the experience to accommodate a production.
I personally bring my perspective as a photographer, filmmaker, musician, and visual artist to each commission. These disciplines influence how I recognize light, anticipate emotion, compose an image, and find the natural rhythm of a story.
Whether the result is a brief cinematic interpretation or a richly layered documentary, my intention remains the same: to create something deeply personal and enduring while allowing you to be fully present for the celebration itself.
Let's Create Something Meaningful
The most meaningful wedding films begin long before the camera starts rolling. They begin with a conversation about the people, the place, and the moments that matter most.
I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with couples and wedding planners who value authentic experiences, thoughtful artistry, and the freedom to be fully present throughout a celebration.
Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or an extraordinary multi-day destination wedding, I'd love to hear what you're envisioning. Together, we can explore an approach to filmmaking that honors the experience and creates something beautiful to carry forward.
I accept personally commissioned wedding filmmaking projects in New York, Savannah, Newport, Palm Beach, and destinations throughout the United States and abroad.