Marissa Sent on 12/18/2025

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Amazing from Start to Finish - Great Communication, Professional, Amazing Videos and Editing

John and his team at Smiling Toad did an incredible job with videography at our wedding! In signing a contract with John he was always available to jump on a call to answer any questions I had and walk me through the offerings. We had a call before the wedding to go over day of details etc and John made me feel very confident that his team was prepared and ready! Come wedding day Kevin and Bruce from his team were outstanding! Kevin lead the team and made sure to capture every detail of the day! They were both very professional and a joy to work with! I couldn't recommend them enough! We even worked with John to select what parts of the speeches we wanted in our video the day after our wedding and we can't wait to see the final films!! Thank you so much for everything!!

Kate Sent on 12/11/2025

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Everything was a 10/10

Smiling Toad Productions gave us back the most beautiful films! John and his team were very professional, flexible and patient during our wedding planning and on our special day. The films are amazing quality and the storytelling they incorporated was better than we could have imagined! The technology they use to deliver the films was easy to use and great for sharing/viewing! Bonus: it came back earlier than we expected too!

Tiffany Sent on 12/11/2025

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You need Smiling Toad Productions!

Everyone gets a photographer but honestly wedding videos capture the night on entirely different level. Having professional videos from my wedding helped capture the moment with all the live emotions, vibes, and reactions. It is definitely a must if you want to remember your big day vividly for years to come! All of my family and wedding party watched the videos Smiling Toad created and we found ourselves crying and laughing all over again. It truly is so special.

Smiling Toad was a great vendor for our wedding! John, the owner, is very responsive and great at communicating. On our wedding we had two videographers, Kevin and Sandra, and they were wonderful. They were super professional, detail oriented, and worked perfectly with our photographer and planner’s team. The videos came out SO GOOD and I am seeing so many silly and lovely moments that they caught on video that I had not noticed. I’m so glad we hired Smiling Toad to capture our wedding, we could not recommend them more!

Kate Sent on 11/15/2025

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You will not regret paying for wedding videos!

We are so happy we chose Smiling Toad for our wedding videography. Their pricing is very competitive (my photographer also offered video, but at nearly double the cost!), yet the quality is still fantastic. We love our videos — we can’t stop watching them, and I want to show them to everyone!

I also really appreciated that they created a short video we could post on Instagram. One thing to note: they don’t have access to many well-known songs for use in the videos, so if you’re set on very specific music choices, that’s something to keep in mind. We were able to find something that worked well, but I wanted to mention it just in case it matters to someone else.

They captured our day so beautifully, and we’ll truly cherish these videos forever. They honored our request to be more like ‘flies on the wall’ the day of — they were professional, unobtrusive, and we barely noticed they were there while they still got incredible footage.

We’re so grateful to have all of these moments preserved, and we would 100% recommend choosing Smiling Toad to capture your wedding day!

R Kladis Sent on 12/31/2024

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Professional, easy to work with, Smiling Toad is the way to go!

My partner and I were getting overwhelmed with interviewing videographers for our wedding until our planner suggesting Smiling Toad to us. John and his team made us feel comfortable and confident in their work and it truly shows in their quality! When you're looking back on your wedding day, Smiling Toad captures every moment to make it feel like it was just yesterday :) Thanks, Smiling Toad!

Callie Sent on 12/31/2024

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Wonderful experience!

We had a fantastic experience working with John and his team for our wedding in May 2023. We've rewatched the videos they created over and over. Everything went by so quickly on the actual day of our wedding, it was great to be able to watch the footage and relive some of the moments more fully. We even feel like we got to experience parts of our wedding we weren't physically present for through their lense. They did an amazing job of capturing all the best parts of our day! We recommend them to anyone we know who are getting married and are on the fence about whether or not to hire videographers.

Elizabeth Sent on 12/17/2024

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Highly recommended by both my sister & I!

Wow, what a great experience it was working with Smiling Toad! They were always responsive and created some truly amazing wedding videos that we will cherish forever. We worked with them after seeing what an amazing job they did for my sister's wedding and they impressed us yet again!

Sean Sent on 12/17/2024

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Awesome Crew

The crew at our webbing did an outstanding job. They communicated well and made everything as simple as possible for us. The three videos produced were all amazing in their own way.

Jake Sent on 12/17/2024

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Great videography experience!

We had such a great experience working with Todd and the team at Smiling Toad! They were very attentive to the details that we were looking for in our wedding film and helped create our vision! They also were very detail oriented in getting captured that we asked for! They were very accommodating and made some last-minute adjustments that we requested to the film.

Mary Sent on 12/16/2024

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Really Saved the Day

In 2023 our son was getting
married but my husband suffered a severe stroke before the wedding. It was so
Painful that he could not be there. Smiling Toad really helped us. They were responsive, knowledgeable and thanks to them my husband was able to
still be a part of this special
day.

Veena Sent on 12/16/2024

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Professional, attentive, quality videos, detail oriented, accommodating -- overall great experience!

We were so happy with John and his team at Smiling Toad Productions! They were easy to communicate with and very friendly leading up to our wedding. We worked with Smiling Toad for a 1 min and 4 min video of our wedding reception day, as we had done a family-only ceremony a few months prior in a different location. John kindly offered to incorporate clips from our wedding ceremony into the video he was putting together, even though it wasn't footage that he/his team took (nor was it as high quality). It was such a pleasant surprise to watch our Smiling Toad video recaps and see a few clips from our wedding ceremony, too!
During the day of our wedding reception, the Smiling Toad team was professional, on-time, and patient while capturing footage throughout the day. After we received our 1 min and 4 min videos, we weren't a fan of the songs that had been selected, but John was extremely easy to work with and let us choose different songs.
Overall, we were really happy with Smiling Toad and will definitely be watching these videos for years to come!

Adam Sent on 12/10/2024

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Smiling Toad Does an Amazing Job! We Highly Recommend Them

We couldn’t have been happier with Smiling Toad and their team! They captured every important moment of our wedding day, from the ceremony to the wild dance floor. The video is absolutely stunning, and we’ve watched it countless times. The quality of the footage is exceptional (we opted for the 4K video), and the editing is fantastic. We loved the creative touches they added to the final products, especially the recap video. John and his team at Smiling Toad did an amazing job and we highly recommend them to anyone looking for a talented and professional wedding videographer!

Matt Sent on 12/10/2024

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Great Work

Loved our videos and getting to work with John and his team! They did a great job. Highly recommend.

Sheila Sent on 12/04/2024

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Captured our day perfectly!

John and his team were referred to us by two different couples. Once we got the second referral and had lab introduction call we knew we were in good hands! John and his team at Smiling Toad were incredibly organized, responsive and professional! We continue to keep watching our wedding videos over and over to relive the day. He delivered the final product in an app and posted on YouTube which made sharing with friends and family seamless! I would highly recommend them!

Madeline Sent on 11/20/2024

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Breathtaking drone footage and captured special moments throughout the day!

Smiling Toad productions beautifully captured my husband’s and my wedding day, starting with getting ready at a hotel, to First Looks, the ceremony, cocktail hour, and the reception/speeches/dancing. We added on drone footage which got awesome footage of the town, church, cocktail hour, and even golf shots that my husband and I hit - that part was so cool! There was also a beautiful aerial shot highlighting my dress and train. They didn’t get in the way of the day or dancing. They followed my preferences in the questionnaire and were great to work with. Thank you!

Rachael Sent on 01/09/2024

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Excellent experience in an emergency

I am absolutely thrilled to share my outstanding experience with Smiling Toad Productions that captured the precious moments of our wedding day. From start to finish, their dedication and expertise truly made our wedding video a cherished masterpiece. We had a previous wedding videographer turn out to be a scam close to the time of the wedding and John and team were kind enough to step in during the emergency

The entire team at Smiling Toad Productions demonstrated a high level of professionalism and attention to detail. They seamlessly blended into the background, ensuring that they captured every significant moment without being intrusive. Their ability to capture the essence of the day is truly commendable.

The quality of the final videos exceeded our expectations. The cinematography was beautiful, and the editing was done with meticulous care. Every frame seemed to tell a story, perfectly encapsulating the emotions, joy (along with some nervousness!), and love that filled our special day. The choice of music and the pacing of the video were impeccable, creating a cinematic experience that we will treasure forever and were exactly to our liking with the artists we enjoyed.

Thank you John and team for making our wedding day even more memorable with your exceptional videography services!

Christine Sent on 12/21/2023

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Very happy with my videos!!!

I highly recommend smiling toad! They were very detailed in making sure our music choices were listened to and any video requests were fulfilled. They stand out because we got FOUR different videos to capture different parts of the wedding. And they were fun to work with! Don’t miss out on hiring Smiling Toad for your wedding day! You won’t regret it!

Caralin Sent on 12/16/2023

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10/10, The BEST Vendor!!!

John and his Smiling Toad Videography team are EXCEPTIONAL!!!! John was incredibly professional and responsive throughout the entire process. On our wedding day, the team was kind, helpful and blended seamlessly into our day!! They went above and beyond and are EXTREMELY TALENTED!!! The videos are absolutely BEAUTIFUL and bring back our laughs, tears and emotions from our day! Smiling Toad was OUR FAVORITE VENDOR and I 10/10 recommend Smiling Toad Productions!!!

Liz B. Sent on 12/13/2023

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We loved Smiling Toad!

Smiling toad was amazing to work with throughout our wedding planning and wedding day! We gave them full creative control, trusting that they would capture our day perfectly, and man did they! Our delivered videos was exactly what we hoped for and more

Dani Sent on 12/05/2023

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Amazing videographer and finished product!

I hired this vendor for my daughter’s three year presentation. They did an amazing job with video coverage from the moment we arrived at the parish, during mass and the entire reception. I only hired them for 3-4 hours but they managed to cover everything I wanted.
I am very picky and they did an amazing job with with the finished product.

Blake Sent on 10/30/2023

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Amazing ! So easy to work with! Professional

Working with smiling toed was such a pleasure. They were very professional did an amazing job and shot some amazing videos of my camp themed wedding. They had three different shots of the ceremony with all different angles and capture the audio. Perfect. I would highly recommend this company they are on time, professional, and affordable.

Emily Sent on 10/04/2023

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definitely recommend!

Smiling Toad is great! They did wedding videography for me in July 2023 and my sister in September 2021. John Severson is extremely communicative and ensured we were pleased with our results. I am so happy to have our wedding day captured so beautifully. I highly recommend Smiling Toad!

Kelly Sent on 07/25/2023

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Highly Recommend the Smiling Toad Team!

John and his team are fun, thoughtful, professional, and excellent at what they do. We have been so lucky to work with them and highly recommend them to capture your most magical day! We are so excited about the video they made for us! Thank you Smiling Toad Productions!

Peggy Sent on 07/08/2023

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Excellent experience

John was very responsive to all of our questions and concerns. His videographer was tops. The end product was wonderful and delivered as promised

Madison Sent on 02/27/2023

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One of our Best Decisions!

We used Smiling Toad Productions for our June 2022 wedding and are thrilled with our results. John, the owner, was kind and responsive. Our two videographers the day of were so easy to work with and made us feel so comfortable. They asked in advance if we preferred for them to be more active and call the shots, or be more passive and capture what was happening from the background. We opted for more passive, and they did that perfectly. I hardly even noticed them, but watching our videos back, they captured every detail perfectly. I wasn’t 100% we were even going to hire a videographer, but I am SO glad we did. It is worth every penny. Video gives you so much more emotion than a photo can and really lets you relive those moments, big and small. I looked at a lot of options, and I really felt Smiling Toad was the best value, and after seeing our videos, I’m confident we made the right choice.

Beth Sent on 11/23/2022

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Awesome Videographer!

My husband and I can't thank Smiling Toad Productions enough for putting together an absolutely stunning video of our special day! We've watched it so many times since we got it back. They were really easy to work with and did a great job blending in on the wedding day so you barely noticed them but then captured everything so perfectly! We love how they weaved our pastor's message into the film and loved the song choices. Our friends and family are also blown away with the videography. This will be something we will cherish for the rest of our lives and share with our children. We are so glad we chose to work with Smiling Toad Productions!!

Alyssa Sent on 05/09/2022

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Amazing Videographer!

Smiling Toad Productions was so much fun to work with. They captured the day perfectly, and paid close attention to all the details we had. They were great at getting us to warm up in front of the camera, and were very creative with how they captured different moments. We have received so many compliments on our video, and all our friends and family say it's hands down the best they have ever seen. It's hard to pick a videographer since there are so many styles out there. But we are glad we found Smiling Toad Productions. They will not disappoint.

Katy Sent on 03/05/2022

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Fantastic Video for Our 2021 Wedding

We worked with Smiling Toad for our wedding in October 2021 and couldn't be happier with how everything turned out! John and team were always responsive and flexible when we had to reschedule our original wedding date due to COVID. The day of the wedding the videographers were both extremely professional and helpful. We love how our videos came out and are extremely appreciative to be able to look back on our favorite day in such a fantastic way. Highly recommend booking the Smiling Toad team for your wedding!

Alyssa Sent on 02/15/2022

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Incredibly professional and personal

We had to split our wedding into two parts due to COVID. Smiling Toad was at both. We weren't 100% sure we wanted to spend the money on a videographer at first but we can confidently say after the fact it was some of the best money we spent on the wedding. We have watched our trailers hundreds of times and shared with family and friends. We will be able to have these memories FOREVER. John and Doyle were both incredibly professional to work with and made us feel comfortable at every turn of the events. 10/10 you should use this group for your event.

Kaiti Sent on 01/17/2022

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Great wedding videographer!

Smiling Toad did an absolutely wonderful job with the videography for our November 2021 wedding! The two videographers were very professional, and willing to work with us to capture our perfect day! We would highly recommend them for any wedding.

Diane Sent on 12/19/2021

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Mother of Bride

Day of videographers were punctual, friendly and creative. Editing and music selections were excellent. All phone and email communication prior and following was super friendly with prompt replies.
Smiling Toad Productions was great to work with, and I would highly recommend them. Their work speaks for itself!

Kathleen Sent on 11/03/2021

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Smiling Toad is fantastic!

We loved working with Smiling Toad! They were very flexible with our rescheduling due to COVID. Wonderful to work with and provided us with videos that we love!

Ray O. Sent on 09/21/2021

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Get a videographer

Smiling Toad was everything we wanted and more for a wedding video service. They were very thorough and communicative on the front end leading up to our big day and then extremely professional and helpful on wedding day. We keep hitting the 'replay' button on the wedding video they made for us and sending it all over to friends and family. Truly was amazing. Prices are more than fair compared to competitors. We weren't sure about getting a videographer for our wedding but now we are so glad that we did. Smiling Toad was a 10/10 decision.

Taylor Sent on 05/31/2021

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Had a great experience!

We had a excellent experience with John! He was extremely easy to work with. It's clear he has been doing this awhile because he had everything down pat. Of all the vendors I worked with, John was the easiest by a longshot! He gives you everything you need and more to capture all the important moments on your wedding day. I would highly recommend Smiling Toad Productions!

Yesha Sent on 07/28/2020

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You will not be disappointed!

We hired Smiling Toad for videography services for our wedding and from the beginning we have had such a good experience working with this vendor! John (the owner) is responsive, professional, and really caring towards the clients he serves. His wedding packages are very reasonably priced. John really tries to tailor his videos to what his client's visions are for their special day.

Unfortunately, due to COVID we had to postpone our March 2020 wedding and John was so accommodating to postponing his services and cancelling our contract! He was very understanding and empathetic of our situation. We wish every wedding vendor was this easy to work with! We plan to use John and his company for our future wedding celebration and we highly recommend Smiling Toad to anyone looking for a videography services! You will not be disappointed!

Carey Sent on 10/31/2019

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Best Team!

We loved our wedding trailer and full length feature. Jon and his team were so kind, thoughtful, and easy to work with. They have an incredible price point for high quality work (I cried watching our trailer!) and we never felt overwhelmed by their presence, which allowed us to truly enjoy our wedding day! Highly recommend!

Kelly Sent on 06/19/2019

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Truly incredible

Smiling Toad provided us the most amazing short, trailer, and feature wedding film for which we could have asked. They crafted the most amazing three films (with the best music!) possible for us. I love music and gave a couple of notes but...being honest, expected to be disappointed in the music because I'm picky. And yet, they hit it out of the park! They did an incredible job, made us all cry when watching the videos, and we truly feel that our best wedding decision was getting a videographer in general--and hiring Smiling Toad. :)

Kristen Sent on 06/12/2019

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Amazing and Perfect!

I couldn't have asked for a better videographer. John was so kind on the phone and made me feel comfortable with the first conversation. I knew I trusted him and his company right off the bat. On the day of, the videographers were polite and complimented the day without taking away from my ability to enjoy my day. The video turned out AMAZING! I love having both the trailer and short available on my phone. Whenever I'm having a bad day, I pull up the video(s) and it turns my day around. Thank you Smiling Toad for capturing my day so beautifully!

+2 photos

Aislinn Sent on 01/17/2019

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So happy to relive our day anytime!

I was hesitant about hiring a videographer for our wedding, but I am so glad we did! John was very attentive to all of my questions and made himself available throughout my decision making process. He tailored our package to deliver exactly what we wanted, and allowed us to be as involved as we wanted. For example, music is important to my partner and myself so we hand selected our songs. His team is professional and fun. The end result is so special and brings back all the feelings from our wedding day. I am so thankful that our photographer recommended Smiling Toad!

Julie Sent on 01/16/2019

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Video on Repeat

Wary about hiring a videographer, my husband and I talked to many friends and family about if a videographer is worth it. All of those who did not have their wedding on video wished they did and knowing that, I did not want to have any regrets about our wedding day. We did our research and came across Smiling Toad Productions. We liked how they capture everything we wanted in a wedding video from parts of speeches, and dances, to a cinematic movie. It’s exactly what we wanted. John was very responsive, and the process was very simple to hire him.
We received our video last week and I’m embarrassed to say how many times I’ve watched it. Reliving our day is priceless and I recommend Smiling Toad Productions to anyone looking for a quality wedding video.

Brittany Sent on 12/21/2018

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Smiling Toad is the best!!!

My husband and I picked Smiling Toad because we liked their video style and felt it was fun, captured the personality of the couple and wedding, the videos are interesting and never dragged, etc. We couldn't be happier with our video and I still watch it, 3 years later!! (And especially on anniversaries!) They were AMAZING day-of, total ninjas and even though they were up close and personal during important moments (our vows, the hora etc.) we definitely didn't feel that the cameras were imposing. They worked really well with our photographer too. Could not recommend these guys more and we absolutely treasure our video!!

Thomas Sent on 12/13/2018

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Professioanl, Adaptable, and and Amazing Video!

John and his team were perfect for us. We chose to have a same-day edit and were able to show a video of the wedding at the reception with a few pre-recorded messages and our guests still talk about it now. The video was wonderful and captured all the right moments. And John was very patient with us as we blew some of his deadlines and constantly changed our minds! John was flexible enough to cater to our individual needs, but also trustworthy enough that we were completely comfortable letting him choose options for areas about which we were unfamiliar. Thanks, John!

Bethany Sent on 10/29/2018

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Great, professional team

Everyone told us our wedding would go by quickly, so we knew we wanted a videographer to document the day. Smiling Toad came highly recommended and we were so happy to have them document our wedding. They were very nice and professional and caught all of the special moments on video while not being at all distracting.

Maureen Sent on 01/27/2018

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We used Smiling Toad, because I had seen one of their wedding trailers for a Facebook friend's wedding and loved it. John was very responsive, and the videographers who came out on the day were great, showed up on time, and were so unintrusive that I hardly knew they were there. I was actually nervous that they didn't speak up enough and didn't get what they needed, but it worked out! We got our videos about two months after our wedding (and MONTHS earlier than we expected!) and I love them so, so much. We also got a full-length video of the day, and I was shocked to notice that when, for example, they filmed our bridal party introductions, they didn't just record the video and audio and slap it online for us. They remembered which song we picked and edited it in to the film, so that the sound quality is excellent. And without me asking or mentioning, they figured out who was really important to have in the film, like my 94-year-old grandma. Just amazing attention to detail. And while I expected them to pick out the best parts of the toasts, they even picked out wonderful quotes from the homily (my uncle is the priest, although I'm not sure I told them that!) and included them, too.

Victoria Sent on 11/24/2017

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We received our short film and a full 97 minute edit of our night. Smiling Toad did a wonderful job and they were super subtle--- they videography team was never in the way but managed to capture everything and were so professional. We also changed our mind about the length of our videos after the wedding and the Smiling Toad team accommodated us for a wonderful result! Can't recommend them highly enough.

Beth Sent on 11/10/2017

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The videographers were very kind and professional. People did not know we even had them, which means they did their job of being invisible very well. I LOVE my trailer...it is absolutely perfect and I couldn't be happier!

Chris Sent on 09/29/2017

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Amazing!!!!!!!!!!! Great and fun to work with! My wife and I would not work with anyone else. They were very attentive and did an awesome job keeping our day fun while capturing amazing footage of us and our guests!

Jodi Sent on 08/07/2017

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Smiling Toad was excellent! The video is very high quality and they captured every moment. They captured great shots (while being unobtrusive!) and put together an amazing video. Professional and easy to work with.

Daniel Sent on 11/27/2016

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Smiling Toad did a wonderful job putting together our wedding videos. They were friendly, professional, timely, and did a fantastic job capturing the events. We frequently watch the short videos that Smiling Toad provided and love reliving our wedding day!

Alicia Sent on 11/07/2016

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I had a trusted recommendation for their services and am very happy with the results! Their staff really were professional and creative with their shots. We are grateful all our important wedding moments were captured!

Bridget Sent on 11/05/2016

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Wonderful to work with! Very professional! I cry every time I watch the trailer they made. Captured the best moments!

Juan Sent on 10/31/2016

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Everything about smiling toad is top notch. It's almost a year and a half since my wife and I have gotten married and we are still in love with watching our wedding. Thanks to smiling toad!

Margaret Sent on 10/27/2016

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Smiling Toad Productions was AMAZING! They have captured a family friend's wedding, my sister's wedding, and ours this summer. Each of the three wedding trailer videos are unique and truly show who the couple is, and the ceremony and toasts are high quality. I am so thankful we will always have these memories. Do not hesitate--book them!

Sophia Sent on 10/24/2016

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AMAZING!!!!! We were so happy with the final product,. John was very accommodating and Rob and Kevin did an amazing job videoing.

User2604207 Sent on 05/10/2016

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First off, get a videographer for your wedding. It was one of the best decisions we've made. Secondly, go with Smiling Toad! My wife and I got married at Salvage One this March. Smiling Toad was the most accommodating, customizing, affordable, and professional videographers we had encountered. The process prior to the wedding was seamless. John at Smiling Toad was quick to answer all of our questions and offer great options for music to include in the trailer and highlight film. During the wedding, the two videographers were extremely professional and skillful in their craft. They were not intrusive or "in the way" at all. At one point, I asked if the videographers left already, but they were just doing an amazing job of blending into the crowd!

John was extremely prompt in delivering our videos after our wedding. Watching these videos brought back all of the feelings and emotions that we experienced during the wedding and allowed us to see so many of the moments that we missed in the excitement of the day. The wedding was captured in the truest of forms and done in such a beautiful way. We have received so many amazing compliments from our friends and family about our videos.

Thanks again, Smiling Toad, for being a part of such a memorable day and allowing us to feel like we are reliving our wedding every time we watch your videos!

Taryn Sent on 11/05/2015

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Absolutely obsessed with how everything turned out. :) Though it did cost more than we wanted to initially spend, this is one aspect of my wedding that I do NOT regret spending money on. :) Our favorite take-away from our wedding is our video. They were professional, nice, and the finished product is perfect. Thank you, thank you. :)

Janice Sent on 10/17/2015

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With a last minute decision to add a videographer to our list of vendors, we felt lucky that Smiling Toad was available. Two videographers apparently showed up on time and stayed the entire day, although I barely recall seeing them as the day unfolded. But they saw us! They caught moments big and small, and created a beautifully edited video of our daughter's wedding! They were easy to work with and had the video ready within one month. I know that video will transport us all back to a special day in way that photos alone cannot. I highly recommend......just don't wait until the last minute to book them.

Brittany Sent on 09/29/2015

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I can't speak highly enough of John and the Smiling Toad team or recommend them strongly enough to film such a special day! My husband and I had an easy time selecting them based on their existing videos because we loved their style and how they captured the little details, emotions and personalized elements/quirks throughout the day in each video. The team was amazing during our wedding day - they totally "got it" and knew what the coolest/most special things were to shoot without me even having to direct them, they were not at all intrusive even in the most emotional moments (we weren't overly aware of cameras being around), and they were super fun to have around! They also worked seamlessly with our photographers. John, the owner, has also been super responsive, easy to work with and patient with me (and I have asked for a lot, between special music requests and more!) As for the videos... blown away is all I can say. There are a LOT of happy tears from watching the videos and I literally have and will continue to watch them every day for the rest of my life!!! There is nothing quite like video to relive your big day and Smiling Toad did a perfect job capturing our sights, sounds, speeches and the things we didn't get to see or to overwhelmed in real time to fully absorb (like our little nephews walking down the aisle or all the details in the speeches!) My only regret is not having video of the rehearsal dinner as well. They are that good!!!

Jennie Sent on 09/29/2015

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Beyond impressed with Smiling Toad Productions! I can't even begin to put into words how blown away my husband and I are by our videos. They are just perfect and exactly what we were looking for! Such a great way to relive the greatest day in our lives! Thank you Smiling Toad Productions!!!

Jenna Sent on 09/25/2015

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John was very flexible and great to work with!

Juan Sent on 07/28/2015

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Amazing. That's how I would describe Smiling Toad. My wife and I did not really put too much thought about getting a videographer. We were looking around and I was really not impressed with the quality that other companies had. I figured I could do a better job. Until I came across Smiling Toad. I saw their trailers on their website and we instantly knew we wanted that look. The cinematic feel and the fidelity of the video is what sold us. We met John Severson to go over the details. He answered all the questions we had. John is very open and approachable. The two videographers for our event were great. They worked seamlessly within our wedding. I like to talk to people so they were a joy to get to know. But if that's not your thing, you wouldn't notice they were even there. The end product which for us included a trailer, highlight reel and dvd blew us away. Amazing quality for the price. We are so happy that we had Smiling Toad at our wedding. Our wedding went perfectly. And a part of that was because of Smiling Toad.

Tony Sent on 03/09/2015

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My wife and I had a great experience with Smiling Toad! We were married in Chicago in October '14, and contacted John at ST pretty late in the planning process. No matter, as he made the service customization process very easy and straightforward. With just a few clicks and instructions on an impressive web site, we were good to go, and the film crew showed up with cameras on hand. At the wedding itself, they were utter professionals: interjecting when appropriate (such as to mic me up for my vows) and barely noticeable throughout the evening.

Afterwards, John really went above and beyond in the film delivery process. There was an issue with the playback for one of our films when it was converted (I believe) to HTML5 on mobile. This wasn't even ST's fault, but instead the web site through which we were viewing. ST took it upon themselves to work with the third-party web site to fix the issue quickly.

Most importantly, we were blown away by the quality of the movie itself. I can tell they spent many, many hours in the editing and sound mixing process. The photography is stunning. Everything looks and sounds perfect. The editing really created a perfect narrative, and the multiple cuts that came with our package (i.e. full vs. trailer vs. highlight) were perfect for short and long viewings.

Overall, working with ST really drove home the point of hiring videographers. This type of product encapsulates memories in a vivid way and complements our photos so well. ST helped us capture memories that we will treasure forever. Thanks guys and keep up the great work.

Here is our trailer:
https://vimeo.com/117074607

Kathleen Sent on 11/21/2014

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Smiling Toad was fantastic to work with, from day 1 through wedding day. They came to our house to show us some sample videos before we'd even signed a contract. They were always very responsive, answering all my emails and questions, making preparation simple and not at all stressful. On wedding day, they were perfect. On time, professional, and non-intrusive. They captured all the details of the day, but also the mood, the emotion, the little looks my husband and I shared. We honestly forgot they were there rather than being self-conscious about being on camera. Our guests didn't notice them either - no bright lights in your face, no running in front of the altar during the ceremony. Even though the videographers themselves were in the background, they captured the whole day beautifully, both the big events and the little details. The trailer, highlight reel, and full video we received were beyond professional - they were perfect.

User1883977 Sent on 10/24/2014

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We were thrilled with the service and final product we received from Smiling Toad. They did a great job capturing the big moments of our wedding day! We love having the trailer, which was very well put together with great music and was fun to share with our friends and family.

Diana Sent on 09/29/2014

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John and the team over at Smiling Toad were very responsive and great to work with. The videographers were all great and the same day edit was beautiful! My husband was very impressed with the quality of the video shown at our reception considering the short amount of time they had to edit it. He didn't watch any of their sample videos so he was very surprised this was even possible. Leading up to the wedding day, he was unsure of our need for videography, but instantly saw the value of having a video recollection of a day we spent so much time and effort into planning. We are so glad to have worked with Smiling Toad Productions and are excited to see the final product of our special day. Thanks again!

Leslie Sent on 07/06/2014

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We used Smiling Toad Productions for our wedding in June and we're so impressed with them! John, the owner, came over to our house for the initial consultation and we knew right away that we wanted to work with him and his team!

John was great to work with prior to the day and his team was great the day of. Looking back, I barely even remember them being around, they blended in really nicely but were also willing to do any specific shots that I asked for.

The turn around time was really quick and they were even willing to make a few edits to our video and change the song after the final product which I thought was really great.

Their pricing was very reasonable and I couldn't imagine not having the 3 videos (4 minute trailer, 13 minute highlight video - with 3 songs, and video of our entire ceremony). The day goes by so quickly so having the videos is just amazing to look back at all the things we missed.

I highly, highly recommend John and his team for your wedding videographers, I wish I could get married all over again so I can use them again!!

Here is the link to our trailer video: https://vimeo.com/88995283

Thanks again Smiling Toad!!

User1462093 Sent on 04/02/2014

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We had such a wonderful experience with Smiling Toad Productions. My fiance had to sell me on the idea of having a videographer. After seeing the finished product, I am so happy we chose to do it. From start to finish, all our interactions with the company have been professional and positive.

The expenses of a wedding can add up quickly. John was willing to work with us on packages. I think it is important to note that he includes a 15 minute highlight video when comparing prices of other vendors. The video is awesome! They did such a great job of catching special moments! It is the perfect length! Of course, the trailer and regular video were of outstanding quality too.

I recommend going to their website to see the high quality and artistry of their work. You will not be disappointed!

Sunny Sent on 02/09/2014

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Smiling Toad was extraordinary to work with. They exceeded all basic expectations including timeliness, efficiency, great communication, customer service, flexibility, and very impressive quality of product. My husband and I had a traditional, large Indian wedding and it was very important to us to find a videographer who was able to capture both the meaningful personal moments during our wedding as well as the ritual and customs that take place around us - Smiling Toad was able to easily do that and more. Jon went out of this was to get us together the day before the wedding and videotape a short interview with us about how we met and our thoughts about getting married - that interview was woven into our wedding video and day of edit in a very tasteful and meaningful way. The day of video brought tears to our eyes during the reception - it was easily one of my favorite parts of the wedding. The videos turned out beautiful - I was so impressed with how well the team was able to capture important moments while still blending into the background. We were so lucky to have Smiling Toad with us throughout our wedding - wouldn't have gone with anyone else!

Emily Sent on 12/26/2013

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Smiling Toad was an awesome video team to capture our rehearsal dinner and wedding day. Kevin was extremely easy to be around and fun to work with – he seemed to really understand us as a couple and captured moments that were important to us. John was also great, helping us select a package that made the most sense for our budget and our timeline, and pointed out tips for making the most of our time with him. We are so glad we made the decision to spend some extra money to document the day – because it really does go by so quickly, and after months of working on throwing the perfect party to celebrate the most important day of our lives together as husband and wife, we wanted to be sure we could really remember it in a way that highlighted our love, our friends and family, and all the hard work we put into the planning process. We were thrilled with the highlight video & trailer that Smiling Toad put together for us -- we were able to share our day with friends and family who weren’t able to join us, and have something we’ll treasure forever to remind us of our wedding day.

User1323742 Sent on 09/11/2013

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My husband and I really enjoyed working with Smiling Toad for our wedding. They were amazing from the very start! John the owner was very prompt in his email respones when my husband and I had questions regarding the contract and their videography. Our wedding day with Smiling toad went perfectly! Both videographers were on time in the morning and they captured everything that we asked for! In fact, one of our videographers came back after leaving our reception because he wanted to capture one more scene that he had forgotten to capture. The videographers we worked with were very professional and my husband and I had no idea they were even there. We highly recommed Smiling Toad!

Adie Sent on 05/09/2013

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I am so glad I chose Smiling Toad for my wedding videography needs. John, the owner, is super easy to work with, and their pricing is incredibly reasonable for the quality of work provided. The wedding was such a whirlwind, my husband and I barely got to take it all in, so we were thrilled to receive our fantastic wedding video. Videography and photography are the only things (besides the marriage, of course!) that last longer than the actual wedding day, so invest wisely! I highly recommend Smiling Toad, they create a fantastic product at a reasonable price. We'll be able to relieve and remember all the details of our wedding day for years to come.

Audrey Sent on 11/05/2012

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WORTH EVERY PENNY! Smiling Toad offers a talented team!

We couldn't have been more thrilled with Smiling Toad and their services. From day one, John was extremely helpful and responsive in phone and email communication. Their website offered several sample videos as well. Our wedding trailer and highlight video were absolutely beautiful! We could not believe all the emotion and love captured in the video. We are so grateful that our package came standard with two videographers. Both clearly have a talented eye! We are so glad we invested in a videography and more happy we chose Smiling Toad. I wish I knew someone getting married in Chicagoland just so I could recommend them! If you are on the fence about a videographer, explore their site. We are THRILLED we chose to spend the money. We saw things in the video that our photographer didn't capture and we didn't even know happened!

Jaime Sent on 11/05/2012

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Their service and professionalism were great. They worked with our budget to get us the most bang for our buck. John and his staff were very accomodating to specific things we wanted in our video. The finished product was great. We love showing off our video to our friends and family. I would recommend Smiling Toad Productions to anyone looking for a videoagrapher for their wedding.

Jamie Sent on 11/04/2012

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I was extremely impressed with SmilingToad and would highly reccomend them! They were very professional and the video captured all of the amazing moments from my wedding day. My expectations were exceeded when I watched the video. The day of the wedding John was on time and we barely even know there were videographers in the background. They did not add to the stresses of planning a wedding one bit, which I found rare for many wedding vendors.

Laura Sent on 02/02/2012

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When I started planning my budget for the big day, I wasn't sure there was going to be any money left for a videographer. I also was sure I even wanted one. I AM SO HAPPY I CHANGED MY MIND AND THAT I USED SMILING TOAD PRODUCTIONS!!! The videographer seamlessly fit in with my other photographers and I didn't even realize that he was there. Even though I didn't notice him, he captured every moment with such style and grace. When my husband and I viewed our video for the first time I think we both cried harder then we did at the actual ceremony. The images were clear and beautiful and he seemed to capture angles that even my photographer didn't. Working with Smiling Toad was also such a dream. John and his team asked questions about what was important to me on the big day and then truly delivered in the final product. I couldn't be happier that I have such an amazing DVD to watch again and again for years to come as a way to remember how much fun we had last October. It is so special to see everyone at the party enjoying themselves so much. If I had to do it all over again, I would DEFINITELY ask John and his crew to be a part of the day again.

Elise Sent on 10/23/2011

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John of Smiling Toad Productions was absolutely wonderful to work with. He was flexible with figuring out a package that would work for what I wanted and in my price range! He was so thorough in preparing for my day that I was completely worry free, and he was able to record EVERYTHING without being obtrusive whatsoever. A couple weeks after the wedding we received a highlight video that brought tears to our eyes because it captured the exact feeling of the day! It's SO AMAZING that we can't wait to see the whole video in a few weeks!

Stacy Sent on 10/06/2011

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I chose Smiling Toad Productions for my 9/16/11 wedding. John was very responsive with any quesitons I had during my planning. The day of the wedding went very smoothly and I hardly noticed the videographers. I definitely recommend Smiling Toad for your future wedding.

Cara Sent on 03/09/2011

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Smiling Toad is awesome. My husband and I met John at a bridal event at the MCA and saw some of his work. We loved that he didn't do typical wedding videography and could see that he had a creative eye, making the usual painful and cheesy wedding video a work of art. We weren't sure if we wanted a videographer at all, but felt that we might regret it later if we didn't go for it. So over a year later, when we decided we should hire one, we remembered John. I had priced out some other videographers and John was definitely competitive with them. He was flexible with his packages, willing to adjust according to our budget and preferences. My husband and I decided that his price was right and his work was the best that we had seen. On the day of the wedding, I literally didn't even know he was there. I saw him once throughout the entire day. He managed to film our day without being obvious or intrusive to the guests. He also didn't use a huge camera with a giant light - which was a major fear of mine. After the wedding, we got a copy of our video quickly and John was fast and responsive throughout the editing process. We were able to make edits to the video, to include and exclude some footage, but I have to say there weren't many edits needed, as he managed to capture great moments in the highlight reel right off the bat. John really did a beautiful job and has been so easy to work with. We couldn't be happier that we hired him as our videographer.

Emily Sent on 12/28/2012

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We booked John and Smiling Toad about 5 weeks before our wedding, and it was our last major decision. John was extremely responsive from the moment I contacted him to the moment we received our DVDs, making the whole process very easy. We received our DVDs about 2-3 weeks after our wedding day, before our photos, and were thrilled with the final product. They had us pick our music and edited the highlight video perfectly. On the day of the wedding, the crew was very professional and unobtrusive. I would recommend Smiling Toad to anyone and I'm so happy that we had them capture our wedding day.

Paul Sent on 12/09/2012

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Very impressed with Smiling Toad. My wife and I wanted videography at the ceremony, during photography and at the beginning of the reception, and Smiling Toad was flexible and willing to accommodate our requests.

The final product on DVD was professional and really captured the essence of the day. I'd highly recommend Smiling Toad to anyone looking for wedding videography.

Alison Sent on 02/25/2012

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Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We were lucky to find John and Smiling Toad Productions free on very short notice (2 weeks) before our wedding. John and Fernando were fantastic the entire day- we hardly even knew they were there. When we got the highlight video back, not long after the wedding, we were very pleased with the results. I would definitely recommend having a videographer to anyone getting married- there is so much going on during the day that you just don't see or may not remember. Thanks to Smiling Toads for capturing and assembling the little memories of our day so well!

Reinaldo Sent on 01/11/2025

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Great results with minimal guidance

Smiling toad is an amazing vendor. They were very responsive, very professional, delivered a fantastic result and immediately corrected a few suggestions or requests we made after the final video was done. Their videographers were almost invisible during the wedding, which made the entire experience amazing because the guests never knew when they were being filmed. I loved the experience, I was amazed by the final result. Very easy to work with and very good service. My only comment, which is something that I believe it is common in the industry, is that I would have liked to meet the videographers before the wedding, even if via zoom, to have a more personal experience, but that didn't impact at all the final result. Would definitely recommend!

Bethany Sent on 10/30/2019

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Thank you, Smiling Toad!

We used Smiling Toad as our videographer for our wedding on Saturday, August 17, 2019 in Lake Forest. John was pleasure to work with leading up to the big day. He listened closely to what our vision was and what we cared about, and he ensured that his team delivered what we wanted and truly brought our vision to life. John was very patient and helpful thinking through all the details of the big day and ensuring we had an air tight plan and timeline. The team was very responsive throughout the planning process as well as in correspondences after the event. I really appreciate their thoughtful and timely communications and all around professionalism.

The two videographers who captured our day were a great balance of calm and assertive, ensuring they were not getting in the way of the “natural” moments but also giving enough guidance to capture all the best shots. They both brought a positive vibe and they were a joy to work with throughout our day. From starting the day with “getting ready” footage of the wedding party, to capturing the entire ceremony at the church, to the excitement of cocktail hour, to the speeches and dancing at our reception, they did a great job capturing it all.

Our wedding day was truly the best day of our lives. We are so happy to have our wedding video plus all the raw footage. I know my husband and I will enjoy watching this footage for years to come. Thank you, Smiling Toad, for being part of our big day!

Cat Sent on 08/11/2015

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

I chose Smiling Toad after a few friends recommended their services. As a bride living abroad, many of our friends and family from Spain were unable to attend, so we wanted to spend the money on a videographer to be sure they could share our day in a different way.

The planning process was easy thanks to a great website and internal planning service, and John was responsive and prompt with all of my emails. Chris arrived to my house right on schedule and was friendly and never in the way, and I barely noticed the second videographer (didn't even get his name!) during the reception.

We did end up needing to add some more time to the package because church weddings don't lend too well to the eight-hour packages, but it was important to me that they get the shots that I wanted.

Greatly looking forward to seeing the result and recommending Smiling Toad to friends!

Sarah Sent on 04/12/2013

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

I really loved the professionalism of the team and how far they were willing to meet me in regards to cost/and flexibility of service. The quality of the work was very good and I felt very "taken care of" both during the planning and execution of everything.My wedding DVD was really great with just a couple of exceptions. I wish the team would have given me the option during the reception of extending their stay to capture more of the reception. I was so caught up in the wedding and didn't realize our timing wasn't sufficient to catch more of the dancing. Also, the "Giving of the Gifts" by me younger family members wasn't captured on film and for a catholic family, it would have been nice to see that part of the service on video.

User1016506 Sent on 11/15/2012

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Smiling Toad Productions was excellent! We were unsure about having a videographer at our wedding, but after we saw the finished product we would never have thought otherwise. The quality of the video and the details they gathered from our day were top notch for the value. I have already referred others to their services, and would recommend them to anyone interested in having a videographer.

Blake Sent on 10/31/2016

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

Great videographer! They had two people shooting so everything was covered the entire night. We are so happy with how the video's turned out! Would definitely recommend.

Rodney Sent on 09/18/2020

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Extremely Flexible and Responsive + Video Streaming!!

John and his team at Smiling Toad were exceptional for our wedding. We needed a videographer who provided both Zoom/Facebook/Youtube streaming options for our guests who could not make it due to COVID. John made sure everything we wanted was included especially for the streaming. I had to have my brothers send in videos due to not being able to make the wedding and literally 30 min before our reception started, his team was able to incorporate a video one of my brothers completed at the very last minute. Everyone loved being able to watch the videos online and any request made after the wedding has been pursued immediately. Definitely recommend working with John and Smiling Toad if you're going to have a COVID style wedding.

Shawn Sent on 07/12/2014

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

The Smiling Toad finished products...Wedding Trailer, 8 minute video and full length videos were beautiful. Worth the wait! John was easy to work with and answered ALL emails in a timely fashion...which is great when dealing with both couple and the parents doing the planning.

User1918731 Sent on 11/12/2014

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

We had a wonderful experience with Smiling Toad for our summer wedding in downtown Chicago. John (owner) was incredibly easy to work with -- he was very responsive and flexible, leading to a refreshingly easy process when signing the contract and arranging the details for the big day.

On the wedding day itself, the Smiling Toad crew was on time and professional. And, when we received the videos, we were so pleased. the 10-15 minute trailer was a perfect summary of the day, and the raw footage of the ceremony and reception was fabulous quality. The DVD we received was very professional and included great navigation features. In short, the final product was truly excellent and we couldn't have been happier!

I found the prices to be fair. My husband and I chose not to include the 3-minute "trailer" in our package, and chose just the 10-15 minute "highlight" instead (which I highly recommend -- unless you want to share the short video on Facebook,the longer video has so much more "substance"). John was very flexible in creating a package that met our needs.

There is just one complaint with Smiling Toad that I must mention...it took a very long time to receive our video. We were told that we'd receive the video within 3-8 weeks, and it took 10. Moreover, John was not proactive about informing us of the delays. We had to follow up on a few occasions just to inquire about the status, and the video still arrived later than promised. It would have been nice if John had been more transparent about the timeline. However, this is my only complaint, and because there was no rush to get the video, it wasn't too big of a deal. Additionally, because Smiling Toad was so responsive leading up to the wedding and because we were so pleased with the end-result, Smiling Toad is still great in my book! No regrets on choosing them for our wedding. We highly recommend them.

Prashansa Sent on 02/14/2017

4.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

Depending on what style you're looking for, Smiling Toad is a good vendor. Our highlight video didn't have quite the feel we were looking for, but they've been very nice in trying to edit it into something we like. They had many options, and we were able to get something within our budget. Overall, we have something nice to look back at to remember our wedding weekend!

Smiling Toad Productions Reviews

Reviews

Smiling Toad Productions