Things That Your Wedding Video Should Have Included
Your wedding day is going to be one that you will want to remember. Unfortunately, due to too much champagne, and an obligation to talk to every one of your guests, sometimes your special day can pass in a haze.
For all the planning you’ve done you deserve a chance to live it over again and witness the enjoyment of your guests that you may have missed the first time around or to share the day with those who couldn’t make it.
This is why a wedding video commemorating the day is a must.
The best advice is often the simplest:
There is no such thing as a standard video and every couple has different expectations, so establish yours with your videographer.
Make sure that you set aside time before the big day to meet with the crew. You want to establish moments that are important to you, and you really want the day to be as hassle free as possible … you also want to make sure that they get your good side.
When hiring a videographer and choosing the style and type of package that you want, some things you want to consider are:
- Find out the experience of the person that will cover your event.
Have they been to the venues, locations that you will have your affair? Are the familiar with the challenges that may come up on your wedding day. Rules, restrictions as to where they will be able to load, unload, shoot and capture your ceremony and reception. If a certain area is being occupied or used the same time you are can they adjust their shooting , exposure and schedule to get quality and creative footage to work with.
- Do they have backup equipment?
Not just the camera: lighting, sound, stability devices, wires and hookups. Basically everything duplicated if for some reason something goes wrong there will be back up. When I cover an event I have the primary camera on a tripod/monopod and my secondary is usually within arms reach, at worst in the same room.
- Are they prepared to deliver high quality video and sound?
Both are equally important to relive the special moments and depend on each other to tell your story. NJ Best Video shoots in broadcast quality HD format. Both cameras primary and backup are identical cameras so there will be no drop-off in quality. The external microphone, not the built in camera mic which is inferior to most external microphones. For projects where there is a key speaker, in a wedding it will be bride/groom and priest, there is a lavaliere mic which is highly sensitive and able to pick up any sound within say 5-10 feet. For events where a band or DJ is used I always set up a wireless feed so your get one channel of sound directly from the sound board. The sound is clear no matter which way the camera is facing or how far away. Now you have 2 sources of audio with the direct sound and the ambiance and emotion of the event.
- Do their video packages include a Chaptered DVD?
Anything above the Basic, raw footage package should have this.
The old days of fast forwarding or jet searching to a point on the VHS tape is long gone. Each DVD has a main menu to start of your chaptered DVD. A creative icon, usually a photo or footage that was captured on your day will lead you exactly to the spot for easy access. If you have friends over and just want to show them the vows, first dance and cake cutting, you simply click on the respective icon and it is right there in front of you.
- Will you receive Unedited Footage?
Some, not all, include this feature. I tend to shoot too much footage, so I have been told. I would rather capture something and not use it, rather than overlook something and regret it! We carefully choose the footage for the final production to allow it to flow creatively and consistently but also don’t want to overlook some of the footage which also were part of the day. Many people refer to this as the blooper reel.
- The Recap, also known as the flashback, summary, trailer, etc.
This is basically a short video, teaser as to what your wedding day was like edited down to a few minutes. Accompanied with music, video and film effects, the most creative and important shots, this is usually one of the most popular features of the final production that can be shown to friends and family and not take up a lot of time.
- Do they work with a backup videographer?
It’s happened only once, but the unexpected does come up. Personal illness, death in the family. What would I do? Call someone who belongs to my pool of videographers who is experienced, dependable, punctual, creative and trustworthy to give you what you paid for and expected when you hired NJ Best Video to capture your special day.
10 Wedding Moment You Will Watch Again, And Again, And Again:
1. GROOM & GROOMSMEN GETTING READY
First look of the groomsmen in their suits is a must; make sure that the area is tidy first. Have the Mother of the Groom pin the boutonniere on her son, and then have the groom pin it on his groomsmen.
2. BRIDE & BRIDESMAIDS GETTING READY
Half the fun of the day is the bride surrounding herself with her maids while they get all glammed up. Choose somewhere with lots of natural light and pop a bottle of champagne to settle the nerves.
Get the Maid of Honor to help put the dress on the bride and don’t forget the Mother of the Bride, she can put the finishing touches on with the veil. Watch out, there will be tears!
Catch the moment that the Father of the Bride gets the first look at his daughter in her wedding dress, it will be one to treasure.
3. BRIDE GETTING OUT OF CAR AT CEREMONY
With the help of the Father of the Bride and the bridesmaids, this is a music soaring magic moment. It’s finally here!
4. GROOMSMEN AT THE END OF THE AISLE & BRIDESMAIDS WALKING UP AISLE
These people were chosen to be a part of the wedding party for a reason, make sure that the video reflects their importance.
5. CLOSE UP OF THE GROOM AT THE END OF AISLE
You won’t want to miss the moment that the groom sets his sights on his beautiful bride at the end of the aisle. This is often the most special moment captured. Tissues, where’s the tissues?
6. BRIDE WALKING UP AISLE
Whether its smiles or tears of joy, the bride’s reaction as she walks up the aisle is always priceless.
7. FATHER GIVING AWAY DAUGHTER
Film the moment when the father lifts the veil and gives his daughter away.
8. EXCHANGE OF VOWS
These words are going to bring tears to your eyes no matter how many times you watch it.
9. KISS
First kiss as husband and wife. ‘Nuff said.
10. NEWLYWEDS WALKING BACK UP THE AISLE
Watching guests celebrate your union with confetti, showers of flowers or just heartfelt well wishes is a beautiful moment to experience again.
Which Style Should You Choose?
The Classic Style
If you’re working with a couple that would like something more traditional, then this is the style they may be referring to. Some couples prefer to have the entire ceremony captured in a continuous video.
With this style comes challenges in both shooting and editing. If they’d like their entire ceremony captured, that means you’ll have to set up a multi-cam system. This’ll require multiple cameras and multiple camera operators to get the shots you need. You’ll also need to mic up the room and place lav mics on the emcee and the couple — if you can. So, if you’re looking to give the couple a price quote, make sure to include these extra additions to your final total.
When it comes to editing, you’ll be editing in either a multi-cam format or a multiple-track format. Either way, it’s going to take you longer to edit this style of video than to edit a small, five-minute highlight reel. While this type of wedding video is a great memento to have (to show the folks unable to attend), it comes at a cost.
The Cinematic Style
The “cinematic” style has become the new norm in wedding videography. Most couples want a highly stylized “highlight reel” of the entire day’s process: getting ready, the ceremony, the bridal party photos, and the reception. It’s kind of like you’re creating a video that captures the “feeling” of the day, compared to capturing the reality. This type of video is highly popular among social media users, as well. It’s the perfect package to pitch to a couple who want to share their story with the world.
You can easily shoot this style of video by yourself. All you need is a good run-and-gun set-up — a high-quality DSLR or mirrorless camera, a good gimbal, and some strong arms. You’re looking to capture the highlights, which means you can stage things a little bit. Have the couple run through a wheat field. Ask them to stare longingly into each other’s eyes. Capture all of these highlights in 60-120 frames per second so that you can slow them down in post. This is my favorite style of wedding video to shoot since you get to add more of your own creative vision — bringing the wedding to life through a lens.
Editing-wise, it’ll almost play out like any other highlight reel you might see on YouTube for an event — attractive visuals, emotional music, and sweeping drone shots. You also get the opportunity to color grade in interesting ways, which can really capture the feeling of their big day.
Wedding Videographer FAQs
Is a wedding videographer worth it?
A videographer is an investment every couple should make. It’s motion that makes memories come to life.
How far in advance should I book my videographer?
If your wedding is in the peak season, you should aim to have your videographer commissioned eight to 12 months ahead of time to save the date. During the low season, you can reserve their services closer in. You also have more wiggle room if you choose a less seasoned professional as they are less likely to be booked up.
Why should I hire a two-person team?
Your coverage will be more comprehensive and your video will have more dimension in that it’ll be shot from an additional perspective. This is great for angle changes for important moments, such as the ceremony, speeches, or formal dance—moments where the focus is on the couple. And because the assistant’s primary role is to shoot b-roll, that also provides a greater opportunity to catch those great reaction shots from the guests.
What are the different styles that wedding videos may be shot in?
The standard option is a sequential, chronological video that plays through the major points of the day in order. Consider the videographer a fly on the wall for this style, or a shadow that just trails you throughout the day.” The end result is music-heavy with pops of recorded speech.
Why should I get a wedding video?
It depends on how important it is to you to have your wedding documented – to be able to re-live and share your wedding day with family and friends, now and into the future. If it is, a wedding video is one of the best possible ways to capture your special day. Still photos – while a crucial element for almost every wedding – only convey a single moment. A wedding video on the other hand, records all the detail that is missed between photographs, as well as the emotion and joy of the day. The amount of happiness that your wedding film will bring you, both immediately and into the future, makes it a must-have for any couple.
What is a ‘Feature’ edit? Should we get one?
In the industry today, more and more people are catching onto Feature edits (AKA Short-Form edit/Story Film) as the way to go for their wedding videography.
A ‘Feature’ edit is essentially a 10-30 minute wedding film, creatively edited to highlight the most memorable moments of your day. In our experience as professional wedding videographers, a traditional ‘Documentary’ style video, while still a beautiful record of the day, is long and can be quite tedious.
Remember – longer is not always better. Believe it or not, more time and energy goes into creating a Feature film than a Documentary style. We’d highly recommend considering it as an option for your final wedding video.
How long should I book a wedding videographer for?
Generally, you’ll find that most wedding videographers have specific packages to cover a combination of different sections of the wedding day. In the end it really depends on how much of the day you want to have on video, and how much time each section of the day is planned to take. We recommend booking for the whole wedding – in the end, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Picture yourself after the wedding – you don’t want to look back, wishing you had gotten that extra special footage of the bride’s preparation, the bride and groom’s first dance together, the bouquet toss, or your guests saying goodbye at the end of the night.