What Should You Look for in a Wedding Video?
When you are considering wedding vendors, you’ll eventually get to choosing a videographer. When that happens, you might not know exactly what you are looking for. You’ve maybe seen your parents’ VHS from an old-school camcorder set up in the far back of an echoey church. While that has its charm (come on, it’s pretty cute), that sort of coverage doesn’t capture what makes a wedding day so special.
You saw the ceremony of your parent’s wedding from the perspective of a distant family member, sitting far in the back so as to make a hasty escape once the “I do’s” have been said. That’s not the perspective of a wedding that I’d want to watch again.
You want to see the little moments along with the big ones. Of course you want to see the “I do’s”, but what about the groom’s smile the first time he sees the bride? The attendees laughing with joy as they see the flower girls make their way down the aisle? The fathers holding back tears as they watch their little girl get married?
It’s things like this that you don’t want to miss, things you might not have even noticed. I mean, you are kind of busy getting married.
When you are looking for a vendor, check out their previous videos. Look for the moments that spark joy in you, stuff that you would want to see in your wedding video. If there is something you like, make note of it. Were there documentary style interviews? Drone shots? Did they capture the full ceremony or was it a highlight reel (both are good, and sometimes the full ceremony video is a separate deliverable).
When you reach out to a vendor, they will most likely supply you with a list of their packages. Often they will have an à la carte list where you can include specific things that you liked in other wedding videos.
Don’t forget to read reviews on websites like The Knot or their Facebook page. You want to understand who the videographer is, as like a wedding photographer, their personality will help shape the tone of the day. You should sign a contract with them that details what will be included in the finished package as well as when you can expect a version for review (yes, you should get a chance to give notes) as well as the finished product.
At the end of the day, make sure what you choose for your wedding video is something you would want to watch in the future. It’s your wedding day, your memories, and your history packaged up for you to watch whenever you want to get a hit of nostalgia.