This article is edited by a professional wedding consultant.

A wedding video is a "visual heirloom" - something to be cherished and watched again and again. It becomes more treasured year after year. Survey research shows the importance brides put on video - after the wedding a majority of brides tend to move wedding video planning into their top ten list - this is after they learned that they should have paid more attention to it.

Couples can select either a wedding video or wedding photography, or both. Video is dynamic, interactive, and auditory. Photography is static with no sound. A good wedding videographer can include static photos in a video to capture the entire range of visual and auditory experience.

Wedding videography is not as set in tradition as other wedding practices, so it is mostly at your discretion. Here are some options and general common sense guidance that will help you make good decisions.

Professional vs. Amateur

The choice is a professional wedding videographer or your friend / family member. You walk the fine line between cost and quality. A professional wedding videographer does not have to be extravagantly expensive - most professionals have multiple wedding packages and can negotiate various deals with you, making the cost very reasonable and affordable. A professional will always provide you more photographic awareness of the nuances of weddings - they can capture things an amateur cannot. Always ask a professional for their resume, portfolio with final edited demos, references, and standard price schedule - if they cannot provide these, then you do not want to use them.

By using a family member or friend, you may save some money, but at what cost? If they do not capture what you want, this may taint the relationship for you, and bring back bad memories every time you see them.

Either way you should work with your videographer early in the planning process, so they are aware of lighting, sound, and logistical issues at the wedding location.

Video Options

Wedding videographers can provide options to produce interactive wedding products on the web, CDs/DVDs, and even games. Some videographers offer an option of vignette stories sometimes called a "Love Story". This includes a personalized story about the couple including some history of how you met, dating, the engagement, and experiences leading up to the wedding. The couple may be video taped at some of your favorite locations, walking hand-in-hand or spending fun and romantic time together.

You should provide the videographer with some guidance about using trendy animated effects (zoom, panoramas, transitions) and sound effects. If you want something simple, tell the videographer to control their creative urges. If you want something extravagant, tell them you want "the works". Here are essentially the three types of video options you will find.

Point and Shoot

This option is the least expensive and is simply pointing and shooting at the event to record it as it happens. No special effects or treatments are included unless specifically requested. This can be like a U-Tube type of video, which looks spontaneous and raw.

Documentary

This option is moderate in cost and plays like a tasteful television or movie documentary. The videographer thoughtfully records the event like a storyteller, weaving in dramas, beautiful images, and fashionable transitions and special effects. Extra time is spent editing and arranging the video into scenes and stories. A documentary-style videographer may refer to themselves as a "videojournalist", may have a degree in visual arts, and works with elaborate editing and sound equipment to achieve their effect.

Extravagant Extraordinaire

This option is the most expensive in cost and captures your wedding on official motion picture film just like Hollywood movies. It is sometimes referred to as "cinematic". Significantly more effort and time is necessary to setup the actual filming and in the editing phase. This is an extravagant splurge, but this product can result in a remarkably dazzling masterpiece.

Formal Video

These are some of the more formal, traditional settings for wedding video.

Before the wedding ceremony.

If the Bride and Groom do not want to see each other before the wedding, then this may be more for family and guests as they arrive. You may want to focus especially on the Bride and Groom parents. Informal video that can still benefit from formal poses are behind the scenes video of the Bride preparing with her bridesmaids and the Groom nervously pacing with his best man - these may also be nice to have as emotional reminders.

During the wedding ceremony.

This option should be only for the professional wedding videographer. Guests should be advised not to take video - unless you are OK with hearing the clicks of multiple cameras, which can influence a smooth and somber flow of a wedding ceremony.

Between the wedding ceremony and wedding reception.

The Bride and Groom, Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, and parents are video taped at various sites - the wedding ceremony site (e.g. alter, sanctuary), outside the wedding site, or other visually appealing sites. An important thing to remember is to not make your guests wait for you at the reception. The after ceremony video should be as fast as possible so you can get to the reception in a timely manner.

During the wedding reception.

The Bride and Groom can briefly sneak away to be video taped near the wedding reception area - it is more difficult to get the entire wedding party and parents to get away, but is always an option. Be careful that you do not spend too much time away from your wedding reception guests.

After the wedding reception.

After the grand exit, the Bride and Groom can meet the videographer with more relaxation and no nervousness. The Bride may want to have her makeup re-done, for a fresh appearance.

Informal Video

Your many guests can sometimes capture things that one hired videographer cannot. Ask them to send you any video they take. Encourage your guests to capture candid, humorous, and touching video as the reception unfolds. You may be pleasantly surprised.

May your wedding video provide an interactive, dramatic, romantic, and fun touch to your special day.

We invite you to contact Weddings of Distinction vendors to assist you with all your wedding planning.

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