How Important is a Wedding Video, Plus Pro Tips

Your wedding day will go by in a blink of an eye. Make sure your memories live on forever with a wedding video keepsake. Trust me, I only have one regret from my wedding day: I wish I had hired a wedding videographer.

I made the same mistake many young couples make by assuming that I only needed to hire a wedding photographer. While I love looking at my wedding album, I now wish I had live footage from the celebration. I think of my father’s toast or our officiant’s story of how I met my husband. These moments now live in my memory—but nowhere else.

If I could share one piece of advice with engaged couples, it would be this: hire a wedding videographer. With that in mind, I reached out to seven wedding videographers to find out everything you need to know about wedding videography. 

Keep reading to learn inside tips on how to choose a videographer, decide on a wedding video style, and more. Plus, you can watch real wedding videos to see which styles and techniques suit your tastes.
Your wedding day will be one of the most important days of your life. Make sure you can revisit it again and again with a beautiful wedding video.

1. Why should I hire a wedding videographer?
2. Popular types of wedding videos
3. Wedding video packages
4. Number of videographers needed on site
5. What footage to include
6. Long versus short wedding videos
7. Raw footage inclusions
8. What to communicate to your videographer
9. Important questions to ask
10. Wedding videography budget

1. Why should I hire a wedding videographer?

If a picture paints a thousand words, a video paints a million. Dave McQueen, Owner of Amari Productions, walks us through why it’s so important to hire a wedding videographer in the above video:

• Tell the full story
• Elicit an emotional response
• Timeless keepsake
• Preserve audio

Plus, hear from real couples on why choosing to hire a wedding videographer was one of the best decisions they ever made.

2. What are popular types of wedding videos?

“There are so many incredible styles of visual storytelling,” Kenny Hopkins, founder and lead cinematographer of Kenneth Cooper Films tells us. Additionally, Naomi Raiselle, co-owner of GENERATIONS cinemastories, explains, “Every videographer has his or her own style.”

Styles range all across the spectrum. Amanda Gosselin and Jeff Brouillet, co-founders of Ready Set Film, tell us, “Some styles, like ours, are very natural and unobtrusive, whereas others may take a more directive approach.” In those cases, “they’ll pose you or have you re-enact scenes for the video.” 

It’s important to choose a type of video that “resonates with your style and preferences,” Raiselle adds. Gosselin and Brouillet agree. “Choose the style that you feel most connected to, and a style you’ll still enjoy watching on your 50th anniversary.”

Check out some common wedding video styles below:

Classic and Timeless Style

Styles come and go. Fashions change. Go with a classic videography style for a look that never ages.

Don’t confuse classic with boring, however. Hopkins describes this style as “a joyful, romantic, and kickass-capture of the day you have put so much love, energy, and hard work into creating.” 

Cinematic Style

“You may see the word, ‘cinematic’ used by various videographers,” Raiselle tells us. “The word simply means ‘like a movie.’ Some videographers use it to refer to drone footage or slow motion shots.” 

Expect angle shots, atmospheric lighting, filters, and seamless transitions.

Documentary Style

Documentary videos continue to evolve. Raiselle tells us, “‘Documentary’ used to mean that the videographer simply filmed the day as it happened, and edited out what was unnecessary, so the wedding film was in chronological order as the day unfolded. A more recent and creative approach was to use time shifting, so that sound — be it from a toast or the ceremony — might appear with shots of the first look or first dance.” 

Experimental Style

Experimental wedding videography prioritizes mood over a linear narrative. This type of videography is highly edited and features layered scenes with a heavy focus on lighting, sound, and varying pacing.

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See how alternating between aerial shots and close up, intimate moments can capture the breath and scope of your wedding day.

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3. What’s included in a wedding video package?

“This answer will be as unique as each videographer,” Hopkins of Kenneth Cooper Films, tells us. However, according to Hopkins and Dave of Amari Productions, you can generally expect packages that include some variety of the following:

• Time spent on site (usually 6-10 hours)
• Wedding film (creative film anywhere from 5-15 minutes)
• Full length films of the longer parts of your day (ceremony, toasts, formal dances, etc…)
• Editing services

Hopkins also shares some typical add-on features:

• Additional hours on site
• More videographers onsite
• Full weekend coverage
• Longer films
• Shorter films
• Raw footage
• Wedding film albums
• Drone footage

Pro Tip from Ready Set Film: Keep weather and location limitations in mind when considering drone footage.

For couples looking for more flexibility, consider custom videography packages. Hopkins tells us, “We begin with a minimum investment level and then a fully-customizable proposal to perfectly fit the unique wedding film needs. This allows our couples the flexibility to have their rehearsal dinner or Sunday brunch incorporated, expand their coverage hours, or have our fast turnaround social share films that we are known for.” 

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See how speeches can be layered over music for increased emotional depth and poignancy. 

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4. Do I need more than one videographer onsite?

While the answer is open to interpretation, there is a general consensus that you want the ultimate amount of opportunities to capture footage.

“It’s really about cameras,” Colin Lyons, Owner of Colin Lyons Wedding Photography, shares. “One videographer with one camera is too few cameras. However, one videographer with two cameras is often acceptable. Two videographers with two cameras is an improvement, but not critical. Two videographers with four cameras is ideal.” You get the idea.

Bailey Knippa, Wedding Consultant for ​​Reverent Wedding Films, believes that two onsite videographers is always preferable for the following reasons:

• Different angles can be captured from one scene
• The videographer can be in two places at once, if needed
• There are more backup cameras on hand
• There is more footage for editors to work with

Omar Atilano, Owner of Atilano Productions, also believes two videographers are essential when multiple events are happening at the same time. He tells us, “It’s imperative to have more than one videographer to ensure there are different perspectives from the same event.”

There’s another benefit to having an extra videographer onsite. “It can also lead to more creative shots on your wedding day,” Atilano says, “because one of them will document your entire day, while the other will focus on capturing more cinematic-style shots.

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See how the videographer oscillated between the bride and groom’s wedding vows to recreate their love story from start to finish.

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5. What kind of footage should a wedding video include?

“Almost every part of the wedding day, from start to finish, is important,” Bailey Knippa, Wedding Consultant for ​​Reverent Wedding Films, shares. “After the major events are established, it’s time to add in shots of all the details that make the day come alive!” 

Atilano of Atilano Productions shares the top wedding day moments to include:

Atilano reminds couples that it’s not just what’s included, but how it’s included. “In our videos, you can see that we do not create a video that is cookie-cutter style. Instead, we tailor each video based on what makes you and your wedding special.”

Knippa also suggests using a voiceover to “incorporate the emotion and cinematic aspect in the film.” She explains, “We take either voiceover from the officiant, personal vows/letters, or toasts. This allows us to create a timeless and emotional film.”

6. What is the difference between long and short video footage?

“There is a big difference between the long videos that use the sound from the event and the shorter videos that use music overlaying the footage,” Lyons of Colin Lyons Wedding Photography tells us. 

“While you see the shorter videos trend on social media, it’s the longer documentary videos that let you relive your wedding day,” Lyons states. He also explains that shorter, highlight videos require a high-skill shooter and moving camera called a gimbal camera.

7. Do wedding videographers provide raw footage?

Some videographers, like Ready Set Film, provide raw footage at no charge. This, however, is becoming increasingly rare. Raiselle of GENERATIONS cinemastories tells us, “Most studios film with multiple cameras and angles, so that a 6 hour day might result in a dozen hours of raw footage.”

She goes on to say, “If your videographers are filming for a creative edit, there will likely be multiple angles of the same event, shot with several cameras. If the studio were to supply the unedited media of the ceremony, for example, there might be 3-4X more media than the length of the ceremony, so that a half hour ceremony might have 2 hours of unedited media.”

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See how the personalities of the couple, and their loved ones, shine through at every moment of this beautiful wedding video.

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8. What do I need to communicate to my videographer?

First, and foremost, tell your love story. “It is crucial to get to know each couple in advance in order to create a memorable wedding video,” Atilano of Atilano Productions explains. “It’s also important for couples to get to know their vendors, have a conversation with them, and ask them questions.”

In addition to your love story, you’ll want to communicate the look and feel of your celebration. Atilano says, “In order to create a video that is unique, we need to know what kind of vibe you would like at your wedding

The team at ​​Reverent Wedding Films takes the initiative and sends out a form for their couples to complete. “We want to know their story, what is important to them, their style/vibe, and the type of music they like. This will allow our team to have a great understanding of the couple and allows us to create a film catered just for them.”

Atilano suggests telling your videographer the following:

• Why you choose your venue
• Your proposal story
• Fun things about your relationship
• Pre-wedding schedules and locations
• Any unique family arrangements
• Any recent losses in your family

“As you can see, these kinds of topics are also very important to discuss in your consultation call. This way, on the wedding day, everything will just be perfect,” Atilano says.

Pro tip from Colin Lyons Wedding Photography: Let your videographer know if you are writing your own vows and whether you are willing to read part of your private letters aloud into a camera’s microphone. 

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See a wedding videographer in action as he shoots real wedding footage — and learn tips on how to get the perfect wedding video.

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9. Top Questions to Ask Your Videographer

Just as it’s important for your videographer to get to know you, it’s important for you to get to know your videographer. Gosselin and Brouillet of Ready Set Film tell us, “It is important to ask who your videographer will be, because many companies use sub-contractors whose work may not match what you’ve seen in their demos. Ideally you’ll want to work directly with the company owner or an employee with many years of experience.” 

They also tell us that it’s important to ask how many years they’ve been filming weddings and how many weddings they’ve filmed.” Lastly, Make sure to view a selection of their films so you know what to expect for your end product. “For example, if they are editing together the full ceremony for you, then ask for some samples so you can see if the image and sound quality matches up to your expectations.” 

Hopkins of Kenneth Cooper Films agrees. “By asking someone to share some of their favorite works, it will tell you two things. One, how much they love what they do; and two, if their style is a good fit for your wedding. At the same time, if the overall style and vibe of their shared work is how you want your own day to be captured, you know you have found the perfect match.”

Pro Tip from Amari Productions: Ask your videographer if they have any example films from your chosen venue.

GENERATIONS cinemastories and Amari Productions share some additional questions to ask:

• What is your videography style?
• How many weddings do you film a year?
• How many people are on your team?
• What does a typical wedding day look like for you?
• Are you stationary or do you move around to follow the action? 
• How do you dress for the wedding? 
• How do you capture audio of our vows and/or toasts?
• How do you decide what music to use in the wedding video?  
• What equipment do you use?
• What is your editing process?
• When should we expect to receive the final product? 
• How and when will it be delivered? 
• What is the basic cost? 
• What if we want to add hours or products to the original package? 
• How much of a retainer do you require?  
• Do you carry liability insurance?

Lastly, Hopkins of Kenneth Cooper Films reminds couples to ask whether a videographer is willing to travel. “If you love someone’s work and they are not in your immediate venue location, ask if they travel,” he says. “We frequently travel all over to tell the love stories of our couples, and know that it’s totally worth it to bring them along once you’ve fallen in love with a style and film company.

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10. How much should you spend on wedding videography?

According to The Wedding Report, Inc, couples allocate an average of 6.3% of their wedding budget to wedding videography.

“Every studio has its own packages,” Raiselle of GENERATIONS cinemastories says. “Generally, the hours spent filming the day and the length of the finished product will determine the final cost.” 

“The more cameras, the longer the editing, and that is reflected in the cost,” Lyons of Colin Lyons Wedding Photography adds.

Add-ons such as drone footage, full-weekend wedding coverage, and other additional bells and whistles will also increase your overall wedding video costs.

People Also Ask…

Where can I find a wedding videographer?

Head to PartySlate’s curated vendor directory to find the best wedding videographers near you. Use the filters to narrow your search by location, event type, services, and more. If you see a videographer you like, make sure to click into their PartySlate profile to see real examples of their work and learn more about their business.

You can also scroll down to the “Meet the Experts Section” to reach out directly to some of our favorite videographers. 

Where can I find additional wedding vendors? 

You can also use PartySlate’s curated vendor directory to find your entire team of wedding vendors. Search for planners, photographers, caterers, entertainment, and more. Again, make sure to use the filters to narrow your search and find your best match.

Meet the Panel

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