It’s the beginning of May now and inquiries are flying in fast and furious for last minute requests. Inevitably this means, I’ll have to break some hearts because we’re already booked.

Truly, I hate doing that. And I want to offer a bit of booking advice so that you can avoid a similar fate.

I know how tempting it is to put off making a decision on video because of either planning overwhelm or you just aren’t sure you really want it. But it’s really important that you think about it sooner than later.

To make sure you get your favorite wedding videographer there are certain dates you have to book far in advance

These are the most popular months to get married

In the northeast: September, May, October, and June are the hottest months. These months get booked out first and the get booked very fast, at least 12 months in advance kind of fast.

Which means it’s a good idea to book your wedding videographer when you book your photographer if you’re getting married in one of these popular months.

What are the most popular days of the week to get married?

Saturday weddings are most popular followed by Sundays with Fridays coming in close behind. If you’re a couple looking for wedding videography for a Saturday wedding, you’re one of the people who need to get into decision mode if you want your first choice of great videographers.

Popular holiday weekends to get married

Cape Cod is a stunning location for destination weddings and that means that holiday weekends are popular time to get married. It’s convenient for friends and family to come for an extra day or two. It gives everyone a little vacation along with a party and it means… a potentially multi-day party.

Labor Day, Columbus Day, Fourth of July, and Memorial Day are all popular holiday weekends for New England destination weddings.

If you’re planning a wedding on one of these holidays, you’ve got to think ahead.

Do you want to Book a wedding videographer on a popular wedding date?

In short, book your wedding videography team as soon as you have made the decision that you want a wedding video.

If you wait, there’s an excellent chance that your first, second, or even third choice for videographer won’t be available for a wedding on a Saturday in September.

We book our September weddings 12+ months in advance.

We’re already getting inquiries for 2020 and we’re not even a quarter of the way through 2018 yet.

We’ve had to turn down couples that couldn’t wait to work with us… but didn’t inquire soon enough. We hate turning those couples down, it truly breaks our hearts.

But what if you don’t really know if you want a wedding video yet?

Talk to us. (Or any vendor.)

Inquire about getting a video, don’t lurk. (Oh. how I love to lurk. Trust me, I know and love the lurking. I’m a huge fan of the lurking… but this is not the time nor the place for said lurking.)

Get on your potential wedding videographer’s radar ASAP. Inevitably, more than one couple will inquire about a popular wedding date and they’ll keep you in the know.

We let all the interested parties know that there are other people looking at booking wedding video on that date.

Everyone who inquires with us is amazing and we really want to work with everyone. But we won’t be able to.

We’re not scary, we’re not going to give you the hard sell. And most of us don’t like to talk on the phone either (ask Sean who has to order take-out in our house… until the end of time).

We genuinely want you to have the best video you can get. And we want to make sure you get your date booked ASAP. Because we know how happy this wedding video is going to make your day every time you watch it.

Not all couples plan on getting a wedding video at first.

Which means all too often it’s a last minute decision (one that really needs to be made sooner than later).

It can be a hard decision to make when coming up with up with your budget and wedding overwhelm is real. There’s so much to decide on and if you’re not the kind of person that video is an immediate “YES!” trying to figure out if you actually want one can be a long process.

And when it’s hard make that decision, booking a wedding video is often pushed to the last minute. Waiting until few months before the wedding to book wedding videography can be disastrous, especially when it comes to popular wedding dates (like any date in September).

Most upscale wedding videographers book their dates 6-12 months in advance—which can make getting your ideal videographer impossible and a more stressful search that it needs to be.

So how can this process be easier for you?

The 5 most common struggles couples have when deciding to get a wedding video

1. Are we really going to watch our wedding video?

There’s a lot to the question of “should I get a wedding video if I’m not going to watch it ALL the time”?

And there’s a lot more to unpack in that question that it first seems.

First, let’s consider what a wedding video REALLY is.

Because it’s not like wedding photography.

A wedding video is the single closest thing to reliving your wedding that you can possibly have. There is no other way to hear your vows, watch your first dance, and listen to your toasts. Pictures don’t have that ability.

For all the things in your wedding that you experience only ONE TIME—walking down the aisle, your vows, your first kiss as a married couple, first dance, the way your parents react, the heartfelt speeches that are given—even if you only watch your video once a year, wedding videography gives you the ability to experience all of it all over again.

Everything you invested to make your wedding what it is: your time, your heart, your energy, (and yes, that big chunk of money)… wedding videography lets you experience the result of your hard work of that as many times as you want.

It’s an investment in life, in memories, and experiences and that investment is one that compounds with interest over the years so that decades later it’s utterly priceless.

So when it comes to whether or not it’s worth it to get a wedding video—that value doesn’t come from the number of times you watch it but the quality of the memories it preserves for you and your entire family.

So how do you figure out if wedding videography is something YOU really want?

I see a lot of brides in forums ask other women for validation on if it’s worth getting wedding video or not. I can tell you for sure, that’s not the place to figure that out for yourself because it’s subjective for everyone.

For every person who hated their video and tells you it’s just FOMO and don’t waste your money there’s going to be someone else loved their wedding video and they’re going to tell you it’s a must-have.

None of this means boo unless you know yourself. In the end, you’re the only one who matters and the only person who knows you and your fiancé is you.

Consider your personalities. Are you introverted, extroverted, or an ambivert (a combination of the two). Do you watch wedding videos online of perfect strangers, get addicted, and cry? If so, then a cinematic wedding video is going to be up your alley.

This fact is still true: 98% of couples who decided against getting video regretted the decision immediately after their wedding because they didn’t realize they would miss so much of the day that they took over a year to plan.

An off the cuff “no” might be jumping the gun.

It’s important to think long term and of your family and friends, too. Do you have close relatives that would love to watch this? Are you planning to have a family of your own? Would you want to have your film for them to watch as they grow up?

 2. Can we afford to get a quality wedding video?

Price alone should not dictate your wedding videography choice when you have room for videography in your wedding budget. So many times I see brides contemplating what to do with the extra money in their budget.

Zola’s wedding planning survey actually found that couples #1 regret was not spending more on a wedding videographer.  Not. Spending. More?! I know… hear me out.

Most of the time when people hate their wedding video is not because they’re not wedding video people or unsentimental but because the wedding video isn’t high quality. It doesn’t represent them. The video doesn’t tell a story. It doesn’t have the intimacy that it should and therefore no connection. Of course you’d hate that! I’d hate it and think it was a waste of money, too.

Budget wedding studios tend to hire inexperienced freelancers who don’t know the shots to get that will make a good story. The edit the videos indiscriminately, just kind of chopping and sticking it all together without feeling.

High quality wedding video is something you’ll have forever and that brings a lot of worth to the table.

Your wedding video has some of the highest return on investment of any wedding purchase you’ll make because the wedding video watching experience is unlike any other. It’s such an interactive experience and it’s one you get to enjoy as often as you like. The feeling that returns when you watch your wedding video is incomparable to any other product because it takes you back in time.

Plus, many videographers (like us!) will be happy to work out payment plans with you but be wary of negotiating for low prices. Videographers know what they’re worth and they won’t offer a lower price without taking something away, usually time and effort, and a rushed product is hardly worth the savings you’re trying to squeak out.

3. Do we want to add a wedding videographer to our growing vendor list?

Planning a wedding is both exhilarating and exhausting.

The average wedding uses 13 different vendors to pull their big day together and the thought of adding one more vendor can seem like it’s just too much to handle.

That said, video is a special kind of time capsule that even photographs can’t compete with.

Unlike photos which snap just a fraction of a moment, video captures the fluidity of your entire day. All of your wedding’s special moments, both big and small, are captured and edited together to create something that’s magic. You’ll be swept back into the moment like it was just yesterday.

But you aren’t going to find this experience with everyone. It’s going to take extra effort into finding the right videographer for you—but it’ll be worth it.

The earlier you start with your search for the perfect videographer the easier it’s going to be on your planning process.

4. Will it be awkward to have a video camera on us all day?

Rarely do I find someone who jumps up and down to have a camera pointed at them all day.

To some degree, we all feel odd when we have a camera pointed at us.

Videographers are nearly indistinguishable from photographers. Most of the time you and your guests can’t tell if you’re being filmed or having a picture taken. (I have to tell people not to strike a static pose all the time.)

When you’re in the thick of your wedding you aren’t going to be thinking of performing for a camera. No one will be. It’s your wedding… and there happens to be cameras there.

You want to make sure you hire a wedding cinematography team who have stand-back approach.

The first dance should just be you on the dance floor, not you and your video team people.

Unfortunately, sometimes even some very nice videographers end up in your face during your first dance (which is not only distracting to you but it ruins the shot for your wedding photographer who won’t be able to commemorate the moment for you without getting the videographer in there).

This makes for a VERY cool shot for them.

But you want to make sure you ask them about their method of shooting. How do they work with their clients? Be point blank. Ask them the exact thing you don’t want to have happen. Get your answer up front, there’s no need for you to be guessing and hoping.

A studio like ours respects your space. We stay out of your personal space, we don’t orchestrate scenes, and you aren’t asked to perform. Everything comes out entirely natural.

5. What if I end up with a bad videographer and I get a wedding video I hate?

There’s plenty of proof throughout the internet that bad videographers exist. The best way to avoid a wedding video you won’t watch is to make sure you hire someone with a solid reputation. A studio that shoots in a style that you are in love with—I mean totally and utterly adore.

If you love vintage film, a modern videographer isn’t gonna cut it for you—no matter how attractive the deal is.

Love the idea of feeling like your life is a movie? Then make sure you hire someone who films and edits with a cinematic technique in mind. Because the sequential timeline of a documentary style wedding video is going to feel a bit stale when you want to be blown away by emotions and storytelling.

When you get the thing you’re in love with, you cherish it forever.

This is universal for pretty much everything. Clothing, furniture, the same dish you order at your favorite restaurant. You know the quality you love and when you’re dealing with something this important, it’s best not to fight what you love.

Your wedding video is not when you want to go with something that’s “good enough”.

Just “good enough” is the kind of wedding film that gets watched one or two times and then tossed in a drawer until one of your 10 year old kids finds it; watches it out of novelty for the weird clothes everyone was wearing, and then make fun of your hair. (I *never* did this to my mother, ever… ahem.)

Trust your friends recommendations. Trust your photographer’s recommendations.

If you’re the first in your crowd to get married, do what you need to do to get to know your vendors. We take pride in developing relationships with all our clients. Get on the phone with them.

I know (omg, I know) getting on the phone is not most people want to do. I’m with you, I’m an introvert. I hate the phone (ask Sean, I won’t call to order a pizza). But I also know it’s one of the best ways to get to know someone if you can’t meet in person. So much nuance gets lost in text and email.

We’re completely invested in the outcome of our clients wedding and their final film. We’re in touch with them all the way from their first encounter with us to their first anniversary (and sometimes even beyond) because it’s so important to us that we have an amazing relationship with you.

Use your best judgement when picking a wedding videographer

Seasoned wedding professionals will be a higher investment. But it’s worth it.

When you buy only one wedding film in your lifetime, you want to make sure you get exactly what you want. There are no re-dos with wedding videography. It can’t be restaged like wedding photos.

Invest in a true professional. The value is in their years of experience, eye for artistic composition, and stringent professionalism when it comes to working with you and other vendors (your photographer will thank you for this).

Be wary of falling into the shiny object trap.

Just because you can get ALL OF THE THINGS in one videography studio’s package doesn’t mean they’re a better value. When it comes to an experience, you need to focus on their skills and working relationship.

If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

It’s not uncommon to want a low key wedding. You’ve hired a wedding photographer but what about wedding video?

Is it worth hiring a wedding studio for such a small event? Would it be weird?

Yes, it’s worth it and no it’s not weird to have a small wedding filmed. It’s about what is important to you.

The trick is knowing if a wedding film is something that’s important to you or not.

Which in itself sounds like a trick question.

If you’ve spent any time in wedding forums you know that there can be a serious case of FOMO going on in there. And it’s 100% legitimate.

But are these things really for YOU?

For every, “OMG IT’S A MUST HAVE!” you’re gonna find someone with an equally enthusiastic POV of, “It’s a TOTAL waste of money! Save it for your honeymoon or put it toward a downpayment on a house!”

Who’s right? Well, they both are.

It’s about what’s important to each couple and what you want to take away from your wedding experience. Everyone has a different personality and a different take on it.

If you’re basing the value of your wedding film solely on the number of times a year you’ll watch it, then it’s probably not that important to you.

Why? Because you’re considering something for the number of uses verse the value to your soul.

There’s a big difference between “I don’t want it because I’ll watch it once and forget about it,” and “We watch it once a year and it’s pure magic. It takes us back to our wedding every single time.”

Art is not something that has inherent value.

Art adds value to your life. And your wedding video is art.

“I’ll only watch this once or twice,” is a common declaration from people who don’t want a wedding video. And that’s totally legit. It doesn’t sound like something you’re going to regret if it comes out with shaky footage or bad audio because it wasn’t professional quality. So either don’t get one or don’t put it in the “must spend a lot of money” category.

But for the people who are going to feel like they missed out on their wedding, those are the people who should consider making a wedding video one of the highest priorities (like picking your wedding photographer-type of high priority).

Still not sure if this is you?

These tend to be the kind of people who to rewatch their favorite movies no matter how many times they’ve seen them (like me). Maybe they grew up with family videos (like Sean). Or they want a keepsake they’re going to feel amazing about (like all of our past couples).

They also know they’re not going to remember much of anything about their wedding. It’s such an incredibly intense day filled with adrenaline. And when you’re that pumped on adrenaline, you don’t remember the entire experience.

You can’t. Don’t believe me?

Some of these brides found their wedding day to be so intense they don’t remember their wedding night… (ahem, if you know what I mean).

Think you’ll remember every word of those vows if the chances of remember if you had sex that night are that low?

We’ve filmed many small and intimate weddings for couples

We’ve filmed many small weddings, some that were just immediate family members getting together for a short ceremony and the rest of the day was about having fun—without a formal reception.

For these small wedding couples, it was about capturing a moment they never want to forget. A glorious day of fun and togetherness that they will always share.

Reliving your wedding day through video, regardless of the size and grandiosity of your wedding, is a powerful reminder of your bond with family and friends, and how much they enjoy each others company and hijinks.

A small gathering wedding video is beautiful, simple and epic all rolled into one.

A well-made wedding video provides you with visceral memories that will remain just seconds away from your fingertips any time you want to relive them. It doesn’t matter how big or small the size of your wedding is.

Our minds get hazy and our memories soften with age.

Getting a wedding video can be down-right magical when it comes to refreshing old memories, it’s different than photos. Video captures every bit of the scene as it happens which allows you to re-experience your wedding in a powerful way.

Is wedding video a priority for you?

This is an area where I’m going to say “Go big or go home.” When you purchase something that’s “good enough” just to cover your bases… you tend not to love it and loving it means the difference between a wedding film you have on near endless repeat and something you watch once or twice and then kind of forget about.

If your priority is about having a fun wedding video that gives you all of the feels—one you’re going to cherish and watching it on repeat endlessly—then book your wedding date with a good videographer as soon as possible. I always tell couples that it doesn’t have to be me—this isn’t a sales pitch. But for the love of all things you cherish, get the best quality that you can afford without compromising.

How a great pair of jeans makes you feel sexy relates to how great wedding video will make your life and memories feel amazing.

Have you ever bought a pile of jeans that you thought was a good deal because you wanted to stretch your money and get more for less?

I know I have. I was literally just doing that with boots the other day. “But this one’s a better deaaalllll. If I get size 9 they’re $20 less than the size 8 that’s probably going to fit better.”

Uh huh. And you know how many times I’d wear that better-fitting size 8 than those $20-cheaper size 9s? Right. (Honest to god, I said those words to my husband and my whining is not being exaggerated. That happened too. Which thankfully is what made me stop in my tracks.)

And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done this with jeans, too!

How many times I should’ve just gotten the $150 jeans I wanted instead of 3 pair of $50 jeans? The $50 jeans that I don’t wear because the fit isn’t quite right and they don’t give me the same feeling as the pair I really wanted.

And how often would I have worn the $150 jeans?

I know the answer. I would wear them until the seamstress refused to repair them anymore because I’ve had them so long and worn them to shreds. Because I have. And why haven’t I learned? (I don’t really have an answer for this, it’s just a cautionary tale.)

It’s the exact same thing that happens when couples get an “OK” wedding video.

Your wedding video shouldn’t be “good enough” for you, it should be GREAT.

“Good enough” is going to get a couple of plays and then be forgotten. But a great wedding video will become an heirloom that increases in value with every passing day. You’ll watch it obsessively. Your kids will watch it obsessively.

Common worries about wedding videography

“I worry that a wedding videographer be invasive to the guests at my small wedding.”

History hasn’t been kind to the field of videography. It’s gotten a bad rap because our predecessors were invasive. Filming techniques and expectations were different back then.

These days good videographers are unobtrusive (keyword here is: good). We know how to blend into the background capturing all of your important moments while keeping our distance and keeping out of the way of other vendors, staff, and your guests.

There still are some bad apples out there that like to feel like they’re a big time movie producer who will jam their cameras and lights all up in your face and get in the way of your wedding photographer.

Generally, you’ll find this kind of behavior comes from inexperienced videographers.

Quality studios know how to film like ninjas. Harborview Studios couples can tell you no one noticed our crew there at all—in fact, some said they genuinely missed the opportunity to interact with us more!

If you’re worried that because that your guests will feel uncomfortable having a camera crew around, hire an experienced wedding film studio.

We’re an inconspicuous bunch that your guests and photographer will appreciate.

“I don’t want people to think I’m being precocious for getting a video for my small wedding.”

If it’s about being judged by people because you hired wedding videographers and photographers for your small, big day… haters gonna hate. You’ve gotta do what’s important to you.

You can’t let the presumption of what someone else thinks of you ruin the fun experience you’re going to have when you open that box, snuggle up with your new spouse, dig in to a bucket of popcorn and watch some of the best times you and your guests have had in your entire life.

You can’t worry about someone judging your choices. Life is short, no one has time for that.

Many couples’ struggle with whether or not to invest in a wedding video.

Is it really worth it? Will they really watch it more than one or two times?

These are definitely the right questions to be asking yourselves.

We find deciding on a wedding video usually hinges on 2 main things:

1. Your personal preference for watching movies
2. Whether or not you get a good video

Like most things in life, it’s the experience you have that makes watching your wedding video worthwhile. And sometimes when you’re not quite sure what to do with a wedding video even if you know you want one… it means you have to create a fun reason to put that video on near constant repeat.

We got together with our favorite wedding planner on Cape Cod, Jamie Bolin of Cape Cod Celebrations who plans fabulous celebrations (of both large and small variety), to get her take on how to make watching your wedding video just as much fun as when you first made it.

Jamie recommended five things that you and your love can do to endlessly enjoy watching the wedding video you invested in.

1. Create a special viewing the first time you watch your wedding video

For your first watch, I definitely recommend watching it with just the two of you first. This is going to be the first time you both see your wedding from a guest point of view and it’s going to be overwhelming in all the best ways possible.

Take in this special moment. In all of the craziness of your wedding and the time since it was over, you’ll have forgotten a lot of details. You’ll be surprised that you’ve also forgotten some of the big details like your vows. Adrenaline runs high and constant during your wedding day and you lose a lot of what you want to remember in the excitement of the day. This is going to be the first time you get to take in your wedding as you planned it.

You’ll see guests you didn’t get to spend much time with, the cocktail hour you didn’t get to participate in, yourselves walking down the aisle, and your parents’ reactions. It really is an overpowering moment. You’ll be happy you took the time to be in each other’s company before sharing the experience with anyone else.

Snuggle up together with a glass of wine, cup of tea, or your beverage of choice and a box of tissues (even if you don’t think you will, you’re going to need them) and get ready to relive the best day of your life!

2. Host a wedding video viewing party

Wedding videos are so different than they were in the past. Cinematic style wedding videos truly play like Hollywood-style movies and it makes for a fun watch for just about everyone, hosting a watch party is a perfect way for everyone to re-experience the day.

Make it as casual or fancy as you’d like. You can either order a few of pizzas from your favorite pizzeria or go as big as recreating some of the favorite foods served at your wedding—including any signature drinks of course!

Be realistic about who you invite. Not everyone is going to want to attend a viewing of your wedding video, so make sure it’s close friends and family who are going to have an amazing time reliving those memories.

I love the idea of making it into an interactive game! Every time the bride and groom kiss, everyone eats a Hershey’s kiss. When you see Uncle Joe everyone high fives. (You could also make it a drinking game, but we don’t want to be the ones to suggest imbibing too heavily while watching your wedding video!)

And definitely make a point of Instagramming everyone’s reaction and post using your wedding hashtag.

3. Share your love!

If you are a fan of social media, then definitely share your video with your friends and family that could not be there in person.

Keep the excitement of the day going and make it go viral among friends and family using your wedding hashtag! Get that love spread around-the world needs to be inspired by your true love, this is not the time to be bashful.

4. Create tradition for your wedding anniversary

I recommend watching your wedding video every year on your anniversary (naturally)! You will be surprised how different and more special the video will become year after year. As you, your friends, and you family change throughout time you all get to look back fondly on the memories you all created together. Those bonds become stronger with each viewing.

5. Make it a long-term legacy

One surprising and welcomed side-effect wedding videos have on couples is that it reminds them of their everlasting love and commitment to each other.

Relationships take work and there will be challenging times for all couples. The realism that a wedding video can provide is a perfect way to remind yourselves of how you love you are, despite the balled up dirty socks that never get picked up or how the dishwasher is always loaded wrong. There are no hazy memories that you have to struggle to recall, its all there in front of you in living color.

If/when you have kids, make it a point to include them when you watch it every year on your anniversary. It’s so cool for them to see their parents when they go married. It helps them to see their parents as people versus the parental they’ve always known telling them to get their rooms picked up. It’s a wonderful way to help your kids see you in a new dimension and sparks new conversations between all of you with this new shared bond.

I completely understand why couples wonder if getting a wedding video is worth it and those concerns are 100% valid. I’ve also seen many couples regret that they skipped it.

Never have I seen any couple regret that they got the videographer that they truly wanted.

After your wedding has gone by those past questions of “should you get video” completely melt away and you’ll be so happy that you chose to capture your day in sound and motion!

 

Have you worked with my wedding photographer?

This is a must-ask question for videographers and photographers during your booking process because it has an enormous impact on your entire wedding day.

That said, it’s also a question that’s often missed during the vetting process.

Why do your wedding videographer and photographer need to get along?

Because these two are the only vendors that are with you for your entire wedding day and they’ve got to get all the shots of all the things that matter most to you.

It’s important that YOU get along with them.

It’s also important that they get along with each other, or at the very least respect each other’s space, because there’s only get one chance to get the most important shots.

And the last thing you want is a picture of the videographer as a third partner in your first dance or have a photographer parked in the middle of the center aisle shot of your video for your entire wedding.

Weddings are high tension jobs for videographers and photographers.

Because of this, friction can develop between your videographer and photographer if their work styles differ.

You don’t want the hassle of wondering, “Are my vendors are playing nicely with each other, or are they struggling with each other to get the same shot?”

Because they’re with you every step of your wedding day—even if you don’t see the tension between the videographer and photographer, you’ll definitely feel it.

These two vendors need to work seamlessly as a team to ensure you have the best experience possible and stay on time while doing it.

Some photographers have it in their contract that if you don’t hire their recommended videographers, they can’t guarantee your important shots. The vendors they’re recommending might be more money than the videographer that you’re eyeing up. But it’s the difference between having a carefree amazing time with these two vendors and having a stressful experience.

This is why it’s critical that you ask if they’ve worked together and get along before you book your vendors.

Don’t take chances with your wedding vendors.

One of the most important steps in my process is to reach out to photographers I’m unfamiliar with before your wedding day.

I introduce myself, talk about my team, and discuss our collective working styles. Even if the photographer has a bias against videographers, this goodwill gesture goes a long way towards a more peaceful coexistence come your wedding day. In the end, we all have an understanding that there’s a job to do. And the day will proceed with much greater precision and ease if we all work together.

Although we have different roles to play in your wedding, the end goal is the same: a happy couple. And that’s a win-win for everyone.

 

Yes, and this is why…

Not getting a wedding film is the single biggest regret I hear from newlyweds.

They wish they had their wedding day on video.

I’ve heard every possible reason why a couple may turn down the opportunity to have their wedding day filmed. Everything from, “It’s not in our budget” to “I don’t think we’ll ever watch it.”

But when the festivities have ended and the last guest has said their goodbyes most newlyweds turn to each other and wonder what just happened. There’s so much you’ll have missed and you don’t think about that in advance (and why would you, really). There are guests that newlyweds didn’t get to spend as much time with as they wanted to, they never got to see cocktail hour, or the reactions of your guests as you walk down the aisle.

It’s our job to be in the places you aren’t so you don’t miss a single detail about your wedding.

Your wedding day goes by in the blink of an eye.

Your wedding day is a deeply orchestrated event and there is a strict schedule to be kept. You are going to be pulled in 18 different directions by your photographer will need to continue your photos, family will want to give you well-wishes, the DJ needs to know when you want to do the first dance, etc.

There are going to be people at your wedding you didn’t even get to see.

And even though photographs are a great way to remember some of the beautiful sights, nothing will make you feel like you’re there again like a wedding film.

A well produced wedding film that brings the sights and sounds back to you will have you overcome with emotion at every sitting.

Nothing else will make you relive every dance move, every laugh and every tearful word, like your very own wedding video. Photographs can’t do that. Even friend’s iPhone video snippets can’t do that.

Why can’t an amateur videographer do the same thing as a pro?

Remember that strict schedule I mentioned earlier? It’s no joke. You *think* you know what that day is going to be like but nothing can quite prepare you for what is coming for today’s modern weddings.

A professional videographer knows exactly where to be at all times. They have assistants and second shooters.

They know the traditional moments to capture and a great filmmaker will be able to sense the personal moments to capture. Moment’s that no one else would think to film.

A professional wedding film instantly recalls all of the wonderful moments that you experienced but had forgotten and even reveals so much of the day that you simply missed.

A college kid with a camera, a sweet friend, whoever is doing the favor… doesn’t have that kind of timeline awareness.

Size (er… length) of your wedding film matters

Many couples recall their parents wedding films that are 2+ hours long and think, “Good God, I’m never going to watch that more than once.” And I can’t say I blame them.

Great wedding videos aren’t like that.

Modern wedding films take you through every moment—from getting your dress on to the last dance—in under 30 minutes so it doesn’t feel like you’re forcing your friends to sit through an epic, full-length Lord of the Rings feature.

Your film will bring all those amazing memories back and do it in a way that is fun, refreshing and beautiful.

My aim is to make you want to hit the play button, again, as soon as you’re done watching it the first time. And then again, at least once, every year after.

So… should you get a wedding video?

I think everyone should get the best wedding video that their budget can afford. If your budget only allows for compilation videos shot by guests on iPod—go for it! If you can afford someone who’s more professional—do it!

And if you want to invest in an amazing keepsake that will be heirloom quality, hire someone with amazing credentials and you gel with (that part’s very important).

It doesn’t have to be me. But I do think it’s very important to have wedding video. Why else would I be doing it?