Is a wedding film really worth it?

by | Jun 20, 2016

Congratulations.

You’re getting married.

It’s a whirlwind of emotions all round.

And now the hard work begins.

And it probably won’t stop until the morning of your wedding.

If you’ve pulled everything together then perhaps not even then.

The problem for most couples who don’t commission a wedding planner to organise their day.. (and actually you seriously should consider you DO) … is that you’re NOT a professional Wedding Planner.

But I understand the desire to DIY.

And if not completely, there will certainly be some elements of the day you want control over.

Why shouldn’t you want to do your own research…. flick through wedding magazines, peruse blogs, scroll through hundreds of wedding Facebook pages and communities, try on different dresses in different shops, visit more than one venue…. the list goes on.

That’s all part of the fun of getting married.

You’ll probably have an idea in your head of the style of Wedding Photographer you want too.

Reportage, editorial, fine art … but then you might need some guidance as to where to find your dream photographer and perhaps you might even need some guidance on what to spend.

Photography is usually one of the most important considerations for any couple getting married.

But WAY down many couples’ lists is  Wedding Videography.

Perhaps it’s the stereotype of the 80s style wedding film, which by the way, should be kept back in the 80s.

It could be that you’re worried about being on camera or in focus all day.

You might be worried about the intrusion of more cameras that just that of the photographer’s.

Or it could you don’t understand the worth of a well-made wedding film, which in turns reflects where you place this service in your order of priorities and ultimately the budget you have ‘left over’ for a film.

So it’s up to Planners, Blogs and Videographers themselves to allay those so-called concerns and convince you that a well-made wedding film is worth its weight in gold…

Since Debbie and Matt posted their wedding film on Facebook they’ve been inundated by fabulous comments from their friends and family.

There were comments on their Facebook page from people who were at the wedding …

“Phenomenal! Breathtaking, I know I will watch this again & again.”

And.

“So romantic and beautiful!”

From some people who weren’t at the wedding,

“Awesome. Looks like a beautiful day Debs. Brought a tear to my eye. The film really captures the moment.”

And.

“What a fantastic piece of film. Captures the moments perfectly. Incredible job!”

Debbie and Matt knew from early on that a wedding film was going to be a priority for them. But that is unusual.

Marilou and Andy had booked everything for their wedding in May last year at The Priory Cottages.

Videography, as is often the case, wasn’t even on their radar.

It was actually a friend who suggested to them they should consider it.

The venue recommended me to them and after watching a few of my trailers they booked me to tell their story.

I can honestly say that it wasn’t until they saw their own film that they realised the significance of their investment

“When my husband and I sat together to watch the ’sneak peek’ film both of us had tears streaming down our faces.  It told a story – actually it told OUR story in a way that a photograph never could.”

And this is the point.

A photograph captures a moment in time.

A film is much more than that.

Moving images with sound capture the atmosphere and the emotion of the day in a way a photograph never could.

Hearing your vows all over again, watching the speeches and listening to the nervousness or excitement and joy in peoples’ voices.

This is something only a wedding film can capture.

It’s a sad thought.

But I’ve had couples book me simply because they have an elderly or ill relative they want to remember in a special way and they understand that this is the only way they might be able to feel close to them, over and over again.

A bride from 2014 recently contacted me to order a film of the speeches in full because her step-father had died unexpectedly and she couldn’t remember what he’d said to her on the day.

But that’s the point isn’t it?

Your wedding day goes by in a whirl.

There’s not time to chat to everyone you’ve invited.

You can’t possibly see all the happiness of the day … you have to have your photographs done, you’re sitting on the top table and you haven’t got eyes in the back of your head to watch your friends and family’s reaction to when you’re exchanging rings.

And what about having the chance to see what each of you have been up to on the morning of the wedding, when you’re both getting ready.

Or even in the moments before you actually say I do.

And remove those fears of a Videographer being intrusive.  Any experienced filmmaker will be no more or less part of your day than anyone else.

We’re here to help your day run smoothly, just like every other supplier on the day.

And as for the kit.  Well that depends on the Videographer you choose and should be part of the selection process.

Yes, some have a lot of kit but most, like myself, have a cameras no bigger than the Photographer’s.

I can’t tell you how many times wedding guests come up to me and ask me to ‘take their photo’.

The only clue is that there’s usually a small microphone attached to the top of the camera itself and most Videographers also use a monopod too.

And finally.

After the day itself.

What better way to share it than with your film trailer that you can share anytime, anywhere on your mobile device.

It’s a lot easier to share these highlights in a film trailer than in an album of hundreds of photographs.

Clare and David from Dublin now live in Dubai and decided to get married in France.

Not everyone could make it to their wedding and I’m pretty sure that’s one of the reasons that within two days of having this trailer, it had been watched over a thousand times.

A well-made wedding film simply brings your day back to life again. And again.

Still not convinced?

Well don’t take my word for it.

Perhaps Marilou and Andy can help with that …

 

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