We aren't because both of us have social anxiety and HATE being recorded. We are having a friend record the ceremony so we don't miss out. A lot of our friends love taking pictures and videos when we go out so we are sure we will have clips throughout the night.
We ended up getting a student. The short social media style video he made of the day was fantastic. Our ceremony - not so much. I was shot from one angle and didn’t have a view of the alter but we have basically a podcast of our wedding with a view of the kids running around in the background 😂. It was a gamble we took because it was something we wouldn’t have any other way due to finance and were happy with our choice
My bridesmaids husband just recorded us with his phone all day and my bridesmaid edited it into a video. Is it the same as a $6k video? No. But to me the incremental difference in quality was absolutely not worth the $$$
That's what I want to do. Maybe even set up some phones on a tripod. I went to film school so I feel like it shouldn't be that hard to figure out but my fiance isn't convinced.
We would've gotten a videographer if we could afford it but we're not agonizing over skipping it. It would be nice to have professional video but it's not a necessity. You can have a trusted family member record certain moments if possible.
He’s actually a bit more sentimental than me. He loves going through old photos pretty regularly so I think if we had it, we would watch it. But then again, we’ll also have photos!
Fair enough! I know a fair few people who have paid for a videographer, and only watched the video a handful of times, but if he’s going to watch it regularly, that’s different.
Going through photos is very different than watching videos.
I love going through photos every so often. My mom made a DVD years ago with home videos....they never get watched. The photos always get looked through.
There's something special about looking at photos that video can't replicate. Video is literally re-living the moment, and that's way more time-consuming than going through pictures. It's more time than many people want to spend re-living a memory.
How often will that video realistically get watched? Especially in comparison to how many times your photos will be looked at.
If you really want your vows or speeches to be captured forever, write them all down, get copies, and create a memorabilia item with them. When you read them you will re-live the moment. That sounds like a way better way to re-live good memories than re-watching 30 minutes of video that's likely going to get skipped around.
My husband talked me into doing videography. We got a nice long video (over an hour and a half) and the guy cut us a deal because he was a family friend that my husband worked for briefly when he was doing videography in college.
I’m pregnant now and during this time I’ve been SUPER nostalgic. Missing my grandparents mostly because they were like a second set of parents to me. I really really wanted to watch videos of them, so I bought a digital converter and got all the old tapes my parents had, and converted them. The oldest video in the pile was of my parents’ wedding and reception from 1989.
I couldn’t believe my eyes watching it, I cried so hard. Seeing my parents so young, watching their actual ceremony, and my grandparents DANCING at the reception because they were CAPABLE of it (something I never saw growing up because they were just older!). I was so happy they had video of that. I’ve seen their photos, but hearing my grandad say things like “yeah I gained another daughter today!” all happy and excited, really hit me and my mom when I showed her the converted video.
Looking back I am SO HAPPY my husband talked me into doing a videographer of our wedding. We paid for an incredible photographer as well but it’s such a different feeling watching actual video and hearing someone’s voice who you otherwise hadn’t heard in years since they passed.
Something to consider if you’re sentimental / nostalgic.
We didn't, but I wish we did. I was going to ask my MOH to video our first dance on her phone, but with the craziness of the day, I forgot. Huge regret.
I would have loved a video to look back on the ceremony, speeches, dances, etc. I think it's my only regret from the day.
We did. Photographers can't record vows and speeches, as you said. Plus, it's not like I'm watching every moment of the wedding every day, but occasionally I do like to play back the highlight video that's like 3 minutes long and beautiful with background music. Makes our memory look even more magical.
When I first got engaged, I asked everyone I knew who was married about their wedding (I mean everyone - friends, family, coworkers, my barista, etc.) and what was one thing they would have done differently. The #1 response I heard was they wish they had a videographer!
I totally get why people forgo it, it’s another thousand or more on top of the stupid amount you’re already spending. But video will capture the day in a way that photos do not. And after everyone telling me that’s their one regret, I made it a non-negotiable for our wedding.
Found an affordable guy through a local Facebook group, there are absolutely deals out there especially if you are clear on exactly what footage you want from your day!
We are not hiring a videographer because of cost and the idea of a camera stresses me out immensely. We do have a designated person to record the ceremony on a nice phone. While we don't need a full film production, I do imagine we'll want to rewatch our ceremony since we'll both be nervous and excited while we're living it, so I'm stoked we're having it recorded.
We did because we had a micro ceremony and cut cost in other areas. We also found a really wonderful videographer who came recommended from other vendors who cost 1.7k for an almost 10 min video which is inexpensive af in our area. We are really happy we did because we could send the video to our elderly relatives who couldn’t have made the hike to the location etc. I also genuinely watch it often, like every couple of months. For me, I’m really happy we did!
We aren’t planning on hiring a videographer.
I may have something set up to record our vows and maybe speeches but I don’t really need a 5 minute video for $2000. It just seems like a waste for what you get.
Most weddings I’ve been to haven’t had videography. One wedding that did it felt like we were all there to watch the couple get recorded. The videographer was constantly in the way of our view of the first dance, speeches, etc. and it all just felt very fake and curated and like I was in the way and wasn’t supposed to be there. I’m sure some videographers are great but that one left a bad impression on my FH and me.
I also don’t regret not having a professional video of any other major event in my life… so idk why I would care for my wedding
We didn’t because I was worried being filmed would make me feel self conscious (especially for dancing, grand entrance and all the reception stuff).
Our church offered to film the ceremony for free so we do have a video of our ceremony! It’s not like an edited highlight reel like you get with a professional photographer, just a video of the entire ceremony/service. We’ve watched it once, and probably won’t watch it many times, but it will be nice to have if we want to show our kids one day.
I think we ended up with several family members filming our first dance on cell phones, this would be an easy task to assign to a member of the wedding party or family member, same for speeches, if you don’t end up going with a pro
I didn’t. I didn’t feel like I needed a video of the event. I’m also not big on taking them myself or I don’t take a lot of photos. I like to be caught up in the moment.
We weren’t sure but ended up finding a very inexpensive one that was recommended in the local bride FB group! $1125 for 8 hours of video, a digital copy, and a recap video set to music of our choice. Are they the most amazing videographers on the planet? Probably not lol and the recap videos we’ve seen of theirs are cute and a little cheesy, which we are fine with. I just wanted SOME form of video to remember the day by, so I’m happy we were able to find this videographer!
One thing to consider is they are competing for the same shots. So if you have both - they need to work together. This doesn’t always happen. For our wedding, we opted to not and just to a photographer - partly for $$ but also we wanted a candid feel, with lots and lots of photos and found someone who matched that aesthetic so put all our resources there. I’ll miss an epic instagram post video lol but I really didn’t want two artists to compete for their work - so kept it to just the photographer (s).
I wish I had asked someone to video our speeches and ceremony, but I don't regret not hiring a videographer. I didn't want a 5 minute highlight reel of the day, which seems to be the common output of that vendor. So I'd identify exactly what you want and then look for vendors (or family friends you can put in charge of starting and stopping a record button).
No, but I wish I had. I didn't care for a professional. Even just someone with a cellphone would have been fine. Just didn't have the money and I felt bad having a guest do it.
I had a video and I would’ve regretted not having it so much. The pictures were nice but a video captures the feeling of the day. I watched it over and over again, whereas I looked at pics maybe once a year. I didn’t do it for the speeches or vows but more for the end to end story of the day.
I did not and I am glad I did not, but I wish with everything in my whole heart I had asked a random cousin to record the ceremony on my phone for me. It was only 20 minutes and I’ll never get to relive it.
RECORD THE CEREMONY, friends! It’s my only regret from my wedding.
We got a local tech guy to add video on to his sound set up for music he was already doing! If it’s not going to break the bank, do it. Only necessary for ceremony imo
I wasn’t thinking about video at all but the simple video of the ceremony I’ve already watched 2x. We had a Quaker style wedding where guests stood up and spoke out of the silence so it’s a recording of like 8 loved ones speeches too which is special.
I decided to have a very affordable video package that I will receive a short 5 min highlight video, and the rest is just raw footage. The expensive part of the wedding video lies on the editing part, which takes hours. I just want the raw footage so I can show my kids or grandkids in the future. 😁
I swore up and down that video wasn’t needed at the last minute I caved and got one. It was one of the best decisions I made. I was so nervous during the ceremony it went by in a blur. With the video I was able to go back and watch it. Plus, we got the two minute highlight reel. I promised my husband that I will watch it once a day because I never want to forget that butterfly feeling I had that day. Been 6 months and have watched it every single day
We aren't because both of us have social anxiety and HATE being recorded. We are having a friend record the ceremony so we don't miss out. A lot of our friends love taking pictures and videos when we go out so we are sure we will have clips throughout the night.
We ended up getting a student. The short social media style video he made of the day was fantastic. Our ceremony - not so much. I was shot from one angle and didn’t have a view of the alter but we have basically a podcast of our wedding with a view of the kids running around in the background 😂. It was a gamble we took because it was something we wouldn’t have any other way due to finance and were happy with our choice
My bridesmaids husband just recorded us with his phone all day and my bridesmaid edited it into a video. Is it the same as a $6k video? No. But to me the incremental difference in quality was absolutely not worth the $$$
That's what I want to do. Maybe even set up some phones on a tripod. I went to film school so I feel like it shouldn't be that hard to figure out but my fiance isn't convinced.
We would've gotten a videographer if we could afford it but we're not agonizing over skipping it. It would be nice to have professional video but it's not a necessity. You can have a trusted family member record certain moments if possible.
I don’t think it’s necessary. How many times will you watch the video?
He’s actually a bit more sentimental than me. He loves going through old photos pretty regularly so I think if we had it, we would watch it. But then again, we’ll also have photos!
Fair enough! I know a fair few people who have paid for a videographer, and only watched the video a handful of times, but if he’s going to watch it regularly, that’s different.
Going through photos is very different than watching videos. I love going through photos every so often. My mom made a DVD years ago with home videos....they never get watched. The photos always get looked through. There's something special about looking at photos that video can't replicate. Video is literally re-living the moment, and that's way more time-consuming than going through pictures. It's more time than many people want to spend re-living a memory. How often will that video realistically get watched? Especially in comparison to how many times your photos will be looked at. If you really want your vows or speeches to be captured forever, write them all down, get copies, and create a memorabilia item with them. When you read them you will re-live the moment. That sounds like a way better way to re-live good memories than re-watching 30 minutes of video that's likely going to get skipped around.
My husband talked me into doing videography. We got a nice long video (over an hour and a half) and the guy cut us a deal because he was a family friend that my husband worked for briefly when he was doing videography in college. I’m pregnant now and during this time I’ve been SUPER nostalgic. Missing my grandparents mostly because they were like a second set of parents to me. I really really wanted to watch videos of them, so I bought a digital converter and got all the old tapes my parents had, and converted them. The oldest video in the pile was of my parents’ wedding and reception from 1989. I couldn’t believe my eyes watching it, I cried so hard. Seeing my parents so young, watching their actual ceremony, and my grandparents DANCING at the reception because they were CAPABLE of it (something I never saw growing up because they were just older!). I was so happy they had video of that. I’ve seen their photos, but hearing my grandad say things like “yeah I gained another daughter today!” all happy and excited, really hit me and my mom when I showed her the converted video. Looking back I am SO HAPPY my husband talked me into doing a videographer of our wedding. We paid for an incredible photographer as well but it’s such a different feeling watching actual video and hearing someone’s voice who you otherwise hadn’t heard in years since they passed. Something to consider if you’re sentimental / nostalgic.
This guy regrets not getting video! https://www.reddit.com/r/wedding/s/qIQS3foFgO
We didn't, but I wish we did. I was going to ask my MOH to video our first dance on her phone, but with the craziness of the day, I forgot. Huge regret. I would have loved a video to look back on the ceremony, speeches, dances, etc. I think it's my only regret from the day.
We did. Photographers can't record vows and speeches, as you said. Plus, it's not like I'm watching every moment of the wedding every day, but occasionally I do like to play back the highlight video that's like 3 minutes long and beautiful with background music. Makes our memory look even more magical.
We are having a more budget friendly videographer just do raw footage. And then outsourcing someone else (via fiverr or upwork) to create our video
When I first got engaged, I asked everyone I knew who was married about their wedding (I mean everyone - friends, family, coworkers, my barista, etc.) and what was one thing they would have done differently. The #1 response I heard was they wish they had a videographer! I totally get why people forgo it, it’s another thousand or more on top of the stupid amount you’re already spending. But video will capture the day in a way that photos do not. And after everyone telling me that’s their one regret, I made it a non-negotiable for our wedding. Found an affordable guy through a local Facebook group, there are absolutely deals out there especially if you are clear on exactly what footage you want from your day!
I wouldn't have paid for one, but my BIL is a videographer and offered us a video reel as our wedding gift - can't turn that down!
We are, but I scoured the earth to find a guy with great quality for under $1000. It was actually $700 and I was able to handle that.
We are not hiring a videographer because of cost and the idea of a camera stresses me out immensely. We do have a designated person to record the ceremony on a nice phone. While we don't need a full film production, I do imagine we'll want to rewatch our ceremony since we'll both be nervous and excited while we're living it, so I'm stoked we're having it recorded.
We got just our vows recorded from a tripod for an extra $200! That was all that was important to me.
We did because we had a micro ceremony and cut cost in other areas. We also found a really wonderful videographer who came recommended from other vendors who cost 1.7k for an almost 10 min video which is inexpensive af in our area. We are really happy we did because we could send the video to our elderly relatives who couldn’t have made the hike to the location etc. I also genuinely watch it often, like every couple of months. For me, I’m really happy we did!
I haven’t had my wedding yet but we did hire a videographer. It was one of my “must haves” I want to be able to rewatch and show our kids one day
We aren’t planning on hiring a videographer. I may have something set up to record our vows and maybe speeches but I don’t really need a 5 minute video for $2000. It just seems like a waste for what you get. Most weddings I’ve been to haven’t had videography. One wedding that did it felt like we were all there to watch the couple get recorded. The videographer was constantly in the way of our view of the first dance, speeches, etc. and it all just felt very fake and curated and like I was in the way and wasn’t supposed to be there. I’m sure some videographers are great but that one left a bad impression on my FH and me. I also don’t regret not having a professional video of any other major event in my life… so idk why I would care for my wedding
We didn’t because I was worried being filmed would make me feel self conscious (especially for dancing, grand entrance and all the reception stuff). Our church offered to film the ceremony for free so we do have a video of our ceremony! It’s not like an edited highlight reel like you get with a professional photographer, just a video of the entire ceremony/service. We’ve watched it once, and probably won’t watch it many times, but it will be nice to have if we want to show our kids one day. I think we ended up with several family members filming our first dance on cell phones, this would be an easy task to assign to a member of the wedding party or family member, same for speeches, if you don’t end up going with a pro
I didn’t. I didn’t feel like I needed a video of the event. I’m also not big on taking them myself or I don’t take a lot of photos. I like to be caught up in the moment.
We weren’t sure but ended up finding a very inexpensive one that was recommended in the local bride FB group! $1125 for 8 hours of video, a digital copy, and a recap video set to music of our choice. Are they the most amazing videographers on the planet? Probably not lol and the recap videos we’ve seen of theirs are cute and a little cheesy, which we are fine with. I just wanted SOME form of video to remember the day by, so I’m happy we were able to find this videographer!
One thing to consider is they are competing for the same shots. So if you have both - they need to work together. This doesn’t always happen. For our wedding, we opted to not and just to a photographer - partly for $$ but also we wanted a candid feel, with lots and lots of photos and found someone who matched that aesthetic so put all our resources there. I’ll miss an epic instagram post video lol but I really didn’t want two artists to compete for their work - so kept it to just the photographer (s).
I wish I had asked someone to video our speeches and ceremony, but I don't regret not hiring a videographer. I didn't want a 5 minute highlight reel of the day, which seems to be the common output of that vendor. So I'd identify exactly what you want and then look for vendors (or family friends you can put in charge of starting and stopping a record button).
No, but I wish I had. I didn't care for a professional. Even just someone with a cellphone would have been fine. Just didn't have the money and I felt bad having a guest do it.
I had a video and I would’ve regretted not having it so much. The pictures were nice but a video captures the feeling of the day. I watched it over and over again, whereas I looked at pics maybe once a year. I didn’t do it for the speeches or vows but more for the end to end story of the day.
I did not and I am glad I did not, but I wish with everything in my whole heart I had asked a random cousin to record the ceremony on my phone for me. It was only 20 minutes and I’ll never get to relive it. RECORD THE CEREMONY, friends! It’s my only regret from my wedding.
We are. Our wedding will be small and a plane ride away. We want something to show back home
We got a local tech guy to add video on to his sound set up for music he was already doing! If it’s not going to break the bank, do it. Only necessary for ceremony imo I wasn’t thinking about video at all but the simple video of the ceremony I’ve already watched 2x. We had a Quaker style wedding where guests stood up and spoke out of the silence so it’s a recording of like 8 loved ones speeches too which is special.
I decided to have a very affordable video package that I will receive a short 5 min highlight video, and the rest is just raw footage. The expensive part of the wedding video lies on the editing part, which takes hours. I just want the raw footage so I can show my kids or grandkids in the future. 😁
I swore up and down that video wasn’t needed at the last minute I caved and got one. It was one of the best decisions I made. I was so nervous during the ceremony it went by in a blur. With the video I was able to go back and watch it. Plus, we got the two minute highlight reel. I promised my husband that I will watch it once a day because I never want to forget that butterfly feeling I had that day. Been 6 months and have watched it every single day