Should I Get Wedding Videography?
Wedding videography can turn your special day and once-in-a-lifetime memories into a magical movie. More than mere footage, your wedding video can be a time capsule that preserves every emotion, detail, and precious moment for the ages.
That can give you an amazing way to relive your wedding, enjoy parts you didn’t experience, and share your special day with others in the future. Here’s why wedding videography can be an ideal choice for many couples, with a look at:
This wedding videography guide is designed to share the essentials with couples in under ~3 minutes, so they can make the best possible choices for their big day. If you’re ready for a quote for wedding videography, photography, DJs, and/or special add-ons (like confetti, photo booths, and more), simply contact Deux Weddings & Events.
Why You Should Get Wedding Videography
Many engaged couples consider wedding videography to be a must-have service for their big day. That’s because they’re serious about making the most of their wedding — and making sure they get to take advantage of the following.
1. Capturing Moments Beyond Still Life
While photos freeze moments in time, videos bring them to life, preserving beautiful and touching experiences, like the:
Tearful exchange of vows
Applause and cheering when it’s time to “Kiss the Bride”
Joyous laughter during toasts
And all the fun of the reception
Preserving these moments can be a priceless way to relive the day and every moment that made it so extraordinary.
2. Sharing the Day
Few weddings have 100% of the guest list in attendance. That could be due to illness, scheduling conflicts, travel constraints, and many other reasons. It doesn’t mean, however, that these loved ones have to fully miss out on your wedding.
With a professional wedding videographer creating reels and videos, those who couldn’t make it can still watch the footage and experience some of the amazing moments as if they had been there.
With that, wedding videography can be especially meaningful for destination weddings and elopements.
3. Relive Special Moments
Your wedding day can end up feeling like a whirlwind. Everything can go by so fast, and you can’t be everywhere at once. A wedding videographer can make sure you don’t miss out on any part of your ceremony, including the lead-up, the nuptials, and the party that follows.
That can mean capturing:
Behind-the-scenes moments
Candid, heartfelt interactions and reactions
Little details alongside major highlights
A rich perspective that reflects and honors the real magic of your wedding
4. Timeless Keepsake for Future Generations
Decades from now, you and your future children or grandchildren could be watching your wedding video, talking about all of the emotions and moments it depicts. With that, your wedding video could become a new family heirloom that gives your loved ones a chance to enjoy a vivid glimpse of your love story at any point in the future.
5. Professional Quality
With high-quality equipment and an eye for detail, professional wedding videographers can use their expertise to seamlessly tell the wonderful story of your special day through the art of film. From lighting and sound to creative storytelling techniques, editing, and beyond, the right wedding videographer can craft a bespoke movie that you and your family can cherish and rewatch endlessly.
How Much Does Wedding Videography Cost?
Wedding videography costs typically start between $1,500 to $3,500, depending on several factors, including:
Vendor experience: Seasoned videographers charge more for their expertise, creativity, and artistic touches.
Location and destination: Weddings in remote locations may incur travel and/or accommodation fees, possibly adding to the costs of a wedding videographer (and other vendors too).
Coverage time: Some wedding videographers will only film the ceremony while others capture the entire day, from getting ready through the final dance and sendoff. More coverage time can add to wedding videographer costs; however, the additional fees may pale in comparison to the priceless moments that can be captured from the first moments of the big day through its last seconds.
4. Add-ons
Drone footage, highlight reels, and extra shooters can also increase wedding videographer costs while providing additional value. Keep in mind that add-ons can also include wedding photography, DJs and music, photo booths, uplighting, flameless sparklers, and more.
Customizing the add-on options can affect the price of a wedding videographer when these vendors offer packages tailored to your needs, like Deux Weddings & Events does.
Having one vendor handle several aspects of your wedding, however, can be enormously convenient, cutting down on the legwork you (and your vendors) have to do to get everything set for your wedding.
Why Do-It-Yourself Wedding Videography Can Be a Mistake
Some couples may consider DIY wedding videography, especially if they have an aspiring photographer (or influencer) as a friend or family member.
While do-it-yourself wedding videography may seem like a good idea, it can backfire and end up being a short-sided choice for many couples. That’s because DIY wedding photography can come with all sorts of potential drawbacks, including the ones below.
1. Poor Quality
Consumer-grade cameras and smartphones can’t compete with professional equipment. On top of that, DIY wedding videos can end up looking like amateur home movies, with poor lighting, muffled sound, and shaky footage all potentially detracting from the truly special moments of your big day.
2. Missed Moments
Amateur videographers don’t film weddings week after week, like the experienced wedding videographers at Deux Weddings .
Without that experience, DIY wedding videos can fail to capture key moments, guest reactions, and unique shots, omitting essential details that a professional would have had the skill and instinct to capture in real-time.
3. More Stress for Loved Ones
If a friend or family member is put in charge of wedding videography, you’re essentially making them part of the “labor” and taking away from their experience as a guest of your ceremony. That can mean that:
You miss out on opportunities to enjoy your wedding with certain loved ones.
Your loved ones take on a lot more stress in documenting your special day.
Your loved ones may be in minimal (or no) shots in your wedding videos and photos because they’re behind the cameras, instead of in front of them.
4. Poor or No Editing
Editing is a skill that takes time, the right software, and experience connecting distinct moments for the best possible results.
Even if someone manages to capture the key footage, editing a cohesive and emotionally resonant wedding video can require professional touches, perspective, and resources. Poor editing can take away from the beauty of the day.
An Essential Wedding Videography Shot List
Experienced wedding videographers usually have a list of go-to video shots, so they’re sure to record every major part of the ceremony and reception.
To that end, an ideal wedding videography shot list should be comprised of:
Candid shots
Emotional moments
Key points in the marriage ceremony
Highlights of the reception
Several couple shots
Breaking that down more specifically, here’s a walk-through of ten must-have shots for the best wedding videos.
10 Essential Wedding Videography Shots
This shot list can document the essence of your wedding day, preserving visuals, raw emotions, atmosphere, and every incredible detail. Here's why each shot matters, along with a pro tip for capturing each one.
1. The Venue Shot
Establishing the setting, mood, and season of your wedding, venue shots for your wedding video can create a lovely context for the story of your day.
From the entrance to the site of the nuptials and reception, wide angles and drone shots can show the scope, grandeur, and distinct beauty of your venue.
Pro Tip: While drone footage can add a cinematic flair to wedding videos, capturing scenes at sunset can provide a stunning background for next-level vibrance and visual delight.
2. Getting Ready Moments
These moments reflect the anticipation, excitement, and emotions leading up to the ceremony.
They also showcase personal details, like the dress, jewelry, and flowers, as well as people who make up the bride’s and groom’s wedding parties.
Pro Tip: Natural light from windows can create soft, flattering tones. Candid, unposed moments add authenticity, especially with laughter, tears, and other spontaneous expressions of emotion.
3. The First Look
This intimate moment is often brimming with raw emotion and pure excitement, making it one of the most cherished parts of a wedding video.
Pro Tip: Positioning is crucial to capture the reactions of the couple seeing each other and their loved ones seeing the couple. Private settings for first-look moments can make these shots feel more personal, special, and uninterrupted.
4. Ceremony Highlights
The vows, ring exchange, and first kiss can serve as the heart of a wedding and the videographer’s shot list for it.
Pro Tip: Use multiple camera angles — like wide, close-up, and side views — to capture every detail flawlessly.
5. Guest Reactions
Seeing guests smile, laugh, and even tear up can add a meaningful layer to your wedding video.
Their joy and emotional responses can reflect the love and support they share for you on your big day.
Pro Tip: For bigger weddings, a second or third videographer may be integral to capturing guest reactions during key moments, like vows and the first dance.
6. The First Dance
Symbolic and emotional, the first dance is a key moment in a wedding videography shot list that can capture the couple’s connection.
Kicking off many receptions, the first dance is often a highlight of wedding videos and reels.
Pro Tip: Use a steady cam or glide cam for smooth, cinematic movements. Incorporate slow motion for a romantic effect.
7. Toasts & Speeches
Speeches from loved ones often include heartfelt messages, funny anecdotes, and words of wisdom, making them an emotional treasure and a critical part of wedding videos.
Pro Tip: Use a high-quality microphone to ensure clear audio. Record reaction shots from the couple and their guests for added emotional depth.
8. Candid Guest Moments
Full of energy, excitement, and fun, candidate guest moments — from kids dancing to guests chatting and laughing — can communicate the personality, charm, and unique joy of your wedding.
Pro Tip: Look for natural interactions rather than staged moments. Capture guests during dinner, mingling, and even boogying on the dance floor.
9. Sunset or Golden Hour Shots
With soft, flattering light, sunset wedding shots can add more mystique to any scene, creating an ideal, colorful backdrop for romantic couple shots, venue shots, and more.
Pro Tip: Look up the exact time of sunset on the day of the wedding and keep an eye on the weather. Depending on the season and location of the wedding, the window for sunset shots may be very limited.
10. The Send-Off or Grand Exit
The Grand Exit is a celebratory and symbolic moment marking the start of your new life together.
Whether celebrated with sparklers, confetti, flower petals, fireworks, or other fanfare, this can be the perfect conclusion to an enchanting wedding video, ending on a visually stunning note that seems as though it came right out of a fairytale.
Pro Tip: Use slow motion to enhance the impact of the exit. Make sure guests know where to stand to create a symmetrical, picture-perfect pathway.
These 10 shots can create a well-rounded narrative for any wedding video, capturing the emotional highs, intimate details, and joyful energy of the day.
By working with a professional videographer at Deux Weddings, you can be more confident every moment is captured with outstanding skill, creativity, and attention to detail for gorgeous results.
4 Popular Wedding Videography Styles
Wedding videography styles can vary widely. So, you’ll want to choose a style that reflects your personality.
To that end, a handful of the more popular wedding videography styles include:
Cinematic Wedding Videography, often marked by dramatic angles, slow motion, and emotional music
Documentary Style, with a chronological, natural representation of the day’s events
Highlight Reels, comprised of short, high-energy videos showcasing the best moments
Vintage Inspired for a nostalgic aesthetic with sepia tones and/or Super 8-style footage.
You may not be limited to one style or option, depending on the wedding videographer you partner with — and the most experienced professionals will be able to recommend better options, based on your theme and other elements of your big day.
15 Lovely Wedding Videography Songs
Wedding video music can bring an indescribable emotional impact, instantly communicating the vibe, intensity, and feeling of different parts of the ceremony and celebration.
Some of the most popular choices for wedding video songs are detailed below, with an array of options from timeless classics to modern hits.
5 Romantic Classics
“At Last” by Etta James
This soulful, timeless ballad celebrates true love and companionship.
2. “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne
This upbeat, heartfelt tune can be perfect for showcasing joy and connection.
3. “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles
Warm and uplifting, this song can highlight beauty and bring tears to guests’ eyes.
4.. “All of Me” by John Legend
This deeply personal and emotional love song can be ideal for your most heartfelt moments.
5. “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers
Classic and romantic, this option tends to pair well with emotional slow-motion shots.
5 Modern Love Songs
“Lover” by Taylor Swift
This dreamy and poetic song can be fitting for the exchange of wedding vows, capturing their essence in an inspired and touching way.
2. “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
As a modern-day staple for many wedding videos, this song works well for romantic couple moments.
3. “Speechless” by Dan + Shay
This one is a go-to for first-look shots and emotional vows.
4. “I Get to Love You” by Ruelle
Cinematic and ethereal, this song can truly elevate emotional moments.
5. “Home” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Fun and playful, this song can be ideal for lighthearted, candid clips.
Indie & Acoustic Favorites
“First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes
This sweet, acoustic track can enhance wonderfully personal, deeply heartfelt moments.
2. “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers
Folksy and upbeat, this choice can dial up celebration shots with extra fun and pizzazz.
3. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli (Acoustic Cover)
The stripped-down, romantic version of this song is a timeless favorite for all types of special moments and shots, often working well with the first dance and romantic reels.
4. “Better Together” by Jack Johnson
Light and happy, this tune can be perfect for playful moments.
5. “Forever Like That” by Ben Rector
Charming and sincere, this song can be great to pair with moments that speak to enduring love.
How Much Does Wedding Photography & Videography Cost?
The cost of wedding photography and videography can start anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000, depending on location, coverage, and included services.
Add-ons like uplighting, flameless sparklers, or additional hours of coverage can increase the price — and those added costs tend to be far outshined by the unforgettable moments captured.
Let’s Talk Wedding Videography
Your wedding memories and love story deserve so much more than just photos.
When you want experienced wedding videographers who can capture the heart and soul of your big day in a way photos can’t, it’s time to contact Deux Weddings.
With a deep roster of wedding videographers, photographers, and other highly experienced wedding professionals, Deux Weddings is a trusted videography partner for upscale events, with exceptional talent in nearly every major metro across the West Coast, the Pacific Northwest, and the Midwest.
That makes us an ideal option for couples and wedding planners who need turnkey wedding videography services and next-level solutions. It’s also why Deux Weddings is the wedding videographer of choice — and a preferred LGBTQ wedding vendor — for luxury weddings nationwide.
Contact us for a quote, more answers, and fast responses. Our wedding videographers specialize in big and small events, themed events, and so much more.
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