A wedding day can be a whirlwind of emotions. A great wedding video will convey these feelings in story form: jittery nerves, overall excitement, genuine happiness.

Try to capture candid moments as much as possible. This will help even your posed shots appear more authentic and genuine. The best videos incorporate a balance of both candid and directed shots.

Highlights

The most important moments of the day are collated into a highlight video. These are typically 3 to 5 minutes long and set to a song of your choice. The highlight video allows you to share your special day with friends and family on social media or over a cup of coffee.

It can be tricky to condense an entire day of filming into a short video but there is often a natural narrative arc that can be woven in. Jittery nerves, overall excitement and genuine happiness are all things that can be conveyed through a wedding highlight video.

Some of the most important moments include the bride getting ready with her best friends, her first look with her groom and the ceremony itself. Also, speeches from guests often add to the story by sharing sentimental and funny stories that are personal to the couple. Editing techniques like different types of cuts, grading and light leaks can all be used to create a beautiful cinematic look to the footage.

The Ceremony

There is a lot of footage that needs to be filmed for a wedding video. Getting shots of reactions from friends and family as the bride walks down the aisle or during speeches is a great way to add depth and emotion to the film.

Using a gimbal or stabilizer to achieve cinematic camera movements can also add to the quality of the finished product. This technique is often used in movies to add movement and bring the audience into the scene.

Some videographers choose to go non-linear with their videos and include snippets of the ceremony, speeches, and dancing throughout the video. This can create a more dynamic, engaging film that tells the story of your day in a more interesting way. It can also help to highlight important moments that might otherwise be overlooked.

The Reception

There’s so much to capture during a wedding reception, from candid moments of guests laughing and dancing to speeches and toasts. A videographer can make sure that these moments are captured and tell a story that will connect the viewer.

Videographers are also able to utilize different camera work techniques, such as drone shots, slow motion and voice-overs that can add a creative edge to the film. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these techniques should be used to enhance the storytelling, not distract from it.

It’s also great to incorporate a bit of humor into the wedding video with fun and memorable quotes or questions. This could include the father of the bride sharing his childhood stories about his daughter or the best man giving some advice to the groom. Just be sure to get permission from the couple first. This can be a great way to honor them in a way that will be appreciated by their guests.

Personalization

Some brides and grooms want multiple films made, each capturing different elements of the day. This type of editing gives the video a very personal feel. It captures the jittery nerves and overall excitement of the wedding. It also conveys the genuine happiness that is felt throughout the day.

For a more cinematic look, consider using video effects that create the look and feel of movies. These include filters, angles and transitioning between scenes. It also adds a sense of drama to the wedding video. It’s often compared to a movie trailer and can be very impactful.

During your filming, encourage the wedding party to interact with each other in a natural manner. This will make even the posed shots appear more authentic and genuine. It will also make b-roll easier to edit, as you won’t have to worry about lining up audio or overlapping footage. Use creative camera angles and techniques such as shooting through a mirror or framing a frame within a frame to make your b-roll stand out.