If future anniversary plans — or even just a movie night cuddled on the couch — evoke images of reliving your wedding day via a beautifully made video, choosing a videographer for your special day may be top of your to-do list.

However, if you’re not sure if the cost of a professionally made video is in your budget or even worth the expense, read on for pros and cons, the latest trends in videography, what you can expect from the service, and how to choose the perfect professional to capture your special day.

Complementing Your Wedding Memories

Of course, being able to enjoy a custom movie of your wedding day any time you like is appealing and might be enough reason to hire a videographer, but there may be other benefits you hadn’t thought of.

Consider that a video can capture moments you miss: sweet scenarios such as children dancing joyfully or the mother of the bride wiping a tear while her child takes her vows. These are hallmark wedding moments that deserve to be preserved.

Shainna Miles, who owns Silver Loop Studios in New Orleans, told nola.com that she considers herself a storyteller and uses the candid moments she captures to tell her clients’ unique wedding tales.

“I always tell people that photos are great, but a lot of times, you see an image and you don’t know what’s happening exactly. But with video, you get the full moment.”

A video is also a way for guests to leave one-of-a-kind messages and good wishes for the happy couple in a way that just can’t be captured by signing a guest book. 

Simply put, a well-crafted and beautiful wedding video not only offers a vibrant memory of your wedding day, it also gives you a different perspective you can’t achieve otherwise.

Worth the Cost?

Admittedly, videography, though not necessarily a new trend, is still considered by some to be an “extra” cost to a wedding-day budget. If you’re looking to scale down your costs, it’s important to realize having a video made of your wedding will cost you upwards of $2,000 on average, with that figure spiking depending on what part of the country you stage your event. That alone may be enough of a deterrent.

Also, in all honesty, you may not watch the video as much as you might expect, specifically not as much as you think you will when you’re caught up in the excitement of planning your wedding. With that in mind, it’s prudent to think long and hard about how much you’ll actually take time out to watch your video and how much that specific type of memory means to you. If you’re not the sentimental type, videography may well be something you can easily skip.

Before making a decision, consider if having a video is something you truly want and will take the time to view and share years down the road.

Wedding Video Trends

If you do decide to forge ahead with a wedding video, be sure to know exactly what you’re paying for. Wedding videography is constantly evolving, and it’s important to be up to speed on the latest innovations. This will ensure your video is not only beautiful but tailored to your needs and tastes as well.

Video and images from drones are everywhere these days, from real estate marketing to roof inspections, and the wedding industry is no exception. These high-tech gadgets allow for movie-like videos complete with stunning visuals, particularly at outdoor weddings where the scenery may be the star of the show.

Dreaming of showcasing the gorgeous beach sunset melting into the horizon as you and your betrothed take your vows? Or perhaps you’re looking to capture every vivid hue of the flowers blooming in your garden wedding? Drone videography (and drone photography for that matter) is the way to go! What’s more, aerial footage can spectacularly showcase your wedding location’s atmosphere and can make stunning visual work of fireworks or twinkle lights strung up to illuminate a dance floor at night. Simply gorgeous!

For those looking for something short and sweet, it’s worth noting some wedding videography is built around creating a teaser trailer, a quick but intimate look at the most special elements and moments of your event. The teaser can feature the exchange of vows, your first kiss as husband and wife, cutting the cake, and your post-reception sendoff as newlyweds. Think of the teaser as a fun and fast way to remember the highlights of your big day.

For couples looking to expand their guest list without actually hosting them on-site, live streaming your wedding day is an idea that’s taking off. This idea is also great for out-of-town guests or people who just can’t make your big day but would love to enjoy the festivities as they’re happening. 

Additional trends we’re seeing in 2023 include:

Unplanned moments: Videographers include flubbed speeches and similar “blooper” moments to add to the genuineness of the video. Talk with your videographer about whether this approach appeals to you, or you’d prefer to have them edited out.

Retro effects: Videographers are weaving black and white footage in with color shots to create a more unique product and highlight special wedding moments.

Animated scenes: Animation can enhance the creativity of your video, add touches of humor, and give you the ability to add insights into your personalities and journey as a couple.

Picking the Perfect Professional

Once you know exactly what you want from your wedding video and have established a budget, the focus is on finding the person who can deliver the movie of your dreams.

Questions to consider:

-Does your videographer have at least two-four years of experience (or videos of about 25-45 weddings under his/her belt)?

-Does the videographer have the proper equipment, including at least two cameras — though three-four would be better — as well as a wireless microphone or input for an audio board and camera stabilization equipment?

-Can the videographer provide all of the features you want in your movie?

-Is your videographer familiar with your wedding venue, or has he/she worked with the other professionals staging your wedding?

Collaborate With Your Wedding Venue

 One of the keys to successful wedding videos and photos is being in the right place at the right time. Your wedding venue can help you with that. Talk with your venue contact about your video goals. Ask if your videographer needs to work with a staff member to access specific areas on the wedding venue’s property. The venue staff also can share ideas, based on what they’ve seen other videographers achieve.

Like any other part of a wedding, a video can serve to create lasting memories for the happy couple and offers a unique and intimate way to remember all the special moments. Take time to research your options, decide what works best for your event, and find the best person to make movie magic of your big day!