Videography: yay or nay?

Everyone is different. I personally loved having one. The day went by so fast that I’m happy I have video to look back on of our day and vows etc. And our family loved reliving it. But I feel ya on the price!

I didn't have one, and I don't regret it. It was never on my must have list, but for others, they would rather have the video over pictures. And some think both are worth it. My photographer was awesome and even after we received all the photos, we were still happy with our decision. All the moments were captured, all the little details were taken, we still have our mementos, etc.

I’m similar to Janet. We loved our photographer and knew we wouldn’t watch a wedding video, ever. So we skipped it and have not regretted it at all.

We had both photography and videography. It was fun watching the video when we got it back. But tbh, we haven’t watched it once since then. If we had it to do all over again, we would have just gone for a really cheap video, or maybe even a photography/videography student, someone off, thumbtack, etc. rather than wasting so much time and money trying to find an amazing videographer to create elaborate productions, social media clips, teasers, full length video, etc. etc. If it’s in your budget and you want it, then definitely go for it. However, if it’s really not in your budget or if you really don’t care much about videography, I would either go for a really cheap option or just omit videography all together.

View Quoted Comment This is kind of what I’m thinking - you can buy digital video cameras now for under $100 with a tripod. People could talk right into it and I have a few tech savvy guests that could take it around during cocktail hour and into the dancing. It would feel more like the old school videos and get full footage of the whole day.

View Quoted Comment Exactly. If videography isn’t a huge must have for you, then you could definitely set up an iPhone, or a camera on a tripod someplace inconspicuous to capture your ceremony. And you could have one of your bridesmaids and groomsmen take a quick video clip of getting ready. And you could definitely ask your guests to take quick little videos of the reception and send them to you.

Videography was originally not on my last at all. What changed my mind was someone mentioned that the bride doesn’t get to see anything that happens in the ceremony until she walks down the aisle. That alone made me do a 180, but that’s because being able to see the full profession means something to me. And you don’t have to pay a lot to capture that. You can set up a camera or see if one of your guests would be willing to record. It’s all about what you and FH feel you’ll want to remember the day afterward. Also, FH and I go back and watch video clips from trips and events we’ve been to, so we’re less concerned that our wedding video will go unwatched.

I just started planning my wedding and I am going through “must haves.” Honestly, I don’t see it as that important. I would rather high-quality photos and no videographer. I don’t think I could sit through that long of footage and if I did, it would only be once. I thought about maybe setting up a tri-pod with a phone for my guests to record short videos. That way, we can capture video, and also give the guests something to interact with. The videos would be like little YouTube Shorts or TicTok lengths. It’s your wedding, so you can decide if video is important to you or not.

Videography was a must for me, but I also love rewatching old home movies and generally prefer seeing myself on video vs in pictures. I read somewhere that someone didn't realize how important a video was until they lost someone they were close to and their wedding video helped preserve the memory of that person. I honestly think I like our highlight video more than most of the pictures we took.

If you haven't already booked a photographer, see if there are any companies that offer photography and videography bundled together. That could be a cheaper option than booking two separate vendors.

I was on the fence about this too. I had a videographer for my first wedding - a no brainer for me then. But this wedding has a much smaller budget and I didn't know if I really "needed" it. I'm like you, I hang pics and use them as my backgrounds and stuff. The video from my first wedding I didn't watch all the time, but I liked knowing I had it if we were feeling sentimental. Like, we did a housewarming party and had a screening of the wedding video with the bridal party at that time. It was fun. A "highlight" video is much more convenient to watch than the long 30-40 min ones too, I think I watched mine quite a bit to relive the day in little bits and pieces. I think what it came down to for me, was that video captures what pictures can't. Hearing the emotion in vows, little moments with bridal party/spouse in motion and sound. It's just different. And honestly, you can't go back and get one after the wedding. It's a one day deal. If there is a videographer you like and it's in your budget, you should go for it. I ended up being able to find photography and videography in a package that was less than the price of what most pay for just a photographer and I considered that a win so we're getting both.

We initially decided to not have a videographer, but changed our minds a few months into planning. This is both of our second weddings and we have both lost our moms. For us we realized it's probably the only time our families will be together because we're originally from opposite coasts of the US and our dads, aunts and uncles are older and we want to capture those memories with them and have their voices and what not. Do I think we'll watch the final video regularly? Probably not. But it will be there if we want to hear someone's voice or the ordsyrhey spoke.

I personally would love a videographer we are huge Office fans and want to have the whole floating head commentary on our video. But after reading some of these replies I feel like maybe finding someone cheap to just do that instead of adding it to the wedding photographer might be more budget friendly

My husband and I initially decided against a videographer, but once we postponed due to COVID, we changed our minds and booked one. We LOVE how our wedding video turned out!! It captured a lot of things that I had missed seeing the day of because I was busy. If you think you'd like to book one but can't justify the cost, you can always check out cheaper options, such as hiring a film student at a local college or a professional who's relatively new to the wedding industry, and/or limiting the number of hours that the videographer is there for. Otherwise, if you don't think you'd watch the video, then skip the videographer.