10 Tips For Couples: How To Get The Most Out Of Your Wedding Film
Your wedding day is approaching. Everything's in place. You've hired an awesome videographer who's going to shoot an awesome wedding video. But what should you actually do to prepare so you get the most out of your wedding film? I'm Matthew Greer, founder of Dear Oliver, and over my time as a wedding videographer, I've collected the tips that make the biggest difference.
Here are my top 10 tips to capture the best wedding video:
1. Plan Your Wedding Speeches
Speeches can be a real highlight of your wedding day. They can be heartfelt, emotional, funny, and all three at the same time! But wedding speeches aren’t easy, and they’re not something you can improvise well. A few things worth thinking through in advance:
Location
Know where the speeches are going to take place. Outside before the reception? In the main ballroom? Think about the atmosphere of your wedding and the layout of the venue, and pick the spot that feels right.
Flow
Think about when in the night your speeches will happen and how you'll transition from one to the next.
Speakers
Know in advance who's giving speeches, so you can plan how much time to set aside and when everyone will be speaking.
Duration
Encourage everyone to keep it short and sweet. When speeches run long, they can break up the flow of the whole evening.
For a deeper dive into wedding speeches, check out my ultimate guide to wedding speeches.
2. Personalise Your Vows
What should a bride say in a video? What should a groom say? The answer is: Whatever is in your heart! Your wedding vows are a great opportunity to express your feelings about your spouse in your own words. One of the most valuable tips to get the most out of your wedding film is to personalise your vows. Say something honest and unique to you!
3. Hire A Wedding Planner
To get the most out of your wedding videographer, you want a day that flows smoothly, and a wedding planner is one of the best resources for that. They take away the stress of planning and let you actually enjoy your day. A well-planned wedding also makes for a genuinely better wedding video. If you're planning a wedding in Ireland and need a starting point, I've shared a few of my favourite Irish wedding planners in my Best Wedding Planners in Ireland blog.
4. Choose A Photographer With A Similar Style
Picking a photographer with a style similar to your videographer's saves time and helps ensure both your photos and your film turn out as strong as possible. Check their online portfolio to get a sense of their style, and see if it meshes with your videographer's.
A few other advantages of matching styles:
We’ll work seamlessly together.
We won’t be competing for time, and the work will also go faster since we’ll be looking for similar shots and looks!
It makes the process more enjoyable for you. When your wedding photographer and wedding videographer are working collaboratively, every step of the process is easier!
Dear Oliver regularly works alongside a group of trusted photographers and planners. You can see our Best Wedding Photographers in Ireland if you're still looking for the right fit.
5. Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
Don't get preoccupied with small details. A great wedding video comes from the emotion and beauty of the day itself. Stay focused on what matters most, relax, and have a great time. Your wedding video will turn out well because of it.
6. Have Fun With Your Guests
All your friends and family have come to your wedding to celebrate with you – get out there and have a great time with them! All great wedding videos are filled with shots of the couple celebrating with the people who mean the most to them. Go out and make some happy memories. I’ll be sure to get them all on film!
7. Be In The Moment
Don't be afraid to show a little emotion and stay present on the day. One of the most important things you can do for a genuinely cinematic wedding film is to just act naturally. Pretend the camera isn't there. Your authentic joy and emotion will show up on screen.
8. Show Up On The Dance Floor
A big, joyful party is the perfect crescendo for the end of a wedding video, and the dance floor is where the heart of the party is! Guests tend to gravitate to where the couple is, so if you’re on the dance floor, that’s where your guests will be, too!
A wedding party with a full dance floor for the entire night provides lots of great shots for a wedding videographer to capture. It provides better footage, and you’ll end up with a more memorable wedding video!
This is one of my most important tips for wedding videography. Get out on the dance floor and have a great time, and you’ll have an amazing party scene in your wedding video that you’ll be able to treasure forever!
9. Tell Us What The Super Important Moments Are To You
There are a few features that every great wedding video has in common – great cinematography, high-quality audio, awesome editing – but no two great wedding videos are identical! There are little details and small moments in every wedding video that makes them one-of-a-kind. A great wedding video should capture what’s unique and meaningful to you and your spouse!
I always encourage my couples to let me know about what small details and specific moments are the most meaningful to them so that I can be sure to capture them on film. Every part of your wedding with a special significance or hidden meaning will be built into the storytelling of your wedding video.
So if there are moments during the wedding with deep meaning behind them, let me know and I’ll be sure to capture them on video so that they are a part of your wedding memories forever!
10. Do A First Look
One of the most powerful moments of a wedding is when the couple sees each other for the first time. This “first look” moment is full of joy and emotion, and it can be one of the true highlights of your wedding video. It’s a moment between just the two of you, where you can share some quiet time just being alone together before the guests arrive and the ceremony and reception get underway.
On top of being an awesome and emotional moment, a first look is also an excellent addition to a wedding video for a whole bunch of reasons! Here are some of the best things about shooting a first look moment:
It Helps With The Timeline Of Your Day
A first look scene is a perfect way to start a wedding video. It’s a private moment shared between the two people whose love has made this entire day possible! When I’m using video to tell the story of your wedding, a first look scene is a great storytelling tool.
It Provides Some Natural, Candid Shots
First look scenes also provide an opportunity to get great natural shots of you both. Much of the wedding video will involve the two of you participating in the wedding ceremony or celebrating with your guests, but a first look shot is something a bit different! It’s a chance for me to capture some natural, candid footage of the two of you just acting like a loving couple.
It Provides An Intimate And Personal Moment For You Both
There’s a real magic in a couple seeing each other on their wedding day for the first time. There’s laughter and tears of joy. There’s a moment when you both realise that THIS IS IT – your wedding day has arrived, and this is the person you’re going to be with for the rest of your life! Capturing that moment on film is one of my favourite parts of being a wedding videographer.
It HELPS Get The Nerves Out
A first look moment is also a great opportunity to get some of the nerves out before the main event. Just taking a quiet moment to check in with each other beforehand can be a great way to let go of some of the anxieties about your wedding day.
You can forget about all the usual stresses that come with a wedding. It’s a chance to remind yourself that what this day is really all about is being with this special person and declaring your love for them.
It’s A Brilliant Addition To Your Wedding Video!
First look moments are dramatic and beautiful – the perfect recipe for a great shot in a wedding video! First looks are really special moments, and they’re definitely worth preserving on film forever so that you can revisit them again and again.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Films
What's the most important thing I can do to get a great wedding video?
Stay present and act naturally rather than performing for the camera. The best wedding films come from genuine emotion, not staged moments, so relaxing into your day and trusting your videographer to capture it is more valuable than any single planning decision.
Should we do a first look before the ceremony?
It's worth strongly considering. A first look gives your videographer a private, unscripted moment to capture real emotion, helps settle pre-ceremony nerves, and gives your wedding film a strong, natural opening scene.
How long should wedding speeches be for the best video?
Short and focused. Speeches that run long can break up the flow of the evening on film as well as in person, so encouraging speakers to keep it concise generally leads to a better-paced wedding video.
Does my photographer's style need to match my videographer's?
It helps considerably. A similar style means you and your team aren't competing for the same shots at the same time, and it usually results in a more cohesive set of photos and film from the day.
What should I tell my wedding videographer before the big day?
Any moment or detail with real personal meaning: a family tradition, an inside joke, a specific song, a small gesture. These details are what make a wedding film feel like yours rather than a generic highlight reel.
Ready To Get Started? Let’s Talk!
If these wedding video tips have given you some inspiration and jump-started your imagination, then let’s talk! I’d love to get a chance to talk with you about your vision for an awesome wedding video.
Together we’ll make a stunning keepsake that you’ll be able to revisit for decades. Whenever you’re ready!