A highlight video is one of the best ways to remember all of the special moments from your wedding day. It should tell a compelling story and allow you to feel like you were there.
To help prepare you for your wedding, we compiled the 5 most common mistakes that we’ve noticed over the years and give you practical advice for how to avoid them!
Mistake #1: Not sharing expectations in advance
A Videographer’s job is to create a beautiful memory of your day, but that does not mean they will capture footage of everything and everyone.
Many couples will ask for specific shots AFTER the wedding only to be disappointed that the videographer doesn’t have it.
Don’t let this happen to you!
How to avoid:
Communicate in advance about particular moments or people you want in the video.
Share your day-of schedule to make sure the videographer can plan for those moments.
Connect your videographer with your wedding planner so they can get the shots without needing to ask you directly
Mistake #2: Not considering audio
Audio is half of the viewing experience for people at the wedding and friends/family watching the video later.
Despite this, audio is typically an afterthought among a sea of other things clamoring for your precious time.
Good audio is almost NEVER noticed, but bad audio almost ALWAYS is.
A good videographer will be prepared for every scenario, but you want to remove any surprises to make sure you receive the best wedding video possible!
How to avoid:
Hire a professional DJ and connect them with your Videographer in advance.
Ask your Videographer how they plan to capture audio and if they have a backup plan.
Invite your Videographer to the rehearsal to do a sound check.
Mistake #3: Setting too low of a budget target
There is a simple rule we follow when advising couples about their budget:
“Pay the least amount of money that gives you everything you want”
Seems simple right? But so many couples struggle with this and here’s why.
Most couples get too focused on finding the lowest price and not on what they want, which often leads to regret after the wedding.
Here are some of the most common shortcomings we’ve noticed when couples get too focused on low price over the value they get.
Not receiving the wedding video for a REALLY long time
Not receiving the wedding video at all
Relational tension or hurt feelings (when hiring friends or family)
How to avoid:
Make a list of the things you absolutely want to remember, then find a Videographer who’s willing to capture those things within your budget (instead of shopping for the lowest price and asking if they do those things).
Ask your Videographer if they can be flexible with payments and offer to pay part of the amount AFTER the wedding once your wallet has recovered.
Put wedding videography on your registry to allow friends and family to contribute toward a Videographer who might be above your current budget.
Mistake #4: Not allocating enough time
Videography can require a decent amount of set up, depending on what you want filmed.
Couples often consider photos into their timeline of events, but many times will forget to factor in video which can cause hiccups in your wedding day schedule.
How to avoid:
Ask your Videographer to review and provide input on your day-of schedule in advance.
Connect your Videographer with your Photographer and Coordinator in advance.
Double check that your day-of timeline allows for all the special moments you would like captured (see Mistake #1).
Mistake #5: Saving videography until the last minute
Many couples will plan all aspects of their wedding, but wait until the absolute last moment to book videography.
This can have a huge impact on your budget because you may find the perfect Videographer who fits within your price range, but discover they are already booked, which can put an unexpected dent in your budget OR force you to set lower goals for what you want filmed.
How to avoid:
Book as far in advance as possible to maximize your chances of getting the content you want within a budget you can afford..
Read our blog about how to choose your perfect wedding videographer to help shortcut the searching process.
Consider moving your wedding date if you REALLY love your videographer and have some flexibility regarding the timing.
In conclusion…
It’s impossible to prevent everything that may happen, but there are simple steps you can take to set yourself up for success.
To learn more about how we can help make your wedding video amazing, reach out to us at connect@marriedlivestream.com. We would love to hear from you!
