Anyone getting married wants to preserve the memories of their special day, and wedding coverage—whether photo or video—helps with that. When hiring a wedding videographer, one of the first things people realize is that services vary widely among different providers. Some places offer a few hours of coverage, while others have packages for the entire day, with many options in between. Here are tips for figuring out how many hours of wedding videography you need.
Draft Your Wedding-Day Timeline
When visiting your videographer, you need to sketch out your wedding-day timeline. Be aware of what’s happening at each portion of the day, from before the ceremony to after the program.
In figuring out your wedding timeline, you must think of the number of guests and your wedding party’s size. The distance from one location to another also matters. Consider where you’re getting ready, whether you’ll have friends and family with you, and how far it is from the ceremony and reception sites. Traditions—which could take up time to set up or involve an intricate ceremony—would also take time in your schedule, so account for those too.
Get a Picture of the “Average” Package
Eight hours of wedding coverage might seem excessive for people who don’t know much about the industry. In reality, it is barely enough for an entire day. If you’re looking for an affordable option, however, eight-hour packages are a good choice. With these, expect your videographer to capture events from just before the ceremony onward.
Meanwhile, 10-12 hour packages cover everything from hair and makeup preparations to the end of the party. Finally, full-day packages have no time limits—you can have shots of everything from the start of your preparations until the after-party.
Decide on Wedding Coverage Must-Haves
There are moments that tradition says must make an appearance in your wedding video. For example, no video is complete without the couple’s vows and their first dance. However, since it’s your special day, you can include more moments that you’d like videographers to capture.
Before deciding on a professional to hire, you should have a personal list of must-have shots. This footage could be from any part of the day that has a particular resonance with the two of you. For example, some people would like to relive the quiet moments they had before the ceremony—this might translate into shots of you and your spouse getting ready, spending time with your loved ones, and quietly reflecting.
Maybe you’re more outgoing and want a lot of action in your video. No problem—communicate that with your videographer. The liveliness of your reception could come from your dance number, or your funny best man’s speech, or even a grand entrance or exit complete with bubbles, confetti, or sparklers. It’s your day, so anything goes!
Have a Budget and Stick to It
Of course, your wedding coverage should fall within your budget. The ideal number of hours to book a videographer is the number you can afford. It is why doing your research is crucial—you won’t know what the average prices are if you do not shop around. If your allocation for videography does not match up with the packages you chose and you want good videos of the day, decide if you’re willing to cut your spending for other things.
You can also work within the confines of your provider’s package and get the shots you want. For example, if you can only afford an eight-hour package, but you’d like them to film the farewell, you can have a staged exit. Set up your fireworks and get into your car to “drive off,” but do it while the guests have cocktails or have their meal. That way, you get the cinematic end to your day while staying within budget.
Conclusion
While it’s exciting to plan a wedding, minding all the details could be overwhelming for some couples. When deciding who to hire for your wedding coverage, consider the events of your day and which parts of it you must have in your film. You can lean back and enjoy the ride on your big day when you plan things very well!
Capture the magic of your most important day as a couple with Epik Weddings. We are award-winning wedding videographers, covering celebrations in Reno, Lake Tahoe, Northern California, and surrounding areas. Get a quote or contact us for inquiries!
