Wedding Blog
Like just about every other bride out there, I have to say that our wedding went by way too quickly. However, one decision we made, which I can honestly say that we never regretted, was not to hire a videographer. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I truly felt that if our photographer did a good job “capturing moments,” that we wouldn’t need a video to remember the evening - or even to see the things that we weren’t able to witness.
After seeing our pictures, I feel that we made the right decision for us. Some of my favorite moments, as captured by the fabulous 35 Atlanta, are below:
The dancing was out of control…
My aunt’s boyfriend put our votives to good use during our band’s rendition of “Ring of Fire,” by Johnny Cash.
…the hugs were plentiful…
…the laughter was infectious…
…and sometimes the groom just looked like he was ready to hit the road!
This, my dear Bee Friends, is my adorable Mother in Law, giving the middle finger to one of our good friends. And the man looking down at her with the faintly disapproving grimace? He’s a preacher. Yeah, I know. 
At the end of the night, the room with the buffet finally cleared out, and I spotted the oyster shooters that I was so excited about. Luckily, they were still cold because the caterers had been refreshing them all night. I literally dashed over the table and grabbed a shot, prepared to wolf it down, when I heard, “Wait! Stop! Turn around!”
(Thanks Ray, for grabbing this picture. It’s one of my favorites!)
Like I said, our decision not to hire a videographer was one that worked out really well for us, but it may not have for many other brides. Even moreso than most of our portraits, I truly believe that these pictures are the ones that I will cherish years from now. What do you guys think? Is still photography enough?
All photos by 35 Atlanta.
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Share this post: Magnolia Wedding, Part 13: These Are the Moments
Yes! Mr. D and I had the same conversation last night- about how we had absolutely no regrets about our decisions to just stick with regular photography.
I’m with you. I really don’t know how many times I would watch the video, and I really feel if I did, I’d only find fault. “Omg my butt looks so big,” etc. :p
I also can’t help but think of my First Holy Communion when my veil almost caught on fire. I was SO HUMILIATED and I am so kutzy and accident prone, I don’t want my grandchildren watching my wedding video and making fun of me. :p
The picture of your MIL flipping off her friend is hilarious! Great catch for your photographer!!
i sure hope its enough bc thats all i have the budget for!
i will tell my photographer this….i’m depending on him to catch several different things…there is not a backup for us….
Abso-blasted-lutely it’s enough. FH and I feel like there’s a great deal of over-documentation that exists in all aspects of life now. Some of our fondest memories are the ones with the least amount of “back-up.” The proposal wasn’t filmed, or the actual question asking moment photographed. It lives in our minds, and that’s great. I want the wedding to be shared with those that were there, the photos to tell the stories to some degree, and the embeliishment and good stuff to come from those that were present.
Great photos, by the way, you guys look fantastic.
I think photograhy is definitely the priority so if I can only choose one, it would be photography. However, if you have room to squeeze it in, I would definite recommend a videographer. It wasn’t in our budget to hire a pro-videographer so we hired a non-pro off of craigslist for less than $200 and it was one of the best decisions we made. The footage was raw and a bit shaky at times but it was so much fun to sit back and watch all the moments we missed (and from the video, we realized we missed a lot). I may only watch it 2-3 times in my lifetime but it’s totally worth it.
Your wedding pictures have been so beautiful, and you can have those on display much easier than playing a movie of your big day. Photography was one of the most important elements in our wedding, and we spent the most on it. I didn’t really think of hiring anyone to video tape, but maybe I should have asked a family member to. I couldn’t find my old camcorder on the day of the wedding to at least have someone videotape the ceremony, bleh. I wish I had not found it in the glove compartment of my car on the way to the honeymoon! I would have loved watching the two awesome parts of the ceremony: me bursting out in tears one sentence into my vows and stopping with laughter, and one of the doves we released hitting a wall of the church. It’s the silly things like that I wish I had to watch.
I agree with you Mags and we are also going video-free. It make be a nice thing to watch 25 or 50 years down the road (if you are still able to play it somehow) but I really can’t imagine watching it otherwise. Sure it would be nice to have just to have it, but the expense just didn’t fit into our budget.
Your photos are fantastic and definitely enough.
OMG, the look on the preacher’s face during the flipping of the bird is priceless!
I just got married on 6/7/08 and I am afraid that i will regret not hiring a videographer. The teaser pics i have seen so far from my photographer are fantastic, i just didn’t take any time to take in the room as i walked down the aisle or my grooms face. I am sure my photographer got it all on film and I will be very happy in the end, but in the meantime I am kind of wishing i had! Your photographer did a great job though, your pics have been fantastic!
I’m hoping we can find a friend or relative to just take a couple minutes of “moving pictures.” My parents were married 45 years ago before home movies had sound or anything– and although their pictures are great– there is something really different about seeing them in the 3 minutes of video we have from that day.
HAHAHA!! The bird flipping moment is priceless!
We’re not hiring a professional videographer either - it’s nice to know that you’re not regretting that decision now!
We hired a videographer since both sets of my grandparents eventually were unable to travel due to health issues. I am so glad we did! Our videographer captured things our photographer didn’t, in particular the bell ringing as we exited the church and our groomsmen’s toast. I’m so glad we did it!
P.S. Your pictures are awesome– these are definitely the ones to frame!
Your pictures are wonderful but I do think if you have the money you should definitely have someone videotape the wedding. I’m looking forward to showing my children our ceremony and explaining what family members are who that are no longer with us. Photos are great but as time goes by I’d like to wager that you’d only have at most one photo on display. Everyone says how quick weddings go by and to have something you can watch forever (even if they come up with new technology I’m sure dvd converters will be soon to follow) including the sound of your vows and the tears in your parents eyes during the dances, your fathers toast, are all things I’m sure you’ll want to watch again.
I think pictures are great at capturing moments. I felt like mine captured some of the funny moments that we missed (like my future aunt - in - law grinding on my husband’s grandfather!!). However, we did have a videographer. While it wasn’t in our original budget, we decided down the road that it was important to us. It isn’t for everybody (my sister didn’t have one and doesn’t regret it), but for us, it was one decision I would NOT change. Even getting the video a few months later, it was so surprising the moments we forgot about. It’s also fun to see things from a different perspective than you did when things were actually happening. When it’s the day of, you don’t see your mom walk in, your bridesmaid walk in, when your husband walks in and stand nervously etc. I also did not hear the music played as I “went deaf” as I walked down the aisle and could only just see my now husband at the end of the aisle. It makes me cry to see my video and those who have seen it have cried again too! I won’t be watching it all the time, but it will be nice to have on anniversaries etc to remind us of the feeling we had that day and I don’t think pictures depic that in the same way.
Wonderful photos — love all the faces full of expression!
As far as video goes, we’re in your camp on the videography front. Though Mr T’s mother ended up taking video of most everything through her digital camera, and it WAS fun to see everything as it happened, at least once!
After sitting through a dear friend’s wedding video, yes it’s enough!! The wedding itself was lovely, the photos were great to look at, but the video, honestly, bored me to tears. I guess it’s different for the couple themselves though - if you want to have it to look back on, then of course go for it!
Also, I like how I look in photos, but I get self conscious watching myself on video. It’s cringe worthy! “Does my voice really sound like that??”.
I am glad to hear a bride say that they do not regret not hiring a videographer. I do not feel compelled to hire a videographer either, and have had to defend my choice a few times. I just honestly can’t imagine watching a wedding video more than once and I certainly can’t imagine anyone else REALLY wanting to watch it.
I actually hate the idea of having a videographer there! It is so hard to relax when you know you are being filmed. Still photography is plenty to remember all the moments for me. It also allows you to remember them through rose-tinted glasses, which video often does not!
I am also not getting a videographer. My sister had one and I hated his glaring light and how he ran up to the couple when they were trying to have a private moment after the ceremony. Also, videography is budget breaking and rarely watched.
I do agree, however, with those of you who wanted to watch parts of the ceremony again, so we’re asking FI’s roomate to tape the ceremony on his handi-cam.
So happy to read your post. For me, a videographer was never an option - I hate how I look and sound on video, and I had heard from a couple friends that they regretted having one. I want people to enjoy the event without feeling like they have to ham it up for the camera, and without worrying that anything they do/say will be captured on motion film…still photos of dancing can capture the moment, but I don’t need to relive the scene. I want my memories of my wedding to be organic, and really, when am I going to ever watch that video? That said, I’m sure my brother will get some good footage on his digital camcorder, but that’s just for fun!
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Miss Magnolia, Atlanta
Age and Occupation: 28, Public Affairs and Government Relations
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Lobbyist
Engagement Date: December 1, 2006
Wedding Date: January, 2008
Blogging Since: September 6, 2007
Venue: catherdral ceremony/private club reception
About Me: Mr. Magnolia and I are thrilled to be planning an evening, winter wedding for 200 people in Atlanta. We both work in politics and share a love of University of Georgia football, pop culture, and good food! I'm a runner who adores wedding magazines, bad reality television, and a
good glass of wine. Most of the time I like to think I'm pretty organized, but between wedding planning, house hunting, and a full-time job, I'm being put to the test!
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