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Growing up, my dad had a side business in addition to his normal 9-5 job: he was a wedding videographer. This was back in the ’90s when the whole concept was pretty nebulous and not nearly refined as it can be today. A standard video of his contained a photo montage of the couple at the beginning with the tear-inducing growing up pictures, then the bride and groom getting ready, ceremony, after-ceremony portraits, and reception highlights. These were not 10 minute video affairs. Oh heavens no.
I saw too many wedding videos. And montages. Enough to perhaps make me not want a video of my own wedding.
I should mention another “perk” of having this kind of dad is the sheer volume of videos featuring me. Maybe that scarred me, because I hate-hate-hate watching myself on video. I’m just generally humiliated by the process of watching.
With all that said, I understand the overall value. I like watching films of my older relatives. I may even get misty-eyed watching a stranger’s wedding video. But I’m just not convinced I need something beyond an amateur taping of the ceremony that I can edit later on.
Is videography your must-have or meh?
This is really what I’m wondering about. I feel like I am supposed to have a videographer, but very rarely do I see a home video that doesn’t make me fell embarrassed. Videographers are also so expensive. Most videographers I have looked into have had higher rates than most of the photographers I talked to. I feel like I will get a lot our of the photos, but not as much out of a video. I would look at my pictures all the time, hang them around the house, and share them with others. But I wouldn’t have my friends over to re-watch our wedding ceremony. My next idea is to contact some local art schools and see if an video production students would like to earn some extra cash, and record the wedding for less than a professional videographer.
*Just to clarify, I mean I feel embarrassed of home videos of myself. I’ve seen other people’s that are adorable. I just hate looking at myself on the TV screen!*
In all honesty when we first started planning I thought there was no need for one, but after planning and seeing more videos it became a want of ours (if it fit in the budget). Thankfully we were able to find and book a videographer at a very good price.
It’s definitely just “meh” to me - I’m putting all the money that I considered putting towards videography into getting an amazing photographer instead.
At first I didn’t want a videographer. After realizing that my grandparents might not be able to attend for health reasons, I decided to hire a videographer so that they could share in our wedding. I’m so thankful I did hire one!!
I’m going that same route. I either wanted something ZOMG AMAZING or just the snapshot equivalent of a video. I don’t have the energy, nor do I want to spend the money, for the ZOMG AMAZING ones, so I’m just going to get one of my fellow art-school-hippies to do it. 
my uncle did videography for many years so i kinda know where you’re coming from. yes he was one of those old school photographers and i’m so not into that, but we’re still going to get a video for the wedding. why? because wedding videos have changed SO MUCH since then. after seeing the stuff stillmotion.ca puts out, i can’t imagine not having video there. it’s almost more important to me that photos now. that being said, there are only a few studios out there that can put forth something that amazing, but being able to relive the moments and sounds and vows from our day is going to be awesome.
so, must have for us!!
Originally, I wasn’t going to have a videographer. But then I realized that most of my family wouldn’t be able to make it to the wedding and that a video of the ceremony might be nice to have to show them at the post-wedding celebration we’re having near them. And, luckily, I have an acquaintance that is an up-an-coming camera man who is willing to record the ceremony for us for free. We’re just getting raw video back, but that’s all we wanted anyway
Another thing to consider is just having your Uncle Joe (or Aunt Lou or whoever) or even an honesttogoodness professional shoot just your ceremony… that to me is the most important part, and I really don’t care to know there is video in existence of me doing what FI is so sweet to call “dancing.”
Definitely meh. We’re setting up a video camera at the ceremony and saying “BAH” to the reception. It’s just not that important to us, but our photographer is kick ass!
its a no. no thank you.
It’s both for me. I could do without except that I really want the vows and toasts on tape as well as any other interview that may take place. Plus, wouldn’t it be nice for the grandkids to look at your video?
Definitely “meh”! Not worth the money to us but some of them do turn out amazing.
“Meh.” A friend of Mr Trail Mix’s who works in video is going to tape our ceremony, das all…
Ha, as a film school grad I’m what my dad referred to as a “total snob”. But, I can’t help it, the look of true film (and not video) was important to me. As was the (very, very heartbreaking) experience of seeing my MOH very suddenly lose her FI and watching the home videos they had made at the wake. I realized how important video was to be able to record the sound of someone’s voice, or the way they smile.
So, after that, super 8 videography (with hi-res dvd for sound) was added to the budget.
I was never too concerned about not having a videographer until reading Weddingbee! Then I was all panicky we weren’t going to have one, but I’ve come to the realization that videos are great if you have time money and energy for them, but I don’t think I do. I’ll be totally fine with having my friend hold the camcorder I’m sure I’ll cry watching it either way
My high school had a tradition of a video yearbook, where students took footage all four years, and then senior year a group of students got together and compiled it into a movie that we all got a copy of. It was a great video and my MOH was even one on the team that put it together. My point is, that as awesome as this video was, I watched it exactly once right after graduation and haven’t touched it since. I just never got the longing to sit through the whole thing again or to show it to anyone who I didn’t graduate with (i.e. wasn’t there). But, on the other hand, my MOH made a tradition of watching it once a year around the holidays, starting her freshman year of college, and gets a ton of enjoyment out of it. And the end of the day, I think there are people who love video and people who’re just meh about it. As a meh person, we’re going to put the money towards a better photographer instead.
I can completely relate to not really enjoying watching a video of yourself… but I also think that there is another factor in Wedding videos… everyone there is someone you love…. and they are all in one place… My great grandparents had a short film made during their 50th wedding anniversary… It is such a neat film to watch and see grandparents and parents, aunts, uncles and cousins when they were young… Have the videographer know that you are interested in seeing your guests within the film… you’ll treasure the views of them far more than just of you… and if you’re lucky… your great grandchildren will love seeing you!
If I could, I would, but since it’s out of our budget, that was one thing we nixed. We’re not that type to take video of others…so we probably wouldn’t watch either. If you have A videographer and it’s not super important, I’m thinking that would be enough.
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Mrs. Ribbons, Washington D.C./Bloomington, IN Age and Occupation: 23, Research Associate for an international development firm Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Proposal Coordinator for contractor Engagement Date: May 2, 2008 Wedding Date: June 2010 Venue: Indiana Memorial Union About Me: I'm an Indiana transplant living in DC with my fiance and our pretty kitty. I enjoy the color pink, I'm obsessed with the Dior New Look and tulle, and I heart my level 80 paladin. I'm a sucker for bad TV, literary theory, and cakes of all persuasion. I also happen to be marrying the cutest closet nerd around! It's all about Bloomington for us because it's where we met -- on the college paper. If there's a theme for our small summertime wedding, it's Dior meets Dorothy Draper on a lark in Bloomington; think poofy, plus graphic prints, bold colors, and a whole lot of prettiness.
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