Weddingbee Blog

If you’re in the firm “we really don’t need a videographer when we already have an awesome photographer” camp, then I totally get it. I was there. And then I saw wedding videos like Mrs. Kitten’s, cried, and changed my mind, of course. I’m SO glad I did.

I cry pretty much every time I watch it.

So now you’re probably thinking, ‘Oh, sure, Star, I’d love to get a videographer, but there’s no way our budget can withstand one more assault.’ Well, here are my tips for bending that budget into submission. It was probably asking for it anyways.

1. Get a videographer as a gift. One of Mr. Star’s close family friends asked us to tell them what we really wanted as a gift that would remind us of them whenever we used it. The perfect answer was for them to help us get a wedding video. They loved the idea, and we really do think of them and their generosity every time we watch it. Thank you, Cindy and Bill! There are almost always friends or family members or a group of guests (like your college buddies) who don’t know what to get you, but want to make it memorable. Capitalize on this and they’ll feel special, too.

2. Use professionals looking to break into the wedding business. We knew we couldn’t afford standard NYC videographer prices, so we posted an ad on the big ol’ Craigslist looking for a student or recent grad who wanted to work for us. What we weren’t expecting is that we had several professionals who had done camera work in other areas like commercials or television and were looking to get into the wedding industry get in touch with us and offer to help. They wanted wedding footage for a reel, we got a pro who already knew how to make a great video. The key to this is making sure he or she has examples of their work, even if it isn’t wedding-related. We could see that our videographer did nice work, despite having no wedding experience. This probably works best if you’re in a metro area.

3. Cut down on coverage time and fancy extras. We only asked our videographer to film for about four hours, which covered all the important stuff for us — the ceremony (especially our vows), the parade, and our first dance were what we really wanted captured on video. She offered to come a bit earlier and film me getting ready, which was an awesome bonus. Also, you don’t need a million DVD copies or a fancy intro title if you’re trying to cut costs. You can burn your own DVDs!

If you are in the NYC area and want to check out our awesome videographer, head on over here. She did such a great job for us and we couldn’t be more pleased.

And promise me you’ll think about the videographer bit?

The Star Wedding Recaps:

One Last Not-So Debaucherous Night
We’re Pros at Rehearsing, But I’m No Director
Dinner in Havana
The Girls Get Their Hair Done and The Boys Wash The Dog
Getting Accessorized
We Tackle the Beast
I May Be Biased, But… I Have the Prettiest Ladies Ever
Takin’ It to the Streets!
The Boys Goof Off (and Set Up, Too!)
Taxi Time
It’s Almost Time For Our Lives To Change Forever
My Big Break
Gathered in a Place of Magic — Ceremony Part I
The Circle of Love — Ceremony Part II
The Promises and The Bling — Ceremony Part IV
Our Peeps
You Can’t Rain on My Parade
Subway Saga
Next Stop — Grand Central Station!
We Had The Time of Our Lives