Wedding Video Highlights

When shopping for your wedding videographer, you'll be faced with a variety of packages to choose from including the basic single camera shoot to elaborate choices featuring extensive editing and multiple cameras. One option that is well worth the extra money is the "Highlights" video.

As much as you and your guests enjoyed the day, how realistic is that anyone is going to sit through a two-hour video of your wedding? The two-hour version is for you, your future children, and posterity. A shorter version of the highlights is the one you'll watch over and over with family and friends. In fact, you'll likely enjoy this version even more than the longer one because it cuts to the chase and shows the main points.

Work with your videographer to discuss how much of the ceremony you want to include. You may want to choose one classical song and condense the seating of the important family members such as elderly grandparents. Instead of showing their entire slow approach, the editor can use techniques such as dissolves to condense this and show them as they approach the camera and take their seats. You may want to skip this altogether and begin with the procession, move quickly through to the vows and kiss, and then cover the reception highlights including the entrance, cake-cutting, toasts, first dance, and so on.

The key to making your wedding highlights video exactly what you want is communication with your videographer or the person who is going to edit the video. Ask to see a few samples of their previous highlight videos and select one whose style matches what you expect out of yours. Discuss music, length, whether you want certain readings or speeches included, and how much reception dancing footage to include and then back off and let the editor make your dreams come true.

What's an ideal length to shoot for? It depends on how elaborate the wedding was to start with but an average target length should be between fifteen to twenty minutes. You want it to be short enough so that you will actually want to share it and your friends will actually want to watch it. Music sequences and good editing will keep it moving - both in pacing as well as emotionally.

Be sure to order multiple copies because this is the version you'll want to send to family and friends who were not able to attend the wedding. Save the longer versions for immediate family and grandparents.