Let’s face it – weddings are pricey. You have a lot on your plate already, from finding the perfect venue, booking a photographer, figuring out catering… the list goes on. So, it might be tempting to cut costs in any way that you can. A lot of people think, in the midst of wedding planning, “should I hire a wedding videographer?”

And often, couples decide that while a photographer is a must, a videographer is just a maybe. They think photos are enough, that a whole video of their wedding is overkill, that the investment of a good photographer is already taking up a large portion of their budget.

But, as it turns out, a lot of couples end up regretting not hiring a videographer. Here’s why I think, when you ask yourself, “should I hire a wedding videographer?” the answer should be a “yes!”

Videos Have Sound

Photos are great – maybe I’m a little biased on that one, being a wedding photographer and all, but capturing the memories of your wedding day is priceless. But, photos don’t capture sound. They don’t record your vows, they don’t capture the laughs throughout the day, they don’t show you the little joke your new spouse made that you forgot about.

With video, you can look back on all of that. You can hear your spouse reading their vows to you, or listen to their voice crack as they tear up during the first look. No matter how good your memory is, these things fade away quicker than you think. Looking through your photos is incredible, but seeing the day on video brings it back in more detail.

Videos Capture the In-Between Moments

While I am all about candid photos and capturing the real memories of your day, videos capture all of those little things, all the moments in between poses or while you’re just hanging out with your favorite people. There’s less posing when it comes to videography, so you and your guests don’t have to worry about feeling stiff and awkward. You just do your thing, and your videographer captures it all!

Your Wedding is a Once-in-a-Lifetime Kind of Thing

If there ever was a day to invest in your memories, it’s your wedding day! It’s totally understandable that budget is a big consideration in all of your wedding decisions. So when you ask yourself, “should I hire a wedding videographer?” the price is likely going to be a factor. A good videographer is definitely pricey, but think of it as an investment.

When you hire a professional videographer, you invest in someone who’s going to make sure they have backup equipment, backup memory cards, and all the gear necessary to capture your memories. Not only will they bring all the technical stuff, they’ll also know the best ways to ensure your day is represented as authentically as possible, so that when you show your video to your kids, you’ll feel all the wedding day feels all over again.

Photos and videos are pretty much the only things that last beyond the actual wedding day. Flowers wilt, cakes get eaten, and memories fade. But you’ll be able to open up your photo album or watch your wedding video forever. That’s worth investing in.

Wedding Videos are Easy to Share

When you get your wedding photos back, you’ll have hundreds, if not thousands of JPEGs to scroll through. It would take forever to upload all of them to Facebook, so if you want to share the memories of your wedding day with your loved ones, a video is the best way to do that. 

Videographers usually create a highlight reel that’s around 5 minutes long (some do longer, documentary style videos as well, so check out different options to figure out what’s right for you). Most people don’t have the attention span to scroll through thousands of photos, but a five minute video is perfect, because it highlights the most important parts of the day and tells the whole story in just a few seconds. Anyone who wasn’t at the wedding will feel like they were there, and even people who did attend will get to see a little behind the scenes.

You Won’t See Everything on Your Wedding Day

Wedding days go by fast. Like, really fast. It’ll seem like you’re running from one place to the next, making sure you say hello to everyone and that everything is running smoothly. You’re bound to miss some things. You most likely won’t see your partner while they’re getting ready, or while they’re excitedly waiting for you at the end of the aisle. You might miss the way your dad cried during the ceremony, or the way your partner looked when they first saw you. 

Your wedding video will show you all of that. You’ll see your favorite memories from the day, as well as all the little moments you missed while they were happening.

So, Should I Hire a Wedding Videographer?

Short answer, yes!
Long answer, think about your budget, how much you’re willing to invest in your memories, and how important each part of your wedding day is to you. At the end of the day, your wedding should be about you, and the things that matter most to you. Sit down with your partner, write an old fashioned pros and cons list, make a breakdown of your budget, or whatever will help you get organized! And when you’re ready to make some decisions, I’ll be here ready to take your photos and to recommend some amazing videographers who will do an incredible job capturing your wedding day in all its glory.