Last minute videography help!!

If you can't afford to do it then don't. But I will say my only regret from my wedding was not having a videographer...My SIL got one and I realized how much a video captures that a still picture just can't. I plan on making a video slideshow using our pictures and a couple videos that some guest took on there cell phones.

You should be able to find somebody cheaper than $3,000. It depends on what kind of quality of work you are ok with, you should be able to find somebody much cheaper.

I'm pretty sure you can find a videographer cheaper than $3000...you may not get everything you want included but at least it will be filmed and you won't have any regrets. If that is the only person who can do it on your date, try negotiating the price and telling them your budget and what you can afford to spend..they may work with you

Will you really watch them? boy that depends on both you and who you hire. Consider what is important to you. As for what you can get from who you hire:

There are 3 common types of videos:

the short 4-5 minute quick highlight you see on Facebook. Sometimes its super short and doesn't even have any talking in it (seriously, don't hire those people. Get someone who will use your vows in the video at least).

There is a longer highlight (10-25 minutes) that I always thought was more for the B&G. I make them that way, anyway. That one is for rewatching. More of the day, etc.

And then there is the entire ceremony, entire speeches, entire first dance. Sorry, but while its great to have, I can't imagine watching those in their entirety.

Oh, and please don't hire anyone who doesn't license the music they use online. Its just not OK (and you never know if it will get suddenly pulled down offline).

/I'll be honest, if it weren't my little girl's 7th bday the next day, I'd take a shot at getting hired, and I'd have to fly in from the midwest to do it, and would gladly do it cheaper to escape the cold

Definitely definitely worth it! Look around and see if your photographer has any referrals.

As others have said, if you can afford it, hire one. I just got a preview of my wedding video and can't wait to see the rest. The day goes by sooooo fast that it's nice to get a second chance to experience it. That said, I think $3,000 is a bit expensive. My videographer offered different packages that started at $900. Look around for other options. WW has a great database of vendors. Check out any reviews on WW and Google.

I have the SAME story! Originally we were going to skip it, but after seeing all the videos brides have posted on here, I was regretting that decision. Just contracted with a videographer this week for a limited package. We asked how much it would be to cut a couple of hours off the base package, and asked if we could get any discounts for off-season and for our planner's referral. We are getting 5 hours (essentially ceremony, toasts, first dances and some reception), a 3-5 minute highlight video, rough-cut documentary edit of full ceremony and good reception footage, for $1700.

Cheapest I found was film monkeys 3 hours for 500.

If you can't afford it then that's one thing. But to me there were a LOT of things I would have taken out of the budget before video. I didn't cry on my wedding day but I sobbed like a baby watching the video. I've watched it a dozen times or more since. Part of it was because I don't feel I look good in photos but I look better in video. I do think if you're going to do it find someone good. To me, a crummy quality video wouldn't have been worth it but a good video is amazing!

I'm doing it! I've heard regrets and I thought it'd be nice to see things from another view point, and get to see the girls walk down the aisle! I'm not spending much though cuz it's not the most important thing to me, but I wanted something at least.

I thought videography was a waste of money, but husband wanted one. And after watching our highlight video, I am so glad we did!!! We got our highlight video about 2 weeks after the wedding and she captured so many details, getting ready, first look, all the details we put into the wedding. I have watched it multiple times and people who were at the wedding have seen it too and liked it! If you can afford it, go for it!!

One of the best investments of our wedding! We got a deal and found ours thru Craigslist. I know most people wouldn't take a risk and hire someone off of Craigslist but we did and the risk was very rewarding! The 10 min highlight video (includes our vows) we have seen over 30 times, friends who were at the wedding ask us to see it. The full ceremony we have only seen once. We also have all raw footage of the reception and we have seen that like 4 times. P.s. we have only been married three months, so ya we do watch it a lot! ETA: the company had a lot of sample videos we looked at prior to picking them as our videographer.

Thank you so much everyone for all the advice- and so quickly too!! You guys are amazing! Everyone gave me a lot of wonderful ideas!!

I enjoy watching my parents video! I think it's a good idea for your future kids and grand kids . But find someone cheaper!

To all the pps recommending videography, would you also recommend it for people who are camera shy? We are scared that with a photographer AND videographer, it will feel like we will feel very aware that we're being monitored all night. We're concerned that we may not enjoy the actual event as much.

FH and I probably would rewatch a highlight reel maybe each year on our anniversary but we could alternatively just look through our wedding photos. I also know that it would basically double our photography budget and is something that a decade ago people lived without just fine.

This was something I wasn't sure about at first. After watching my FSIL's wedding video I decided to not do it. She looked so nervous and overly excited. They also looked very awkward. Nothing looked natural.

I know I would be very uncomfortable being filmed all day and being from NYC, I am not paying $5k for a video to make me self conscious.

We are having to forfeit an exotic honeymoon because we decided to have a videographer. But I'm sure we won't regret it. We're still having a honeymoon. We just haven't decided where yet. It will be something simple and nice. No flying.

@May Bride, you'll have to talk to your photog/video guy about that. Hiring someone you get along with is the first step, so that you'll feel some trust with them. Hopefully that would help you not be so self-conscience.

Also, my contract, for instance, specifically states 'only a positive portrayal will be used' as a promise that its my job to get you at your best.

Next, I use a zoom lens, so even though the vows look close up, I'm 50 feet away. Not possible for a lot of the day, but its a start.

As for being camera shy/awkward I think it just depends. I really don't love having my picture taken on a daily basis but didn't mind it as much on the wedding day because I was so happy and felt pretty so I figured at least some would turn out good. Plus, you as the bride and groom have control of the photos!! One reason I hate having having my picture taken is that my mom & MIL post EVERYTHING. Even the terrible pictures end up on facebook for the world to see. I even had a mild argument with my mom a few days ago when she took my picture when I didn't want her to. I told her it was fine just don't post it but she was really dead set on posting it. I couldn't understand why it was such a big deal. I wasn't making her delete it (though I wanted to), just don't put it on the internet (simple, right?). It took like 5 minutes to convince her of this. But when it comes to the wedding photos they all come to YOU. You can then pick the ones you like and only those you send out. My mom asked for a flash drive of ALL the photos and made it a big deal that she wanted all of them. I included the about 150 that I deemed good enough I wouldn't mind if they ended up online. The rest she does NOT get. Period. She just has too bad a history of posting/framing photos that make me feel super bad about myself. Bottom line is that since you get to choose what photos people see you end up looking great in all your photos because you only show the great ones.

As for video, when I saw mine I was really amazed. Honestly, a lot of what he got I didn't even know he was filming. He caught so many cute little moments that I am so glad I have forever because I would have forgotten. Plus, he got things that happened when I wasn't there so without the video guy I would never have gotten to see them. The great thing is that with professionals they know how to make you look good and it's your wedding day so you already look great to begin with. To me I love that I have that record because I think it will be fun to show my kids and grandkids someday what I used to look like. Plus, we have MY grandma on there and she won't have known them most likely so it will be nice to get to show them who she was.