Live Stream Your Wedding?

We're live streaming our wedding in Canada for my dad in Mexico, who can't come for health reasons. We're using Skype, has worked pretty well so far for wireless videoconferencing.

ETA typo

I've heard good things about using Google Hangouts. May be worth looking into.

I was considering doing this, but I decided that it was too likely to go wrong (internet unreliable on our end, international data being slow, grandma on the other end having technical problems, etc), and that I would just be worrying about it in advance and devastated if something went wrong in the moment.

Instead, I think I'm going to have my sister set up her Go Pro on a tripod, then ask her boyfriend to upload it and send it to my grandma right after the ceremony while we're doing our pictures / cocktail hour. That way hopefully she'll get to see a higher quality video, not too long after -- and we don't have to panic as much about all the different variables going wrong in a "no do-over" moment.

I've never had very good luck with Skype, Hangouts, Oovoo or anything else like that. I feel like the picture is too shoddy and if there's too much action/noise it distorts and lags. Maybe it's just my connection but my internet bill is high enough so idk.

I think the Go Pro is a much better option. It's not live but if you upload it soon I don't think the difference will be too noticeable, they'll just be excited to see it.

Live streaming seems to be hit-and-miss, but I get why you would do it. We had family who got married in Israel and not all family members were fit enough to make the journey there to attend. They really wanted the grandparents to be a part of it, so they used Skype and the grandparents were able to 'attend' that way. It worked out and was really important to the couple and to the grandparents. The photographer also took a photo of someone holding the laptop during the ceremony with the couple in the background, I'm pretty sure that the grandparents have that photo in a frame .

Things to consider (and I may be missing points):

1) Check to see if the internet connection is strong at the venue. Even with a strong internet connection skype/facetime/ect can still freeze and act up.

2) If you do this, make sure that they can hear you but they are muted.

3) Assign someone to be the 'computer handler'. Maybe a teenage cousin who wouldn't mind the task?

4) Make sure they know that you will do your best to organize the live feed, but if something happens the wedding will go on regardless.

5) Assign someone the task of bringing the laptop/notebook so that it's off your plate.

Good luck!

Thanks for all of the feedback! I agree it's a little risky but even if my friends/family/coworkers get to see a little bit of the wedding, it's better than not seeing it at all! I like the Go Pro idea and may use that as a backup in case anything goes wrong with the live feed. I have a cousin who could probably do it and has some tech skills too which is a plus

I like the idea of getting a picture of someone holding the laptop, too. "A sign of the times"

Anyone heard/used Livestream, Ustream, Justin.tv or even Youtube to live stream?

Would strongly advise against Justin.tv

It's owned by the same folks as the gaming site Twitch.tv and I'm unsure if they don't use the same servers. If they do, all it takes is some of the big names being live/a tournament going on and the quality will tank.

I wouldn't recommend Google hangouts. My fiancé uses it for work all the time and it's terrible. Most of the time he can't even see the video. Doesn't seem to be very reliable.

That's really good to know, thanks!

I've used twitch to live stream an mmorpg... Never had too many issues. Sometimes lag spikes depending on time of day etx. I don't play anymore, so haven't used it in a while. Good luck! Never even thought of live streaming a wedding!

We're doing it and using Google Hangouts. I love it because you can watch it on Youtube plus it automatically saves to Youtube and you can watch it. It's like getting a wedding video without paying for it lol