Wedding video help

I ran into this issue as well! Most videographers that I talked to offered only a short highlight video for $2k+, and I didn't want to pay thousands of dollars for 6-8 hours of coverage, only to get 3-7 minutes of it in a video. My fiance and I want memories from the whole day: ceremony, reception events (speeches, entrances, cake cutting, spotlight dances, etc), guests socializing/dancing/smores bar/lawn games/etc. One thing you could do is ask about options such as purchasing the raw footage as an add on, or separate ceremony and reception videos, or even ask the videographer if they're able to put together a custom package that includes the specific video that you're looking for.

Hello! Im from NY as well. I know exactly what you mean. I told my photographer I wanted a 5-7 minute trailer. Then the usual 45-1hr minute video and also the raw footage unedited from the entire event and he agreed. So, it’s something you can discuss with your photographer. His rates are awesome. It’s about 5k for 10 hours including videography and photography as a 3/4 person team.

I found him on the thumbtack app. You can look there or I can give you his information if you’d like it. It was about 2.5 k for the photographs of the day and an engagement shoot. And another 2.5k for the video for the day of the wedding.

Talk to them about you want specifically. They should be able to do with no issues.


Alot of videos I have seen have the day run straight through..those are the 30 minute films. It's only really the 1-5 minute highlight clips that bounce out.
Also take a look on Instagram for wedding videographers in your area.

I’m with you! We are also in NY (NYC) and were also looking for a full wedding video! I think it is a recent trend to have just a highlights video or teaser for social media. But just like you, I really want to have video to remember the whole day, even if it’s just to relive it once a year or every few years. I just love the idea of being able to watch the continuous footage back. We were supposed to get married this year on 8/21/21 but have postponed to 8/20/22 so we booked our videographer last Spring. I haven’t met her or discussed much yet, but she seems like such a kind person and I do love her work! We were able to book a package that includes 8 hours of filming with 2 HD cameras, a 3-4 min highlights video with a song of our choice, and a 1 hour - 1.5 hour full feature film! Her company is Lush Life Film if you want to check her out!

View Quoted Comment Thank you Lisa !!! Every time I ask I get the same response”it really depends on how the day goes - if u have speeches, etc” but I feel like I don’t really care all that much about speeches like I want to see everything. I just don’t get it!! And I just don’t want to put a deposit on someone saying that then not giving me what I actually want

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much Ane! I just don’t get what the point is of filming all day to barely get a video plus it’s so expensive! And I feel like I get the same response from all videographers “it really depends on how the day goes if you have speeches etc” but I literally don’t want my video to be like just speeches cause I really don’t care all that much about them. I will deff look her up

View Quoted Comment I got a similar response as well ("It depends on the length of your ceremony/speeches/etc"), and I totally understand why they say that: some ceremonies are 20 minutes, some are an hour. Some people skip speeches, others have a half hour worth of speeches. Those can all significantly change the total length of the video.


However, I think that if you tell them that you want footage from everything, they should be able to come up with a package that works best for you. Be very specific to them about what you want footage on! For example: "We're looking for a full length video that shows footage from getting ready, first look, ceremony, cocktail hour (guests interacting, appetizers, etc), reception entrances, first dance, spotlight dances, speeches, cake cutting, bouquet toss, dinner, candid dancing, guests socializing, and our dessert bar." That could also be written into the contract, which would help ensure that you'll get everything you were looking for. Otherwise, you could ask for the raw footage (usually available for an extra fee), and use that to re-live all the memories?

So, I got a highlight reel and then hours of raw footage by hiring an up-and-coming filmmaker who was also my coworker at the time.

Maybe reach out to the film schools and see if there's a student willing to try their hand? They'll charge less, and probably be more amenable to what you want.

(Or I can ask my videographer if she's still into doing events?)

I went through a company that does 9 hours of video and includes photography. We get our photos, a album of whatever photos we pick and 2 copies of our entire wedding on blu ray chaptered. It was 2700$ which was way lower then doing then separate and from what most other companies wanted for both photo and video. Alexia Photovideo is the name I believe!

I hired a guy we went to college with. He's not a professional videographer, and he doesn't have tons of clients he's worrying about. He's done a few weddings before and worked for a minor league baseball team.

It may not have the fancy editing, but I at least know I can get what I want from him! Have a local college? Maybe they have some media students to hire (probably also cheap) that can meet your demands a little better than someone who does it for living and has their own preferences.

I think it's do able and the right videographer for you is out there somewhere! I do know what you mean though on making sure the video is what you want. I didn't just want any video either there were a lot where I like the style but quality wasn't as good or vice versa. I also do not want a lot of the ceremony or speeches in my highlight video because I want that in the edited long version video.

Have you asked your photographer for recommendations of who they might know that can work out what you want/worked with before?

I hired George Street Photo & Video for a great deal for both packages about $5100 for 10 hours for a lead photographer and videographer, 6 hours for an assistant photographer and videographer, plus 4 hours the day before for pre-wedding stuff. The video service they provide will get a me a 4-6 minute highlight video and about a 1 hour 30 min edited video of the entire day. You get to work with the editing team and tell them exactly what you want in your video.

Last resort, if you aren't able to find someone to make the type of video you want with edits, you could hired someone to just film the raw footage and then at a later time take your time hire someone to put the edited video together.