Hey there! it's Dalton from Spark Cinema, your dedicated wedding videographer in St. Louis, Missouri. As someone who's been a part of countless weddings, I've seen firsthand how a well-planned timeline can make your special day run smoothly. Most of the time, the photographer is the main one involved in planning the wedding day schedule. However, I want to give you the perspective from a Wedding Videographer, and how you can ensure that not only your day goes smoothly, but that your wedding video turns out the best it can possibly be!
The Details Matter.
Starting early is key. As a videographer, I love to capture those intimate moments of the bride and groom getting ready. These shots are filled with anticipation and emotion, setting the tone for the rest of the day. Plan for your videographer to arrive when you're about halfway done with your preparations. This way, they can capture the details (Ring, Dress, etc) right when they arrive, and then the finishing touches, like putting on the dress or fastening the cufflinks.
Getting Ready: Want Both Guys and Girls?
A lot of couple traditionally have a main photographer, and a second photographer. The second is typically with the guys and the main is typically with the Bride. However, sometimes couples forget about this when they only have one Videographer, and they are getting ready at the same time. My advice here would be, if you can, stagger some time so the videographer can reach both of you. If not, block out a little time later in the day for the videographer to fake some getting ready shots of the groom and groomsmen, but stay with the Bride for all of the regular getting ready. This shouldn't take long at all and will make sure you still have all of the day captured on video!
First Look or Traditional Aisle Moment?
The decision to have a first look can significantly impact your timeline. A first look allows for some beautiful, private moments between the bride and groom before the ceremony. It also frees up time post-ceremony for more couple and group shots. However, if you're more traditional and want the first look to be down the aisle, that's perfectly fine too! Just ensure you allocate enough time after the ceremony for photos and videos.
Side Note: Ask your Videographer to mic up the groom/dad/anyone else for your first look(s) so you can have all of the precious audio from that special moment!
Ceremony: Uninterrupted Magic
The ceremony is the heart of your wedding day. As a videographer, my goal is to capture this magic without interruptions. The biggest advice here would be to let your videographer and photographer know about any events in the ceremony that are happening, and their order! This way, they can make sure they are always in the perfect position to capture all of the big moments.
Reception: Let the Fun Begin
Receptions are all about fun and celebration. Key moments like the first dance, cake cutting, and speeches need to be timed right. As a rule of thumb, it's great to get these essential events started early in the reception. Also, you'll want to plan at least a five minute gap from the previous event before speeches happen so the videographer can properly mic up everyone, hook up to the DJ's system, etc. An example would be to have the Grand Entrance, straight into the cake cutting and first dance, then give everyone a few minutes to sit down and get situated before speeches begin.
Additional Note: For the main dance floor, a wedding videographer shouldn't need more than 30 minutes of footage. After that, they will have all they need. So remember that when you are trying to figure out how much time to incorporate for them to get video of the open dance floor!
The Grand Exit
Photographed by Ryse Photography
If you're planning a grand exit, like a sparkler send-off, make sure to let your videographer know. We'll need to prepare and position ourselves to capture this final, magical moment of your day. Also, if you only have a smaller wedding package, like 6-8 hours, you can always plan a "fake" wedding exit with all of your guests, so the photographer and videographer can capture it before they leave!
Remember, your wedding day is a celebration of your love story, and the timeline should reflect what's most important to you. As your videographer, my job is to capture your day in all its beauty, and a well-thought-out timeline helps me do just that.
If you have any questions or are interested in Spark Cinema being your Wedding Videographer, feel free to reach out! At Spark Cinema, I'm here to make your special day as memorable as possible.
Happy Wedding Planning!
Dalton Masterson
Spark Cinema
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