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7 Must-Have Shots for Your Wedding Reception Video

By July 31, 2024No Comments

Even the smallest details of your wedding day are precious, and with an expert cinematographer on hand, you won’t want to miss a single moment! Of course, that might lead to hours and hours of footage to sift through by the end, especially when the ceremony and reception might last long into the night before you depart for your honeymoon. 

When it comes to narrowing down a list of must-haves, there are a few key moments and events that every wedding reception video should get on film to help you remember the magic of your big day. Ideally, you’ll plan this ahead of time with your photographer and cinematographer to ensure they’re prepared and in position ahead of time.

Here’s our list of seven moments you should plan to capture for your wedding reception video!

The Grand Entrance

When you step into your wedding reception venue, it’s the first time your friends and family members will hear you introduced as a married couple! Especially if you plan a memorable wedding entrance into the party, the crowd will go wild with excitement over your newly married status. 

Enter hand-in-hand with your new spouse for the first time, and make sure your videographer is prepared to catch it on camera. 

First Dance

Of course, your entrance to the reception is only the beginning! Your first dance with your new spouse will be one of the sweetest moments of the party. It’s a time to focus on your new spouse and share an intimate moment, even as friends and family watch and cheer from the sidelines. 

As the glasses clink and you share a kiss on the dance floor, you will want that moment to forever be on film. 

Toasts and Speeches 

What do your closest friends and family have to say about your relationships? The memorable wedding toasts and speeches given at the party will be entertaining stories, touching tributes to the strength of your love, and emotional displays of your relationships with the bridal party. 

You don’t want to forget your vows to your partner, but you also don’t want to forget what friends and family had to say on your wedding day. Make sure to capture the speeches as part of your wedding reception video so that you can reflect on them for decades to come. 

Candid Moments

While the grand entrance and the first dance are staged and planned during the reception, there will be plenty of candid moments for your videographer to capture. With the rush and excitement of the evening, you simply can’t be everywhere – and these are the moments you’d otherwise miss!

Some candid shots to capture include the dancing, entertainment, and activities set up for guests. Make sure you get plenty of laughter and smiles from loved ones on film so you get to witness everyone having a good time, even if you were swept up in the festivities at the time.

These photos and film capture have an authenticity that can’t be staged – they might be the best part to come out of your reception! 

Cutting the Cake

Is there anything sweeter than the moment when the knife slides through the wedding cake? Whether you decide on a classic cake or choose another type of wedding dessert, this is a special moment at the end of the reception –  you’ll want your videographer to stick around. You only get one shot at this moment, so make sure to announce the moment so your wedding videographer can set up and capture it. 

If you plan to follow tradition and try to feed each other cake, you might want to capture this silly moment in your wedding reception video as well. Sharing that first piece of cake is a sweet event – literally – and when you capture it on film, you can imagine that flavor over and over again. 

Décor

Sometimes, your videographer can gain access to your reception area before guests start to trickle in. This gives them ample opportunity to capture the small details and embellishments that make your wedding truly unique and memorable. 

A sneak peek of the reception allows a videographer to capture place settings, lighting, table arrangements, and more. These tidbits make for a wonderful B-roll that sets the tone and adds personality to your wedding film.

Even without early access to the reception area, you want to make sure your videographer does their best to get the décor on film. You put a lot of thought and effort into coordinating the décor, and the wedding reception video should evoke the emotion you hoped to convey through those small touches. 

Wedding Exit

You only get to leave the reception one time, hand in hand to head to your honeymoon. As your guests gather to see you off, make sure your videographer is set up to capture the smiles, laughter, and unique send-off you have planned. 

If you have a special wedding exit planned, like lighting sparklers or blowing bubbles as you make your way to the getaway car, prepare your videographer so they can adjust their camera settings and find the perfect angle.

Imagine rewatching a film from the moment you exit the reception area to the moment you drive away in the vehicle that says “Just Married” on the back window. It’s the perfect way to close out your wedding reception video and night full of festivities, fun, and memories. 

Classic, Timeless Wedding Films from Reverent  

Wedding guest books and photo albums are timeless keepsakes from your special day, but over the years, the finer details of the moment will fade. With a wedding reception video that immortalizes the story of your love on film, you can relive those hours any time you desire.

At Reverent Wedding Films, we’re proud of our expertise in timeless cinematic storytelling. Our wedding highlight films do more than record events – they capture the unique story and emotion of your love! We’re the largest wedding cinematographer in Texas, offering high-quality films at affordable prices with a professional and experienced team.

If you want a precious keepsake that you can watch over and over again for years to come, check our availability to start the booking process for a unique, romantic film for your wedding day.