So, you’re planning a wedding. Congrats! Now it’s time to make important decisions on your wedding video length. There are no clear rules for how long a wedding video should be. Ultimately, your wedding video can be as short or long as you want! It is your wedding, after all.
Keep reading this guide for tips on choosing the perfect wedding video length for your special day.
How Long is the Average Wedding Video?
Most wedding videos you’ll see are just a few minutes long. However, some videos can be several hours long!
At Reverent Wedding Films, we create videos ranging from 3-9 minutes.
But how can an entire day of wedding footage be condensed to only a few minutes? That’s what the experts are for!
Video Length Based on Style
Your wedding video length will be mainly determined by the style. There are several types of wedding videography styles to choose from. Some of the most popular options are:
- Highlights: Less than 10 minutes
- Short Film: Less than 10 minutes
- Documentary: 30 minutes – 1 hour
- Cinematic: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Memorable Highlights to Include in Your Wedding Video
Your wedding day will be full of magical moments you’ll never want to forget. Professional wedding videography companies like Reverent Weddings Films will allow you to relive those moments as if you were still there!
However, it can be difficult to condense a whole day of festivities to just a few minutes, especially since most weddings are day-long events. The most important moments to capture in your video are:
- The bride getting ready with her bridesmaids
- The groom getting ready with his groomsmen
- Location b-roll
- The first look
- Exchanging of vows
- Reception events (toasts, first dance, bouquet toss, and cake cutting)
For the moments that are most important to you, communicate them with your videographer to make sure nothing is missed or cut short.
If you want a shorter wedding video, cut out the lengthy coverage of the venue and shots of guests arriving/departing. You really only need a few seconds of this kind of footage to tell the story of your day. Remember, the main focus is the bride and groom!
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Videographer
Before hiring a wedding videographer, get all the answers you need so that you can find your best match.
Can I get a highlight video and a full-length version?
Many wedding videographers will include both in a wedding video package. Highlight videos are shorter in length and last only a few minutes, while full-length videos can last up to 30 minutes or longer. Ask your videographer about the specifics.
Each video will need to be edited separately from the raw footage, so the price for both will be higher than individually.
Do you charge hourly or by service package?
Each wedding video company and individual videographer will have different prices depending on their experience, service packages, and other factors.
When you pay by the hour, the wedding videographer will give you a general idea of how long they will film for and what is included. This typically covers the “getting ready” moments, the ceremony, and the reception. Be sure to ask your videographer beforehand if there will be an additional rate in the event you go beyond the originally agreed-upon time.
Some wedding videography companies stick to service packages and customize them depending on the couple’s special requests. This option focuses less on how many hours and more on getting the footage necessary for a video. Discuss with your videographer everything you’d like to see in your video and determine if it is included in the package or if there will be an additional cost.
How long is your turnaround time?
The delivery timeframe will depend on how long your wedding video is and what style. It also depends on who you work with. For example, if you hire a freelance videographer, they may take longer to finish the video than a company with a dedicated team of editors.
Regardless of whether you hire an individual or an organization, understand that it can take several days to gather footage, add music and filters, and edit down to the specified length. Ask your videographer for a timeline of updates and the finished product.
Additional questions you may want to ask:
- How would you describe your video style?
- Have you filmed at my venue before?
- Do you use drones?
- What creative input do you want from us?
- Are you open to feedback from us?
More Questions? Ask the Experts at Reverent Wedding Films
At Reverent Wedding Films, our award-winning team of videographers is committed to creating the perfect wedding video to memorialize your special day. For years, we’ve delivered premium quality wedding videography in Houston, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, and San Antonio, Texas.
Let’s bring your forever into focus, together. Check our availability online or call us now at 832-536-1897 to learn more!
