An Accurate and Essential Wedding Video Checklist
Planning a wedding? The last thing you want to worry about is how your Toronto wedding videographer will handle each aspect of filming. This article has the list for what they should have, and where it all goes so that nothing can go wrong on film - whether there's just one person shooting video or an entire crew! The last thing bride-to-be wants at her big day are worries about everything else but enjoying herself with family & friends...but alas, this task often falls squarely onto those shoulders when hiring professionals who specialize in documenting these events perfectly from start to finish (and beyond).
Must-Have Wedding Shots
The perfect traditional wedding video shots should be included in every groom and bride-to-be's ensembles. This includes moments like the first look, exchanging vows as well as all other important events that occur throughout your big day!
The first-look
Groom waiting at altar
Processional with bride's entrance
Vow recital
First kiss as married couple
Recessional
First dance
Cake cutting
Bouquet toss
Father-daughter dance
Best man and maid of honor toasts
Preparation Shots
These shots are important for any wedding videographer in Ontario to capture. These clips consist of the bride getting ready, bridal party preparations and all other moments that occur in a room where there is no action taking place on the main floor. You should take some shots as the wedding party prepares, but make sure you get good timing for certain poses like when he pins on his boutonniere. It is always a good idea to ask the groom and groomsmen to not make too much noise when getting ready because it can ruin your audio track. As a professional wedding videographer in Toronto, it is important to capture the groom and his men arriving at the room where they will be preparing for the big day and capture some nice detail shots of their outfits and accessories along with a few posed group photos.
As a wedding videographer, you should try getting some shots of the bride and her ladies as they prepare for their big day. You can include angles from the outside where she's getting ready or if not, then inside a certain area. However, make sure not too film too close so it doesn't end up in any photographs later! A few poses worth capturing are ones which show them fixing each other's dress/makeup together. Individual photos after everyone has finished putting final touches onto themselves also works well. One popular event to capture during the bride's preparation is the one shot with all the bridesmaids around the bride while sipping back some tasty mimosas. Other than that, it's up to you and your creativity on how to capture the precious moments of her preparation.
Before the ceremony, look for these shots:
Bride and bridesmaids getting ready
Exterior shot of the church or venue
Interior wide shot of the church or venue
Altar
Flowers
Wedding program
Groom and ushers hanging out
Pinning boutonniere on groom
The Wedding Ceremony
The vows are said. The bride walks down the aisle and takes her place at center stage before a crowd of onlookers, all watching with bated breath to see what will happen next - this is by far one of the most intense moments in any wedding film! When shooting a wedding ceremony, it is important to get the right shots at the very fleeting moment. Using a tripod, you should shoot from various angles in order to get different perspectives on what happens next (the vows are said, the bride walks down the aisle, etc.). You can also interview guests who were present at that time; these interviews will prove invaluable throughout your editing process later on! I personally always recommend a second videographer to capture the groom's perspective so you can show both sides of the story. I can't tell you how many times I see raw emotion coming from the groom when his beloved bride walks down the aisle. When it comes to a wedding ceremony, it's always about the moving parts. This is where you need to focus your energy when it comes to capturing the story of this big day.
Other parts of the ceremony to shoot include:
Guests being escorted down the aisle
Guests sitting, reading programs, and talking
Family members entering the venue or church
Father kissing the bride and handing her off to the groom
The ceremony. Record it all if you have the space, and edit later
The must-have shots mentioned previously of the groom at the altar, the processional and bride's entrance, the first kiss and the recessional
The Wedding Reception
After the tough business of filming your ceremony, you can relax a bit and have some fun at reception. In addition to shots previously mentioned, look for these opportunities when capturing a wedding reception. The wedding reception is a joyous event, and you want to capture the sounds, music and atmosphere as much as possible. Oh and let's not forget the decor and all the little details that go into a wedding reception. Don't be afraid to capture any of the guest's welcome messages and speeches. Don't forget to capture the cake cutting, bouquet toss and garter removal as well! You will want to be sure that you have your camera on a tripod or monopod for most of these shots so there are no shaking hands or blurry images.
Here are some shots to consider:
Exterior shot of reception site
Guests signing guestbook
Receiving line
Champagne toast
Cocktail hour
Servers passing food
Table decor
Table tags
Gift table
Wide shot of reception room
Closeup of place settings
Guest favors
Centerpiece
Blessing
First dance of couple
Cake cutting
Bouquet toss
Garter removal
Last dance of the evening
The newlyweds' exit
One of the most valuable assets for capturing your wedding video is natural conversation. Be open to unexpected opportunities and watch out for moments where people are laughing or smiling because these can be captured in an emotional way that will make for great content!
One of my favorite things about weddings are all of those candid, unplanned interactions happening around me as I capture them on camera. From newlyweds looking at each other tenderly before exchanging vows at the ceremony, guests breaking into spontaneous group dances, flower girl giggles and popping up everywhere to parent tearful goodbyes...you just never know what kind of a beautiful story might present itself until you start documenting this special day, so don't forget to keep rolling those cameras no matter what. Remember, there is a story to capture for just about everything and everywhere.
If you would like to learn more about our wedding videography services, feel free to contact us here directly. Curious to know some of the common mistakes people make when hiring a wedding videographer? Read here.
