Wedding Video Packages Explained: A Couple's Guide to Choosing Perfectly
Your wedding day will be a beautiful whirlwind of moments, a story you’ll want to cherish forever. But when it comes to choosing how to capture it, navigating the world of wedding video packages can feel overwhelming. What’s the real difference between a 'highlight' and a 'feature' film? How many hours of coverage do you truly need? And is a second videographer really worth the investment?
We believe that choosing how your love story is told should be an exciting and joyful process, not a confusing one. This guide is designed to be your trusted companion, demystifying the jargon and breaking down exactly what each element means for your final film. We’re here to give you the clarity you need to compare different offerings with absolute confidence.
Our promise is simple: to help you understand what you're investing in, so you can confidently choose the perfect package that captures all the authentic, intimate moments of your day. Let's find the perfect way to create a visual legacy that is uniquely you.
Decoding the Deliverables: What's Truly Inside a Wedding Video Package?
When you begin exploring wedding video packages, it’s easy to focus on a list of prices. But we invite you to look deeper. Think of these deliverables not as items on a checklist, but as the cherished building blocks of your visual legacy. Each film serves a unique purpose in telling your story, allowing you to relive the joy and laughter for a lifetime. The art of capturing a wedding has evolved beautifully over the history of wedding videography, and today's films are designed to preserve every precious moment. Let's decode the jargon so you can choose with confidence.
The Highlight Film: Your Cinematic Social Media Star
This is your wedding day’s blockbuster trailer. A 3-5 minute, fast-paced, and emotionally charged film, meticulously edited to the most poignant and joyful moments. Set to beautifully licensed music, it’s designed to capture the overall feeling and vibrant energy of your celebration. This is the film you’ll share instantly on social media, allowing friends and family all over the world to feel the magic of your day in an instant.
The Feature Film: Your Personal Wedding Day Movie
If the highlight is the trailer, the feature film is your personal wedding day movie. Typically 15-25 minutes long, this film weaves together the narrative of your day in beautiful, cinematic detail. It often includes carefully chosen audio snippets from your vows, the speeches, and candid moments of laughter. This is the timeless story you’ll curl up on the sofa to watch on your anniversary, cherishing every moment as you relive the day it all began.
Ceremony & Speeches Edit: The Full, Uncut Moments
Some words are too precious to be shortened. This deliverable provides a complete, uninterrupted recording of your full wedding ceremony and all the reception speeches. Often captured from multiple camera angles for a professional, documentary-style view, this edit ensures that every promise, every heartfelt toast, and every inside joke is preserved exactly as it happened. It’s an invaluable part of your family archive you’ll be so grateful to have.
Drone Footage: The Breathtaking Aerial Views
For a truly breathtaking perspective, drone footage adds a grand, cinematic scale to your wedding film. These stunning aerial shots are perfect for capturing the magnificent beauty of your chosen venue and its picturesque surroundings, from a sweeping coastal view to a majestic country estate. It’s important to note that its use is always subject to weather conditions and venue or airspace restrictions, but when possible, the results are simply spectacular.
Coverage & Crew: How Many Hours and Videographers Do You Need?
Choosing the right elements for your wedding film is about more than just logistics; it's about deciding how your unique story will be told. The amount of coverage you select and the size of your videography crew directly impact the narrative arc and emotional depth of your final film. It’s the difference between a simple recording of events and a cherished visual legacy that captures everything from the quiet, nervous energy of the morning preparations to the uninhibited joy of the evening celebrations. The best wedding video packages give you the flexibility to craft this story perfectly.
Choosing Your Coverage Duration
Think of your wedding day as a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. The duration of your coverage determines how much of that beautiful story gets told.
Partial Day (6-8 hours): This option is wonderful for capturing the core moments of your day. It typically covers the ceremony, your couple’s portraits, the heartfelt speeches, and the romance of your first dance.
Full Day (10-12+ hours): For a complete narrative, full-day coverage is essential. It allows us to capture the entire emotional journey: the quiet moments of reflection as you get ready, the tearful first look, the laughter with your wedding party, and the vibrant energy of the dance floor late into the night.
Consider your timeline and what feels most important to you. Will you regret not having those precious morning moments with your family, or the final, joyful farewells at the end of the night?
One Videographer vs. Two: The Power of a Second Shooter
While one talented videographer can beautifully document an intimate wedding or elopement, a second shooter adds an entirely new dimension of depth and perspective to your film. It’s about capturing simultaneous moments that would otherwise be missed.
Imagine this: as you walk down the aisle, one videographer is focused entirely on you, capturing your every expression. At the same time, a second videographer is capturing your partner’s emotional reaction—a moment you wouldn’t otherwise get to see. During the speeches, one can film the speaker while the other focuses on the laughter and tears of your beloved guests. A second shooter is almost essential for larger weddings or when preparations are happening in separate locations, ensuring the full, rich tapestry of your day is woven together. These details, specifying the number of videographers and their hours, are crucial components of your agreement. Ensuring everything is clearly laid out in your contract is vital; resources offering general consumer protection advice for contracts can be helpful for understanding what to look for.
The Art Behind the Lens: How Style Influences Your Package
Your wedding video is so much more than a simple recording of the day; it is a piece of art, a visual legacy that tells the story of your love. The videographer you choose is not just a technician but an artist, and their unique style will define the entire mood, pace, and emotional feel of your final film. After ensuring your most cherished moments are covered, aligning their artistic vision with your personal taste is the most important decision you will make. It's the difference between a video you watch and a film you feel.
Cinematic vs. Documentary: What's the Difference?
Understanding the core styles is the first step in finding your perfect match. Most videography falls into two broad categories:
Cinematic Style: Think of a movie trailer for your love story. This style is dramatic, visually stunning, and often features sweeping scores, slow-motion shots, and epic aerial views. It’s polished, grand, and focuses on creating breathtaking, powerful moments.
Documentary/Storytelling Style: This approach is all about authenticity. The focus is on capturing candid, unscripted moments as they happen—the quiet tear, the burst of laughter, the gentle squeeze of a hand. It weaves these real moments together to tell the honest story of your day.
At 1 Vision Photography, we cherish a style that blends the best of both worlds: the raw honesty of documentary storytelling combined with moments of timeless, beautifully guided portraiture to create a film that is both authentic and breathtaking.
Why Style Affects Your Package Needs
Your preferred style directly influences the structure and cost of various wedding video packages. A highly cinematic film, for instance, may require more time built into your schedule for directed shots during golden hour or specific permissions and time for drone operation. A true documentary style, on the other hand, relies heavily on a second videographer to capture simultaneous, candid reactions—ensuring no precious, fleeting moment is missed. As detailed in The Knot's Guide to Wedding Videography, discussing the desired 'feel' of your final film is a critical step in building the right coverage. By talking through your vision, we can tailor a package that provides the time, tools, and team needed to bring your unique story to life. See how we tell love stories through film, and let’s start the conversation about yours.
Beyond the Basics: Key Add-Ons and Questions to Ask
Once you’ve found a collection that captures the heart of what you want, it’s time to think about the final touches. These thoughtful extras can elevate your film from a beautiful record to a deeply personal visual legacy. It’s also the perfect moment to ask clarifying questions, ensuring a smooth, transparent process from your first consultation to the final delivery. A passionate, professional videographer will always welcome your questions, as it builds the trust needed to authentically tell your story.
Popular Package Add-Ons to Consider
While most wedding video packages cover the essentials, these additions help to tell a fuller story that is uniquely you. Think of them as extra chapters in your personal narrative:
Social Media Teaser: Imagine reliving the magic within days. A 60-second, high-energy teaser delivered within a week is perfect for sharing the joy with friends and family online while the memories are still sparkling.
Raw Footage: For the truly sentimental, receiving all the unedited clips from your day is like being given a treasure chest of memories. These are the candid, unpolished, and beautifully real moments that happen between the big events.
Engagement Film: This is the prologue to your wedding story. A short, romantic film shot before your big day, it’s a wonderful way to announce your engagement, play at your reception, or simply to cherish a snapshot of your life together before you say "I do."
Crucial Questions for Your Videographer
Clarity is key to peace of mind. Before you sign a contract, be sure to ask these important questions to avoid any surprises down the line:
What is your process for music licensing? To share your film online legally, the music must be licensed. Ask how your videographer sources their music to ensure your beautiful film won't be removed from social platforms.
What is the final delivery timeline? Editing a cinematic film takes passion and time. Ask for an estimated delivery window for all your edits so you know when to anticipate seeing your finished story.
Are travel and accommodation fees included? If your wedding is outside the videographer’s local area, be sure to clarify if travel costs are built into your chosen package or will be an additional expense.
How do you back up our footage? Your wedding day only happens once. A professional will have a robust backup system, often saving files in multiple locations to ensure your precious memories are always safe.
Feeling confident in your chosen wedding video package allows you to relax and be fully present on your day. At 1 Vision Photography, we pride ourselves on transparency and collaboration, ensuring every detail is considered. If you're ready to create your visual legacy, we would be honoured to start the conversation with you.
Your Timeless Story Awaits: Choosing Your Perfect Wedding Film
Choosing your wedding film is about so much more than hours of coverage or the number of cameras. It's a deeply personal decision about finding a storytelling style that resonates with your heart and understanding what deliverables you will cherish for a lifetime. Navigating the world of wedding video packages can feel complex, but it's truly a beautiful journey of deciding how you want to remember the day your new life began.
At 1 Vision Photography, we embrace a warm, personal approach to crafting your film. As an award-winning South Wales wedding videography team, our passion is telling your unique story with authenticity and artistry. We offer combined photography and videography for a seamless, heartfelt experience, ensuring every glance, smile, and tear is captured beautifully.
Your love story deserves to be told with care and creativity. Explore our wedding film packages and find your perfect story. We can't wait to help you create a visual legacy you'll treasure forever.
Your Wedding Videography Questions Answered
What is the average cost of a wedding video package in the UK?
In the UK, the average investment for a professional wedding videographer typically ranges from £1,500 to £2,500. This price often reflects the artist's experience, the hours of coverage on your day, and the cinematic quality of the final film. More comprehensive wedding video packages, which might include a second shooter, drone footage, and longer feature edits, can extend beyond £3,000. Remember, this is an investment in a living memory you will cherish for a lifetime.
Do I really need a wedding video if I already have a photographer?
While a photographer beautifully freezes moments in time, a videographer captures the life and soul within those moments. Imagine hearing the heartfelt tremble in your voices as you say your vows or the roar of laughter during the speeches. A wedding film is a living, breathing legacy of your day's authentic atmosphere and emotion. It complements your photos by telling the story in a way that still images simply cannot, creating a complete and timeless memory.
Should I hire my photographer and videographer from the same company?
This is a wonderful question that comes down to personal preference. Choosing a creative team from the same company ensures they have a seamless working relationship and a cohesive artistic style, which can make your day feel wonderfully effortless. However, the most important thing is that you adore the work of both artists. If you find two separate creatives whose styles you love, simply ensure they have experience working together to beautifully document your story.
How do we choose the music for our wedding film?
Choosing the music is a beautiful, collaborative part of the storytelling process. We believe the soundtrack should reflect the emotional tone of your day and your unique personality as a couple. Due to copyright laws, we use fully licensed music from extensive, high-quality libraries. We will discuss your musical tastes and the feeling you want your film to evoke, then present you with carefully selected options that will perfectly complement your visual narrative.
What happens if the videographer is sick on our wedding day?
Your peace of mind is our absolute priority. Every professional videographer should have a solid contingency plan for emergencies, which we always detail in our contract. We are part of a trusted network of talented, like-minded videographers who we can call upon in the unlikely event of illness. We would ensure any replacement is of the same high calibre and is fully briefed on your day's details, so your precious memories are captured flawlessly.
How far in advance should we book our wedding videographer?
To ensure you can secure the artist whose vision truly connects with you, we recommend booking your wedding videographer 12 to 18 months in advance. This is especially true if your wedding falls on a popular Saturday during peak season (May to September), as dates fill up very quickly. This gives you ample time to find the perfect creative partner to tell your story and ensures one of the most important elements of your day is in place.