I love working in an industry that makes people cry. Wait- maybe that came out wrong.. As a wedding videographer it’s my job to capture the most sentimental and romantic days of folks’ lives. So when my MPV Couples text me saying that they cried watching it, I know I did my job! I love capturing those moments that mean the most to my couples, from the small moments exchanged between a bride & her daddy just before the church doors open, to the groom wiping a tear away as he reads words beautifully written by his future wife.
So, what’s my secret to getting these precious moments? Sometimes they just happen, but often these smaller moments are part of a bigger moment that was planned for. I thought it might be helpful to share some ways to get the most out of your day that will create a fantastic wedding film that you’ll love looking back on.
1. Plan for moments with the people you care about most. One of my favorite movies of all time is Father of the Bride. (The Steve Martin version, not the original Spencer Tracy version.) If you’re engaged and haven’t seen it yet, stop reading this, go watch it. With your Daddy. It is the sweetest movie ever. Especially if you consider yourself a Daddy’s girl. In it there is a scene were George Banks, played by Steve, is racing through the reception to get one more hug from his only daughter, Annie, on her wedding day. He runs through the kitchen, but gets blocked by the staff..he detours through the backyard, only to be deterred by the guests. Finally, as Annie and her new husband are being whisked away to leave, we see him popping his head up from the crowd and waving. He missed her. The look on his face when he realizes she’s gone for her honeymoon without that last hug is the most heartbreaking thing.
Lucky for you, you don’t have to have this moment! If you know that you want to savor the sweet times with the ones you love the most, then it’s a great idea to prepare for those moments. I encourage my MPV couples to even consider building some time in to the official wedding day timeline for things like first looks with Dad, visiting with Grandma or even a few minutes going over memories with your girls as you hang out in your robes. Those moments are the ones you’re going to look back on and love, and you’ll be so glad you have the video to do that.
2. Give sentimental gifts to the people who mean the most to you.One of the best ways to share your wedding day with the ones you love is to give them a sentimental gift. This can be a handwritten note to each of your bridesmaids about why you love being a part of their lives, or a monogrammed hanky for your mom explaining how much she means to you. One of the sweetest moments I’ve ever witnessed on video happened during Hanna & Jonathan’s wedding. She gave each of her step-children a personal gift, engraved necklaces to the girls, and a stuffed bear that had her voice recorded to the little boy. When he pressed the paw, it said “Today I tell your Dad ‘I do,’ and I want you to know I’ll love you forever too.” So sweet!
3. Write letters to each other and read them in private or you can do personal vows. Wedding day letters are so sweet, and make for the perfect background narration for your wedding film. I love encouraging couples to consider letters, especially if you two are hoping to have traditional vows. (If you are considering it, but aren’t sure what to write, take a look at this blog post!) I also encourage my couples to try to read these letters right before seeing each other for the first time, because there is no better way to get you geared up for that first look than reading how much he loves you.
If y’all are considering personal vows, I’m so excited for you! One thing I love showing is a bride re-writing her vows on her wedding day. It’s the sweetest thing to watch and film. If you search on etsy, there are so many sellers that make these gorgeous vow books. These books are the perfect touch for the prettiest detail photos, and re-writing your vows in them on the day of is a great way to “practice” what you want to say or do one last last edit.
4. Encourage your friends and family to give speeches that are equal parts sentimental and funny. Speeches are the perfect way to personalize your wedding film. Encourage your friends and family to speak from the heart. They can talk about when they knew the two of you would end up married, or the day you told them you had found your true love. Remind them that anything they say will make you feel great, but you’d especially love to hear those (clean) stories you’ve never heard before about your fiancé. Feel free to share the letter writing blog post when them too, they might appreciate the help in their speech writing!
5. Communicate with us about what is most important to you. All of these things are ways that I’ve seen in the past that can make the day and the wedding film so much sweeter. That being said, it’s your day so I want to make sure we capture the moments that you value most. We (myself and my second shooters) won’t ask you to do anything you don’t want to do, and we’ll pay close attention to the moments you treasure most. Maybe you want to visit a grandparent at their home before heading to the ceremony. We would love to be there for that. Maybe you are writing personal letters to each of your favorite aunts. That is so sweet, and yes, we definitely want to be there to capture that. Whatever is important to you is important to us, so let us know how we can serve you and capture your wedding day best.
