According to some (un-sourced) stats bandied about on wedding videographer sites, 80% of couples who didn’t have a wedding video wish that they had. I know a fair few of them.

I’ve booked Lovespun Films to shoot our wedding and its owner Jessica has kindly jotted down a few helpful hints to get the most from your film. Have a quick read before sending to your chief bridesmaid to action most points!

Mario Testino shoots pro Kate Moss

  • A Pretty Place to Get Ready When picking out a location to get ready for your wedding, look for a spot that is beautiful, free of clutter and if possible, one that has plenty of natural light. Also request that your makeup artist and hair stylist set up in front of a natural light source instead of a bathroom with florescent lighting.

  • Neat and Tidy Delegate bridal party members to help keep your getting ready room organised and clean. This will make you feel more calm as well as make a pleasing back drop for pictures & your wedding film.

  • When music is not your friend Most brides love to have their favourite tunes playing as they get ready for their big day. When filming your getting ready footage, keep in mind that we cannot edit music out. If we capture a special moment of audio that would be great for your film but an obnoxious song is in the background we may not be able to work it into the film. At the very minimum, turn the music down when you’re putting on your dress for any exceptional reactions from your parents and friends.

  • Keep the Sanctity Remind your wedding party that chewing gum and talking to each other during the ceremony can detract from the attention of your guests and that it doesn’t look good on the film or in pictures.

  • Walk Slowly For the ceremony, the bridal party and especially the bride should remember to walk controlled and gradually down the aisle. This is your time to shine, your guests want to have a good look at you, and it helps us, the filmmaker and your photographer, to capture the moment.

  • Schedule enough time for photos and filming Family photos and portraits can take a while so make sure you not only allow for this in your timeline, but also have enough time for romantic shots of just the two of you with your wedding filmmaker and photographer. We suggest 15-20 minutes in addition to your formal photography session to get some beautiful eye candy for your wedding film.

  • Take your time to dance Sometimes for whatever reason, couples choose to cut short their first dances, having the DJ fade out the music in the middle. From our standpoint we love to film the first dance from different, unique angles and look for tender moments. It’s hard to get all that in 90 seconds so why not just enjoy the moment and your time in the spotlight.

  • Light it up Reception lighting can sometimes make or break the look of your wedding film. It’s a great idea to hire a professional lighting designer to add ambiance to a room but keep in mind that different colours of up-lighting can make skin tones look strange. Lighting that is too bright around the edges of the room can make the interior look dark. Even out up-lighting with spotlights on the dance floor and head table. If a designated spot for toasts or speeches can be picked out ahead of time and then lit properly, it will make all the difference in the world.