This is a question a lot of couples planning a wedding are asking!
We’ll lay our cards on the table and say: We’re convinced hiring a wedding videographer is essential to remembering your day!
And not just because we are wedding videographers (haha). But because Mer and I were once on the other side of a camera as a bride and groom, too. Our wedding video has become one of our favorite ways to remember our day. It brings back so many memories and emotions that we forgot about. Every time we watch it it feels like we jump back in time to relive our day again!
But let’s be honest, we know weddings can be expensive! Like all couples trying to stay inside their wedding budget, we were unsure where it was OK to trim the budget and where we’d really regret it.
Couple’s Biggest Wedding Regret
After we posted one of our most recent wedding films online a family friend commented:
“22 years later, and we still watch ours [wedding film] through the crackling noise, and the fuzzy features. If I were to do it over, I would concentrate more on the film, and less on the extra little details that no one remembers!” —Christine
Now we didn’t film their video, but wow! This comment struck a chord with us.
I’d be lying if I said this was the first time we’ve heard a couple say something like this. Multiple friends have told us the biggest regret they have from their wedding was not getting a wedding video.
But don’t just take our word for it, check out this this blog post from The Knot! Dozens of brides wish they could go back in time and hire a wedding videographer.
Here’s another article written by the Huffington Post saying that 98% of couples regret not getting a wedding video!
Couples are obviously realizing after the fact that something is missing.
Of all the things to do over…they would hire a wedding videographer!
So, why does this keep happening to so many couples? And, how can couples planning their weddings now avoid this regret?
Well, I believe there are a couple of things to consider.
How Video and Photos Compliment Each Other
We’ll say upfront that we also believe hiring a wedding photographer is a must!
Having professional pictures of your day is so important and not something that you want to skip out on. Many of our engagement and wedding pictures fill our house and serve as constant reminders of our wedding day! We absolutely love them and would have regretted not having them.
Now, you may be thinking, “Hiring both seems like overkill.” And if you have to trim the budget somewhere, video is a good place to start.
But before you do, consider this analogy with me.
Say you went on a beach vacation with your family. On the vacation you went on all kinds of adventures: snorkeling, hiking, biking, exploring, etc. To remember your trip you took many pictures and videos on your phone.
When retelling your vacation to a friend who did not go on the trip you might use a picture to illustrate the expression on your mom’s face when she beat everyone in mini-putt. And you might use a video to show your family running on the beach chasing seagulls. Having both allows you to remember, and others to experience, what actually happened!
Whether you’re trying to remember a vacation or your wedding day, photography and videography together allow you to relive your memories in the fullest way possible.
A fun tradition Mer and I started is watching our wedding video and looking at our pictures together every year on our anniversary. It’s such a special way to remember and honor our day. And one day we hope to share both with our kids and grandkids!
Prioritize What’s Most Important
When planning a wedding, every couple has a priority list of “must haves.”
For Mer and I, our top priorities were our venue (which came with a planner & caterer so that was an easy first), videography and photography. Now those may not be your priorities, and that’s OK! Figuring out what those priorities are up front is important, so they don’t get pushed to the side later. Since those were our top 3, we chose the vendors we wanted and everything else fell into place around that.
If you’re not sure whether videography should be on your “must have” list, consider what one of our MOB’s said:
“We could not be happier with the “work of art” Matt created for our Daughter’s wedding. Like most parents on a budget, we wrestled with whether or not we could fit this in. We are SO glad we did. To have the day, which flies by, captured in such a beautiful way that can be shared with others who could not attend…priceless.” —Sarah, Mother of the Bride
Hearing you and your spouse exchange wedding vows, or watching your bride walk down the aisle in realtime is priceless. Audio and motion helps you connect emotionally to what you are seeing visually. (We even put together the short video at the top of the blog to show you exactly how audio and motion take a memory to a whole new level!)
Why We Do What We Do
In today’s world, it’s easier than ever to forget. Heck, I can’t even remember what I had for lunch yesterday…
Mer and I have been married for almost 3 years now and marriage is one of the best gifts! But sometimes it can be challenging. Having tangible reminders of your wedding day and the promises you made to each other is essential.
Around the time Mer and I starting working together on Matt Rouse Films, we discussed why it is that we do what we do.
We believe it’s so important for married couples to stay married!
After God created humans he gave us this mandate: “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it…” Genesis 1:28
It’s an invitation to partner with Him in taking the world somewhere; to care for it and make it better. You’ll see the first call is to our family, and the second is to subdue the earth. God wants us to do more than just have a family, but to create a society. And He doesn’t just want us to go with the flow, but to subdue the earth; to make culture.
Put simply: “As marriage goes, so goes family. As family goes, so goes society.”
When we create a wedding film it’s more than just an artistic expression. We truly pray that it’s a tool to help you and your spouse remember the vows you pledged to each other on your wedding day. With a video, those promises are no longer lost in time, but are now a current reminder you can carry with you forever.
Overtime, returning to those special promises, helps your marriage grow stronger and your love for each other grow deeper!
Next Steps
If you’re still trying to decide if a wedding video is something you want, here are some practical next steps:
- Ask your friends. Ask those who have a wedding video and those who do not. People who have gone before you have great insight.
- Do some research. Google is the best resource. Check out forums and trusted bloggers to see what they say.
- Talk with your fiance. Sort through all the advice. In the end, the decision is up to you and your soon-to-be spouse!
If you’re planning a wedding and want to read more of our planning tips you can check them out here!
Interested in getting a wedding video? Read more about our philosophy and your investment here!
