TO VIDEO OR NOT ... is it worth it?

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then video is PRICELESS!

Certainly there are people who feel strongly that their wedding should not be captured on video.  We're curious to know why but that is a curiousity, not a criticism.

Photography was, and in some ways still is, the standard way to record the memories of that special day.  But anyone who has been exposed to the power of quality video knows how superior it is to the greatest wedding photos.

Video is a precious aid to memory.  It allows you to look back years later and remember.  Just because the wedding was recorded doesn't mean you or others ever have to watch it again, but if it wasn't recorded that's not a choice anyone can make.

Not only do you have the image, you have the laughter, the personalities, and the emotion.  For instance, you can't hear your vows by looking at your photos.  You won't hear the cheers when you were introduced as the new Mr & Mrs for the very first time.  You won't remember the toasts given by the Best Man and honored guests, nor will you recall the excitement as the table centerpieces were given away.  You didn't see the bridal party walk into the church because you were at the back and you missed the entire cocktail hour while you were having formal photos taken!   

Wouldn't it be nice to watch everyone having so much fun at your party? 

Your wedding video will be a wonderful keepsake that you can share with friends and relatives who weren't there (perhaps even future descendants).   And there's something very special about hearing the voices and seeing the movements of loved ones after they're gone that photos simply can not capture.

Read these comments and decide for yourself:

"My 2 sisters were married before I was.  One hired a videographer and one didnt (my uncle said he would share whatever video he shot with his own camcorder).  Now years later, the one who didnt hire a videographer still hasnt seen my uncle's video and her one regret is not having a video. "

"This was something we didnt have room for in the budget.  A co-worker convinced me to find room.  He got married 10 years ago and he said now that he has children, he watches it with his daughter all the time.  He said they've pulled out the photo album only a couple times but they've watched the video countless times.  We're glad we found the room...."  

"When I picked it up I couldn't wait to see it and pulled into a parking lot to watch it in our car DVD player. I cried as soon as it showed my 2 year-old grandson opening the chapel door! We saw so much in the video that we missed that night. Our friends have watched it and loved it. I think the videographer has a lot to do with it...these guys did an amazing job!"

"Videos don't require a lot of bright lights. Our videographer did not have any lights and it was an evening wedding with very low lighting. He had an excellent camera - I think it is called a 3-chip camera. They did their job quietly...I honestly never noticed him at all, during the ceremony or reception. They were very professional and not distracting in the least. I'm sure some videographers can be obtrusive...that's why you need to do your homework."

"In my opinion, the video is DEFINITELY worth it! My daughter's turned out amazing and it had a 6 1/2 minute highlight portion and I actually watch it quite often...so does my daughter. The photographs are great, but video captures how it really happened. Our grandmother is 90 years old and couldn't make it to the wedding, but if I had to show her either pics or video (we showed her both) I would have to pick the video because it was more like being there!"

"I was adamantly against a videographer because I've never like traditional wedding videos - the lights, the interviews etc. it was all "too much" for me. Anyway, I began looking into documentary wedding videography and I found a filmaker whose work I fell in love with. If I was not able to book him I probably would have passed on the whole thing but now I can't imagine not having a video to document my day."

"Having a video was something that I really wanted to do. For me, it is important to have it to look back at. I can imagine what a whirlwind the wedding day is going to be and the video will help me to remember some of the smaller details. Plus, I have some older family members. It will be nice to have them on video, so that in the years to come and they are no longer with us, I can always see them again. My mom feels the same way when she looks at my baptismal videos and the like, and she catches a glimpse of her father. It's a little morbid of a thought, but one that really stuck in my mind. Plus, I think it just would be nice to be able to go back and "revisit" the wedding in "real time" instead of just still photos. "

"I really want a videographer and will be getting one (even if it puts me a little over budget). I will miss most of the wedding (like seeing the flower girls come down the aisle, things that happen during the reception that I'm not involved in) and would like to be able to see it later. I've seen all my friends videos/dvds and it's a great way to re-live the day."

 "I love our video. First, it captures many moments that were not displayed in the photos. Second, we had a bad photographer and the video makes up for some of his errors -- we have been able to get still shots of our video to print hard copies of the events that the photographer missed (e.g., bouquet toss). Third, it is wonderful to share with family who could not attend the wedding (e.g., my 80 year old grandmother who is paralyzed on one side). She said she felt like she was there and got to see our first dance -- not just photos of it. Best."

"Speaking as someone who didn't have one -- I regret not having it. Our photographer was OK but we missed a lot of shots that now I wish I had so having the video would have been great. Also, I heard so many comments about how beautiful the ceremony was that I would like to have seen what everyone else saw. "

"How do you capture certain moments? Pictures are great, but they can only capture a moment ... in silence. Without the video, we would not have captured my daughter singing "The Lord's Prayer," (awesome), my husband singing to me and the tears running down his face, the sound of the congregation saying "awww" as I wiped his tears away, or all of them tossing the rose petals at us as we walked down the aisle. A picture is worth a thousand words, but a video is worth a million PLUS. I have watched my video a dozen times. It brings back memories of a wonderful day. Yes, I also look at the pictures, but the video says a lot more than the pictures can possibly say."

"We really wavered on it due to cost. I am SO glad we did it since our photographer never delivered our photos. Fortunately, I have the video of the wedding. Without that I would have no visual representation of the day. Our friends took photos but typical candids, everyone holding drinks, etc. but none that really captured the day. I am just so thankful that we bit the bullet and spent the money."

"I regretted not getting a videographer. The wedding was so expensive, I didn't want to add on for something my husband said we would never watch. But the whole night went by so fast, it was almost a blur and I was so nervous at the ceremony I barely remember what was said. I wish we had it on video. Especially since my husband cried, should have got that on tape."

"I wanted a videographer, but my husband didn't think it was worth it. He finally gave in when my aunt said she would pay for it as her wedding gift. The day of the wedding, he told me, ‘I'm glad we got the video because there is so much we wouldn't have remembered otherwise.’ It doesn't have to have all the bells and whistles if you don't want them."

"I have a cousin that got married last year.  Her ONLY regret is that she does not have a video of the day... she is so sad when she talks about it."

"Definitely get a video!  Even if your photographer takes 1,000 photos;  1000 photos = 1,000 seconds, that's just over 16 minutes.... your entire wedding day condensed to 16 minutes!  I have about 800 photos and a video that is 1 hour and 45 minutes."

"You will forget so much that happened that day eg, our priest accidently dropped the prayer book during our ceremony and our best man jumped in to grab it, also my husband was cracking jokes about my ring to the priest... I totally forgot it all until I saw the video."

 "With the wedding now over (and the photos in), I cannot imagine not having a video.  I want to hear the speeches again, see the dancing, see the guys before the ceremony, etc -- there is just so much in the wedding that you miss because you're not there or miss because you're just distracted and in a happy daze!"