Wedding Videographer - Is it worth it?

streetcar · 03-03-2015 10:20AM #1

Hi,
We are getting married in May and recently a lot of people have been recommending that we get a videographer.
We hadn't really considered this in the past and have been trying to stick to a strict budget.
However, some of the arguments for paying for a videographer have been quite compelling and we are now reconsidering.

I am wondering what your views are on this?
Did you have one for your wedding? Was it worth it?

Any feedback at all would be appreciated!

MsBubbles · 03-03-2015 10:24AM

Hi Streetcar,
We got married in September 2014 and didn't get a videographer. I really regret it because the ceremony went by in a flash and I only a scant memory of the ceremony. The day goes by in the blink of an eye and you miss so much if you don't have a dvd of the day

pwurple · 03-03-2015 10:27AM

Em... I'm not sure. We had one for ours, we didn't originally want one, but one of our close friends does them professionally and persuaded us. I've watched it once, almost a decade ago, when he brought it over to us. It's really well done, and lovely, but neither myself or my husband ever like watching ourselves on screen!

Also, he had to set up a lot of equipment to do it (large tripod, lighting, power supplies, cabling, a laptop) and our venue was not particularly suited to that. people were tripping over the gear a bit.

Now, all that being said, I'm sure our children will love to watch it in a few years. And it is really nice to have a record of the people who are not alive anymore.

If I was getting married again, would I get a videographer? Probably not, I'd spend the money on a second photographer or photographer assistant ahead of it.

lazygal · 03-03-2015 10:32AM

We got a cheap and cheerful one and we didn't notice them on the day. No massive cameras or anything. We watched it once or twice but I'm glad we have it. It's not amazing quality but we just wanted something basic and for the price it was fine. We had a brilliant photographer and the photos are way better. But if you can fit it into the budget I'd go for the videographer too.

stargazer 68 · 03-03-2015 10:34AM

OP it really is a personal choice and if it fits into your budget. My sister didn't have one and we aren't planning on having one either. Although my mum passed away a month ago so we wish my sister had done one now as she does. Us not having one may change.

bjork · 03-03-2015 10:34AM

No and it makes guests feel unconformable

lazygal · 03-03-2015 10:37AM

bjork wrote: »

No and it makes guests feel unconformable

Depends on the camera guy. Friends of ours didn't realise we had a DVD of our wedding until they saw it in our house long after the wedding. We didn't have messages to camera or anything intrusive like that.

bjork · 03-03-2015 10:40AM

lazygal wrote: »

Depends on the camera guy. Friends of ours didn't realise we had a DVD of our wedding until they saw it in our house long after the wedding. We didn't have messages to camera or anything intrusive like that.

Did you have a night you got your friends around to watch your wedding again?

Father Ted Crilly · 03-03-2015 10:45AM

Why not get a friend to video it? Depending on the friend, you won't need to pay them much/at all.

Apart from the financial side of it, do you really want a stranger to possibly keep their own copy of your wedding?

Sunny Dayz · 03-03-2015 10:48AM

We had one for our wedding. I think we have only watched the dvd once or twice and both sets of parents have had a look at it. I think it's a case of it's grand to have. I know my husband watched his sister's wedding video when we were planning ours and he liked seeing how people have changed.

pooch90 · 03-03-2015 10:52AM

One of the best decisions we made.
As said, it will capture the ceremony which was just a blur and most companies now do a little highlight reel of 10 mins. I have watched our one about 50 times.
I also captured some lovely dancing shots of a family friend who died 6 weeks after the wedding.
Would 100% recommend getting a video.

lazygal · 03-03-2015 10:53AM

bjork wrote: »

Did you have a night you got your friends around to watch your wedding again?

No, they saw it in the bookcase. And said they didn't know we had a DVD made.

Vojera · 03-03-2015 11:12AM

We didn't have a videographer and I regret it a tiny bit. I would have liked to have even just our ceremony recorded because, as MsBubbles said, it all went by so fast and I was so emotional I didn't really take it all in.

However, it really wasn't in our budget and in order to afford one we'd have had to skimp somewhere else. So even though I'd like to have had one, it wasn't as important as some other things.

HelgaWard · 03-03-2015 12:05PM

We had one, didn't notice the videographer being in anyone's way on the day, I barely even noticed him. Personally if I had to pick between saving the DVD or the album in a house fire, I'd pick the DVD. It has a ten minute highlights feature which you can click and it just shows you the best bits. We usually watch it on our anniversary, and the kids love watching it then too. We lost my husbands brother a year and a half after the wedding very unexpectedly and I can't describe how precious it is to have the footage of him saying a few words during the speeches. Would highly recommend getting one!!

streetcar · 03-03-2015 01:33PM

Thanks for all of your replies!
Hmmmmm its a tough one. I was never tempted before, but like some of the posters, friends have said it was a lovely momento to have afterwards because it actually caught some of the atmosphere of the day and captured people no longer with them on tape.

If i go for it, I would have to stick to a serious budget...

lazygal wrote: »

We got a cheap and cheerful one and we didn't notice them on the day. No massive cameras or anything. We watched it once or twice but I'm glad we have it. It's not amazing quality but we just wanted something basic and for the price it was fine. We had a brilliant photographer and the photos are way better. But if you can fit it into the budget I'd go for the videographer too.

Lazygal - can you recommend your videographer?

rainemac · 03-03-2015 01:48PM

had a strict budget for our wedding. didn't have a videographer due to hating looking at or hearing ourselves on video. have never regretted not having one, a good photographer will capture the memories and atmosphere on the day. been to a good few weddings in the last few years and found the majority of videographers to be in the way, trailing cables, not doing speeches until videographer comes back from his break, multiple videos set up on tripods on the dancefloor to cover the first dance, just generally being in the way of the guests and usually then the photographer has to dance around the videographer as his camera is usually static. good luck with ur decision.

An Bhanríon · 03-03-2015 02:17PM

A family member, unknown to me, recorded various parts of our wedding. And I have to say it was lovely to look back at it. I was delighted!

That said, lots of it ended up being cut and bits missed, but that's what happens when you don't hire a professional. That said, it was lovely to have the bits that were recorded. I have watched them over and over again!!!

ABajaninCork · 03-03-2015 02:18PM

Getting a GOOD videographer makes all the difference, I think.

Got one for our wedding. Never even realised the guy was there until afterwards!! Quality of the DVD was good, and because we got three copies, his parents as well as my mother got a real kick out of showing the wedding to their friends.

I was very glad we got one, as to my everlasting shame I cannot remember a single detail! All I can tell you is - I went into the cathedral. I came out. It was cold and raining when we got out. The End!!

If you can afford it, get one. You won't regret it. If you're in Cork, I can PM the name of the people we used.

AndersLimpar · 03-03-2015 02:31PM

I didnt have one and it something I definitely regret. I have kids and I'd love to be able to show them it and as morbid as it sounds, when someone passes on you will really appreciate a video.
I have seen some of my friends videos and two of them were rubbish so i would definitely recommend spending a little more and getting a good one. If you're in the Leinster area incan send you the details of a good one that I've seen.

BizzyC · 03-03-2015 02:46PM

We had one, and again most people didn't realize she was in the room which I think is the best measure of a good one.

I've been to other weddings though where the videographer was very intrusive, avoid those guys at all costs.
Not only will they be more disruptive, but the quality of video you get from them doesn't seem to be as good.

blackbird 49 · 03-03-2015 02:54PM

Didn't want one when I got married 24 yrs ago, but an aunt of mine paid for one as a wedding present, while the quality is not brilliant, I am glad we got it, have looked at it only a handful of times, the only sad thing is that when you look I look at it I see how many people have died since, yes I would say get one, but shop around for price, it not now you will appreciate it but in years to come.

lazygal · 03-03-2015 03:21PM

streetcar wrote: »

Thanks for all of your replies!
Hmmmmm its a tough one. I was never tempted before, but like some of the posters, friends have said it was a lovely momento to have afterwards because it actually caught some of the atmosphere of the day and captured people no longer with them on tape.

If i go for it, I would have to stick to a serious budget...

Lazygal - can you recommend your videographer?

The one we used seems to have gone downhill since we got married. While I would recommend them based on the service we got and the DVD we received for the price we paid, they have had a lot of negative reviews lately so I'm not sure from that point of view that I'd feel happy recommending them now.

streetcar · 03-03-2015 06:03PM

BizzyC wrote: »

We had one, and again most people didn't realize she was in the room which I think is the best measure of a good one.

I've been to other weddings though where the videographer was very intrusive, avoid those guys at all costs.
Not only will they be more disruptive, but the quality of video you get from them doesn't seem to be as good.

Would you mind PM'ing their details?
I think we are going to have a serious look at this and if we can afford it, go ahead with it. It seems to be worth it from a sentimentality point of view

Mayo Miss · 03-03-2015 11:16PM

A video wasn't high on my list of "Must haves" for our wedding but since we started planning a lot of people have advised us to get one.

I haven't booked one yet but if anyone has any recommendations for one in Mayo that doesn't cost the earth send them my way.

I spoke with a lady from Westport at a wedding fair but I can't find her details since.

04-03-2015 12:33AM

Didn't have one, didn't regret it. A family member recorded the ceremony and speeches though.

Extraplus · 04-03-2015 08:49AM

What sort of price range did people pay? This isn't in the budget but I'm wondering if it should be based on these replies! Wedding is in Dublin.

Thanks

Gatica · 04-03-2015 08:57AM

We got a cheap videographer and it showed. He wasn't intrusive while he filmed, but he did try to get a few video messages for us,which are a bit cringy cos people didn't look very comfortable talking to the camera.
Apart from ceremony I really wanted a video of our first dance and it was really disappointing not to see it full size.
Would I hire one again? Probably, but I'd budget to pay more for a better one. Otherwise, maybe get a cheap one to just video the ceremony, as that's the main bit.

AndersLimpar · 04-03-2015 10:18AM

Extraplus wrote: »

What sort of price range did people pay? This isn't in the budget but I'm wondering if it should be based on these replies! Wedding is in Dublin.

Thanks

If you budget about €1000 then you should be fine. You will get better ones for more and worse ones for less so in or around this price is ideal.

Obviously there are some who are cheaper who might be as good and some that are dearer that arent as good but from experience this is in or around what my friends have paid.

HelgaWard · 04-03-2015 12:02PM

Can't remember how much we paid, have a feeling in was around the €750 mark in 2007, which was significantly cheaper than our photographer and as I said before I prefer the DVD to the wedding album! We sent him a cd with all our favorite music which he used then when producing the DVD and it's lovely to have all the footage showing against music of our choosing!! This was our guy http://www.pvpdigital.com/video%20samples.html

He's based in Limerick but traveled to Athlone to do ours, so he may travel to Dublin.

By the way something we didn't think off but that someone advised us when wedding planning was to include food for the videographer & photographer on the day. We arranged food for them in the bar of the hotel and paid for it, so that they got a bit of a break and some food while the meal was on.

westernlass · 04-03-2015 07:40PM

Mayo Miss wrote: »

A video wasn't high on my list of "Must haves" for our wedding but since we started planning a lot of people have advised us to get one.

I haven't booked one yet but if anyone has any recommendations for one in Mayo that doesn't cost the earth send them my way.

I spoke with a lady from Westport at a wedding fair but I can't find her details since.

look.up grv productions. Hes very reasonable and will do ceremony only if limited budget

Mayo Miss · 04-03-2015 11:28PM

westernlass wrote: »

look.up grv productions. Hes very reasonable and will do ceremony only if limited budget

I spoke to him at a wedding fair and he was booked for our date. Just sent him a message just in case that's changed.

Wedding Videographer - Is it worth it?

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