How to Get the Best Guest Filmed Wedding Video
A guest filmed wedding video is one of the most personal ways to capture your day.
Instead of every moment being filmed by a vendor, the footage comes from your people. Your friends, family, bridal party and guests capture the day from the inside.
The result is relaxed, nostalgic and full of personality.
But to get the best footage, it helps to have a simple plan.
Here are our best tips for getting a beautiful guest filmed wedding video with a camcorder.
Choose the Right Camera People
Do not leave the camcorder sitting on a table and hope someone remembers to use it.
Choose two or three people before the wedding who can help keep the camcorder moving.
Good camera people are usually:
Confident
Social
Close to you
Comfortable talking to guests
Likely to be near the action
Good at noticing funny or emotional moments
They do not need to be professional. They just need to be willing to pick up the camcorder and film.
Pass the Camcorder Around
One person does not need to film the whole day.
In fact, the best guest filmed wedding videos usually come from multiple perspectives.
One person might capture getting ready. Another might film guest messages. Someone else might get the dance floor.
The more the camcorder moves around, the more personality you will get in the final film.
Filling in or creating a shot list can be a great way at making sure all the important bits get recorded.
Keep Clips Short
Short clips are easier to watch and easier to edit.
Guests do not need to record for ten minutes at a time. A few seconds of laughter, a quick message, a dance floor moment or a candid reaction can be enough.
Encourage people to film little moments throughout the day rather than long, continuous footage.
Film People More Than Things
Details are beautiful, but people are what make the wedding film meaningful.
The flowers, cake and venue are lovely, but years from now you will probably care more about your grandparents waving, your friends laughing and your family leaving messages.
Ask your camera people to focus on:
Faces
Voices
Hugs
Reactions
Conversations
Dancing
Laughing
Guest messages
The more people-focused the footage is, the more emotional the film will feel.
Get Guest Messages Early and Late
Guest messages are best when you capture a mix.
Early in the day, people are usually more sentimental and polished. Later in the night, they are often funnier, looser and more chaotic.
Both are worth filming.
Ask guests to leave a message during cocktail hour, then again later in the reception when everyone is more relaxed.
Capture the Parts You Will Miss
Your wedding day will move quickly. You cannot be everywhere at once.
That is one of the best reasons to use a camcorder.
Ask your camera people to film the things you might miss, like:
Cocktail hour while you are taking photos
Guests arriving before the ceremony
Friends at the bar
Family members chatting
Dance floor moments while you are talking to guests
Behind-the-scenes reception moments
These clips help you experience more of your own wedding after the day is over.
Do Not Over Direct It
A little planning is good, but too many rules can make the footage feel stiff.
The beauty of a guest filmed wedding video is that it feels natural.
Let people know before they arrive via invite, website or in person that their will be a camcorder floating around, then give your camera people a few simple ideas and let them capture the day in their own way.
The unexpected clips are often the best ones.
Do Not Worry About Perfect Footage
The footage does not need to be flawless.
A little shake, blur, laughter or movement is part of the charm. Camcorder footage is meant to feel candid and real.
The best guest filmed wedding videos feel like memories, not productions.
Final Thoughts
Getting a great guest filmed wedding video is not about making your guests act like professionals.
It is about giving the camera to the right people, capturing short natural clips, filming the real moments and letting the day unfold.
With brands like Us On Film, your guests capture the footage, and they turn it into a wedding film that feels personal, emotional and uniquely yours.
