Hello, and welcome to the exciting world of wedding planning! If you’re here, you’ve likely booked me as your wedding videographer (or are thinking about it). One of the most common questions I get from couples is, “What exactly will you be doing on the day?” That’s a totally fair question! So, here’s a full breakdown of what you can expect from me, covering every step of your wedding day from the moment I arrive to the moment I leave.
This guide will help manage expectations, clear up any frequently asked questions, and explain how we can work together to create a stunning, emotional film that tells the story of your wedding day. Let’s get started!
Section 1: What Time Do I Arrive?
I’ll usually arrive about two hours before the ceremony. This gives me plenty of time to get set up and start capturing those gorgeous establishing shots that will set the tone for your wedding film. Weather and location permitting, I’ll send my drone up to grab some sweeping footage of your venue and its surroundings—fields, gardens, church spires… whatever makes your location special. These shots are great for the opening of your film.
Once I’ve got those, I’ll drop off my tripods and cameras in the ceremony room, ready for later. Then, it’s time to head upstairs to find the bride (or whoever’s getting ready) and introduce myself to the bridal party.
For the first five minutes, I won’t film anything. Instead, I’ll have a friendly chat to help everyone relax and feel comfortable with me being there. I want you to forget about the camera and just enjoy your morning. Once everyone’s feeling settled, I’ll start looking for those natural, candid moments—the laughter, the excitement, the quiet reflections—all the little things that bring your day to life. I'm not capturing continuously so don't worry, short 5-15 sec clips at a time.
Section 2: Dress and Details
Details are important! Your dress, shoes, jewellery, and other special items are part of your story. However, I prefer to capture these in a more natural way—in action, rather than just as still objects.
For example, I’d much rather film you holding your bouquet than just capture it sitting on a table. Likewise, shots of you putting on your necklace, fastening your shoes, or reading a heartfelt card feel more meaningful than filming those items on their own. Of course, if you have custom vow books, personalised gifts, or sentimental items, I’ll absolutely capture those. These little details help tie your film together and add a personal touch that’s unique to you.
Section 3: Getting into Your Dress/Outfits
I won’t be hanging around while you’re getting dressed—you can breathe easy on that front! Instead, I’ll use this time to pop over to your fiancé, mic them up for the ceremony, and have a quick chat with the officiant. I always check where I can stand and how the ceremony will flow to ensure nothing gets blocked or missed.
If time allows, I’ll also film some of your guests arriving, capturing their excitement and anticipation as they gather for your ceremony.
Section 4: Morning Timings and First Looks
Morning preparation can feel like a whirlwind, but good timing makes all the difference. I’ll coordinate with your hair and makeup team to make sure I capture final touch-ups. I only need five minutes for this, and your photographer will probably want something similar, so we’ll work together.
Dress Shots
When it comes to filming your dress, 10 minutes is the perfect window. If possible, I recommend keeping the room calm and quiet during this time—too many people in the background can make it tricky to get those clean, cinematic shots. That said, I won’t ask anyone to leave; after all, your friends and family are there to enjoy the morning with you!
First Looks
If you’re planning a first look with your partner or a family member, aim to schedule it about 45mins to an hour before the ceremony. This gives us time to find anyone who’s gone missing (there’s always someone!) and ensures we can take our time without feeling rushed. First looks only take about 15 minutes, but they’re such an emotional, meaningful part of the day—it’s worth giving them some breathing room.
Section 5: The Ceremony
The ceremony is one of the two times during the day when I’ll record everything in full. Using three cameras and professional audio equipment, I’ll capture your entrance, your fiancé’s reaction, and all the key moments from multiple angles, so I need to be here a good 30 minutes before the start time.
If you’re having personal vows or guest readings, it’s really helpful to know in advance so I can position myself accordingly. My aim is to be as unobtrusive as possible—you and your guests should barely notice I’m there.
Church Weddings
Church weddings come with their own unique challenges. Some churches have strict rules about where I can stand (or even whether I can film at all), so it’s always worth checking with your vicar or priest in advance. If I’m restricted, I’ll do my best to adapt—usually by positioning myself at the sides or back like a guest. Weddings are live events, so while perfection isn’t always possible, I’ll try to work around any limitations to capture what I can.
Section 6: After the Ceremony
After the ceremony, I’ll need 10 minutes to pack away my cameras, tripods, and microphones. If we’re doing confetti or group photos right away, I’ll capture those first and then pack up.
Once my equipment is stored, I’ll mingle with your guests, looking for candid moments—hugs, laughter, and those little interactions you might miss in the whirlwind of the day, I don't record constantly here its much similar to the morning, short friendly bursts and I've moved before people see me! Since your photographer will cover formal group shots, I’ll focus on the other, spontaneous moments that happen in between, and then come grab some more fly on the wall shots of group photos happening.
Section 7: Couples Cinematics
These are the shots where you and your partner get to take a breather, enjoy a quiet moment together, and just have fun. Couples cinematics are those romantic, dreamy shots of you walking hand in hand, laughing, and sharing little moments.
I’ll need about 15–20 minutes for this, and I’ll always coordinate with your photographer to make sure we’re not stepping on each other’s toes. If their style is more posed and fast-paced, I might grab you later for a more relaxed session.
Golden Hour and Rainy Days
Golden hour—just before sunset—is absolute magic. If the weather’s good, I’ll encourage you to pop outside for a few minutes around 7–8:30 pm in summer. Yes, it might pull you away from the party for a bit, but trust me—it’s worth it!
As for rain… well, this is the UK! If you’re worried about getting your dress wet or muddy, just let me know. We’ll adapt and make it work.
Section 8: Speeches
The second area I film in full from two cameras, but before anyone begins their speech, I’ll need to mic up each of the speakers—this includes everyone making a speech. Typically, I’ll do this as they enter the room, but I always like to give everyone a gentle reminder to wait for me to give them the “nod” before the speeches officially start. This ensures the microphones are live and capturing clear, professional-quality audio from the moment they begin speaking. If your speeches are taking place after the wedding breakfast (usually after dessert), it’s really important to let me know before the plates are cleared. This will give me enough time to get my cameras set up and ready to record. We don’t want to miss any of the action because I’m rushing to get everything in place.
This leads to a top tip on when to do your speeches: doing them before your wedding breakfast means, I won't miss a thing and it also gives your speakers the opportunity to enjoy their meal without any last-minute public speaking stress.
Positioning the Speakers
A small note on positioning: I highly recommend that your speakers do not stand at their place in the room if they aren't on the top table. Instead, they should stand near the top table but slightly to the side, ensuring they’re speaking to the guests without blocking the view of other attendees. This positioning ensures I can capture everyone during the speech, not just the speaker. I’ll set up two cameras for these moments: one on the couple’s reactions and one focused on the speaker.
For more in-depth advice on speech timing, feel free to read my blog on speeches, where I share tips for making speeches that are both memorable and manageable in length.
Singing Waiters, Magicians and other entertainment
Now, here’s a fun one: If you’re planning to surprise your guests with singing waiters, a magician or other entertainment—these are fantastic ways to add a unique twist to the day—please bear in mind that these can present some challenges for filming. These performances are live events within a live event, meaning the performers’ movements and timing can be unpredictable.
For singing waiters, I can’t guarantee I’ll capture their entire set. Since I’m not privy to their full routine, it can be tricky to follow them around without disrupting the flow of the performance or missing key moments. What I’ll do is position my camera from a guest’s perspective and record what I can based on where I’m standing at that moment. If time and equipment allow, I’ll also try to patch into the audio system to get studio-quality sound, but if that’s not an option, I’ll use my camera’s mic to capture it in the best quality I can.
Similarly, for magicians and other entertainment, I’ll capture parts of their performance with your guests, but I won’t be able to follow them around exclusively. It’s just too difficult to predict where they’ll go next, and I don’t want to be in the way of their magic tricks! Instead, I’ll capture the reactions from your guests and focus on getting natural, candid moments while they interact with the performer.
Section 9: Early Evening
After speeches, I’ll continue capturing candid moments as your guests mingle, dance, and let loose. By this point, everyone’s relaxed and having fun, which makes for some brilliant footage. I’ll look for those natural, spontaneous moments—the laughter, the hugs, the impromptu dance-offs—and capture the atmosphere of your evening.
Section 10: Cutting the Cake and First Dance
When it’s time to cut the cake, I’ll be ready. Since the first dance usually follows straight after, I’ll quickly reposition myself on the dancefloor.
During the first dance, I like to move around the perimeter, capturing the moment from different angles. This adds a dynamic feel to the final edit. If you’d prefer the whole dance filmed from one angle, just let me know—I’ll set up a tripod to capture it in full.
Fireworks and Sparklers
If you’ve planned a sparkler exit or fireworks display, amazing! Just let me know in advance. If they’re happening later in the evening, there may be an additional fee for the extra time, but it’s always worth discussing.
Key Takeaways – What to Expect from Me on Your Wedding Day
Arrival and Preparation:I’ll arrive two hours before the ceremony, starting with drone footage (weather permitting), establishing shots, and morning prep. I’ll capture candid moments in short bursts (5–15 seconds) to stay natural and unobtrusive.
Natural and Candid Approach:I focus on capturing moments in action—putting on jewellery, fastening shoes, or holding your bouquet—rather than staged shots. This brings authenticity and emotion to your final film.
Ceremony and Speeches:Filmed in full with multiple cameras and professional audio equipment. Please give me 30 mins before ceremony start to set up and later wait for my nod before starting speeches to ensure everything is ready. Position speakers to avoid blocking views and keep everything looking seamless on film.
Singing Waiters, Magicians, and Live Performances:Live performances are unpredictable, so I can’t guarantee capturing their full set. I’ll record what I can from a guest’s perspective, focusing on key moments and reactions. If possible, I’ll patch into their audio setup for higher-quality sound.
Couple Cinematics:We’ll set aside 15–20 minutes for relaxed, romantic footage. Think soft laughs, hand-in-hand walks, and quiet moments together. If possible, we’ll take advantage of golden hour for that magical evening light. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, don’t worry—we’ll get creative!
First Dance and Evening:I’ll move around during the first dance, capturing it from multiple angles for a dynamic feel. Afterward, I’ll blend into the party to catch those candid moments—laughter, dancing, and spontaneous fun. I’ll usually wrap up 15 minutes to max 1 hour after the first dance.
If You Don’t See Me...Don’t worry! I’ve probably gathered all the footage I need from that part of the day and stepped back to avoid becoming obtrusive. My goal is always to capture your day authentically without disrupting the flow of events.
Wrapping Up
Once I’ve captured enough of the evening, I’ll quietly check out and leave you to enjoy the rest of your night, this might be 15 minutes or upto a maximum of 1 hour after the first dance.
If you have any special requests or moments you really want captured, just let me know. Together, we’ll create a wedding film that you’ll treasure forever.
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