Why Did My Wedding Video Put Everyone to Sleep?

Since around 70% of weddings don’t use a pro videographer (see our story My Biggest Regret), we’ve spend a lot of time speaking with couples about why they haven’t planned on having a wedding video.  Most of the answers revolve around cost or budget.  But when we probe a little bit more, the real answers start to come out.  We’ve also confirmed our findings with a lot of forum postings with topics similar to ‘Should I Get a Video?‘.

The biggest reason people end up not getting a video (in our opinion) is that they don’t think they’ll ever watch it more than once (if at all).  So why pay for it.  Think about video vs. photos.  Couples generally spend 2-3 times more on professional photography than videography (if they are getting both).  Why?  Well, most people know that there is a value associated with pictures.  They’ll go on the wall, in picture frame, or in an album.  Video sits on a shelf as a DVD.  But is that whole story?  Not really, people still rent and buy DVDs.  They do so because they actually want to see the story!

So why is it that so many couples can’t see the value in capturing the sights, sounds, and emotions that only a wedding video can produce?  Here are a few reasons we’ve deduced from our conversations:

– My parent’s video was so long and boring.
– I watched my friends video and it put me to sleep.  I was there and already saw everything.
– The video just shows the same things as the photos.
– My fiancee doesn’t think we should bother since he’ll never watch it.

So how can you have a great wedding video that you (and your husband) will want to watch every anniversary?  Even if you don’t use our My Flip Wedding or Custom DIY Wedding Video services, you should keep these tips in mind when hiring a pro or while you’re editing footage one of your guests shoot:

– Keep it short.  15-20 minutes is more than enough to highlight the important moments.
– Make a 1-3 minute ‘teaser’ version to share with everyone on Facebook or online galleries
– Include backgrounds, text fonts, and transitions that match the rest of your wedding design
– Use a lot of interesting, intimate scenes, not just standard shots of the bride and groom

Using these tips and following Wedding Memories with Storymix will help you enjoy and re-live the best moments from your big day for a lifetime.