Videographer

Kiki1982

How important do you think a videographer is?  I hadn't planned on having one, but the closer we get, the more I think I'll regret not having video of the day.  The budget is pretty tight at this point, but I'm thinking I should maybe try and make room.  What is everyone else doing? Thanks!

PhiSigFly

We're doing video, but were up in the air about it as we were figuring out our budget. We decided that, if we DID get one, we would probably never regret it (you definitely never hear people saying that they wish they never had video of their wedding), but if we DIDN'T get one, we might regret it. Since we booked our videographer, I've been to 2 weddings that didn't have video and BOTH brides told me that they regret not having it. 

There are some budget-friendly companies. We're using Reinhardt Productions. I found them to be affordable, willing to negotiate (not lower the price, but throw in more stuff), and I just got a really good feeling from the guy. You can also ask your videographer for recommendations. They might know of smaller companies, which may be cheaper, than the ones that are always mentioned on TK.

djoann958

My daughter just got married on 2/26 and she did not want us to spend the money on a videographer. We hired one anyway (my son is a film student and we hired one of his friends that recently graduated and is starting up his own company). My son just received the raw footage and is beginning the editing process. (He is doing the editing himself as a gift to his sister and new brother-in-law). We saw a short 90 sec clip so far and it is awesome! My daughter told me cries everytime she watches it and has thanked me over and over for hiring one.
If budget is a big concern, consider a hiring a film student or a recent graduate just starting up a new business. The person we used was Chris Kennedy. His website s filmkennedy.com. I don't know his prices because we only paid him to film without any editing which is where the hard work is!
You could also call any of the local Art Institutes (Fort Lauderdale and Miami) for recommendations on film students. My son attends the one in Fort Lauderdale.
I don't think you will regret hiring one. They will capture moments that you missed just as the photographer does.

herculeschloe

Videographers are often really expensive so I considered going without one. Most people tell me they only watch their video once or twice. But then I really started thinking about it and I would hate to miss out on some of the important moments because of how quickly the day goes, so I went ahead and found money in the budget for one. I went with MXI studios. Kenny is really nice and worked with me on my budget.

RU3234

I almost skipped it and I'm glad I didn't. I have watched my video 20 times. It just makes me smile. We used Reinhardt Productions and Marty was great. I got my video a month and a half after my wedding. They're are people who got married around then and still don't have it.

anaroo87

I wasn't going to do video either but also heard the same thing from girls that you won't regret getting one, although you may regret it if you don't. Pictures will always be beautiful and can be displayed .. but the video is the only thing that can capture you two saying your vows and actually walking down the aisle, dancing, etc. Even if you only watch it once in a while.... I feel like it is the only way you can really sit down watch how everything you spent a year plus organzing came together, because it will fly by the actual day of...

Kiki1982

Thanks everyone for the responses!  I think I really do want video- I'm going to look into the companies everyone recommended.

lyndopo

I'm going to be the odd one out here... we didn't have it in the budget and I don't regret not having one. I have a ton of pictures to remind me of the day plus some people did shoot video from their regular cameras. We just couldn't see spending soooo much money on something we would hardly watch (especially as times goes on).

lyndopo

But if you really want one, then don't settle on the cheapest price you can find to fit in your budget... there are some "reel"(haha) hacks out there!

Jeni10csc

VERY IMPORTANT - think about it, you will see pictures every day if you want and as much as they allow you to remember the memories, you won't be able to relive the wedding day with details and all through pictures. We got married Jan 8th and still haven't received our video. But we speak about it almost every other day - how we can't wait to see the video to relive the day from start to finish!

Even if you don't go with the best videographer, it's still good and nice to have video of your day! for yourselves and the generations to come...