Wedding video-worth it?

louisvillebride21

We absolutely do not want to spend the money on hiring a videographer. However, we were thinking about maybe either buying or borrowing a hand held camcorder and just setting it up on my tri-pod. We've never even used one of these, so we don't know the quality of them. Do you think it would even be worth it to attempt? I'm thinking that it might not pick up any sound unless it was right up there with us and I don't think I want that. Any suggestions?

anna.oskar

WE used an mini audio recorder during our whole ceremony.  I'm using our pictures to make a slideshow/movie and then i'm syncing the audio over.  So i'll have full service with music

tlv204

Yes. Worth it. Even if it's crappy.  That's my #1 regret is not being able to watch our ceremony, even fuzzy far away footage from a 2nd cousin's cell phone would be awesome.

louisvillebride21

Does anyone have one of those like 1-200 dollar camcorders? I'm not sure where it would go. 1st pew? Wouldn't that bother someone in the first row? And yeah TLV, yours was the one that inspired this post

ring_pop

If it's a pretty recent model, it's definitely worth a try.

I secretly recorded part of a friend's wedding from the very back row with just my little digital camera, and even then the sound came out pretty clear. I'm sure that if you had a video camera set up near the front, it would turn out OK.

MeaghanandMichael

If it is something you think you will want I say do it. I see people on these boards all the time wishing they had video footage.

I am in the minority in that I didn't want a videographer and I am still glad we didn't have one. At the reception people would have been huge hams and the video camera would have been the attraction. At the ceremony (besides the fact I just don't feel right filming a mass) I would have felt self conscious. I am a realllly outgoing person, but I love the memory I have of the ceremony in my head and I wouldn't trade that for the world.

Kinda like when people spend their entire vacation filming something instead of remembering it.

louisvillebride21

I know what you mean MM. I just see so many people come on here and say everything was a blur. Honestly, I don't remember a word of my proposal, it's a total blur. I feel like the same thing will happen for the ceremony. I think I'd like to have something, just so I can remember everything that was said. We wouldn't have it at all for the reception though, since it's just a dinner and not your typical reception. Thanks ladies, I think we'll give it a shot!

sucrets4

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-video-worth?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:aee2ab29-618a-42a4-8c01-494ccaf82beePost:a56fbc49-21c8-4e97-8234-c17018a370b7">Re: Wedding video-worth it?</a>:
[QUOTE]If it is something you think you will want I say do it. I see people on these boards all the time wishing they had video footage. I am in the minority in that I didn't want a videographer and I am still glad we didn't have one. <strong>At the reception people would have been huge hams and the video camera would have been the attraction.</strong> At the ceremony (besides the fact I just don't feel right filming a mass) I would have felt self conscious. I am a realllly outgoing person, but I love the memory I have of the ceremony in my head and I wouldn't trade that for the world. Kinda like when people spend their entire vacation filming something instead of remembering it.
Posted by MeaghanandMichael[/QUOTE]

Really?  Every wedding I have been to has had a videographer, and it has never been the attraction.

A good photog/videog isn't obnoxious and in the middle of everything. 

I disagree about the filming the vacation thing - sure, you'll miss things when you're always on the other side of a camera, but if someone is filming you, then you don't miss a thing.

I was so excited to see our video!  We didn't want an expensive one, but it was pretty cheap with the photog and I'm so glad we got it.  Also, my mom has watched it eleventy billion times so far.  I got home before xmas at 2:30 am and she was still up at 3 watching it.  Insane...she normally goes to bed at like 9pm.

ExpatPumpkin

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-video-worth?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:aee2ab29-618a-42a4-8c01-494ccaf82beePost:31686a80-39c7-40e8-9d3f-ca5ee2aa8faa">Re: Wedding video-worth it?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Wedding video-worth it? : Really?  Every wedding I have been to has had a videographer, and it has never been the attraction. A good photog/videog isn't obnoxious and in the middle of everything.
Posted by sucrets4[/QUOTE]

<div>I agree.  Ours was extremely out of the way.  And we don't have any footage of people being interviewed or hamming it up.  All of the weddings we go to have videographers as well, and I've never seen people goofing off in front of the camera.</div><div>
</div><div>LVB, I think any footage will be better than no footage.  Also, someone you know is bound to have a higher-quality camera that you can borrow.  The ones in the $500-600 range are surprisingly good.  </div><div>
</div><div>Or, why not approach the communications department at a local university?  I bet some of their students would do it for an excellent price just to get the experience.  And they probably have access to really good equipment ;)</div>

aMrsin09

My BIL used the video function on his SLR camera.  We didn't get all of the ceremony, but he at least got our vows, being pronounced husband and wife and our first kiss.

It's a good thing he got the vows, becuase to this day I can't tell you what they were.