The Wedding Film Planning Guide
What to ask, what to plan, and how to make sure every moment of your day, from the vows to the last song, is captured.
Why film your wedding?
A wedding film is a keepsake you'll watch in 6 months, 5 years and 30 years: passion, love, family and friends, all in motion. That's something photos alone can't provide.
Your vows, in your own words
The shake in your voice, the line that made everyone laugh, the pause before “I do.” A photo can't keep any of it.
The people you love, moving
Your grandmother's laugh. Your dad's toast. Your best friend's questionable dance moves. Years from now, these are the moments that matter most.
The party, the way it felt
A still frame of the dance floor is nice. Hearing the whole room sing the chorus of your song is something else.
The parts you never saw
You can't be everywhere. Your film catches your partner's face as you walked in, and the reactions you were too busy to notice.
“Derek was absolutely amazing! Our wedding video is stellar! He captured our special day so beautifully!”
Photography and videography aren't either/or. They're two ways of remembering the same day, and the best teams work side by side without getting in each other's way.
Know what you're buying
Every videographer names things a little differently. Here's what the common terms mean, and how we handle each one.
| Term | What it usually means | At Catawba |
|---|---|---|
| Highlight film | A cinematic story of your day set to music, woven with vows and toasts. The one you'll share and rewatch most. | Every package. We capture the energy of the day, everything on the schedule and the spontaneous moments in between. |
| Full ceremony | Complete coverage of your ceremony as its own video. | Add-on. The whole ceremony, processional to recessional, from three cameras with professional audio synced together. |
| Raw footage | Unedited clips. Not every filmmaker offers it. | Add-on. Everything we filmed, as MP4 files on a flash drive, mailed or dropped off. Angles and DJ audio aren't synced. |
| Coverage hours | How long the team is on site. | 8 hours standard. Extra hours are $100 each, per videographer. |
| Second shooter | An additional filmmaker for more angles and candids. | Included in every wedding. Derek always films with a second videographer. |
| Drone | Aerial shots of the venue and landscape. | Add-on. Both of our drone operators are FAA Part 107 certified. |
| Music | The soundtrack of your highlight film. | Pick up to two songs, or we'll use premium royalty-free music if you want to post the full film online. |
Tip: Compare deliverables, not just hours. Eight hours with a 4-minute film is a very different product from eight hours with a highlight film, full ceremony and raw footage.
15 questions to ask your wedding videographer
Tap a question to see why it matters, and how we answer it.
01StyleCan I see examples of your past wedding films?
A 60-second reel shows only the best moments of the best weddings. Full highlight films show how a filmmaker tells a whole story.
02StyleHow would you describe your video style?
Style decides how your film will feel for the next 30 years. Some filmmakers direct every moment; others step back and let the day unfold.
03Highlight filmWhat do you try to capture in the highlight video?
The highlight film is the one you'll share and rewatch most. Knowing what makes the cut tells you whether the moments you care about will end up on screen.
04CoverageHow many people will be filming?
One camera can only be in one place. A second videographer means two angles on your vows, both of you covered while getting ready, and twice the candid moments from your guests.
05CoverageHow many hours do you film for?
Hours decide what gets filmed. Getting ready through the grand exit is a long day, and some of the best party moments happen late in the night.
06PackagesWhat's included in your packages, and can we add to them?
Two quotes can look alike and deliver very different things. Compare coverage hours, how many videographers, and exactly which films you receive, not just the price.
07AudioWhat kind of microphones do you use for the ceremony?
Sound is half of a wedding film. Your vows and toasts only work on screen if they're clear, and a single mic is a single point of failure.
08MusicDo you use music in the highlight video, and can we suggest songs?
Music sets the tone of your whole film. Licensing matters too: popular songs can get a video muted or taken down if you post it on social media.
09DeliveryHow long until our films are ready, and how are they delivered?
Turnaround times range from a few weeks to many months. Knowing the timeline and format up front means no guessing after the wedding.
10Add-onWhat is included in the Raw Footage add-on?
Only a fraction of what's filmed makes the final edit. Raw footage keeps every extra moment, but formats and what's included vary a lot between filmmakers.
11Add-onWhat is included in the Full Ceremony add-on?
A highlight film shows pieces of your ceremony. The full ceremony, start to finish with every word, is often what parents and grandparents treasure most.
12Backup plansWhat happens if something goes wrong on the day?
You only get one chance at your vows. Batteries die, mics fail and schedules shift, so ask how a videographer protects against it.
13VendorsHow do you work with our DJ and venue?
Your vendors share the same aisle, the same speakers and the same dance floor. Videographers who coordinate with them get cleaner sound and smoother days.
14InsuranceDo you have insurance?
Many venues require a certificate of insurance from every vendor before the day. An uninsured vendor can become your problem at the last minute.
15DroneDo you have a drone license?
Aerial shots are stunning, but flying a drone commercially requires an FAA Part 107 certificate, and venues may ask to see it.
Bring these questions to every consultation. The right videographer will be happy to answer all of them.
More answers at catawbacinematicevents.com/faq
Have a question we didn't cover?
Book a quick call. We'll talk through your day, your venue and what you want to remember.
What shapes the price?
Wedding videography ranges from a few hundred dollars to five figures. Here's where the difference comes from, so you can decide what's worth it to you.
Hours of coverage
Getting ready through the grand exit is a long day. The best party moments tend to happen late, so ending coverage early is an easy way to miss them.
Number of videographers
A second videographer means more angles and more candids. Every Catawba wedding is filmed by two.
Deliverables & editing
Every minute of a polished film takes hours to edit. A full ceremony video synced from three cameras takes far more work than a single clip.
Experience & equipment
Low light, fast moments and backup audio. Experience is what keeps you from ever finding out what could have gone wrong.
Travel & extras
Destination weddings, drone coverage, extra hours and raw footage.
“We see a wedding video as a huge investment: a keepsake that will show you the details, the smiles, and the tears.”
Plan a film-friendly day
A few small choices in your timeline make a big difference on screen, without turning your day into a production.
- Getting ready
Pick a bright, tidy room
Natural light and a little open space look beautiful. Gather the details (rings, invitations, shoes, letters) in one spot before the videographer arrives.
- Before the ceremony
Exchange letters or read your vows privately
It's a quiet, emotional, unhurried moment, and it often becomes the heart of the film.
- Ceremony
Ask for an unplugged ceremony
Phone-free guests mean your film shows faces, not screens. Ask your officiant to step aside for the kiss.
- Portraits
Save 20 minutes for golden hour
The hour before sunset is when the glowing, cinematic shots happen. Build it into the timeline, even if it means sneaking away from the reception.
- Toasts
Give every toast one spot to shine
Pick one place for speeches, like beside the head table, so the whole room can see. Ask your videographer whether they light the toasts, so your speakers look as good as they sound.
- Buffer
Add 15 minutes everywhere
Days always run late. A little breathing room keeps you relaxed, and relaxed looks great on camera.
A film-quality spotlight for every toast
At Catawba, we bring the light to every wedding, so your speakers look as good as they sound.
Don't sleep on the party
The reception is where the energy lives. Here's how to make sure your film feels as good as the night did.
Open the dance floor early
Get everyone dancing right after your first dance, before the energy (and the daylight) fades.
Keep coverage through the peak
The song where everyone screams the lyrics usually comes late. Add an hour so you don't miss it.
Point out your VIPs
The grandparents, the college best friend, the uncle who'll own the dance floor. Give your videographer a list so they end up in your film.
Share the songs that matter
Tell your videographer your song early, so they can film and edit with its mood in mind.
Light the room warm
String lights, candles and uplighting make a reception glow on camera, far better than harsh overhead lights.
Plan a real send-off
Sparklers, bubbles or a private last dance. A strong ending gives your film its perfect final scene.
We bring the lights. We bring the camera.
You bring the action.
“He was responsive and listened to my ideas, truly capturing everything we talked about that was important to us.”
Must-film checklist
Tick the moments you don't want to miss, then email the list to yourself. Keep it for planning, and hand it to whoever films your day.
“Our video was perfection!”
“Derek is a phenomenal videographer and storyteller.”
“Phenomenal videographer.”
It's the moment you've been waiting for.
You're putting your time, money and heart into making this day perfect, and a lot of it will fly by in a blur. This guide will help you make sure you can relive all of it.
I'm Derek Allen, director at Catawba Cinematic Events. We named ourselves after the Catawba River, which runs through both Carolinas, and we've filmed weddings all along it, from Asheville to Hilton Head.
Our style is energetic, candid and documentary: classy and timeless, but with the life of the party front and center. Whether or not we end up working together, I want you to walk into your wedding knowing exactly what to ask and what to plan for.
Capture your moment.
Watch our wedding films and explore our packages. Then, if it feels like us, book a call and check your date.
Watch the films
See our highlight films and get a feel for our style.
Explore packages
Coverage starts with 8 hours, then add what fits your day.