Creating Your Wedding Film (The Process)

When I first started creating wedding films I thought they were pretty straight forward. Prep, ceremony, reception. The big three. Capture those, find romantic music and put it all together. I was new to it all so I assumed that's what wedding films were. After doing that a handful of times and learning from other filmmakers, I realized that not only can wedding films be so much more, they should be.

One thing that's ALWAYS on my mind when creating a wedding film is, "This isn't a music video". Seeing your day with beautiful music is just that; seeing it with beautiful music. I want you to feel your day again, not just look at it. There's so many wonderful things being said and done during your wedding day and it's hard to remember it all. Even the smallest moments can have the biggest impact when it comes to your film. Incorporating words from yourself and your loved ones is one of the most important parts to creating your film.

A quiet moment between bride and father

Something you'll notice is that when you're getting your family portraits done you may not see a lot of me. Don't panic! Just remember that unless there's a specific request with someone, your film doesn't need 20 videos of you doing the same pose. I use that time to find the smaller details and explore the venue. Exploring the venue helps me get a better feel of how and where I'll be filming.

I'm on the move a lot during a wedding day but one thing I'll always know is where you are. This comes from the timeline as well as constant communication between you and your other vendors. The better I can communicate the better I can capture everything you don't see.

So what about the music? I build it. There's a reason I say build and not find. It's easy to find a nice song that can fit into a wedding film; but that itself puts constraints on the film. If I find a song and use it as is, that limits what I can create. I'm essentially at the mercy of whatever that song does. Forcing speeches into the breaks of the song, having the big climax point too late or too soon, simply trying to match video with the song.

That's why 99.9% of the time I never just find a song and use it. I find a song that works and I build off it. I isolate lyrics and instrumental, I use sound packs that have strings, synths, transitions and more all in the same key as the song. It's like building a house with a finished foundation. I have the means to build off it and that's exactly what I do.

Half of any great film is in the sound. Not just music but natural sounds of the day. Glasses clinking, friends laughing, people cheering; it's all part of the story. Building music allows me to utilize it all and put together a film true to you, not any one song.

Mixing all this audio is something I'm doing up until the day you receive your film. I don't upload a song and just roll with it, I make sure everything you hear is there for a reason. It's easy enough to find a song and piece videos side by side but if I'm being honest, that's just boring. I'm always trying to create something I'm proud of and something you can cherish.

Of course I take into consideration certain styles of music if requested by my couples but my overall workflow doesn't differ. I build, I mix, I correct and I listen to it a thousand times. What I don't do is copy and paste.

Wedding Film Editing Timeline Example

Music is only half the story though. When it comes to going through and working with the actual clips from the day it's a lengthy but wonderful process. Sometimes I go into it with a strong idea of how I'm going to tell your story, sometimes I get inspiration after going through all of your clips and sometimes it's the music that gives inspiration. I don't have one set way of going about editing because everyone's day is unique in its own way.

Regardless of clips and music, I always take into account you as a couple as well as your input. I try my hardest to get to know you so that your film is the best reflection of your relationship. After all, I may be shooting your wedding day but I'm also telling your story.

I go through every clip individually, crafting a film that represents you and your love. I color every clip, create every transition and utilize all the audio I can. Honestly, most of the work I do is the work you don't see. I'm an outgoing person but when I'm left alone to create, that's where I thrive. Ideas come to life and your story begins to form. Of course some ideas start better than others, that's why I'm not afraid to look at what I've done so far and say "that ain't right" and start over.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/db3e51_4d263af05b3842b9b88c5560c2048084/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Color Timelapse

That being said, there's another step you don't see. Backing up your footage! Regardless of the time I arrive home I cannot and will not go to bed until your entire day is in multiple different places. Typically everything it was shot/recorded on, a separate hard drive, and online. The physical backups are then put into a fireproof safe where they're stored until I begin work on your film.

Example of Backup Folders (Wedding from 6/21/25)

My work is always quality over quantity which is why creating your film typically takes 40 hours minimum. There's a lot to do and it should be done right. That last thing I want your film to be is generic, that just ain't what I do. You decided to spend your own money on myself, you deserve to have a film that's worth every penny. Your film is intentional, it's detailed and most importantly, it's uniquely yours.