Your wedding day is a huge milestone in your life. It’s important to capture all the details and special moments on video so you can look back on them fondly forever.

A wedding film can be a great alternative to photographs as it tells a different story in a more engaging way. There are many types of wedding videos available and it’s best to do some research before hiring a specialist to ensure they meet your expectations. Checking online reviews is a good place to start and then meeting with them offline can help you find the right fit.

Documentary-style wedding videos are the most authentic. They follow the events of your wedding as they unfold, with each clip tied together by a theme or an emotion. A documentary videographer will likely use multiple angles, and interview your bridal party to get sound bites from them as well. This allows the wedding video to be more of a photojournalistic style and convey more candid emotions and general ambience than a standard event video.

Alternatively, a highlight reel is an overview of your wedding day. It can be as short or long as you like, and it highlights all of the important moments from your big day, edited to your chosen song. This is a fun and creative way to highlight your favorite moments.

You can also do a more cinematic wedding film which may be more of a movie-like experience. These may be edited to your favorite song and can incorporate other creative techniques such as montages and slow motion. These can be a bit more expensive than other options, but they do provide a wow-factor and can create an emotional impact on viewers.

Some couples even choose to do a mix of these styles. Including interviews of key family members with getting-ready footage is a great way to add more depth and meaning to your wedding video. For example, a video that includes your parents telling how they met and fell in love or other meaningful and sentimental clips will make for a beautiful and heartfelt memory to share with those closest to you.

Another great idea is to include a fun and quirky section such as the trash the dress ritual that has become popular among brides. This is where the bride wears her wedding gown after the ceremony and gets small children to cover it in paint or jump in muddy puddles. It’s a unique way to end your wedding video and give your guests something to smile about as they look back on your day.

You can also ask your guests to bring mobile devices such as GoPros for a more personalized and in-the-moment feel. This can give the video a more raw and candid quality and is a lot of fun for both you and your guests. Whether it’s a quick and cute selfie, a video of your friends and family singing along to your favorite song or simply sharing some funny stories about you and your partner, these videos will make for a fun addition to your wedding video.