Hi all, I'm getting married in 2009 on a budget (as we're paying for a lot of the wedding ourselves). We originally said that we weren't going to have a videographer, but we were just going to go for a cheap photography package instead (i.e. photos on CD rather than an album so that we can make our own album). Since deciding this loads of people have told us that if they had to choose between a photographer and a videographer they'd have the videographer every time as the wedding video is better to look back on (these comments coming from people who have had weddings in the past). This has now made H2B change his mind and he now wants a photographer and videographer. Problem is photographers are expensive but videographers seem to be even worse!! Is everyone having a videographer and if so how much are they paying? Also could anyone recommend a cheap one in the Cheshire/North Wales area?? Thanks in advance!

We're having one. We weren't going to, but then I read report after report from newlyweds that said they regretted not having one and when I got to thinking about it, I realised there was no way I'd remember everything - I'd forget the speeches, etc. over time. Plus, H2B's grandparents are very old and won't be able to fly over for the wedding (from Canada to England) so this way they'll be able to "see" the wedding and get a much better idea about the day than they would've got from just the pictures.

I sent off for a bunch of sample DVDs from videographers (and even asked for recommendations on here and got a few!) and then sat down with H2B to watch them. I thought we could get away with doing it quite cheaply (and by cheap, I mean the cheapest one I found for all-day coverage was £450). I thought that was a bargain. However, the quality was appalling!!! It was like some dodgy old man was wandering around with a camcorder! He was getting in the way, getting weeeeird close-ups and all sorts of things. I was not impressed. We ended up going with one that is v.professional, has high definition cameras, etc. - at a cost of £1000 (which covers from the ceremony through to the first dance, with the evening reception going over the end credits). We also got an added extra of "messages from guests" for £100. Thankfully, the videographer had this deal where if you paid in full upfront, you got 10% off, so it ended up costing us £990, instead of £1100. I'm REALLY excited about having one now.

The downside is the cost, especially since we'd already splurged on a photographer because we thought we wouldn't have a videographer. Our photographer is costing £1150 - so that's over £2000 just to record our event!! But the DVD will provide a much clearer memory of the day, and I don't think you can really put a price on the sentimental value of that.

I should probably add - I'm in Bristol! So sorry, can't recommend anywhere

We had one for £450 which included 4 hours of taping and she even had someone else also taping during the ceremony so we had 2 different points of view. I was very happy with the end result and she set it to two different music montages and then just used our piper along with the actual ceremony for another. I liked her style of very natural taping. That being said I did book her along with the photographer from the same company and they are in Scotland.

We're not have a pro , but instead we bought a really good video camera in the January sales and have asked my sisters boyfriend to video the ceremony etc so we're happy. xx

We've got a videographer. It's costing us £1400 filming from the beginning of the church right up until 11pm in the evening. Will include snippet messages from people and all speeches and first dance, cake cutting and disco throughout the night.
We're even thinking of paying the extra £350 to get it filmed in HD, but that will be a decision nearer the time if we haven't gone too much over budget...

hi we are having one he costs £550 and he can tape u in the room (if u want at no extra charge) up until the last 6 dances which i rally pleased at he done 2 of my friends weddings so know hes good.

cxxx

TJN, my friend also said the same - if it's between a videographer and photographer, choose the videographer, as you cant beat watching it over and over again!

My friend used moving light productions (www.movinglightproductions.co.uk) who I'm going to use as well, as the quality of the finished film is excellent! I think prices start from around £600 and they don't have set prices (as every video is bespoke), so when I called them up we discussed what I wanted, and then discussed the quote. Not sure if they cover the Cheshire area, as I'm getting married in Surrey.
Hope that helps:)

Thanks everyone for your responses and ideas. b2b2009, what is the name or website address of your videographer and where are they based?

As much as I would LOVE to have one, We simply can't afford it... The prices for these people are OUTRAGEOUS! But They do it beautifully, so I get it. We are going to have H2B' uncle who is a wannabe photographer. He is pretty good. Also going to have one of his family members to record some of the wedding.

we've just booked one today! we've had to cancel other things to have him but i think its worth it, we've paid 1650.00 but that includes a separate video with our friends singing along to "perfect day" it sounds tacky but its really lovely and its edited with clips in slow motion from the day. x

TJN i am in scotland sorry. hope u get someone.

cxxx

this is exactly what id did- thought we wasn't going to have one as on a small £6k ish budget and then had this dream where i was watching someone elses wedding dvd and crying cos we never got one! I have got in contact with my old media teacher who is looking into sending some of his top students to film and edit it...but he hasn't got back yet (bloody kids today lol) so i may go for another guy who is £450 for the morning and up til we leave for the reception...good luck gals! x

Hi i am also getting married in 2009, i also want a video but the prices are really expensive like you said, i have been thinking about a diffrent idea which i haven't seen before. It is a video booth (thevideobooth) they are from wales too. 250.00 ish and i think is a good idea, a little tacky but you can hide in a corner, your guest leave you messages when they like and you get DVD of the whole night. I don't know anyone who has had this but some of the messages ae on utube.

Good luck

We're not having one. Not really bothered about remembering evry little second of the day- will be too busy getting on with being married. The ones i have seen are so cheesy and h2b and I could never imagine sitting down to watch ourselves. I know ppl who are dreading my cousin's wedding as it puts you on edge when the videographer is around.

Might grab an usher to film first dance and speeches but i'm more than capable of editing it on the computer.

Each to their own though- its just not 'us' xx

we're having a videographer and paying £875. That's for 2 of them videoing our day from 11am in the morning (getting married at 12.30pm) until 9.30pm.

It's something that we knew that we wanted from the start. There will be things that i dont get to see e.g. my h2b getting ready and arriving. And vise versa. x

Hi,

I got lots of sample DVD's and really wanted one so that we could remember the day and I could see things like my mum and my H2B arriving at the church but then found out the vicar doesn't allow recording in the church so we have decided not to bother because the vow's being recorded was a vital point of the day I wanted recorded.....now I'm thinking I'd really like one again but just minus the recording of the vows! Any advice?

Thanks
MrsAdams2b

Hi
i used this videographer for my wedding 2 years ago http://www.creativeweddingsltd.co.uk/, we were so happy that we just booked them again for my sisters wedding. It's costing £1000 for 2 camera's from 12 noon - 11pm. They are doing the photography as well.

Speedy128, whereabouts do you live? Just looked at Creative Weddings photography and noticed they're based in West Yorkshire. I live in North Wales (near Chester) so doubt they will come this far out??

thing is, i think that i would never watch a video of my wedding, i seriously doubt i'll often look at my photos either. we are having a photographer and i think that having stills of the day will look lovely, most of them will end up in a draw, never being looked at, we are having one picture on a large canvas for our living room which i think will work well for us. i cant afford to waste money on something i will never bother to view.

I hadn't really thought about it to be honest! My Mum has a digital camcorder and so do we, so I might just nominate a couple of folk to operate them! I have video editing software, so can fiddle with editing myself. I have a friend who was a media student, might get her to do the filming actually! I'd really like to get the band on film and the dancing. I think the still of the vows will do me, I don't think I'd sit down and watch it again to be honest...... it's like Muriel's wedding eh? when she watches the ceremony over and over again! LOL