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1. Consider prep coverage. I get many requests to just cover the ceremony and reception, but there is so much wonderful energy and anticipation during the prep that It really adds another dimension to the final movie of the day. If you are all at the same location, your cameraperson might be able to cover a bit of you both. If your prep locations are geographically separated, consider having 2 cameras; one to cover the bride and the other for the groom. This allows you both to experience what the other half was going through on that very busy morning. I generally recommend covering the last hour of preparations, or just before the bride will be putting on her dress.
2. It's the little things. If we'll be coming to your hotel room or house for some prep coverage, do your best to 'de-clutter'. A clean room has more space for us to work in, and it simply looks better in the movie. Avoid the loud music or tv station, which makes it harder for us to pick up those wonderful bits of conversation that add so much life to your movie. If we are hearing a whole bunch of music or commercials, it limits what we can do with the resulting footage. Please avoid chewing gum, unless you are 16 years old (or wish to look 16 on film). Ask me for a mint, I'll probably have one on me (along with an emergency sewing kit, scissors, duct tape and safety pins)
3. Timelines are important for two reasons. First and foremost, it's an invaluable organization tool. Think of a wedding as a multi-day celebration, compressed into a few hours. Without a timeline, it's very easy to spend too much time on one aspect of the day at the expense of another. The second reason for an accurate timeline is that it helps the vendors know what to expect and when to expect it. Will the first dance come right after the grand entrance? Are the toasts during dinner? As movie makers, we are dealing with live events that are often far beyond our control. The more prepared we are, the better results we can provide.
4. Who's in charge here? Speaking of timelines, the best of plans will be of little help without a captain in charge. Don't rely on family members to keep you on track, they will want to shmooze, dance, drink and enjoy the day. Consider hiring a day-of coordinator who will stay on top of everything. A good coordinator is worth their weight in gold, and can actually save you money by keeping vendors from going into overtime. The caterers and guests will also be happier knowing that an 8pm dinner service means fresh and hot meals served just in time.
5. Time travel. Multi-location shooting is always going to require more time on our part. Prep at the hotel, ceremony at the church and reception in a ballroom means we have to account for travel, traffic and setup for each location. I don't have teleportation pods (yet), so even a drive of a few miles will subtract precious minutes from the coverage. As a general rule of thumb, figure on 5 hours minimum for a single location, 7 hours for 2 locations, and 9 hours for 3 locations.
6. Say 'no' to profiles. Outdoor ceremonies are wonderful, we love them dearly. What we don't love is that most couples stand face to face giving us (and the guests) profile shots. There is a quick and easy 'fix' that will provide your photographer, and videographer with better images, as well as give your guests a more complete view of your faces. Turn your feet outwards slightly, towards your family and friends. Facing outward visually invites your guests into the ceremony and a simple turn of the head will allow you to look at each other or your officiant. Talk to your officiant about this decision, and make sure they remind you on the big day.
7. Ambiance? I can't see my feet! Candles, 5 watt chandeliers, dimly lit sconces and a warm glow certainly are beautiful, but if we can't see where we are going  Special effects lighting it is both hazardous and requires more lighting on ourpart. Thankfully, the days of Hollywood-bright lights are over, but all cameras require light to expose an image. If we don't have enough light, we'll need to add some. This usually means on-camera lighting for video and strobes for photography--not the most flattering options. Please consider brightening up that chandelier just a bit, or even better..hire an event lighting specialist. It's amazing what can be done with some simple colored uplights against the walls and a projected pattern on the dance floor. Talk to your DJ, who can add another dimension to the dancing with special effects lights. 8. Don't fade away. When the open dancing starts, you might be tempted to exit the dance floor after a song or two and mingle with guests (some of whom might be leaving early). My advice, party on! The dance floor is always more fun and busy when the bride and groom stay on it. You might even inspire more guests to stick around. As an added benefit, you'll see more faces on your wedding movie, as the dance floor stays filled.
9. The quick getaway. Some parties continue until the last person is left standing, but why not take a tip from the greats and go out on top? Inform your guests that there will be a grand sendoff at the end of the evening. Provide them with bubbles, sparklers, or even glowing wands and have them line up to escort you out to your waiting 'getaway car'. You'll feel like a rock star as you walk through the crowd of screaming fans. Hate long goodbyes? this is your best bet.
10. To have and to hold. So the big day has come and gone, your wedding movie is being worked on and you're enjoying a wonderful honeymoon. Time to think about the future....of your footage. We all know that technology changes quickly. The DVD in your hand today might be an SD card tomorrow or a quantum storage cube in a dozen years. Ask about the option to purchase your original footage and edited footage on tape, hard-drive, or however it was recorded. Owning your digital master is the equivalent of owning your film negatives. Properly cared for and preserved (think fine bottle of wine), it will be your best chance of freezing time and preserving the memories for future generations. No one archival method is foolproof (currently) so your best option is to keep updated cloned copies in different locations. Thankfully, digital copies preserve the quality (when done properly). Your grandchildren will thank you for it.
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