Most Common Questions about Wedding Video Editing Answered

While wedding video editing is an integral part of the production process, it still brings up some questions among inexperienced videographers and couples.

Most worry about the cost of wedding video editing and the amount of time needed to complete post-production.

This guide aims to answer some of the most prominent questions, shedding light on the process, the cost of wedding video editing, and some of the challenges that can be experienced during the post-production phase.

 

How Long Does It Take to Edit a Wedding Video?

 

Whether you’re a videographer who wants to handle post-production on their own or you’re an eager bride looking for a quick outcome, you’ll need to know how long wedding video editing takes.

The answer depends on many things.

A few of the primary factors that determine how long the post-production stage is going to last include:

• Your experience level
• The software you’ll be using for video editing and its capabilities
• The amount of raw footage you’ll have to go through
• The length of the final wedding video
• The style chosen, whether lots of editing and special effects will have to be done

Some simpler, shorter wedding videos can be edited in a couple of hours. The result will look good, professional, and polished.

A documentary-style video that’s 30+ minutes long, however, will require more editing.

That’s why videographers usually have delivery deadlines ranging from anywhere between four and 12 weeks from the date of the wedding.

Some videographers are willing to work faster for clients who pay a rush fee. It really depends on the individual professional and their decision to offer such priority services.

Generally, it’s a better idea to take more time and do an amazing job. Sure, every couple wants to get their video immediately after the wedding.

A quick result, however, could easily come at the expense of video quality and that’s something nobody will be content with.

 

What Is Same-Day Wedding Video Editing?

 

The name is quite self-explanatory and it’s a service that some videographers add to their portfolio because clients really enjoy the option.

With same-day wedding video editing, a film is ready to enjoy during the reception itself.

This option adds to the wedding day experience and creates a fun little favor for both the lucky couple and the guests.

Obviously, a same-day video is quick and it doesn’t trace all of the events that took place. The couple will later on receive an actual wedding video that comes in an agreed style and that’s a lot more complex.

To offer same-day wedding video editing services, you’ll need to have at least a second member on your videography team.

While creating the footage, you’ll have the other person working on quick post-production that will refine the video and choose the best moments for inclusion.

 

Can You Do Professional Wedding Video Editing with Free Software?

 

The short answer to the question is yes.

The wedding video editing software market has become really diversified in the past few years.

You’ll easily find all kinds of software products, from those created for amateurs and absolute beginners to extensive professional packages.

We have talked about the best wedding video editing product before and the list includes a couple of free options that have amazing tools.

The key to amazing wedding video editing, however, isn’t just reliance on the best software.

Having a good concept in advance and developing your post-production skills will matter.

Even if you’re using a product like Adobe Premiere, for example, you’ll get subpar results if you don’t know how to employ all of its features and optimize the quality of the clip.

Take some time to acquaint yourself with video editing products, their pros, and cons. Once you make up your mind, get the demo version of the tool that you’re most drawn to. Work on learning everything about it, master the tools, the shortcuts, and the advanced editing capabilities.

By doing so, you’ll be embracing the full potential of the software, whether it’s a free or a paid product.

 

How Much Does Wedding Video Editing Cost?

 

If you’re a professional videographer, you’ll ask this question in order to put together the most adequate packages for your clients.

As a client, you’ll need to know the cost because weddings can be expensive. In order to sound financial planning, you’ll need a number.

Just like the amount of time required to do wedding video editing, the cost of post-production fluctuates. The complexity of the project is the one that will determine how expensive the editing is going to be.

We recommend getting in touch with several post-production companies, giving them a project brief, and asking for a quote. Comparing these documents side by side will help you determine a price range that’s normal for that type of work.

To help you get the process started, we’re listing our wedding video editing packages.

As you can see, each one entails a particular range of services and deadline. The more you want to get from post-production, the more expensive it’s going to be.

 

What Not to Do When Editing Wedding Videos?

 

We have discussed some of the most common wedding video editing mistakes in our blog before.

If you choose the DIY approach or you hire a videographer who’s inexperienced in post-production, you may end up with a video that doesn’t check all the boxes.

A few of the big no-nos when editing a wedding video include:

 

• Jump cuts: Having too many jump cuts in the video will result in a choppy clip that doesn’t flow nicely. Making smooth transitions is one of the most important skills you’ll have to master if you want to do post-production. Otherwise, leave the task to professionals and opt for wedding video editing outsourcing.

 

• Having long chunks of footage: Long shots can really impact the pace of the video. You don’t want to have an excessive number of those, even if you’re doing a comprehensive documentary-style clip. Rhythm is everything when it comes to keeping the video engaging. Cut segments that are too prolonged or that focus on elements adding nothing to the viewing experience.

 

• Ignoring audio problems: The quality of audio is as important as the quality of the footage. Different sound levels, spoken words that are difficult to hear or the wrong music can all ruin a perfectly good wedding clip.

 

• Going crazy with the special effects: If you’re newbie, you’ll probably want to throw everything but the kitchen sink in the wedding video. Unfortunately, over-reliance on special effects does very little for the quality of the outcome. In fact, it can take away from the beautiful emotions and the simplicity of the ceremony. Use special effects like slow motion only when these make sense and can be used to highlight a moment.

 

• Not choosing the best footage or choosing too much: Going through raw footage to recognize those bed shots requires a good eye for detail. That’s something you can develop with time, practice, and experience. Making the choice can be incredibly difficult when you have hours of footage to go through. If you lack the patience or you’re not detail-oriented, you should probably let someone else handle the project.

 

How Do You Edit a Wedding Highlight Video?

 

Wedding highlight videos present the best moments from the day. These are quick, well-organized and lacking excessive details.

Editing a wedding highlight video comes with its specifics.

The first one is choosing the right moments to include in the final video. When doing wedding highlights, you have to pick the biggest moments.

Small details and little episodes can be left out, as these will be more appropriate for inclusion in a documentary-style wedding video or a cinematic clip.

Using good transitions is very important when you’re working with this format. If your transitions aren’t smooth and logical, the video will end up being chunky and difficult to go through.

Experiment with different transition styles and explore the full range of capabilities your editing program has.

The right music is also very important for a highlight video. Use it to tell a story, build tension, and emphasize the most emotional moments.

Here are a few additional tips you can employ when choosing wedding video music.

Finally, keep it short. When you’re done editing, go through the final highlight video one more time. Is everything that you featured in the clip meaningful and impactful? Does it capture the essence of the day and tell a story?

If the answer to any of these questions is negative, you may have to do some additional cutting and editing.

To give you a better idea about what works and what doesn’t in highlight videos, we’re featuring one example of a greatly edited clip.

Check it out to get a sense of the things that work and the elements that can be used to set the tone:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTDYnZ0pDuw

 

How Do You Edit a Wedding Invitation Video?

 

We’re now moving on to a more specialized kind of video. Some couples choose a video message as the wedding invitation they send to guests.

The trend is really cute and fun. It allows for some personalization and it’s simply different from the traditional wedding invite.

Lots of web-based services allow for free, custom wedding invitation video creation. Canva has some templates that can be used to give the invitation video some festive vibes.

You don’t need to do a whole lot of editing with this style. The more natural and instinctive the video creation is, the better. The invitation will feel authentic and fun this way.

If DIY isn’t your thing, you can work with a videographer on the creation of an invitation video. Usually, it’s about a minute long and it looks something like this:

 

The key to making the invitation work is having an original concept and keeping it short. Get people excited about the event. Focus on emotions and on the celebration and you’ll have a winner.

 

What Are Some of the Best Wedding Video Editing Effects?

 

Wedding video effects can add a fun, personalized touch to the clip you’re working on.

Most software products for post-production have some capabilities in that realm. A few popular effects that can work really well in a wedding video include:

Stop motion: The effect can add some dramatic flare to the video. Derived from the world of animation, stop motion captures events one frame at a time and it can result in some really cool visuals. Here’s an example of a really fun stop motion clip:

 

 

Animation: It is an amazing choice for wedding invitation videos because of the unique and artistic quality. To give you a better idea of how animation can work, we’re featuring one more video as an example:

 

 

Templates and frames: These are especially good when you want to create separate chapters or give the video some distinctive vibes. Luckily, you can find lots of free templates and video frames online.

Some libraries also feature premium options you’ll need to pay for but the fees aren’t excessive and you’ll always have the element in your post-production library.

Intentional blur: This trend is becoming very popular right now. While it can be overdone easily, blur can create a dreamy, fantasy effect.

These are just a few examples but you can easily go for many alternatives. Filmstock is an excellent library that will give you access to many effects like frames, graphics, light effects, smoke effects, intentional glitch, filters, and many others.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Wedding video editing gives you amazing opportunity to get creative and elevate footage quality.

You can work with many styles, concepts, and effects. Capturing the footage requires skill and talent. The same applies to putting the story together.

There are only a few simple rules you’ll need to follow when doing post-production.

The rest is up to you. Also, remember that some of the best creative pieces are the result of breaking the rules.

If you have a particular vision and you are choosing a strategic approach towards the execution, you’ll get a marvelous outcome even when you decide to experiment and avoid some of the best post-production practices.