I started out last fall with my Wedding Videography business, and I have been really busy! :) Being new in this business I haven't had any chances to watch other Videography Business' full weddings.
I have just basically been doing a Multi-cam edit of the entire ceremony, reception highlights and stuff like that. I also provide the couple with a Highlight DVD. Saying all this I was just wondering if anybody out there could give me some pointers on how they do their Wedding Ceremonies. Any links on the Web of a full Wedding, or DVD Samples would be awesome too! :) Honestly anything would be a big help! Thanks

Tyson, first, of course, there's no one right way which is good because that means I get work and so do the people who do things differently.

Second, I'd recommend you buy a copy of one of the many DVDs of the recent Royal wedding, even if you're a staunch republican! That's easily obtainable for not a lot of money yet it represents what can be done when money is not the primary production consideration. Watch how the directors cover the various sections and then apply what you like about their technique to your work.

Thirdly, and this is not meant to be a comprehensive answer because that's the book we all intend to write when we're too frail to stand up for an hour, as a basic rule, follow the action. In other words, if the priest is speaking use the clear shot of him, if the groom's speaking likewise and so on. Use cutaways to avoid the boredom of staying on the action and watch for the quirky, off-action incidents.

Finally, since you're talking multicam, talk to the other cameramen after the shot and note anything they recall noticing that struck them as exceptional.

Hi Tyson

We all tend to look much too critically at our footage (from a technical point of view) A wedding that you might have considered a disaster might be a masterpiece in a bride's eyes!!! If you are busy then you must be doing something right anyway.

Stick with your own style and interpretation of how to shoot a wedding and provide a variety of samples..never choose the VERY BEST EVER wedding you have done because IF you happen to run into problems the bride just might be disappointed!! If she has looked at maybe 10 weddings you have shot she will get a far more balanced view of your work and there will be no nasty surprises like (..but it's not like the one on your website at all!!!)

What I do is have a huge variety of both ceremonies and different bits of the reception available for brides to watch so they can get a wide overall view of my weddings (and it also gives you credibility cos you are not a hopeful who shot his sister's wedding and made a demo and wants to go pro)

Chris

Here is a link to a recent wedding I did. Hope this is helpful!

Willie and Talitha - The Mill (http://clarkvideoproductions.com/willieandtalitha.html)

This is our version of a single camera wedding with a bit of Super 8 thrown in.
This is a password protected video on Vimeo
password - gemmasimon