My only wedding regret – I didn’t hire a Wedding Videographer

I got married 2 years ago so I have a pretty good idea of what you are going through right now, planning your wedding and striving to get every detail spot on.

I can only repeat what I’m sure you will have heard many, many times and that’s try not to get too stressed, do the best you can and probably not everything will go exactly as planned on your wedding day but believe me, you won’t remember it.  It rained on our wedding day morning, the caterer arrived at the venue 3 hours late and I neglected to decide which veil to wear until the morning of my wedding and the one I had chosen didn’t work with my hairstyle (this one I don’t recommend and I’ll be blogging about this at a later date!) None of these things mattered – we had a brilliant day!

Having said all of the above, I do have one wedding regret and that’s that we didn’t hire a videographer. Some of the most precious mementos from our day, are the phone videos captured by our guests – in the days after our wedding I watched these time and time again, reliving our first dance, the crazy dancing frenzy whipped up by our brilliant band (do check out Band of Fools – they were amazing) and a guitarist friend playing an acoustic version of one of our favourite songs. As great as these video clips are, It would have been very special if we could have had them captured in the form of a professional wedding video.

If you are considering hiring a videographer to capture your wedding day, I’ve grabbed Jade Gooch of Hushabye Films to answer a few questions which might help you out.

Why do you need a videographer at your wedding? 

You don’t neeeeeeed anything at your wedding apart from the two of you and ideally someone who will marry you! BUT the day goes SO fast (I know everyone says this but it’s true!!) and there are so many wonderful moments you might not see such as guests arriving, your partner getting ready or waiting for you at the end of the aisle, a tear in granny’s eye during the vows, someone falling drunkenly in a bush (true story) so to have that all captured for you is amazing. 

It’s also the BEST thing to watch back with friends and family after the wedding. Make a night of it. Get the popcorn and pizza in and have an absolute blast watching it back. PLUS to be able to keep these memories safe on film when perhaps a loved one is no longer with you is priceless.

I also have lots of people book me because certain family members can’t attend due to illness or living in another country. I also wish SO much I had had my own wedding filmed. I now have 2 children and I would love to be able to show them when mummy and daddy got married and for them to laugh at fashion choices and grandad busting a move on the dancefloor!

How did you get into videographing? 

I worked as a Producer Director in TV for many years on entertainment, music and live shows across the channels.  I stopped to have kids and couldn’t see how I could carry on commuting into London and working unsociable hours and also be a mum because YOU KNOW the world still doesn’t help women get back into work and it’s nearly 2020.

But that’s a whole other blog!  After struggling to find anyone making films in a style I wanted for my own wedding, it was always in the back of my mind. Then I bought a camera, shot a bit of my sister’s wedding and learnt how to edit and never looked back! I love it!!!

What’s your videographing style?

My films are very much focused on the couple, their personalities and how they interact with each other. But it’s also about the joy of the day!

I know everyone is different but I couldn’t understand why so many wedding films seemed so depressing!!! THIS IS YOUR WEDDING!!! I want my couple’s to watch their film and go “Our wedding was bloody AMAZING!!!!’

There will of course be tears but there will also be a heck of a lot of face ache and belly laughing. In a nutshell my style is fun, fast-paced, colourful JOY!”

How do you find out if you’d be a good fit? 

My films are quite a specific style so usually the couples who approach me are already my kinda people!! I have in the past pointed people in the direction of more traditional videographers when I know we wouldn’t be right for each other, but luckily that doesn’t happen very often! You can see from the moment you watch my films what you’re going to get!

Now a couple have found you, what next? 

I always have a phone call with my couples to see how we get on and find out more about their day, the venue they’ve booked and who their photographer is, etc. 

If they do decide to book me, we meet up before the wedding over a coffee or cocktail and have a good ol’ wedding chat!

I want to rock up on your wedding day like we’re old friends so everyone is comfortable and we can then  let the fun flow naturally.

How do you work with couples to decide on the look/feel of the film? 

I don’t really work with the couple’s in terms of how the film will look – I don’t even know that until I sit in front of my computer to edit it!

There will obviously be moments in the day that will be important to couple so they will ask to make sure I capture it, but normally I’m left to my own devices which is amazing!!

I get to know the couple really well and I go on the vibe of the day with regards to how the film will look.  Some people will be all about friends and the crazy kick-ass party, others will be more about family or kids or the venue they’ve chosen

How do you choose the background music for the video – can a couple have pretty much what they want or is there a limit? 

If they are sharing the film online then we have to use licensed music which I choose and pay for. I always choose music that fits the couple.  I will have heard your playlist at your wedding so I will have a good idea of your taste in music.

It’s VERY hard to find good licensed music and it can take me hours to find just the right track.  But when I find it, it’s amazing!

What is the next step after the wedding?

After the wedding the editing begins.  There can sometimes be a bit of a queue, especially in peak wedding season, but I keep in constant contact with the couple, either posting little sneak peeks on instagram, or whatsapping cute little clips I’ve come across during the edit.  

They always know when I’ve started making their film and it’s so exiting knowing they’re waiting for it! Getting the email from them after they’ve watched it for the first time is the BEST!!! The reason I do what I do!!!

And of course I had to as Jade a few nosy questions too……! 

What does a typical day look like for you? Give us “A day in the life of Jade”!

Ha! I have 2 small kids so it’s school run time, then I switch on the computer and start editing.  Sometimes I’m out meeting couples, shooting promos or corporate films, but mostly Mon-Fri is editing and filming weddings at the weekend.

Dog person or cat person?

DOG DOG DOG!!!

We just got a cute new pup so it’s pretty chaotic at home.

What’s your favourite film?

Grease!!!!!! Always. 

I did a film degree at uni and everyone always had really pretentious and obscure favourite films and I was like ‘Nah, I love Danny and Sandy babes,’

Luckily I’ve just got my little girl into it too! 

We’re also currently into The Princess Bride which I know you’ll all agree is UH-mayzing.

What’s music are you listening to?

I’m an indie girl at heart, but I love a power ballad to belt out on the way back from a wedding and The Trolls sountrack is pretty badass to be fair.

Random fact about you we should know about?

• I’m really tall.
• I don’t like hot drinks.
• Bit naughty.

(That’s three for ya!)

So hopefully this has given you some idea about what is entailed in hiring a videographer. If you have any questions or would like advice, Jade would be happy to help. You can get a feel for what Jade does in this video and on her website plus  you can contact her on hello@hushabyefilms.com.

I hope you found Jade’s advice useful. Click here to keep updated with my next post.