Why you should consider hiring a videographer for your rehearsal dinner

Most people don’t think to hire a videographer for the rehearsal dinner. We think it is one of the most underrated portions of your wedding weekend.   

Rehearsal dinners are our #1 way to help craft your story on your wedding day and elevate the quality of your wedding video.  We look back on our own rehearsal dinner and realize some of the most memorable moments of our wedding weekend occurred during the rehearsal. It was a beautiful night with memorable speeches from our closest family and friends, delicious food, storytelling around the fire and even a firework show to top it off. We’re so grateful to have footage of these moments to look back on and we highly recommend hiring a wedding videographer for your rehearsal dinner. 

Why Hire a Wedding Videographer for Your Rehearsal Dinner?

1.) Memorable Rehearsal Dinner Speeches

A rehearsal typically includes speeches from people who don’t normally speak on the day of your wedding. Some of the most authentic and meaningful speeches can come from the rehearsal dinner. It’s a little easier to pick up the microphone in front of 25 of your closest friends and family verses 300 people on your wedding day. We’ve even seen where the bride and groom take the microphone and tell a story about the love of their life. Plus, this gives us extra audio to work with for your final film!

rehearsal dinner speech groom's father

Who gives Speeches at rehearsal dinner?

The most common people to who speaks at the rehearsal dinner are the parents of the groom because they typically plan the rehearsal dinner. We’ve also seen siblings, friends, and the mother of the bride give rehearsal dinner speeches. Typically the best man, maid of honor and father of the bride don’t give rehearsal dinner speeches because they are speaking during the actual wedding. We can’t tell you how many times we’ve been at a wedding and someone mentions the emotional rehearsal dinner speech from the night before and we wished we would have been there to capture it.

2.) It Will Make Your Wedding Video Unique and Stand Out

Most people don’t hire a wedding videographer for the rehearsal dinner but we’re seeing it become a bigger wedding trend. Having footage of your rehearsal dinner in your final highlight film will make your wedding video unique and stand out from the crowd.

3.) Extra Photo/Video Session With You

Think of it like a mini engagement session. Your wedding videographer doesn’t typically tag along for the engagement session with your photographer so the rehearsal dinner provides a nice alternative. The rehearsal dinner allows for us to sneak away for a half hour during sunset for extra photos/video of just you two. Plus, you will have people swarming you for the next two days so you can always use a little more alone time. Many brides and grooms also spend time picking out a beautiful rehearsal dress and a dapper looking outfit for the groom. Having that extra footage allows you to remember all the hard work you put into your rehearsal as well as footage of your stunning outfits!

4.) Getting Comfortable in Front of a Video Camera

Having your photo taken is one thing. Having a video taken can be a little more awkward. Including your videographer at the rehearsal dinner gives you a chance to get more comfortable in front of the camera as well as your guests. Sometimes when guests see that we’re taking video of them they get a little awkward and run away from the camera. The rehearsal dinner allows for your guests to get more comfortable with video and get all those awkward interactions out before the big day.

5.) More video of you interacting with guests.

Your wedding day will be a whirlwind. Almost everyone wishes they could have interacted with more people on their wedding day. The intimacy of the rehearsal dinner will allow you more time to interact with guests from out of town and a videographer can capture those candid moments for you.

6.) Getting to Know the Most Important People.

Rehearsals are usually meant for immediate family and the bridal party, which means all of your most important people in one place. Many brides and grooms will ask us to capture footage of certain people throughout their day, and it’s great to see these people’s faces before the actual wedding day so we know who they are. Sometimes we don’t know what dad looks like until he’s walking you down the aisle. Having us at your rehearsal will allow for us to be able to capture those special people in your lives without the stress of the day.

Rehearsal Dinner Wedding Video

Here is an example of a wedding film that incorporates the rehearsal dinner. You will see the father of the groom giving a key speech that ties their whole love story together. It was also at the rehearsal dinner where we got to meet grandpa and got the idea to record his voice narrating the introduction of the film.

Interested in seeing if we’re available to film your wedding and Rehearsal Dinner?

Are you wondering how much rehearsal dinner coverage costs along with wedding videography in general? Check out our blog on ““How Much Does Videography Cost for a Wedding?”. You can also take our Wedding Videographer Cost Calculator to see exactly what you can expect to spend on wedding videography.