how do you like to order your finished product on the DVD?

[mark-mvs]

Hi everyone, so I was curious about how you like to do this? Typically, rather then having one continuous video starting with the bridal preparation going through the end of the party dancing at the end of the reception, I've been breaking my DVD's up into three sections
1.  The Video of Bridal Prep through the special dances
2. A photo collage starting with photos of the bride and groom's relationship prior to the wedding day then including photos of the entire wedding day from Bridal Prep through to the end.
3. The Video of the open dancing to the end of the evening.

Lately I've been wondering if I should change the order so that I start the whole video or end the whole video with the photo collage.

What do you think and what do you guys do?

Thanks
Mark

[HankCastello]

I guess this is pretty much a style thing.  Whatever style you showed the client to sell the gig is the style you should deliver.

My way of thinking is that unless you keep the video between 45 and 60 minutes, it isn't likely to be watched very often.  So that's how I edit it - one dvd and an hour or less.  That is also the way the video sample that they viewed before hiring me was done.

It includes opening, preps, ceremony, music video of photo session, reception exterior, then interior settings,entrance at reception, first dances, speeches, cake, bouquet, etc., dancing (all in actual time order) then exit with sometimes a separate menu section of greetings from close friends and family (only if requested, and only specified guests - best man or moh is usually in charge of seeing that we get the right victims).

[mark-mvs]

Thanks, Hank, that makes logical sense.

So you shoot video of the photo session? I thought about doing that but figured it might seem redundant to the Bride and Groom as they'll have still photos of all the poses I'd be getting of them during their photo session. What are you thoughts on this?

Mark

[HankCastello]

Well, it IS redundant, but my wife considers it a great way to get out of helping me pack gear up for the rush to the reception.  Other thoughts include - the photo session IS a memorable part of the ceremony and it includes all the important cast members. 

Also, when the bride chooses a dumb song that just doesn't fit anywhere else in the video, I just dump it here, and use better music for MY video.

BTW, while my wife shoots these from sticks, I'll occasionally run across the groups as photog sets things up, getting close-ups and casual shots from shoulder mount.

This makes an easily-edited short that can be posted to the web right after the wedding and since it includes everyone, it's usually a big hit.

[DavidPartington]

B+G Prep
People arriving at the ceremony (e.g. Church)
Leaving the Ceremony + any photo shoot (edited)
Arriving at the Reception Venue
Photo shoot at the reception Venue
Receiving Line & Guests entering the Wedding Breakfast
Couple Entering the Wedding Breakfast
Speeches
Cake Cut
[ possibly Diary Room here - but some times in the extras ]
First Dance
[ possibly some extra evening atmosphere here ]
Credits

The in the extras I usually add any special evens or Diary Room and a copy of the web highlights / trailer.

I record the photoshoot because often things happen that can be seen better in video than as a still photo, especially where people are walking or running towards the photographer.  Makes a great slo-mo for the highlights

[HankCastello]

Wedding breakfast?  Never heard of that.  Are you in the US?  Same solar system??   

(According to his profile, and website, David is in Yorkshire, UK. - http://www.exactimage.co.uk/)

Please explain Wedding Breakfast and Dairy Room for those of us who've never heard of such things.

[DavidPartington]

The wedding breakfast is the 'first meal' that the bride and groom eat (with guests) after they are married.  No idea what you guys call it in the US - but this is THE meal they eat at the reception. 

Diary Room is a term that seems to have been coined since the TV program 'Big Brother'.  This is where guests leave a personal video message (i.e. entry in the video diary) for the couple that gets included on the DVD.  I am sure you have another name for it.

[DavidPartington]

Wow, sorry about all the typos in my first post - clearly in too much of a hurry doing other things - hopefully you got the meaning

[HankCastello]

Cool! Thanks for the explanations.  That's why they say that Brits and Americans are separated by a common language!  I dated a British gal once.  I think we got along great until we started understanding each other!   

[DavidPartington]

So, what do you guys call the meal at the reception?

[HankCastello]

Nothing special, just a catered meal.  But seeing as how most new brides can't cook worth a flip, grooms may see it as the last decent supper for awhile!   

[DavidPartington]

Wow, something the Americans have not made in to a marketing name yet !