A collaborative post with Hamilton wedding videographer, Sadie Martin Media.

Wedding videography.

This is surprisingly one of the most common wedding vendor options that couples are on the fence about.

As someone who didn’t have a videographer and regrets it, I think this is an important subject to talk about. I would say hiring a wedding videographer is 50/50 for most couples. For some, it’s a non-negotiable; for the rest, it’s an expense they feel they can skip. I can assure you though, wedding videography is much different than wedding photography, and I for one think both are important!

We, as wedding vendors, totally get it. Planning a wedding is expensive– everyone has different priorities and budgets– and that’s okay! As wedding pros, we’re here to give you all of the information you may need in order to make a decision on what to include in your celebration.

In this edition of my blog series, I had a chance to talk about all things wedding videography with Sadie Martin Media. Sadie is a talented, GTHA-based wedding videographer with years of experience capturing the most important moments of a couple’s celebration. She has such a wonderful down-to-earth personality and an amazing eye for capturing the emotion of your wedding day.

*Image of Earth to Table: The Farm, by BCP photographs*

Let’s start out with one of the MOST-ASKED questions when deciding on having video coverage for your wedding day.

Why would you recommend having a wedding video created?

Sadie: “Well, for starters, Audio. That’s the biggest reason for me. You can’t pull audio out of a photograph and you may not remember every word of your dad’s touching speech 40 years from now. One day you’re going to want to hear his voice and you can have that forever in your wedding video.

I think wedding videos hold much more power and weight than we give them credit for. At the end of the day, your wedding film is a vault of 10hrs of memories on one of the happiest days of your life. How often do you have the chance to be followed around by a videographer all day?

My outlook on wedding videography changed substantially when I was able to reach into my raw video and create a memorial film for a family who lost one of their loved ones following their wedding day. Being able to capture and have on film the truly candid and unsuspecting moments of the day is so special in more ways than one.

Do you need a video? No. Do I think a wedding video is something that grows in value exponentially over time? Absolutely!

You may not realize how much the moments and memories you make today are going to matter tomorrow– have them captured!”

Q: There are many different styles of wedding videography out there, along with a wide range of price points.

Are you finding couples are more drawn to a specific style of film these days? What are your most popular packages?

Sadie: “The final products I offer are Video Love Letters, Next Day Teasers, Home Video Collections, and Save The Date Films.

I’m currently seeing a trend in wedding videos showcasing real, raw moments while moving away from the polished, music video-style highlight films we may have seen in the past. I think more and more couples are getting comfortable with the imperfect moments and leaning into having what feels like an authentic wedding film for them to enjoy”

Let’s take a closer look at some of the wedding video options Sadie offers.

The Video Love Letter

This is your highlight film and is a bit different than the standard wedding video you may be used to. *Typically* these films are 6-8 minutes long and are centered around the couple telling their love story through a heartfelt letter.
You’ll receive assistance writing your letter leading up to the day and on the wedding day, you’ll have some quiet time before the ceremony to take a breath and read it.
Click HERE to watch an example.
*Image by Cloud 9 Photography*

The Home Video Collection

This option is becoming a client favourite and is something that isn’t seen very often in the industry. *Every* piece of footage from the wedding day is stitched together and collected into “chapters” so you can click through and choose which section you’d like to watch.
The home video collection is different and easier to watch than RAW footage. If you’re a sentimental person who loves a candid feel, this is the video style for you.
*Image by BCP Photographs*

The Save The Date Film

This film style is my version of an engagement shoot. It gives the couple and I a chance to connect and get comfortable in front of the camera.

This film is 2 minutes long and the perfect addition to your wedding website.

And last, but not least,

Next Day Teasers

Next-day teasers are 1-minute social previews. I deliver these digitally within 48 hours following the wedding day so my couples have something to watch, and share, right away!

There are so many options when choosing the right coverage for your wedding day. Working with your vendors and asking questions are key ways to figure out which service option is perfect for you.

Not to worry, though, I’ve done some of the asking for you!

Below are some FAQ’s that Sadie, and other wedding videographers, often come across.

Wedding videography FAQ’s

Q: How far in advance should we book?

A: You can expect to book your videographer about 12-18 months in advance. Its common to book this vendor, along with your photography and planner, as soon as you have your date and venue secured.

Q: What does “full-day coverage” mean?

A: Coverage starts with 1 hour of getting ready with each partner and ends following 30 minutes of dance floor coverage. On average this is about a 9-10 hour day. Full-day coverage does max out at 12 hours. All of the packages listed above include full-day coverage.

Q: How much can I expect to spend?

A: The wedding film experience starts at $4300. This base package includes full-day coverage and a Video Love Letter. Fill out the quick form on our contact page for further pricing details.

Note: this pricing reflects Sadie Martin Media’s 2023 pricing and may not reflect the pricing of other industry professionals.

Q: What is the final video delivery time?

A: Next Day Teasers will be delivered within 48 hours following your wedding day. Video Love Letters and any other films will be delivered within 6-8 weeks following your wedding day.

Q: How do you choose which music will be used?

A: Audio is a big piece of what makes a film ebb and flow well, it’s not something I take lightly. I will get to know your style and taste in music on your wedding day and will use that as inspiration when choosing the music in your film. I work with an amazing music licensing site, Music Bed, which has a large library of talented artists for me to choose from. This process takes hours, and sometimes DAYS, yes days, but it is always worth it. I’ve had 100% satisfaction with my couples and the music I choose for their films.

Q: Do you offer photo and video packages?

A: Sadie Martin Media exclusively provides video services, however, I have a trusted network of photographers that I have worked with many times. I am always happy to give recommendations based on your budget and style.

Q: Can I have the RAW footage?

A: Trust me when I say RAW footage is unwatchable. We don’t want that! I offer a Home Video Collection add-on which will give you every single piece of footage from your wedding day packaged into its own film!

Well, there you have it!

Everything you need to know about hiring a wedding videographer.

When planning your wedding, I know all too well how many decisions there are to make. My biggest piece of advice is to weigh your options together and make a list of your top 3 priorities. Lay out your budget and make sure those priorities fit within it!

*Image by Filled with Light Photography*

Want to know more about Sadie? Click HERE!

“I grew up with a camera in my hand, capturing whatever I could; family gatherings, sporting events, lots of content of my pets of course. Never did I think something I loved as a hobby would become my career.

I’m Sadie and I’m the owner of Sadie Martin Media. Following my love for video editing, I went to post-secondary for Film and Television. During my final year, I had the pleasure of assisting a Hamilton Wedding Photographer (Zekar Photography). Mike was my introduction to the wedding world and the potential business I could start from it.

I was asked to film my cousin’s wedding in the fall of 2017 and as they say, the rest was history. I’ve spent the last few years really figuring out how I enjoy capturing weddings and what clients I can serve best. I’m happy to say I have found my people. My clients aren’t afraid to show their emotions, love fiercely, and enjoy the smaller things in life.”

Thank you so much to Sadie Martin Media for collaborating with this blog post! We hope you enjoyed and have learned a bit about the world of wedding videography! Want to book with Sadie? Head over to her website and fill in her contact form!

Happy Planning!

Please be advised that any information, packages, pricing, and details you see here pertain solely to Sadie Martin Media and may not reflect the packages, pricing, and opinions of other wedding pros.

Everything You Need To Know About Wedding Videography