How to Film a Wedding with Your Camcorder

Couples and families can spend an arm and a leg paying for videographers to capture their wedding on film. But with a little know how and a creative eye, you can strap on a camcorder and do the work yourself. Here's how to film a wedding with your camcorder.

Instructions

1. Purchase several brand-new tapes to have on hand. Keep in mind that the unexpected may come up (broken/jammed tapes, longer than expected ceremony, etc.) and give yourself a safety net of at least one or two tapes.

2. Invest in or borrow a tripod. There will be times when a long and steady shot will be required (filming the wedding table at the reception for all of the toasts, for example) and a tripod is the best way to achieve that.

3. Know what you will be recording and how. Meet with the happy couple to discuss what they'd like see in their video, and make yourself an itinerary. This will help keep you on track and assure that you won't miss any important aspect of their video.

4. Start the event with a fully charged battery. Make sure that all batteries are fully charged and close by, so you'll have them right away if the main battery fails.

5. Arrive to the event early. You can get set up where you need to be without being in the way, double check your equipment and supplies and be ready to go and/or make last minute adjustments.

6. Test out the camcorder's recording by filming a little behind-the-scenes action. Not only will this give you an idea of how the audio might need to be adjusted, how the colors look and how people will react to the camera, but you may also get some priceless footage that can add an extra special feel to the video.

7. During the ceremony itself, maintain focus on the actions at hand. The procession of the flower girls, the bridal party and the ring bearer/s should be the main focus while they are happening. Of course, don't forget the bride's procession and her being given away at the altar!

8. If you are recording the reception as well, be sure to do a test recording before all the traditional events (first dance, garter toss, father-daughter dance, etc.) get underway. The lighting and sound will be different, and you don't want to miss great memories because of a dark picture and muffled sound.

Tips & Warnings

• Be creative! If you know the bride and groom want special attention paid to the exchange of the rings, get close enough to zoom in on their hands and their faces as they're doing this. Besides, videotaping an occasion is capturing the memory and emotion of the event. So do it!

• Color check your camcorder by white balancing it. Most devices have a white balance function, so be sure to check your manual for specifics. To white balance, locate something that is totally white to zoom in on, and press the white balance button on your camcorder.

• Consider interviewing the bride, the groom and other family or friends before and/or after the ceremony. This could add a nice touch to your video.

• Don't get crazy with the zooming and other fancy functions that most camcorders can do nowadays. The wedding and reception are special enough. Keep special effects like fades and wipes out of your head, and limit zooms to very special moments like the first kiss, the couple's first dance and the father-daughter/mother-son dances.