Recently engaged, but not sure where to start when it comes to choosing your wedding videographer? Matthew Greer, premium wedding videographer and founder of Dear Oliver, shares his expert guidance.
Start with connection and style
First things first — congratulations! When it comes to selecting your wedding videographer, finding the right match is about far more than comparing packages or pricing. Your videographer will be with you throughout your entire day, witnessing every emotion and milestone. That’s why choosing someone whose style and personality align with yours is crucial.
Understanding videography styles is a great place to start. Cinematic videography focuses on beautiful, film-like imagery with careful composition and lighting. Documentary style captures the day as it naturally unfolds with minimal intervention. Music-video style is bold, creative, and driven by rhythm and energy. Alternative or creative approaches push boundaries with unique storytelling techniques. Traditional videography provides comprehensive, straightforward coverage of your day’s events.
Each has merit, but the question is: which resonates with you? Do you envision an artistic, emotive film or complete, traditional documentation? When you watch a videographer’s work, do you feel something? That emotional response matters.
Seek trusted recommendations
One of the most valuable resources in your search? Trusted referrals. When your venue, wedding planner, photographer, or recently married friends recommend a videographer, there’s a reason. They’ve seen them in action. They know how they work under pressure, how they collaborate with other vendors, and the quality of their final product. These recommendations carry weight that online reviews simply can’t match.
Look beyond the highlight reel
When comparing videographers, pay attention to more than just their visual style. Great wedding videography isn’t only about stunning visuals or perfect technical execution — it’s about storytelling and emotion.
Your wedding day is a deeply personal milestone filled with layers of feeling. A skilled videographer knows how to capture those moments with intention — the quiet glances, the laughter between friends, the way your grandmother reaches for a tissue during vows.
Ask potential videographers about their process. How do they work on the day? Do they take time before the wedding to understand what matters most to you? That pre-wedding communication is invaluable — it helps focus attention on the people, moments, and details that will become highlights in your film.
The moments that matter most
Here’s what I’ve learned after years of documenting weddings: the moments couples treasure most are rarely the ones they expect.
Yes, you’ll want to see the big milestones — the ceremony, the speeches, the first dance. But time and again, couples tell me they’re most moved by the unexpected moments. The spontaneous things that happened while they were off taking portraits. The funny aside during a speech they didn’t quite catch. The way their dad looked at them before the processional.
Often, it’s the in-between moments — the ones you didn’t even know were being captured — that become the most meaningful years later. Those fleeting glances and reactions between your loved ones tell the real story of your day.
Trust your instincts
Ultimately, finding the right videographer should feel a little like falling in love with your venue — when you find the right one, you just know. Trust your instincts, prioritize connection and storytelling, and choose someone whose vision aligns with how you want your day experienced and remembered.
Your wedding film isn’t just a record of an event. It’s a story about the people you love, the life you’re building together, and a single extraordinary day you’ll want to relive for decades to come.
Matthew Greer of Dear Oliver is a proud member of the Irish Wedding Professionals Association (IWPA), a collective of Ireland’s most trusted wedding professionals.
