Short answer: Start with how much of your day you want covered, not with price. If you want getting ready through reception highlights, you need enough hours for that full story — then add only the extras you'll actually watch, like a full ceremony film or drone footage.
Start with your timeline, not a package name
Every wedding day runs differently. Before you compare packages, map out:
- When coverage should start: Getting ready, first look, or just the ceremony?
- When it should end: After first dances and toasts, or through the last song?
- How far apart are your locations? Getting ready, ceremony, and reception in different places takes more travel time
- What's your ceremony time? That one detail drives most of the coverage window
Once you know your start and end, the hours you need get a lot clearer. My package comparison page shows how coverage options line up side by side.
What's usually included in a wedding videography package?
Most packages are built from the same pieces:
- Coverage hours: How long your videographer is with you on the day
- A highlight film: A short, edited film of the best moments — the one you'll share and rewatch most
- Edited ceremony and reception footage: Longer edits of vows, toasts, and key events, depending on the package
- Online delivery: An easy way to watch and share your films with family
You can see what those finished films actually look like on my wedding videos page.
Standard or Premium — what's the difference?
- Standard coverage is a great fit for most couples: a professional videographer from my team, solid coverage of your day, and a highlight film you'll love
- Premium coverage is when I personally film your wedding — it's limited because I only take a small number of weddings myself each year
Neither is "better" in the abstract. The right question is who you want behind the camera and how much coverage your timeline needs. Reading what past couples say can help — see my reviews.
Which add-ons are actually worth it?
Add-ons only make sense if they match your day:
- Drone footage: Worth it if your venue has beautiful grounds or a scenic setting — less important for an indoor downtown venue
- Raw footage: Worth it if you want every unedited clip for your own archive
- Extra hours: Worth it if your reception runs late or your timeline is spread out
- Second shooter: Worth it for large weddings or when getting ready happens in two places at once
Skip anything you can't picture yourself using a year from now.
Questions to ask yourself before you decide
- Will I regret not having getting-ready or first-look footage?
- Do I want the full ceremony and toasts, or is a highlight film enough?
- How many hours sit between my first important moment and my last?
- Am I paying for extras, or for the coverage I'd actually miss?
If you're unsure, tell your videographer your timeline honestly — a good one will tell you when a smaller package is enough. You can also check general pricing guidance on my pricing page.
The honest take: The right package isn't the biggest one. It's the one that covers your day from the first moment you care about to the last, without paying for things you'll never watch.
Not sure which package fits your day?
Share your ceremony time, reception start, and whether you're doing a first look, and I'll help you figure out the coverage that actually fits. Check pricing and availability for your date and compare packages to see your options.