What the ceremony edit keeps
This is the documentary record. Where the highlight film picks moments, the ceremony edit keeps the whole thing in order: the processional, the welcome, readings, vows, the ring exchange, the kiss and the walk back up the aisle. Nothing said at the front is cut. What changes is the picture, which moves between angles so you see the person who is speaking and the people reacting.
Cutting between angles
Most ceremonies are filmed from two or three places: one camera at the back on the aisle, one at the side on the couple, and sometimes a third on the guests. We sync them, then choose the angle for each line. If only one camera was running, we still trim the dead time before the processional and after the exit, and use punch-ins where the resolution allows.
Ceremony sound
Vows are quiet and rooms are not. The cleanest source is usually a lavalier mic on the officiant or the groom, or a feed from the venue's sound system. Camera microphones pick up the room. We pick the best source line by line, even out the levels between quiet and loud speakers, and reduce hum and air conditioning noise. The cleanup page covers what that can and cannot fix.
Longer and multi-part ceremonies
Some ceremonies run long or happen in parts: a religious service followed by a civil one, a tea ceremony, a unity candle or a sand ritual, readings in two languages. Tell us the order of events and the names of anyone who speaks. We can add titles that mark each part and, if you send a translation, subtitles for readings.
Questions
Can the officiant's words be captioned?
Yes. Captions can be burned in or delivered as a separate file. Send the names and any readings as text so spelling is right.
Our second camera stopped halfway. Is that a problem?
No. We cut between angles while both run and stay on one after that, with punch-ins to vary the frame.