There are plenty of arguments against hiring a wedding videographer.

It’s a drain on a tight budget, no one wants to watch the whole ceremony over again, and even if you wanted a video, you could just set up a tripod and have an uncle or aunt baby-sit the family camcorder to record the ceremony. Right?

Not quite.

Let’s say you get married, and ten years after you’re married, you’re sitting there with your 5-year-old daughter, and she says, ‘Mommy, can I see your and daddy’s wedding?” What would you rather do? Pull out still pictures of the day or… see your grandparents dancing who might have passed away, and feel the ambiance and the music?

In a society transfixed by the newest viral video, people in the 18-to-24 demographic just respond more to video. To view a life-changing event like a wedding, to sit down and see the actual movements and sounds that video can present, there’s just no substitute.

The Cinematic Difference

The vows, toasts, speeches, first dance, father/daughter dance, the couple exiting the ceremony, the reactions of the audience that the bride and groom can’t see – all are moments that video can capture during a wedding that photo can’t.

And that’s good news for the busy couple.

A wedding video will help you catch those moments you missed. Another perk?

Professional videographers use wireless microphones, can tap into the sound system of a church and use a shotgun mic to pick up directional sounds.

That gives the pros a huge advantage in capturing audio, since the ‘ole camcorder relies on an internal mic that focuses on sounds nearby. Speeches from across the room can be lost and rustling and the inevitable cough closer to the mic can drown out the vows taken further down the aisle.

A favorite perk? A 5-minute highlight reel featuring the best moments of the wedding, set to music of your choice and known to break people down to tears.

The reel can also be posted on Facebook or YouTube for friends and family to check out.

Juggling Video and Photo

If you have a photographer and a videographer both hired for the wedding, encourage both individuals to communicate and work with each other.You don’t want any multimedia tussles when they both try to capture your first kiss as husband and wife.

Also, if a wedding video is one of your priorities, do your homework to find a videographer who fits what you’re looking for, Argenas says. Videographers can charge hundreds or thousands of dollars for their work, based on the market you’re getting married in. Make sure you interview the videographer, watch their demo reels and contact their references. You want to make sure your videographer is easy to work with and acts like a pro on the big day.

Going HD?

High-definition recording requires more light than standard definition recording, and churches and reception halls are prone to low light conditions. But aan outdoor wedding with a sunny or overcast sky would provide enough light for a high definition camera. If you’re interested in HD, be sure to ask your videographer about it.