I am a photographer, but May people dont even go to a wedding, so they dont know what to take a when to be where. So here is a quick guide to where to be and when.

The good thing is that you can move about the clips to make them look that much better in creating a time line.

I will run from the Arivals.
The groom will be at the wedding venue 10-15 minutes before the ceremony starts, so get there about 30 minutes early so you can caputre the arrival of the groom. Hope he walks inside, he will pop out to the door with the ushers so you can get some waiting at the door moments.

Ushering
Get the ushers talking to the groom and if visable talking to the person carryout the registration, look for users seating people as well.
By this time the photographer should be arriving, a good sign that the brides party is on the way.

Get OUT SIDE

While you are waiting take the exterior shots of the venue, but dont wander off to far, keep an eye on whats going on inside, as some great things can happen.

Record the cars comming up and people getting out of the cars.
Capture dads arm in arm while they are waiting, you can hide in the back then stay there and you can get the walk down the ailse.

[TIP] Chat to other people with video cameras and ask if you can have a copy, they are usually quite happy to do so, take there number.

Set up your tripod, get a liquid head one as they move very well and you get no jutter, cheap tripods will give you shake so get one with some weight.
Shoot from the back, or if you can shoot down and be quite.
The other popular place to shoot is behind the ceremony guy/gal just off from one side. This is a great place to get the right shots and sound shouldnt be so much of an issue.

Once they have gone to the registry you can get some shots of the guests, its worth checking at what point this will happen as its not always the same.
But if its near to the end shoot from the back if you are not there, and get ready for the walk back down the ailse.
WATCH OUT - dont get in the photographers way, they will proberly be in yours.

Get ready to run out side the door and shoot back in, if your running on manual you may want to change this. - Yeah I must not forget, lighting is always bad or off when you shooting at most venues - I think that this is a deliberate thing they do -

Shoot the guest photo calls as you see fit, you wont need to get them all or it will be a long and boring video. Get over to the car, on average its about 30 minutes after the B&G have gone out of the door.
Get on the far side of the car as the photographer will want to be on the side they get in, Dont go to close to the car as you will be in the photos.


Pan as the car goes past and thats it. Hope they got some old thing with a top speed of 30MPH and get to the reception.

Set up as they are greeted at the reception venue champers all round so get yourself a well deserved drink!

Just get some people chatting, and ask people for there video gretting/well wishes as these can be added to the video end titles to make it very personal.
film a few shots of the venue of the reception and distant shots of the guests.

The photographer will take the B&G away for some private shots, dont follow
In this time you can get reeady for the speaches, sound test and get set up, fit you happen to be seated in the best location then shoot from there, if your first in then you may nick the photographers spot, you may want to work with them on the day so your not on each other feet leading to at each other neck.

The first dance, Often many photographer are not there, if its dark then get behind the disco lights, this will give you some lighting as every one will be on the other side using there flashes which will not be good, but fine for you.
Shoot it wide open as the apeture will be at its widest and allow more light into the camera. Finish off getting the well wishes from the guest that were not at the first reception.

Ask the bride and groom how they felt the day went, seperate always is more funny, chat to the parents and bridal party.

Stills from a Video camera are rubbish, so get your self a nice camera to get some stills of the day, A used D70 with a nice lens should be around £200, and the same for a D50

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