'Marryoke video', the 'story so far' and 'on the day edits'

Marryoke videos and other alternative wedding videos

Hi, in this wedding videographer blog I’m going to talk about the range of other short films associated with your Wedding day, including the ‘Story so far’ or ‘How they met’ and the ‘Marryoke’ music video. These videos make a fantastic additional to the celebrations, either as truly unique memento or keepsake or if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous a special touch to the evening entertainment on the day. 

             

 The On the day edit is pretty much as it sounds; it’s a short highlights of your wedding edited and shown, on the day. When we provide this (as part of our 2 Camera Deluxe package) we edit the shots the bride getting ready, the ceremony and then post ceremony photos into a short highlights film. This is very similar in appearance to the highlights films on our website, but as its usually shown after the meal and before the evening dancing begins, will therefore only include the proceedings up until that point. Depending on the preference of the couple this can include the whole ceremony if required, but bearing in mind most of your guest would have been there only a couple of hours ago a few well chosen memorable moments tend to work best.

Now it takes a skilled editor to turn something around this quick as this is being edited whilst you are sitting down for dinner; but imagine the scene, the wedding breakfast is over, the plates have been cleared and the evening only guests are starting to arrive... We set up the projector and screen, near the dance floor, the DJ, toast master or MC then announces could the guests make their way to the dance floor, the lights dim and the film is played. Your guests then get to see those intimate moments of the bride and her bridesmaids getting ready and the nervous grin on the grooms face as he arrives with the best man. Amongst all these shots of the bride and groom getting ready is also a lovely montage of the guests arriving, drawing chuckles and laughs from your guests as they see themselves of the big screen. Then as the film finishes you are announced and walk out onto the dance floor for your first dance.

The story so far – The Story so far, takes it back a step. This film takes a look at how the bride and groom got to where they are today, exchanging their vows in front of all their friends and family. These videos can be as simple as a collection of photographs set to and either subtitles or narration; they can be funny, silly or romantic. The beauty of this style is that it can be produced as a surprise by either one of the couple for their partner or by friends as a surprise for both of them! This is because it can be produced without them knowing, as long as you have access to their photo collection or usually just their Facebook page! For those more comfortable in the limelight these videos can also be done in a documentary style. Individual Interviews with both the bride and groom are a great method of telling their story. Again depending on tastes these can be funny with both bride and groom retelling their version of accounts, who fell for who, who made the first move or take on a more romantic approach with the bride describing how she was swept off her feet.

This will often require a camera crew to spend some time with the couple a week or two before the wedding. The on the day edit and the story so far can then be combined to really capture the whole journey. It really depends on how much you like being on the big screen. But this is a fantastic way squeezing in an added bit of entertainment between the meal and the dancing and can really add some humour and amusement to the day, plus it is another great memento to keep.

Marryoke – Finally we come onto the infamous Marryoke music video, a style of wedding music video supposedly started as a couple in America having some fun, that then went viral.

For those that have not heard of this new phenomenon, the term marryoke comes from the hashing of the words Marry, and Karaoke. The concept is that during the day of your wedding you and your guests are filmed miming along to the words of a pre-selected song. This is then skilfully edited and lip synced, so what you end up with is your very own music video, for your favourite song filmed on your wedding day. These cannot be edited on the day due to the time it takes to pull something like this together but makes a great memento and an entertaining way of showing friends and family the highlights of your day whilst adding in a touch of humour.

Then, as if all that isn’t enough to contemplate, it can be taken one step further. Bride and groom, either together or one doing it independently to surprise the other, arranges for a marryoke to be filmed a couple of weeks before the wedding, so that this can then be played on the day. These videos are great; they lighten the mood and get the crowd up and buzzing again after all the wonderful food.

A great slightly cheaper way to do this is to get a group of friends each to record themselves singing a line of the song, then you can either send this in to be edited or with some simple editing software patch it together yourselves! Now then, for a bit of dramatic impact, if you are planning on doing this for your partner with the aid of your friends save your scene, or lines until the end of the video. Then if you manage to keep it a secret and surprise your new husband or wife you can act as surprised as they are, pretending you know nothing about this as you watch all your friends being silly on screen only to have your scene as the grand finale! The options don’t end there, if you want to go all out, re-enact an original music video, using costumes etc. It takes courage and a little bit of planning to do this, but being able to laugh at your self is a very attractive quality (or so I’m reassured by my girlfriend).

Search marryoke video on YouTube and you’ll find some great examples, or give us a call and discuss what you had in mind and between us we can make you a video and memento that you will want to watch over and over gain!

Article by Filmmakers of London, wedding videographer London.