Today on the blog, we have local wedding professionals Venue 308 and Tkshotz Photography, sharing their top tips and best advice when it comes to live streaming your wedding ceremony. These industry experts answer your questions about equipment, streaming platforms, and the art and value of professional videography.

So, you may be asking yourself, “What are our options for live streaming the wedding?” 

There are a few options available to you! You can hire someone to professionally live stream your wedding for you, or go more basic and have a family member stream it on facebook live. Some venues also offer live streaming packages as well. Obviously if you’re wanting a high-quality livestream, your best route is to hire a professional who has the experience and equipment to provide your guests watching online the best possible experience. PLUS, it will be a much more enjoyable experience later on, if you want to watch the live stream recording as a couple later on. This is definitely a situation where “you get what you pay for” rings true.

What App Should We Use?

“At Venue 308 we use the Event Live (http://www.eventlive.pro). Here’s why: 
– you can use the phone application 
– choose exactly who sees the wedding live stream by sending them a simply private link that works on any device and any browser (guests do not need to download anything to be able to watch)
– guests can REGISTER with their email and get an automatic reminders for the event (at one day prior, at one hour prior and then when the event goes live)
– there is a virtual guest book that guests can send a message on and attach photos to – a keepsake forever of them watching the wedding
– there are no ads or interruptions and the couple or guests can watch a re-play in case they missed it for up to a year
– unlimited number of invitees/guest and anywhere in the world
– we get a high definition copy after the wedding which we then edit for the couple
– it is an affordable way to meet restrictions out there”

– answered by Venue 308

How much does live streaming cost?

“When hiring a professional, you can expect to pay at least $500 for a good quality livestream of your wedding.”

– answered by Tkshotz Photography

Is it better to have a dedicated web page for viewers or is a social media site fine?

“A dedicated web page is much better than a social media site. With a dedicated web page, your guests don’t need to sign up or join any social media site to attend your wedding remotely. This is especially important for guests who may not be technologically savy. The site can be customized to add personal pictures, a message to your guests and guests can comment on the livestream as it is happening and this virtual guestbook can be saved as a keepsake. The livestream can also be downloaded afterwards so you can watch it and share it after the wedding.”

– answered by Tkshotz Photography

Should we still hire a videographer (or photo/video team) if we’re live streaming?

“Nothing replaces professional photographers or videographers who are amazing at their craft, can follow your day, and capture moods and shared secret moments (including the faces of your guests during your ceremony, as well as yours). Our feeling is that live streaming is so amazing when restrictions are in place or to ensure that someone who is unable to attend for health or personal reasons and cannot attend at the best of times but it is far from professional in most cases. We think of it as a capture and a hello, across cyber space and that is the limitation to remember.  We work well with photographers and production teams that are still there for even 10 people at a ceremony as those are the amazing craftspeople for your day. Live streaming is like inviting another guest to your wedding, as it “sits” in a spot, as if your guests were all there; whereas, professionals move to catch angles and magic and we have never seen such amazing work as during these restricted guest list times!  Your photo/video vendors have room to move around and capture light – it is amazing.”

– answered by Venue 308

Can we just have a family member do the live streaming for us?

“Family is great, however, here are considerations:

1.  A phone camera and microphone has limitations, and likely won’t be able to pick up everything from where it’s filming; Standard phone/IPad microphones catch wind, the “ding” of a text message that comes in, chatter, and more.
2. Remember in the same way that you want to focus on your wedding and the special moments that occur, you want your guests to as well! This is a once in a lifetime event for you and everyone around you!
3. It is difficult to expect someone without any previous experience to be able to troubleshoot problems that may arise. And it’s a big responsibility if/when things don’t turn out.”

– answered by Venue 308

Does the quality of the equipment really matter? 

“The quality of the equipment is critical. With professional equipment the quality of the video is much better, no grainy images or shaking cameras. Professional equipment also ensures crystal clear audio so your guests can actually hear you exchanging your vows. Your guests will truly feel as though they are there with you.”

– answered by Tkshotz Photography

What happens if our ceremony is in the mountains and there’s no wifi? 

“It’s possible to livestream a wedding as long as there is LTE coverage. For truly remote areas with no cell service, it’s possible to upload the video 30 minutes after the ceremony to have it as close to live as possible. So if your ceremony is at 2:00pm, the video will be available for your guests at 2:30pm for example.”

– answered by Tkshotz Photography

Is there something extra we could do to involve our loved ones who are watching the live stream?

We recommend taking a few minutes after the ceremony to thank those watching the livestream! You can say a special message to your virtual guests and share a toast; this will help them feel connected to you on the day. For other ideas, check out our blog post, How to Involve Your Loved Ones In Your Intimate Wedding or Elopement.

Something else you may want to consider is how long you want the live stream to be, and what you want to show to your guests viewing at home. Do you want to live stream the first dance? Or how about a small message at the end of the ceremony thanking your guests?

Do you have any pro tips for live streaming?

“Ensure equipment doesn’t overheat in summer or freeze in winter by keeping it shaded. Always have a backup. So if livestreaming from one device, ensure that you are also recording with a digital camera in the unlikely event that the device fails or shuts down unexpectedly. Decide who will be wearing the mic(s) and if it is the officiant, ensure they will stand close enough to the couple to hear them exchange their vows.”

– answered by Tkshotz Photography

Is live-streaming just for covid weddings? Will live streaming no longer be a thing once everything is “back to normal”?

“I expect that livestreaming will continue long after things are back to normal. There will always be out of town guests who are unable to attend the wedding or couples who choose to have smaller more intimate weddings. A livestream allows couples to include everyone. The quality of the equipment is critical. With professional equipment the quality of the video is much better, no grainy images or shaking cameras. Professional equipment also ensures crystal clear audio so your guests can actually hear you exchanging your vows. Your guests will truly feel as though they are there with you.”

– answered by Tkshotz Photography

All images by Nikki Collette Photography

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