|
Choosing
Music for Your Wedding Video
By Celeste
Stewart
Capturing
the magic of your wedding on video requires the skill of a professional
videographer. These professionals know how to showcase your special moments and
present them in the most romantic manner possible. From the initial filming to
the final editing, your videographer will create a video or DVD that you will
treasure for years to come.
Part of
the process that makes a wedding video special is the post-production phase
where editors clean up the footage and add creative touches. Your wedding video
will likely have several sections, commonly called “montages”, that require
music. The opening scene may incorporate photos of the bride and groom along
with the wedding invitation, titles, and exterior shots of the wedding
location. A transitional montage may occur between the ceremony and the
reception with footage of the reception location, the cake, guests arriving,
decorations, receiving line, candid shots of the bridal party, and so on. And at
the end, a final montage will recap the day’s events.
Each of
these montages cries out for the perfect music choice. A perfect music
selection for one bride may be a horrendous choice for another. Your
involvement at this phase is key in selecting the music for your wedding video.
The best
time to select the music is before the wedding because you’ll be busy with your
honeymoon when the editor is working on your project. Meet with your
videographer and see what options they offer. Are you “a little bit country” or
“a little bit rock and roll”? Do you want to use traditional music or something
more eclectic? Would you like them to record your hired musicians and use the
actual music from the day for the soundtrack? These questions will help you
focus on the type of music and narrow down your choices.
Another
consideration is if you have an overall theme you want to convey. For example,
Nat King Cole’s song, Unforgettable, is a popular wedding song with a
variety of versions. Consider using the original version for the opening scene,
an instrumental version for the transitional montage, and end with the charming
duet with Natalie Cole.
Remember
that the editor has worked with hundreds of weddings and is familiar with
romantic music. If you’re struggling to find the perfect music choice, don’t
hesitate to ask your videographer for recommendations. Ask to listen to their
music catalogue. You may find something completely unexpected and thoroughly
perfect. And because you spent the time before the wedding, you can even use
this song as the music for your first dance.
|
