Whenever a celebrity couple ties the knot, it’s inevitable that their same-day edit wedding videos will end up online, quickly going viral as fans get an inside peek at the couple’s special day.
Beyond the requisite mush, however, these short clips are full of lessons on awesome coverage for events in the Philippines. Here are 5 things viral wedding videos are getting right that can be emulated for other events—even if you aren’t going for a cheesy effect.
LESSON #1: SHOWCASE THE VENUE
The Case Study: Heart Evangelista and Chiz Escudero Wedding Video by Bob Nicolas
Set in the beautiful island of Balesin, the opening sequences set the mood of the entire video by showing off the different sites around the venue. Drone shots of the island and a time lapse of clear skies also add drama as Heart talks about hoping for good weather on their wedding day.
Aside from the picturesque vistas, showcasing the event venue also adds to the overall plot of your story. “When it comes to weddings, the venue usually has some sort of relevance to the couple,” explains Mark Esguerra, a corporate videographer and video production instructor. For other events, these kinds of establishing shots can highlight the elaborate set-ups or general vibe.
LESSON #2: CREATE SUSPENSEFUL BUILD-UP
The Case Study: JC Intal and Bianca Gonzalez Wedding Video by Jason Magbanua
This vid knows how to create suspense. The opening sequences focus more on establishing shots of El Nido, followed by footage of pre-wedding cocktails. The first speaking scene didn’t even belong to the couple—that honor went to the priest, who gave advice to both JC and Bianca for their married life.
When you create build-up like this for your event coverage, you keep people engaged as they can’t wait to see what happens next.
LESSON #3: THE RIGHT MUSIC MAKES YOUR VIDEO FLOW BETTER
The Case Study: Jericho Rosales and Kim Jones Wedding Video by Bob Nicolas
This video uses slow music to ramp up the drama, then switches to a more festive track when sequences of the couple having fun with their friends were shown. Choosing the right soundtrack to go with the scenes of your video is essential as it helps frame the kind of emotions you want to elicit from the audience. “The wrong soundtrack can totally distract your audience, but the right one can set the mood. It's about audio and visual harmony blending to create a great story,” explains Esguerra.
LESSON #4: HIGHLIGHT THE UNIQUE PARTS OF YOUR EVENT
Case Study: Jim Bacarro and Saab Magalona wedding video by Notion in Motion
From the Baguio City venue, to the numerous geeky references used by the couple during their vows, to lightsaber fights among the groomsmen—the Bacarro-Magalona nuptials were a one-of-a-kind ceremony, and their same-day edit made sure to emphasize that.
This shows the production team understands what separates the event apart from others. “The real money shots are individual clips that tell short stories. When these are combined, it should create an audio visual experience worth remembering, watching, and sharing,” notes Esguerra.
LESSON #5: ALWAYS TELL A STORY
Case Study: Drew Arellano and Iya Villania Wedding Video by Jason Magbanua
More than just showing what transpired during the wedding, Magbanua skillfully weaves together the speeches and vows to give us a glimpse of what Drew and Iya are like as individuals. Viewers get to know how they are about to start their life together as husband and wife. That’s essentially how videos should be edited—to tell a story that goes beyond what transpires on event day.
What are other viral wedding videos you liked that we missed on this list? Share with us via comments.