Wedding Highlight Reel vs. Documentary Edit

Beyond the flowers, color scheme, and even the cake, figuring out how you want your wedding day to be documented—and therefore remembered—is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the planning process. No pressure, of course. But there are definitely some major considerations you’ll want to take into account regarding your wedding videos and photos. For one, you’ll want to understand how to choose a wedding videographer who will capture your special day in just the way you want to remember it for years to come. Part of that journey is deciding whether you want a highlight reel vs documentary edit for your wedding videos.

What is the difference between a wedding highlight reel vs a wedding documentary edit?

In simple terms, a wedding highlight reel lives up to its name: it highlights the most impactful or core moments of your wedding day. From the mother-daughter wedding dress first look to the groom’s father adjusting his son’s tux, a highlight reel captures those pivotal glances or interactions that you’ll want to relive again and again. Typically lasting somewhere under 10 minutes, a wedding highlight reel is a perfect video to share on your social media or send to family and friends. Most highlight reels will be set to music and feature shorter scenes, quicker edit cuts, and bits of footage from each part of your wedding.

A wedding documentary edit, on the other hand, is a deeper dive into your celebration. Sitting at about 20 minutes to an hour, on average, a documentary edit wedding video is made to tell the whole story of your day, including the small details that would otherwise be left out in a highlight reel for the sake of brevity. You can think of a documentary edit like the movie version of your wedding. It can include your ceremony and vows, speeches from the bridal and groom parties, and even document your send off. A documentary edit is a fantastic way to sit down with your spouse and other loved ones and fully immerse yourself in reliving your day over and over again.

How should you choose between a wedding highlight reel vs documentary edit?

If you prefer to opt for just one wedding film style, think of how you’ll want to revisit your wedding memories. Do you and your spouse plan to sit down and enjoy some nostalgia together while looking over your photos and videos each year on your anniversary? You might want to have a documentary edit ready to rewatch. Or do you want some snippets to share with friends and family so they can cherish them, too? Maybe opt for the highlight reel. 

The greatest answer of all, though, is this: you don’t always have to choose. While some wedding videographers near you may elect to offer one as an a la carte option or package them separately, others will provide you with both. There’s nothing wrong with having a preference, of course, but when you decide to get both a wedding highlight reel and a documentary edit, you’ll have even more ways to enjoy those memories for many years to come—and more ways to share them with your loved ones, too.

Want more info? Reach out!

If you’re looking for a North Florida wedding videographer and you like what you see here, head to our contact page to get in touch! We’re happy to help you plan out the best way to remember your special day.