3 Destination Wedding Film Styles : A Simple Guide to Choose Yours
Photo: © Djuneid Dulloo / Valoa Films
Did you know that 75% of brides express regret for not hiring a wedding videographer? And 98% of brides who opted for a wedding filmmaker highly recommend the decision to their friends. Wedding films are more and more in demand, especially considering how videos and reels have become part of our ways to relive special memories.
There are many styles and forms of wedding photography and videography out there, and today we have this simple guide to help you discover the most common ones. Especially if you are choosing a picturesque location for your destination wedding and have already booked a photographer for your artistic photos, a wedding film can really make a difference: just think of the romantic chirping of crickets in Tuscany, or the gentle hum of the waves if you´re close to the beach.
Wedding Film Style #1: The Highlight Film
Length
Generally 3-5 minutes duration
Can include a vertical style Instagram or TikTok Reel
What is a wedding highlight film?
A wedding highlight film is a short video for your special day and it essentially captures and emphasizes the high points of the location and the day´s momentum. It typically would include a musical soundtrack as well as a title screen and transitions.
While this video is in traditional horizontal 16:9 video format, like most YouTube videos, a highlight film can also be edited in vertical 9:16 aspect ratio so that you can conveniently share it with your family and friends on social media platforms.
Can a highlight film be cinematic in style?
In researching wedding film styles, you may come across the term “ Cinematic Wedding Film” quite a bit, but what is it actually? In short, a cinematic video is a type of video production that aims to emulate the aesthetic qualities and storytelling techniques commonly found in cinema or film. It typically involves careful attention to visual composition, lighting, camera movements, editing, and sound design to create a visually striking and emotionally engaging piece of content.
So while the shorter highlight film is limited in scope, and slightly has a movie-trailer feel, it is definitely possible to include some of these cinematic elements in the edit, depending on the wedding filmmaker and editor you choose.
Takeaways
Plus Point #1 : A highlight film with cinematic details will beautifully compliment your wedding photos to preserve a real feel of that special day through the atmosphere and sounds of the location as well as the moving moments of emotion of those you care about.
Plus Point #2: The highlight video is ideal for sharing your beautiful destination wedding feeling to your friends on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, as it shows the main parts of the day in a really impressionistic and easy to watch way.
Minus point: It doesn't get too personal
If you want something that is going to be more personal and sophisticated, then choosing a wedding documentary film, our next style on the list, would be a more suited option.
Example of a Wedding Highlight Film shot by Valoa Films.
2. Wedding Film Style #2: The Documentary Wedding Film
Length
20-45 minutes duration
Depends on the number of days of your wedding
What is a Wedding Documentary Film?
Essentially, it is a longer capture version of your day told like a natural flowing story. It takes more time to establish the background and location of your destination, and can include the landscape and architecture filmed with a drone. Beyond breathtaking aerial views, the documentary allows time for focussing on the luxurious details that make up your day: the florals, custom bride dress, timeless jewellery.The emphasis is on authenticity and candid moments, aiming to document the wedding day as it truly happens, from the preparations, ceremony, reception and party. In a pure documentary form, the style would be natural, with very little to no background music. Aesthetically, the visual style tends to be more modern and simple, and less stylized compared to cinematic-style films, which leads to the next question.
What is the difference between Documentary-style vs Cinematic-style Wedding film?
With the documentary style film being more natural and candid in style, cinematic-style wedding films on the other hand take a more artistic and stylized approach to storytelling. The focus is on crafting a narrative that emphasizes emotion, mood, and atmosphere, often through creative editing and techniques. Think of dynamic camera movements, creative framing, and use of visual effects. Montages, slow motion footage , color grading, and atmospheric music are integral to the edit.
That sounds great, but is there a way to combine the best of both worlds?
Yes, indeed. This is precisely a style developed by our Berlin-based wedding filmmaker Djun at Valoa Films: combining the realism of the documentary style wedding film with the dramatic excitement and beauty of a cinematic wedding film. If you´re planning a destination wedding and dream of such a film, get in touch now and inquire to have access and watch these full-length private wedding films.
3. Wedding Film Style #3: The Love Story film
Length:
- Up to 1 hour
What is a Love Story Film?
The Love Story film is not such a common offering of most wedding filmmakers out there and we included it in the choices for a destination wedding film because it embodies bespoke luxury and may evoke profound emotional responses. As the name indicates, this exclusive film´s focal point is the distinct love story of the couple, leading to the grand celebration of their love: their wedding date.
The Love Story film is essentially a more custom-made and emotionally luxurious version of the cinematic-documentary film. The filmmaker collaborates with the couple, gathering information from forms, interviews and personal media archives to handcraft an audio-visual story that includes valuable and moving personal narratives of their love journey.
At Valoa Films, the Love Story Film is our high-end film option for those couples that do not want to compromise on memorizing their special connection, and embody their passion in a timeless masterpiece.
Some of the premium tailor-made features of the love film include:
Distinct animated film title intro design
Exquisite stylistic adaptations based on a Hollywood movie of choice
Fully customizable film soundtrack/music
Elevated Animation and Motion Graphics
Advanced Color Grading of the film to match a chosen cinema film look
If this sounds like an experience designed for you, contact us today to discover your signature wedding film style.
Photo: Documentary Wedding Photography © Djuneid Dulloo / ValoaFilms
Conclusion: How should I choose my wedding film style?
In conclusion, selecting the perfect wedding film style for your destination wedding, wedding or elopement is a crucial decision that can immortalize the beauty, emotion, and romance of your special date. Whether you opt for the impressionistic charm of a highlight film, the authentic storytelling of a documentary film, or the bespoke luxury of a love story film, each style offers an exclusive way to capture and cherish your memories.
At Valoa Films, we understand the importance of finding the perfect fit for your vision. That's why we offer you highly customizable wedding videography and film packages, which just like your custom bridal dress or suit, is tailored uniquely to you.
Djuneid is a documentary wedding photographer and videographer based in Berlin. He has photographed and filmed destination weddings in the alleys of Venice, the Swedish forests and the southern Italian countryside.
A MIDSUMMER FAIRYTALE WEDDING IN CENTRAL SWEDEN
Wedding guests on a pier by the Runn Lake in Central Sweden. Photo: Djuneid Dulloo / Djunivers.
A Midsummer Fairytale:
How getting married in front of your summer cabin is one of the most romantic things ever.
Wedding Photography and Wedding Film Blog by Djuneid Dulloo.
Recently, I was hired for a wedding shoot in central Sweden right at the time of Midsummer, a nordic celebration of summer rooted in folkloric tradition. I traveled with my Kiwi friend, Brodie, the musician for the event, from Berlin, and off we were to Central Sweden towards a small town bordering the Runn Lake. There is something magical about nature that makes it the perfect scene to capture loved ones, and even more so for the culminating celebration of partnership, a wedding. We were both stunned by the incredible natural beauty, the calm, and as we dug into freshly grilled burgers on the deck of Daniela´s parents´ house, could only start to imagine what the next day had in store for us. The beautiful scenery, the fresh air, and the natural light was already coming together to create wonderful and unexpected opportunities for classy content.
A Fairytale Forest and an Altar on the Pier
Ever thought to get married in front of your house? Well, Daniela and Simon did. They had been constructing their cozy summer cabin for the past years, and the wedding marked a symbolic cabin-warming : the altar arose as a giant wreath woven with plant fibres, stems and flowers at the foot of the pier leading to vast stretch of almost still and glassy waters. The composition was set. Daniela and Simon had chosen their hometown location because it held a special meaning for them, and I felt really honoured to have the chance to photograph them in an environment that was so open and yet so intimate.
The Ceremony Day
Around 10:30am I showed up to Daniela´s parents´ house where she was getting ready. The plan was that her mum and her take a walk together through the woods to reach the altar in front of Daniela´s cabin. Not to forget, Daniela´s canine companion also joined the ceremonious walk, and even had to pause on the way for some very important business. As I accompanied them on the half hour walk through the woods, I thought to myself, what a beautiful ritual. It was truly one of the most beautiful and intimate wedding processions I had witnessed, focussing on capturing the generational bond and the cycle of life. Their arrival through the woods onto the pier was nothing short of an extraordinary, chilling moment. Daniela and Simon had actually met a job interview where she was interviewing him, and
Style Choice: Recreating a Filmic Look
From the moment we agreed to work together, Daniela, an art director, provided me with a moodboard of the style of photos she liked:
and with the following comment: “ I love film grain and cooler tones, not a big fan of warm or too saturated images. Flash is great, not always but sometimes. I prefer color over black and white, but I liked that picture you took of the couples kissing. We should also capture the nature that we will be in as it is quite stunning! and of course all our guests, family and friends. We should do some official group shots too, but mainly spontaneous and fun/natural moments :) ”.
So with this in mind, I chose to shoot with Fufjifilm X cameras to capture the stunning nature and the emotions of the couple in a way that felt like it could be stills from a movie. To mimic the filmic grain of photos while shooting digital, I chose to shoot with 2 Fujifilm cameras: photographing with the Fujifilm X-T3 and Fujifilm X-S10 which I used to capture more of the video content. For some romantic vibe, I used the natural light with the help of a diffusion filter to create a soft glow. I also used techniques such as shooting through branches and leaves to add depth to the images, and of course had fun flying the drone to fish for some aerial perspectives. The other half of the work though was really done in post production, where in Lightroom I developed my own preset/look/filter to come closer to the film stock aesthetic that the client liked.
Capturing Daniela and Simon´s wedding by the lake in the forest of Dalvik, Sweden was a truly magical experience. The location provided the perfect backdrop for a cinematic photoshoot, and the results were stunning. The forest and lake provided the perfect backdrop for the couple, and the digital film stock I crafted added an extra layer of romance to the images. The combination of natural and artificial lighting created a warm, dreamy feel that perfectly captured the emotions of the couple. The final images looked like stills from a movie, and the couple was thrilled with the results. I also offered them polaroid stills as part of their wedding package, as these analogue instant snapshots conveyed a special and tangible reminder of moments from this special day. I highly recommend considering a natural location for your photoshoot if you can. The results are truly breathtaking.
Get Hitched!
Fine Art Photography and Wedding Love Films by Djunivers
The Wedding Film & Highlight Video 🎥
On this Wedding, a video was actually not planned, but I thought, let´s see how it would be to capture some short clips and make a little surprise for the bride and groom. Considering I was focused on shooting photos for this event, I´m quite pleased with the result. However much of the work was done in in the editing room, which is the place where the story is really pieced together like a quilt.
Netflix Style Motion Graphics Intro
The Documentary Wedding Film varies in length ( 20- 40 min) and for this project I designed some personal Motion Graphics in Apple Motion and After Effects to introduce the bride and groom in the film. The documentary wedding film´s intro used the theme song from ´The Office´ series as it was the couple´s favorite. In the Highlight Video above you can see an abbreviated version of this intro as the Documentary Wedding Film is private but viewable for potential clients on request.
Questions and answers from a questionnaire published in a surprise gift to the couple by their family, formed the basis of this animation which became part of the intro.
What would your film look like?
Coming from a painting and fine art background as well, collage is a favourite technique of mine, as it is the art of piecing different elements together to create harmony. This is a style that I most often use in my video and film work. Collage can be as street-arty as can be, but can also be extremely classy and luxurious. In any case, this is a stylistic path I am leaning more towards to these days, and I invite you to follow my work and let me know what you think!
SAVORING THE THYME - Video Portrait for Chef Nicole Mendes
Savoring the Thyme
A Video Portrait for Chef Nicole Mendes
I had the pleasure of meeting Nicole Mendes, an international Traveling Chef, while working as a videographer and editor for a precious and intimate three-day wedding celebration in Burgau, a tiny village in the south of Portugal. As a graduate of Johnson & Wales and Umass Amherst with degrees in Culinary Arts, Sustainable Farming & Business, Nicole spent seven years working in some of Boston's most prestigious kitchens, such as Rialto & O Ya. She also spent time in Costa Rica, perfecting her nourishing and wholesome approach to cooking without compromising the quality and integrity of the products.
“I realized I wanted to showcase more of her as a person and chef and began crafting a collage process necessary to create a fuller portrait of Nicole”
While filming Nicole cooking at the wedding, she asked me to create a short video portrait for her. As I started working on the short video, I realized I wanted to showcase more of her as a person and chef and began crafting a collage process necessary to create a fuller portrait of Nicole, rather than just limiting it to the unplanned shots at the Wedding. To achieve this, we included additional archival footage from Nicole's past work experiences, as well as photos and videos of her culinary creations. I also incorporated quotes from previous clients Nicole had gracefully provided to me, to add context and depth to her story.
To further personalize the video, I included Nicole's handwritten signature as a distinctive visual element. As an artist with a background in drawing, painting, and collage, I enjoy creating a handcrafted aesthetic in my video editing, using scans, graphics, texts, and textures.
Working with Nicole on this project was an exciting experience, allowing me to craft a branded portrait of her as a traveler and chef. As she embarks on her new journey as a freelance private chef, this video will help communicate her expertise and magic to prospective clients. If you're interested in having your own video portrait created for your service, contact me for more details.
Photography: Martin Jacobsen
LOST ISLAND : Seixal, Madeira
MADEIRA, PORTUGAL.
Madeira is an archipelago comprising of 4 islands 540 km off the northwest coast of Africa. It was my first time there and it really reminded me of the island where I grew up, Mauritius. During my time there, I was shooting my first Travel Vlog that is currently in production, as well as practicing my drone pilot skills with the Mavic Air 2. With a sub tropical climate, the main island of Madeira is volcanic, green and rugged, with high cliffs, and pebbly beaches. Below is an aerial montage of shots of Seixal, one of my favorite locations on the island.
Check out this Aerial Film that I produced showing one of my favorite towns, Seixal.
