How long is the average wedding video?
I was on Zoom recently, as part of a consultation call with a potential couple looking for a wedding videographer to capture their big day.
Typically, on these calls, couples ask a lot of questions about my wedding videography approach and my style on the day itself: how do I film the wedding? Do they need to pose? Do I record the ceremony? What are my wedding film packages? All fair questions, to allow them to make a decision on whether I’m the right wedding videographer for them.
Back to that Zoom call, the bride-to-be asked me: how long is the average wedding film?
I thought this was already well documented for anyone looking to hire a wedding videographer. And it got me thinking: what packages do other wedding videographers offer and, on average, what is the duration of their wedding video?
The length of a typical wedding video varies
You guessed it. It’s a tale as old as times: the duration of your wedding video depends on who you choose to film your wedding. Truth is, different wedding videographers offer completely different packages. A quick search on Google will return the following options:
Full 90mn: now that is long. It includes a lot of raw material, and I would argue the quality of the edit won’t be great. I do not think any wedding videographer has 90 minutes worth of quality footage. This also includes full ceremony and speeches as part of the film.
1-hour wedding video: similarly to the above, the wedding video will include a lot of ceremony and speeches.
Cinematic wedding film: This is the most polished and engaging option, typically ranging from 5 to 8 minutes. It’s shorter, as it only contains the ‘highlights’ of your day. Many couples prefer this style because it’s dynamic, easy to watch, and perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Raw footage: as well as your wedding video, some videographers will also provide unedited, raw footage, straight out of the camera.
Cinematic wedding film in Scotland
Industry standard wedding film length
When it comes to professional wedding videography, length matters—not just for capturing key moments but also for maintaining quality and engagement. In my experience, shorter, high-quality wedding films are far more engaging than longer videos that may feel drawn out.
While some couples may want a long wedding video featuring the full ceremony and speeches, the industry standard for cinematic wedding films—especially those created by award-winning wedding videographers—falls between 5 to 9 minutes. This length is perfect for telling the story of your wedding day in a beautiful, emotionally compelling waywithout losing your audience’s attention.
If you’re looking for a cinematic wedding video, many of the best wedding videographers in the UK and beyond will offer a highlight film of this length, designed to capture the most magical moments of your big day.
Cinematic wedding film in France
My view on the ideal wedding video length
As a cinematic wedding videographer, my package includes two films: Highlight and Feature films, so you get the best of both world. In my view, these two versions are the perfect combination, and there is a reason why they’re the two most popular amongst UK wedding filmmakers:
The Highlight film is 4-5 mn long. It includes only the best parts of your day, and is packed with emotions. It’s also the perfect length for sharing on social.
The Feature film is 15-20 mn long. No one wants a really long film, and the Feature is the ideal length to tell your story. It also means that I only use quality footage, something I feel really strongly about. It also includes snippets from the speeches and the wedding ceremony, but only the best moments: whether it was an emotional day, a fun wedding, or an amazing party. It is essentially a documentary version of your wedding day
The Preview film is about 1mn long: A short, cinematic teaser of your wedding day, perfect for sharing on Instagram, TikTok, and social media. It captures just a few breathtaking moments, edited to music, and gives you incredible memories to watch as you wait for the longer films to be edited.
My package also includes the full wedding ceremony, and all the speeches. Edited to the best quality.
1mn preview film
If you’re looking for a wedding videographer, and would like to hear more about my cinematic wedding videography style, then drop me a message. I’d love to chat!