I was recently helping my parents clean out their house when I came across a box of old 8mm movie reels. Most of them were shot with the family movie camera when my sister and I were kids. One of them was larger and in a nice, plastic case, not a metal canister. I couldn’t remember seeing it before and was curious about what could be on it.
So, I dug out the movie projector (that’s what we had before DVD players and VCRs), blew the dust off and fired it up. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. The images were of my parents’ wedding in 1954, but they didn’t look like the homemade images of my youth, they looked better. I was speechless as I watched the silent images of their ceremony and reception.
There stood my parents, happy and youthful, sharing their wedding day with friends and relatives, many of whom were no longer with us. I saw their first dance. I saw my grandparents, who were probably my age now. I saw my great-grandparents, who were probably the age my parents are now.
I asked my mother about the film and she said that they had hired a professional for the wedding. While that’s commonplace now, I’m sure it was very progressive in 1954.
Fast-forward 18 years and I’m approaching my own 29th anniversary. I would love to be able to pop in a DVD and watch the highlights from our wedding. I’d love to hear our vows, see our first dance and watch our friends and family getting down on the dance floor, but I can’t.
You see, when we were planning our wedding, B.I. (Before the Internet), no one asked us if we wanted video, so we never really had a chance to decide. We were the first of our friends to get married and we didn’t have anyone to ask. All my fiancé had for planning help was a national wedding magazine to look at for dresses. There were no wedding TV shows or local magazines.
“I would love to be able to pop in a DVD and watch the highlights from our wedding. I’d love to hear our vows, see our first dance and watch our friends and family getting down on the dance floor, but I can’t.”
If someone came to us on our 29th anniversary and said they had a video of our wedding, what do you think it would be worth to us? Priceless, right? When I see the amazing wedding movies that today’s brides are getting, it makes me wish, even more, that we had one of our wedding. If only we could share with our two sons those special memories. One day, when we have grandchildren, I’d love to be able share those memories with them.
I’ve been in wedding media for over 20 years and one of a couple’s biggest regrets after their wedding is not having a video. Lucky for you, if you’re reading this, you still have the chance to capture your wedding memories for your children and grandchildren. If you already know you’re having professional video, great. If you’re on the fence, I hope my personal story will help you decide.
If you were thinking of not having professional video, do yourselves a favour and at least take a look at what’s being done by today’s video pros. Your future grandchildren will thank you.
Alan Berg has over 20 years of experience in the wedding industry and has written three books,“If your website was an employee, would you fire it?,” “Don’t Paint The House” and “Your Attitude for Success.” Learn more at alanberg.com.
Main image by Karina Finegan Photography, view the entire real wedding here.
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