“What happens on my wedding day?” Wedding Content Creator Edition!
Newly engaged and have no idea how to start wedding planning? This guide will take you through what your wedding day might look like and how this works alongside working with a Wedding Content Creator like me.
Hi, I’m Gemma! An award-winning content creator based in Scotland who captures fun couples.
Each stage of the wedding day has a video posted on Instagram (and TikTok) to go along with it, so if you prefer to watch it, you can do that below, too.
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The Wedding Morning Prep
The energy is high, emotions are tender, and there is usually at least one problem to solve.
It must be the wedding morning!
When it comes to wedding content creation, there are typically two types of couples.
Couple one, who are hiring a content creator to capture raw video clips consistently throughout the day and curate a gorgeous highlights video to be shared on social media and viewed on their phone.
Couple two want the same as above, but also love the idea of transition videos where two scenes are joined together (for example, getting ready outfits, ring to camera lens, pull back *boom* wedding party scene at reception) and maybe TikTok trends like put on the glasses and pose, etc.
It’s totally up to you which category you fall in – it’s your day, plan it your way.
If you fall into the second option, the best-case scenario is that when I arrive 2-3 hours before your wedding ceremony begins, you are ready for me.
This means your hair and makeup are 85% done.
Note: You have to discuss this plan with your hair and make-up team before the big day.
You’ve also located your props, and the room is looking cuuuuuuute.
Anything that can be seen will be in your shots, so task one of your bridal party members with the cleanup job before I arrive.
Let’s get the fizz popped and capture your dream content, whether that’s dancing in your pjs, rolling on the lobby trolley, or gossiping on the bed.
Hopefully, you’ve already practised your TikToks that have dance routines or lip syncs, and you’re ready to rock when I find the best light.
This video is a good example of what a morning packed with content might look like, and it includes timestamps.
Don’t worry, if you’re not planning on doing any TikToks or transitions, there’s still plenty for me to do – I’ll be floating around taking behind-the-scenes content and action shots like in this video.
If you’re getting ready in the same venue as your ceremony, I’ll head over to capture your partner, if time permits, and take some establishing shots and detail content, such as decor, signs, and mirrors.
Plus, any personal touches you’ve worked so hard at – they deserve to be documented!
If you’re planning on doing first looks, discuss this with your wedding media team so it is scheduled in.
Some photographers ask that you be in your dress one hour before the ceremony, which might feel like an age, but honestly, time is going to fly, so take this advice seriously.
We’d also be hoping to finish any transition videos that require a big dress reveal.
Even if you’re getting married down the road, you still want to give yourself 30 minutes to get out to the wedding car without feeling rushed or stressed.
Pack your bags the night before!
Here are tips on getting the most out of the contnet, regardless of whether you are planning to do transitions and TikToks or not.
The Wedding Ceremony
If you’re getting ready in the same venue as your wedding ceremony, I’ll be on hand to capture you walking towards the aisle if logistics allow.
If you’re getting married at a second venue, I’ll head there to capture your nervous partner and guests.
Then it’s show time – doors open, aisle song kicks in, and we’re off.
I’ll be delicately dancing around, shooting photos and video clips with my iPhone, looking for the best light, and keeping an eye on the wedding photographer and videographer, while watching out for laughs, cries, I dos, ring exchanges, and any other customs you choose.
Tip: If you plan to do the lovely “tie the knot” handfasting custom, practice it beforehand so you don’t end up looking terrified.
And if you’re using two ribbons, be sure to separate them confidently and pose with the saltire, as shown in the video below; it looks fab in your content and photos.
Also, don’t forget to tell the person who is marrying you (officiant, celebrant, humanist, etc) that you are having a phone-free ceremony so they can remind your guests that you’ve got the content covered.
This means you’ll have no phones blocking the aisle, all eyes on you!
Then you’ll sign the legal paperwork, share a quick kiss, walk back down the aisle, and maybe even do a dip before you’re handed your first celebratory glass.
In that moment, you’ll probably think, What just happened? as you beam at each other, say your first hello as a newly married couple, and let out a big sigh of relief.
Watch the video here.
The Wedding Photoshoot
The next chapter of the day is usually the photo shoot, which might include a confetti tunnel, group shots, and couple portraits.
The group shots are usually conducted before the couple’s photoshoot, and require a photographer with a strong command and the support of your chosen people, who should have a list of who is in each group to keep things ticking over to avoid wasting time.
Then it’s on to the portrait shots, which are a lovely opportunity for you and your partner to have a wee laugh and check in with each other.
Even if you feel awkward in front of the camera, a fun media team will ensure you still have a great time while capturing content that will make you smile and tear up.
Have photography ideas in mind?
Don’t be afraid to share them with your media team beforehand.
Most suppliers will happily offer a video call for this kind of discussion; remember, it’s your day, planned your way, and the more information you share beforehand, the better equipped we are.
If your photoshoot is off-site, which means at another venue, you’ll need to consider how your media team are getting between the locations, especially if parking is an issue.
It’s also worth highlighting that Scottish weddings always need a contingency plan for rain.
Consider investing in cute umbrellas, or if going for an alternative look, these f*cking rain brollies are cool for content.
This way, you don’t have to miss out on your venue’s gorgeous landscape, which means your content can still have a variation in its feel.
Tip: Your Wedding Photographer can edit out umbrellas; however, it will still be shown in your video, so consider this during the planning stages.
While we are snapping at you like the celebs that you are, your guests will be mingling and enjoying whatever entertainment you’ve arranged for them, waiting for you to return and feed them.
The Wedding Breakfast
While this part of the day does involve a toast, it has nothing to do with cereal!
Before the wedding breakfast part of the day officially kicks off, the couple usually has a sneak peek first look at the room and decor, which is magic for content and gives them a chance to have a wow moment with their planner.
Then it’s time for you to scoot off while your guests take their seats and await your big entry as a newly weds.
At this point, you’ll either feed your starving guests and make the speech givers nauseous, or let the speakers do their thing so that they can enjoy their food.
The media team are usually fed in an adjacent room where we can charge our batteries, literally and metaphorically, in preparation for the evening guests’ arrival, first dance and cake cutting.
Watch the video here.
The Wedding Reception
After dining, if there is another photo opportunity, your media team will work with you while the room is being turned around for your evening reception, or you’ll mingle and enjoy any entertainment you’ve booked.
Then it’s the final chapter, the reception party!
Again, you’ll dip out while your guests fill the room, and get ready to watch your first dance and cake cutting or vice versa.
Tip: When planning this section of the day, try to keep all the activities tight because if you give space for guests to wander, they will, and it’s a challenge to herd them back together again, especially after a solid shift of drinking.
It’s usually time for us to leave the dance floor to get messy around about the second or third song, unless you’ve booked an extended media package to capture something unique like the saxophone!
Your Wedding Content and The Day After
Story time…
You wake up the day after your wedding, you reach for your phone, and you’ve got absolutely no content in your gallery.
Is this a nightmare?
No, it’s the refreshing reality that you’ve stayed present during your wedding day.
And there is nothing to stress about, because very soon you’ll have a delivery of hundreds of iPhone photos and video clips.
Plus, ready-to-post Reels and TikToks that you can share on your socials.
When I get in from your wedding, I try my best not to touch the content, though I usually do, I just can’t help myself!
I aim to get a good night’s sleep, wake up early, eat, walk my dog, and get some fresh air before I sit down to begin the culling process of your content.
This means I go through hundreds and hundreds of iPhone images and video clips and make a judgment call to keep or scrap.
I then lightly edit the iPhone images.
The next step is the lengthy uploading process, and while that goes on in the background, I start to put your lovely highlight story together using video clips consistently captured throughout your day.
I piece the content that best shares your story together, add transitions that elevate the content, and review the draft a ridiculous amount of times until it feels right.
I then curate other themed reels, for example, the ceremony, the party, the bride, the details, etc., before returning to the highlight reel and making any necessary adjustments.
This process continues until I’m satisfied with the finished products.
If we’ve captured any transitions or TikToks, I locate the trending music and match the scenes up to the tune so it is fully in sync before signing it off.
Then I’ll go for another walk to clear my head before a final quality check of each Reel/TikTok.
I take this part of the editing process very seriously, hence why I don’t make any promises that you’ll receive your content at a specific time.
Once the content upload is complete, I draft an email with instructions on how to best use the content and links to the folders for downloading.
Such as:
- Download using a strong Wi-Fi connection before watching for the best quality
- Watch on a smartphone
- Your Reels/TikToks should be of crystal clear quality
- If they are blurry, let me know, and I will send them another way
- Share with family and friends using the links in this email
- Avoid sharing or sending via WhatsApp, etc, as it makes them blurry (and breaks my heart, ha!)
- Alternatively, share from social media once you’ve posted, or I’ve posted
At this stage, I’ll also ask for any feedback and reviews – you have no idea how impactful reviews and recommendations are, so thank you to every single one of you who has done this for me and my wedding content creation!
And then I lie down in a dark, silent room until you tell me that you’ve received the content and what you think – please do this asap as I feel sick until I hear from you, I really do care about all of my couples and the content I capture for them!
Read next: Content Ideas for Fun Couples.
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