Planning Engagement and Save the Date Videos

Before the wedding, there is a long stretch of months where you are engaged, planning and telling people. Two kinds of video can fit into that stretch. An engagement video is a short film about the two of you. A save the date video is a short announcement of your wedding date. They are different things, but they can come from the same day of recording, and planning them together saves time and gives you a consistent look.

This guide walks through how to think about both: your story, your timeline, where to film, which formats to ask for and how they connect to wedding day coverage. Nothing here requires you to book anything. It is meant to help you decide what you actually want.

The difference between the two videos

An engagement video is about the two of you. It might include a short conversation about how you met, time in a place you love and a few quiet moments. Its purpose is to hold on to this time in your lives, and it can be shown to family, played at the rehearsal dinner or kept for yourselves.

A save the date video is about the date. It tells guests when and roughly where the wedding is, in your voices and your style. Its purpose is practical and also personal: guests learn the date and get a sense of the two of you at the same time.

You can have either one, or both. Our pages on engagement video production and save the date video production describe each in more detail. If you are also considering still photos, our engagement photo sessions cover that side.

Start with your story

The best engagement films start with a conversation, not a script. Think about the questions that make you smile when someone asks them. How did you meet? What was the first thing you noticed? What do you do together on an ordinary weekend? What are you most looking forward to?

Those answers decide what we record and how we edit it. A couple who met on a trail will want to spend time outdoors. A couple who met at a restaurant might choose to film there. A couple who are shy on camera might prefer a quiet setting and a gentle conversation over a performance.

We keep the questions simple and purposeful. The goal is not to produce lines for a script. It is to let the story come out in your own words.

Working back from your send date

A save the date is usually sent many months before the wedding, so the planning starts with a calendar. Decide when you want guests to receive it, then work backward. Editing takes time, recording has to happen before editing, and you need room in case something needs to change.

Here is a hypothetical timeline to show the idea. It is not a real project.

If your wedding is a year away, you have a lot of room. If it is closer, tell us as early as possible so we can plan realistically. We would rather say honestly what fits than promise something rushed.

Choosing where and when to film

Pick a place you would go even if nobody were filming. It could be a trail, a shoreline, a street you walked on early in your relationship or your own home. Places you love tend to make you relaxed, and relaxed people look natural on camera.

Light matters, so the time of day matters too. Soft light in the early morning or late afternoon is often flattering, while midday sun can be harsh. We help you choose a time that suits the location and your schedule.

Please check whether your chosen place has rules about filming or photography. Parks, beaches and historic sites sometimes require permission or limit equipment. Tell us what you learn so we can plan around it.

If you are also planning a photo session on the same day, mention that early. Photographers and videographers work in separate roles, so a combined session means dedicated people for each, working side by side. It also means a longer day, so it helps to plan breaks.

Deciding on the formats

Where your guests watch decides what shape the video should take. Most people will see a save the date on their phone, so a vertical or square version often works better than a wide one. A wedding website might do well with a standard horizontal version. A rehearsal dinner screening might use a longer cut.

You do not have to decide every detail at once, but it helps to know where you plan to share it. A few examples of questions to settle:

• Will guests see it in a text message, an email or on your wedding website?
• Do you want a short clip for social media as well?
• Should the longer engagement film be shown at an event, or kept private?
• Do you want a version with the date as text on the screen?

We confirm the formats and length with you before recording, so the edit matches your plan.

Keeping the tone yours

A save the date video can be playful, quiet, cinematic or very simple. There is no correct style. The common mistake is copying something you saw online that does not fit you. If you are not comfortable performing, a simple walk and a conversation can feel more honest than a choreographed bit.

Think about the tone of your wedding, too. A formal evening wedding and a backyard celebration might have very different announcements. It helps to keep the save the date in the same spirit as the invitation that will follow.

How it connects to wedding day coverage

An engagement session is also a chance to see how we work. You find out how we talk, how we direct and whether you enjoy the process, which helps before wedding day coverage begins. None of this is required. Some couples book only the announcement, and some book only the engagement film.

If you do plan to book wedding coverage, our approach carries forward from the same ideas. We start with the whole story, look at the functions and people involved, choose the moments that matter and then decide what each output is for. We do not promise to film everything. We aim for broad coverage and intentional focus.

For the wedding itself, our wedding videography page explains the full range of coverage. If guest interviews appeal to you, wedding guest interviews without missing the event explains how they are planned. And the wedding photo and video timeline shows how the day fits together.

What to bring and how to prepare

You do not need to rehearse. Wear something you feel comfortable in and could imagine moving around in, since a recording day often involves walking, sitting and standing. Solid colors and simple patterns usually look cleaner on camera than very busy prints. Bring water, and anything that matters to your story, such as a favorite mug, a letter or a dog.

If you plan to speak on camera, think about one or two things you want to say, but do not memorize them. Short, natural answers edit far better than long prepared ones. And if either of you is nervous, say so at the start. A good interviewer will slow down, make you laugh and let the camera fade into the background.

Mistakes to avoid

A few things tend to cause trouble when couples plan announcement videos.

Waiting too long is the most common one. If your send date is close and you have not recorded anything, there is little room for editing or changes. Start earlier than you think you need to.

Over-planning is the second. A tightly scripted video can feel stiff. Leave room for the conversation to go where it goes.

Ignoring rules at the location is the third. If you assume a place allows filming and it does not, you may lose your recording day. A short call or email beforehand prevents that.

Forgetting the guests is the fourth. Include the practical details guests need, such as the date, the region and where to find more information. A video that is charming but vague leaves people with questions.

Questions to ask any videographer

When you compare options, a few questions make the differences clear.

• Can the engagement film and the save the date clip come from one recording day?
• What formats will I receive, and can I get vertical versions?
• How long will editing take, and how many rounds of changes are included?
• Who will be at the session, and are photographers involved?
• What happens if the weather changes the plan?

The answers show you how the process works and whether it suits your timeline.

The next step

Write down how you met in three sentences, pick two places that matter to you and decide when you want your save the date to go out. Send us that with your wedding date. We will ask a few questions and suggest a plan. You can also look at engagement video production and save the date video production for more detail on each service.