When it comes to planning your wedding in Toronto, there are so many decisions to make — from the venue to the flowers to the music. One question I always get asked is whether hiring a videographer is worth it. From my personal experience, if your budget allows, I absolutely recommend adding one.
Why Wedding Video Is Different from Photos
I love our wedding photos — they’re framed around our home, and we look at them all the time. But there’s something completely different about having a wedding video.
A few times a year, we sit down and watch our wedding film, and it brings everything back in a way photos just can’t. The movement, the voices, the little in-between moments — the laughter, the tears, the way your friends and family interact — it’s something I’m so grateful we have. Seeing the grandparents who have passed since our wedding day.
We also received longer, more raw footage of our ceremony, speeches, and candid guest interactions, which feels incredibly special to revisit. These aren’t just moments frozen in time; they’re living memories you can relive again and again — and in a city like Toronto, with so many bustling venues and unique settings, having video really captures the atmosphere of the day.
Consider DIY or Partial Coverage
If a full videography package isn’t in your budget, there are still ways to capture important moments of your Toronto wedding:
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Ask a family member or friend to record the ceremony, dances, and speeches on an iPhone or DSLR on a tripod.
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Hire a Toronto videographer for just the key moments of your day, like the ceremony and speeches.
Even minimal coverage is better than nothing — a lot of people never even have video footage of their own wedding, which honestly baffles me!
Raw Footage vs. Highlight Films
One challenge I encountered is that many Toronto wedding videographers today only offer highlight films. I personally wanted all the raw footage — the ceremony, speeches, and other important moments — because I wanted to edit my own wedding film while also keeping the unfiltered versions.
These raw clips are the memories you can one day show your children or revisit years later. It took some searching, but I found a Toronto videography team willing to film and provide just the raw footage for under $2,000. No editing included, just the moments as they happened.
Tips to Save While Hiring a Toronto Videographer
If you’re concerned about cost, here are some ways to make it more manageable:
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Look for Toronto studios that offer both photography and videography packages. Not only is this often cheaper, but the teams will also work together more seamlessly on the day.
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Hire for only the most important parts of the day instead of full-day coverage.
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Consider local, smaller Toronto videography teams who may offer lower rates for raw footage.
Honestly, for an extra investment of $2,000–$3,000, I would go for it every time. Photos capture beautiful moments, but video captures the essence of your Toronto wedding — the voices, the movement, the laughter — and that’s priceless.
