{"id":1244,"date":"2020-05-31T16:24:36","date_gmt":"2020-05-31T16:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new-blog.artlist.io\/?p=1244"},"modified":"2025-02-13T08:26:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T08:26:51","slug":"wedding-video-music-how-to-choose-the-right-songs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new-blog.artlist.io\/blog\/wedding-video-music-how-to-choose-the-right-songs\/","title":{"rendered":"Wedding Video Music: How to Choose the Right Songs"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s only the soundtrack to the most important day of your clients\u2019 life — it’s their wedding day, and you\u2019re the\u00a0wedding filmmaker<\/a>. No pressure, but as the wedding videographer, you have to get this right. As an editor, your ability to choose the right music for the wedding video will be put to the test. Here\u2019s how you can succeed.<\/p>\n

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Get to know the bride and groom<\/h2>\n

The way to satisfy a bride and groom is to get to know them personally. Find out what they love both in music and film. At the same time, do not let the couple choose the wedding video songs. 9 times out of 10, they will choose a generic love song or a popular track that is far out of their budget to obtain a license to use. However, by getting to know what genres of music they love, you can more successfully choose\u00a0royalty-free music<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0that they will also like.<\/p>\n

During your meeting with them, get to know their favorite and least favorite artists and genres. Do they like classics or contemporary music? Indie or Pop? Do they have a favorite film score that they love? It can even be helpful to show them examples of your wedding videos to see what resonates with them.<\/p>\n

Educate your bride and groom on the legalities of using copyrighted music and point them in the direction of royalty-free music like you\u2019ll find on\u00a0Artlist. You may even want to select a handful of music beds or instrumentals and get their feedback before you proceed with editing.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also want to pay attention during their ceremony and reception for cues about the music they like. What\u2019s being played? What gets the crowd moving? What do the bride and groom enjoy dancing to during the reception? Do they like golden oldies, classic Rock<\/a>, Funk<\/a>, Country<\/a>, RnB<\/a>, or Electronic music<\/a>? While you may not incorporate those exact genres into your edit, you can take cues from those sounds when considering instrumentation in the music, whether it’s Classical Strings<\/a>, Piano<\/a>, or Harp; Electric Guitar<\/a>; funky bass or more Electronic Synth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Consider the setting, location and mood<\/h2>\n

A wedding video is more than one scene. It\u2019s more than the ceremony. If you\u2019re filming the preparation, photography session, rehearsal dinner, or cocktail hour, you\u2019ll need to consider the wedding video songs or music beds for each setting. Are there smiles or tears? Tender hugs or jubilant celebration? Each will call for a different type of track.<\/p>\n

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Taken from Artlist’s stock footage<\/a> collection<\/figure>\n

Is the location elegant or rustic, upscale with white tablecloths and champagne or in their backyard? Will you choose a classical composition<\/a> or something a little bluegrass?<\/p>\n

The location will inform your choices, and so will the mood. What is the emotion of the moment — happy<\/a>, sentimental, or adventurous?<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll likely use 3-5 songs or music beds if you\u2019re shooting a full day of activities. The sentimentality of the vows and the party atmosphere of the reception simply need different tracks. For example, you won\u2019t have a dance track playing under the vows or a classic wedding video song playing while the couple is doing the macarena.<\/p>\n

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What is the theme?<\/h2>\n

There are two things to consider here. First, what is the theme of the\u00a0wedding<\/i>? Second, what is the theme of the wedding\u00a0video<\/i>?<\/p>\n

The wedding might be party-themed. Perhaps they\u2019ve chosen the Roaring Twenties or a fantasy medieval court. A themed party will definitely help you narrow down music choices, giving you clues as to which direction to go in. These selections should be discussed with the couple to avoid becoming altogether too dramatic or kitschy for a sacred event.<\/p>\n

The other consideration is the theme of the wedding video itself. It may be similar to a documentary or simply a quick-moving montage. If the couple wants the video to tell a specific story through interviews and speeches, you may want to consider finding a musical theme that repeats throughout the video, similar to a movie soundtrack with a motif.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re simply creating a short montage with no dialogue, consider movie trailers as inspiration. You\u2019ll want an impactful beginning, middle, and end, and that can be found all within a single track. You might even add sound effects for a bit of extra drama.<\/p>\n

Consider the story you\u2019re telling in all aspects of song selection and consider how bold the couple is, as well as their specific direction during your interview with them about the video.<\/p>\n\t\t

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What’s the difference between music beds and songs?<\/h2>\n

Music beds or underscores are often instrumental and can be layered under dialogue or used as interludes between scenes. In contrast, songs contain music plus vocals and lyrics. Songs should be used sparingly and approved by the couple first. You don\u2019t want to get deep into editing the wedding video<\/a>, spending hours or weeks cutting to a particular song just to find that the bride and groom simply don\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n

Music beds and underscores should be used to enhance or heighten the emotional potency of the scene. And sometimes music beds shouldn\u2019t be noticed much at all. This is especially the case under dialogue, such as the vows. An unobtrusive piano bed or a light symphonic arrangement are better than a distracting lyrical song for important moments where the couple or wedding party is speaking. The focus should be on the action; the music is simply there to accompany it in these cases.<\/p>\n

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Taken from the stock footage site Artlist<\/figure>\n

In an interview we did a few months ago with successful wedding filmmaker\u00a0Matt Johnson<\/a>\u00a0(linked above), he gave pro tips for aspiring wedding filmmakers. When talking about choosing the wedding video music, he said, \u201cI want the music to support the wedding video, drive the emotion of the film, but, at the same time, I don\u2019t want the music to be overpowering. It\u2019s just one of the ingredients of a wedding, albeit an essential part.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, you\u2019ll want to consider the tempo of the tracks you choose. The tempo should match the mood and action of the scene. Employ a slower tempo for sentimental moments such as the father giving away the bride and a faster tempo and more celebratory wedding video music for after the kiss when the married couple is presented to the guests.<\/p>\n

It may be helpful to map out each scene of the wedding in a spreadsheet with the following fields:<\/p>\n