How much does a wedding videographer cost?
The average wedding videographer costs about $2,300 in the US, according to The Knot's Real Weddings Study, with couples in the lowest-budget quarter paying around $1,000 and the median around $1,900. Only about 37% of couples book one. The price depends mostly on hours of coverage, the number of shooters, and what you get back: a teaser and highlight film cost less than a full documentary edit. Here's what drives the price, what packages typically include, and where you can save.
What wedding videographers cost
| Price | |
|---|---|
| National average (The Knot) | $2,300 |
| Lower-budget couples (bottom quartile) | ~$1,000 |
| Median quartile | ~$1,900 |
| Typical range quoted by vendors | $1,500–5,000 |
| Premium cinematic packages | $5,000–10,000+ |
What changes the price
- Hours of coverage: ceremony only vs. getting ready through the send-off.
- Number of videographers: a second shooter means more angles and more cost.
- Deliverables: teaser, highlight film, full ceremony, speeches, documentary edit, raw footage.
- Extras: drone, same-day edit shown at the reception, extra audio recording, rush delivery.
- Location and season: big cities and peak months cost more.
What packages usually include
| Package | Typical deliverables |
|---|---|
| Basic | 4–6 hours, one shooter, 3–5 minute highlight |
| Standard | 8 hours, two shooters, highlight + full ceremony + teaser |
| Premium | Full day, two or three shooters, feature film, drone, raw footage |
Questions to ask before booking
- How many hours and shooters, and when does coverage start and end?
- Exactly which films do we get, and how long is each?
- How do you record vows and speeches (lapel mics, venue audio)?
- What's the turnaround, and is rush delivery available?
- Do we get raw footage, and what does it cost?
- How many revision rounds?
- Is the music licensed for us to post online?
Ways to save
- Book fewer hours and skip getting-ready coverage.
- Skip the documentary edit; take the highlight film and full ceremony.
- Ask for raw footage and edit extra versions (teaser, vertical clips, a family cut) yourself.
- Guests' phone footage of the reception can fill in moments the videographer didn't cover.
Editing extra versions yourself
If you have the footage, Novacut makes highlight films and teasers from it in minutes:
12 ceremony clips became a 60-second wedding film, then a vertical teaser. Sped up. Phone-size version.
It doesn't replace a videographer filming the day; it edits footage you already have. How to edit a wedding video →
FAQ
Is a wedding videographer worth it?
Video captures what photos can't: voices, vows, toasts and movement. If the budget is tight, a shorter package plus guests' footage is a common compromise.
How far in advance should we book?
As early as you can once you have a date and venue: popular videographers book out for peak-season weekends, so ask about availability before anything else.
Can we hire a videographer for just the ceremony?
Yes; many offer short ceremony-only packages at a lower price.
How long does wedding video editing take?
Often 4–8 weeks for the full films; teasers sometimes arrive within days. Editing services →
Sources: The Knot, average cost of a wedding videographer; Paperlust, wedding videographer cost guide; Fotober, wedding video editing turnaround. Checked October 2026; prices vary by region and year.
Footage: Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels (Pexels License). The couple's names are fictional; the people shown don't endorse Novacut.