Videography used to be an afterthought — something couples scrambled to add in the final weeks before the big day. Those days are well and truly over.

This April alone, I’ve had to turn away four or five couples who reached out hoping to book me for May or June weddings. Every single one of them was disappointed. And honestly, so was I. Turning away business is never easy, but the reality is simple: videographers — like  photographers, florists, and venues — get booked months, sometimes over a year, in advance.

If you’re planning a wedding and haven’t yet thought about who will capture it on film, this is your sign to start reaching out. Here’s why.

Videography isn’t a “nice to have” anymore

There has been a genuine cultural shift in how couples think about wedding film. A decade ago, video was often seen as an optional luxury — something you considered after locking in the photographer. Today, it’s increasingly one of the first things couples book.

Why? Because a photograph captures a moment. A film captures everything around it — the music, the laughter, your grandmother dabbing her eyes, the exact sound of your partner’s voice as they say their vows. Couples who skipped video in years past are often the most vocal about regretting it. Word gets around.

The supply problem is real

There are only so many weekends in a year, and each videographer can take only one wedding per day — often just one per weekend to allow proper time for editing and delivery. As demand for professional wedding film has grown, the availability of experienced, trusted videographers hasn’t kept pace.

The videographers who are good enough that you’ve found them through a Google search, an Instagram reel, or a glowing recommendation? They’re filling up fast. By the time you’re six to eight weeks out from your wedding date, the chances of finding someone with the style, experience, and availability you want are slim.

The couples who book early get to compare reels at leisure, have proper discovery calls, and make a considered decision. The couples who book late often end up making a rushed choice they’re not fully confident in — or, worse, going without.

When should you actually book?

The honest answer: as soon as you’ve confirmed your venue and date. For peak season weddings — May through September — I’d encourage you to start conversations at least 12 months out, and ideally earlier. For off-peak dates, you may have a little more breathing room, but 6–9 months is still a sensible benchmark.

• Book your videographer at the same time as your photographer — treat them with equal priority
• Don’t wait until your venue, dress, or flowers are sorted — the date is all a videographer needs to hold your booking
• If you love someone’s work online, reach out now — even if your wedding is 18 months away
• A deposit secures your date — it doesn’t need to derail your budget planning

The film outlasts almost everything else

Your flowers will wilt. Your dress will sit in a box. The cake will be eaten and forgotten. Your wedding film, though? You’ll watch it on anniversaries. You’ll share it with family who couldn’t be there. One day, perhaps, your children will watch it too.

It’s one of the very few things from your wedding day that genuinely lasts. Don’t let it be the thing you didn’t get to have — simply because you left it too late.