Yes, and I’d say a wedding video is worth even more at an Orthodox wedding than at most others. Your service is close to an hour of prayers, hymns and moments you’ll only half remember, and a film is the only way to hear them again.
Rebecca and Macarius were married at Holy Theophany Orthodox Church in Colorado Springs this past April, and their film is below. After I sent it to them, they left me a voicemail that answers this question better than I can, and I’ll share it further down.
Why a Film Matters More at an Orthodox Wedding
You’ll want to hear the service again
Most American wedding ceremonies last around twenty minutes, but the Betrothal and the Crowning together run closer to an hour. On the day itself, it all goes by in a blur of candlelight, incense and nerves. Photos hold what the service looked like, but only a film holds the prayers said over you and the choir singing “Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.”
Your crowns are a moment in motion
Orthodox wedding crowns are the heart of the service, and so much of their beauty is in the movement. Greek stefana, joined by a ribbon, are exchanged over your heads three times. Russian and other Slavic crowns are often held above you by your sponsors, who trade off as their arms tire, a quiet picture of how many people are holding you up in your marriage. A photo catches one moment of that, and a film keeps all of it.
The Dance of Isaiah is your first steps together
Following your priest three times around the table, as the choir sings “Rejoice, O Isaiah,” is the first thing you do as a married couple. It’s joyful, it moves, and it was made for film.
Your people are part of the story
An Orthodox wedding is never just the two of you. It’s your sponsors, your priest, your parents if they bless you with icons before you leave home, and the whole church joining in “Many Years” at the end. A film keeps their faces and their voices together, the way you’ll want to remember them years from now.
What Rebecca and Macarius Said
One evening a little after 8:30, Rebecca and Macarius left me a voicemail. They had just finished watching their film and were too excited to wait until morning:
“We actually just watched it… We loved it. It was so beautiful. And I also really loved the part that you put in with the pictures of the people that we had, and just the ways that you cut between things, and especially the parts with Father Anthony. It was just so wonderful and so beautiful. So thank you.”
What they loved most wasn’t a dramatic shot or a slow-motion dance. It was the people: the faces of the ones they love, the way their day was woven together. That’s what a wedding film holds onto that nothing else can.
They’re not alone in feeling that way. In a Zola survey of newlyweds, 35 percent said they regretted not hiring a videographer, and The Knot found that only about a third of couples book one at all.
What to Look for in an Orthodox Wedding Videographer
If you decide a film is worth it, the next question is who should make it. Here’s what I’d look for:
They know the service.
Someone who knows the Betrothal and the Crowning is ready for the ring exchange, the crowns, the Common Cup and the Dance of Isaiah before they happen, instead of chasing them.
They respect the church.
They talk with your priest before the wedding, stay off the solea and out of the altar, and never use flash or video lights.
They plan for sound.
The hymns and prayers are the soundtrack of your wedding, so they should record the choir and, with your priest’s blessing, the priest himself.
They offer a full ceremony edit.
A short film is beautiful, but a full edit of the service means you keep every prayer, not just the highlights.
They tell the story through your people.
Your sponsors, your family and your priest are part of your wedding, and they belong in your film.
Orthodox Wedding FAQ
Can you have a videographer at an Orthodox wedding?
Yes, with your priest’s blessing. Most priests ask photographers and filmmakers to stay off the solea, out of the altar, and never to use flash. I always talk with your priest before the wedding so I can follow his lead.
How long is an Orthodox wedding ceremony?
The Betrothal and the Crowning together usually last 45 minutes to an hour, so plan your day around a longer ceremony than most American weddings.
Do Orthodox weddings have vows?
Not the way most American weddings do. The bride and groom don’t exchange spoken vows; the prayers of the service are what join them together. In many Slavic-tradition parishes, the priest asks each of them whether they come freely and are not promised to anyone else.
What’s the difference between Greek and Russian wedding crowns?
Greek stefana are two light crowns joined by a ribbon, exchanged over the couple’s heads three times by the koumbaros or koumbara, and couples often keep them afterward. Russian and other Slavic crowns are usually metal and belong to the parish, and they’re either placed on the couple’s heads or held above them by the sponsors.
Can our wedding film include the hymns from our service?
Yes. I record the choir and, with your priest’s blessing, the priest himself, so your film can carry the hymns and prayers from your own wedding instead of stock music.
What should guests wear to an Orthodox wedding?
Dress as you would for church on a Sunday. Shoulders and knees should be covered, and low necklines and jeans are best left at home.
Planning an Orthodox Wedding in Colorado?
If you’re planning an Orthodox wedding in Colorado Springs or beyond, I would love to hear about it. Tell me about your parish and your date, and we can talk through how your service will look on film. CONTACT ME HERE
And if you’re inviting family or friends who have never been to an Orthodox wedding, you can send them my post on the beauty of the Orthodox wedding ceremony, which explains the meaning behind each part of the service.
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