How Far in Advance Should You Book a Wedding Videographer?
For a lot of couples, video becomes part of the conversation a little later.
Not at the very beginning, but somewhere in the middle of planning, when things start to come together.
That’s usually when the timing question comes up.
“How far in advance should we actually book a videographer?”
The short answer
For most weddings, a good window is:
8 to 12 months before your date
That’s when you’ll typically have:
• the most availability
• the most flexibility
• and the least amount of pressure
What actually affects timing
It’s not just about how far out you are.
A lot of it comes down to the time of year.
In the Philadelphia area, certain months tend to fill faster:
• September
• October
• November
• and often April and May
If you’re getting married during those times, things can book up more quickly, even if your wedding is still months away.
Booking earlier vs later
Booking earlier doesn’t necessarily mean a “better” experience.
But it does give you more options.
You have more flexibility in:
• choosing the team you want
• shaping what coverage looks like
• and making decisions without feeling rushed
That said, not everyone books that far out.
A more realistic view
A lot of couples end up booking video later in the process.
Sometimes that’s because:
• they weren’t sure if they wanted it
• they were figuring out budget
• or they didn’t realize how much it would matter until they got closer
That’s all normal.
And it doesn’t mean you’ve missed your chance.
What happens if you’re booking closer to your date
If you’re within:
• 6 months
• or even a bit closer
There’s still a good chance of finding the right fit.
The main difference is: You may have fewer options available on your exact date.
But if you’re flexible and open in your search, it’s still very possible to find a team that aligns with what you’re looking for.
Where working with a team can help
One thing that can make a difference here is how a company is structured.
Some videographers only take on one wedding per day.
Others, like us, are built more as a small team.
That allows for a bit more flexibility and reliability, especially when it comes to availability.
It also means there’s a level of consistency in how things are filmed and handled, even though different filmmakers may be part of your day.
The better way to think about it
Instead of focusing only on timing, it can be more helpful to think about:
“When do we want to make this decision so it feels easy, not rushed?”
For some couples, that’s a year out.
For others, it’s much closer to the wedding.
Both can work.
Final thought
There isn’t a single “right” timeline.
There’s just:
• what works for your planning process
• and how important video is to you
If it’s something you know you want, booking earlier gives you more room to make the decision thoughtfully.
If you’re still figuring it out, it’s okay to take your time and come back to it.
Michael is a natural born leader, dreamer, and doer. An artist at the core of his being. He's hilarious, passionate, and extremely extroverted.
meet michael
FILMmaker
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Michael Loves:
travel
the outdoors
new adventures
his family
Ben is an extroverted artist that loves people and often gets the "best dressed" award at every event.
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FILMmaker
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Ben Loves:
HIS beautiful wife
YOUTUBE
rebuilding cars
taking photos & videos of his daughter
Stephanie is magic. She's an incredible filmmaker, but not only that, she creates the final magical piece of your wedding footage. You may also find her on the dancefloor with you. Her dancing skills are beyond all of our skills put together.
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FILMmaker • EDITOR
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Stephanie Loves:
Dance
Social Justice
her niece and nephew
watching her boyfriend watch basketball
Melissa is the bread that holds this sandwich together. She'll most often be the one you'll communicate with on the backend. Occasionally, you'll find her filming also.
meet melissa
FILMmaker • THE GLUE
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Melissa Loves:
Her twin daughters, Ava & Bella
animals (especially dogs and sloths)
travelING AROUND THE WORLD
yoga & dancing
gardening
telling love stories
“Michael and the team are so kind and genuine you feel like you‘ve known them for years. Their presence was so calm and grounding I completely forgot I was being filmed all day (which I was super nervous about). We are so happy with the way the film turned out and feel so so grateful Michael and his team spent the day with us and helped us capture the day. The film is so meaningful to us now, I can‘t imagine how grateful we will be to have it 20+ years from now.”
In Their Own Words
“The Stagger Films team was simply incredible from start to finish. They captured our day BEAUTIFULLY and authentically. As someone who is camera shy, the video team was very supportive the day of the wedding and made us and our guests feel comfortable. If you have the chance to work with Stagger, we would highly recommend. We now have a lasting memento of such a special day.”
“In Their Own Words”
“Hiring Stagger was one of the best decisions of our wedding! They make you feel so comfortable in front of the camera, like it’s not even there. They partied with us and are genuinely awesome people to be around. Their style captured and conveyed the emotions of the day better than any video I’ve seen before. Would 100% recommend!”
“In Their Own Words”
“Stagger Films did an exceptional job with our wedding video! After seeing the film in my inbox, I (very patiently) waited for my husband to get home from work to watch it together - we were totally speechless! We cannot thank Michael and the Stagger team enough for capturing our day so authentically and beautifully. Watching our film brought back all the joy and love we felt on that day.”
“In Their Own Words”
“As a wedding planner myself planning my twin sister’s wedding, the feat of hiring a company that was both up to my planning standards and my sister’s video standards (a multimedia specialist) was no simple task. From the first call with Michael, I was so impressed. We just received the final products, and the way the Stagger Films team captured my sister’s wedding day could not have been more perfect. Don’t question it, hire them!”
“In Their Own Words”
“We couldn’t be happier that we chose Stagger Films for our wedding videography. They captured the most magical moments from our wedding and then perfectly weaved all of those moments together into the highlight film. We cry EVERY time we watch it, which is a lot of times. Besides the beautiful video content, we so appreciated how thoughtfully Stagger Films worked the event; they made sure to let us enjoy every moment without any paparazzi-esque interruptions. They’re magic – I don’t know how they do it!”
“In Their Own Words”
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