Carnival Wedding Video Packages

[jerseygirl79]

I'm trying to decide between the Deluxe and the Super Deluxe.

 

Is the extra $200 worth if for the childhood photos, shore excursion video, and 10 copies?

[holstang]

Hi Jersey,

I've posted this same question before, and brides have mixed feelings about it. Some have complained that they don't like how they follow you around with the upgraded package and such. Some say it takes the enjoyment out of spending time with family and guests, which I see their point. Here's what Becca told me, a previous bride regarding the basic package:

 

 

Hey Hollie! Good to hear from you!

 

So here's the skinny on the Carnival Videographer:

First, let me say...SO WORTH THE MONEY!!!! We also had my brother-in-law use our camcorder and to be honest there is no comparison! We neither one could really remember much about the day until we watched the video!

We purchased the cheaper, basic video package. Our video consists of "Pre-Wedding" individual interviews (although for us these didn't actually happen "pre-wedding"), the ceremony, the reception, a Photo Album (with pictures from the wedding), "Post-Wedding" interview as a couple, various honeymoon footage around the ship. We felt a little cheesy while filming the honeymoon footage, but it was edited so well, it did not look faked at all. The entire video is to music (and you can bring your own music selections for the video-FYI) except for the actual ceremony.

The video crew on the ship have all of the audio equipment that miked us to the camera so you can hear us say our vows, etc... perfectly on Carnival's video. On our personal one, you can't hear anything.

Was it a pain? Yes and no. The cruise as a whole was not nearly as relaxing as we had hoped, we felt like we still had to deal with so much "wedding stuff" from looking at pictures, picking out pictures, picking up the pictures, filming post wedding interviews and honeymoon footage, and then editing the video. Editing the video was pretty cool, they set up a time with us to be in our stateroom, so of course we invited our parents to our room, and they played the video on a channel that only we could view. And we called them with anything we wanted added or omitted.

The one thing that I wish I'd been prepared for was, during our reception (which was only 1.5 hours), the videographer took my husband for his "pre-wedding" interviews and kept him for 20-30 minutes. I refused to do mine until after the reception was over. If we had known this, my husband would have refused to do his interviews during the reception, too. The time is way too quick to waste on the interviews.

If I had it to do over, I would certainly, without any hesitation, have the videographer. It is priceless as far as I am concerned!!!

 

 

So with that, I've decided to spend the extra $200 on extra goodies for my guests. I'm planning on passing out some personalized cigars after the reception, sending out luggage tags along with their pre-sailing information to everyone who will be cruising before we sail, etc. I also went ahead and purchased another photographer, because I wanted to have pictures of me and my party getting ready BEFORE we boarded the ship.

 

It's all about what is important to YOU. If you think it will be worth it, then it will be.

 

Good Luck!:D

[jerseygirl79]

Holstang thanks so much for posting. This was really helpful. I think I'll go with the basic and save the extra $200 like Becca did and use it for something else.