What Are Guest Interviews?


And How Does It Work Without Being Awkward?


There are a few different ways that you can do a video guestbook: sometimes it’s a tablet on a tripod with a ring light, but the Hollydays preferred version is personalized guest interviews. A videographer roams the wedding, blending in with the crowd, and approaches guests and engages with them to record them leaving a message for the newlyweds. The goal is to capture more than just a message, but a full-sensory memento that encompasses the personality of guests and vibe of the day.

Here are just a few of the reasons why you should have guest interviews at your wedding:


Emotions


Reading stories and messages can bring a tear to your eye, but nothing hits the heart more than seeing and hearing the emotions behind the words. Your wedding is the one day that everyone you love is gathered together, so it’s the perfect time (and often the only time) to capture a permanent memory that you will truly cherish forever. Listen to your grandma’s wedding advice, your papa’s bad jokes, your parents telling you how proud they are, watch your friends laugh uncontrollably while they recount their favourite memory of you, and don’t miss a moment to remember everyone who came to celebrate your special day.


Memories


Every person at your wedding knows you and has memories with you, but not everyone can give a speech (and frankly no one likes too many speeches, or speeches with too many personal stories). Guest interviews allow your friends and family to have their moment, to speak exclusively to you, without disrupting the flow of events. The camera comes to them, and if they want to leave multiple messages, they sure can! Perhaps the words will become slightly more slurred as the evening progresses, but that just makes it that much better, and captures the fun of the day.


Details


Do you remember sitting in high school about to write an essay exam and your mind draws a complete blank? Writer’s block is a real thing, even at a wedding! In a lot of cases it’s so much easier to just talk, and when you don’t have to worry about finding the words or writing neatly, that’s when the fun little details come out. There’s no structure or expectations, guests are invited to reminisce and speak from the heart, and you may even learn new details about classic stories.


Prompts


Let’s be honest, no one ever knows what to write in a guestbook, and there are only so many times that you can read “Congratulations!” over and over again before it starts to feel a little too robotic. A videographer will prompt guests with different ideas - Would you like to congratulate the happy couple? Do you have a message you’d like to share? What’s your favourite memory, or a funny story you want to tell them? Do you have some life or marriage advice you’d like to pass along? There’s no limit to what guests can say, and there will always end up being a fun variety unique to everyone’s personalities.


Time


As much as you may want to spend time with all of your guests on your wedding day, that’s a tough thing to do when you’re also supposed to be enjoying yourself, relaxing, and celebrating. Having a video compilation of all of your guests is the BEST alternative, allowing you to see them long after the music stops. Without the pressure to speak with every guest you’re more likely to feel relaxed, and at the end you will have a timeless video to remember every single person who went out of their way to celebrate your happiness.

Don't stress about spending time with all of your guests on your special day - they are there to celebrate your happiness, so let our friendly team of videographers record a memory with your favourite people so you can spend the day focusing on yourself and your own enjoyment.