Move over, SDE.  Wedding Shorts are here to stay.

Weddings have evolved so much that, in the last decade, one of the most highly anticipated segments of the wedding reception is the screening of the Wedding SDE (same day edit).  But in recent years, Pre-wedding shorts have also become increasingly popular.  These wedding shorts are short films produced prior to the wedding and, when done right, can leave audiences AKA their family and friends either in awe, in tears, or in pain from too much laughing.

Conceptualising a wedding short

Eman Escalona Jr. of Pixelfish Concept PH says they usually start by getting to know the personalities of the couple and use that as an inspiration for the storyline.  For the wedding short, “Ang Langit, Burger, at Ang Universe” with Dorms and Jane Espinosa, they decided to make a film to showcase the couple’s musical inclinations.  Jane was also camera-shy, so they wrote her role in such a way that she could still shine without having to act as much.  The couple also had a friend who was their “official third wheel” and who kept insisting on being a part of the film, so the team gladly included him too!

At the time of conceptualising for the wedding short, the couple and the team were all into burgers and food trucks.  They knew the kombi with pretty lights would be a cinematic sight at night, so that’s how the setting was created.

Writing the story

Once the concept has been agreed upon, the filmmaker/videographer (with his team) writes the initial story.  Afterwards, there is usually a sit-down meeting to tweak the screenplay.  For this specific wedding short, the groom drew inspiration from the final script to compose the original song too. #PilipinasGotTalent

Logistical Preparations

As in any film shoot, location, props, and even the bit players (usually the bibo family and friends of the bride/groom) need to be resourced so that the actual filming can take place as quickly and smoothly as possible on the day of the shoot.  For “Ang Langit, Burger, at Ang Universe”, filming took up an entire night!  Thankfully, they had plenty of burgers to make everyone happy.  (Maybe food should always be part of the concept, then?)

What else should couples consider?

Dorms and Jane Espinosa offer the following advice for couples who are also thinking of getting pre-wedding shorts done.

On choosing a supplier:

“Learn how your photo/video supplier works and check their previous work.  It helps that people recommend them. That creates a sense of assurance that clients are satisfied with their projects.”

On the importance of participating:

“Don’t hesitate to tell them your story. That helps them in visualizing the proper treatment for your video.”

“Do not be camera-shy. It’s a once in a lifetime event. Of course, not everyone is comfortable with it, but we assure you, it will be unforgettable. This might be a good story we’ll tell our kids in the future. Enjoy every bit of it!”

If you have the time, resources, and the creative juices for it, we sincerely recommend that you try making a wedding short with the help of your videographer.  It can range from a short film with indie vibes like Dorms and Jane’s, or even a music video-inspired one!  Whatever you decide, know that wedding shorts are a great way to entertain your guests at the reception. It’s also a fun project to do as a couple or with your family and friends!

#ArtistaDreamsDoComeTrue #Tumatadhana

Watch the Pre-Wedding Short from Pixelfish Concept and see if it doesn’t give you serious Begin Again feels the way it did us!

 Any ideas for your own dream wedding short? Post them in the comments section below!