Recording clean audio for wedding films: vows, speeches and backups

Why audio matters as much as the picture

Couples forgive a soft shot far more easily than missing words. The vows and the speeches are often the most rewatched parts of a wedding film, and for many families they become the only recordings of certain voices. A beautiful image with muffled or distorted audio loses much of its value. Treat audio as a separate, carefully planned capture, not as something the cameras pick up along the way.

What equipment do you need?

• Lavalier recorders: small recorders with clip-on microphones that record independently of the camera. Usually the main source for vows.
• A compact field recorder: for placing near the officiant, a lectern or the venue's speaker system.
• A shotgun or on-camera microphone: useful for ambient sound and as a reference track for syncing.
• Wireless transmitters with internal recording: where you need a live feed to camera and a backup recording at the same time.
• Spare batteries, memory cards and windscreens for every device.

How to record the vows

1. 1Mic the person being married, or the officiant, or bothA lavalier on one partner picks up both voices if they are close, and one on the officiant catches every word they say. Using two gives you redundancy.
2. 2Place the microphone carefullyClip it on the chest a hand's width below the chin, away from fabric that will rub, and hide the cable under clothing. Check with the couple or stylist which garments can take a clip.
3. 3Record a referenceAsk the wearer to say a few words while you check levels and listen on headphones.
4. 4Start recording earlyPress record well before the ceremony starts and leave it running. Stopping and starting is where moments are missed.
5. 5Add a backup near the frontA small recorder on a stand or lectern, or near the venue speaker, covers you if a lavalier fails or a clip is knocked.

How to record the speeches

Speeches are usually delivered through the venue's or band's speaker system. You can capture them from the sound desk, from the microphone itself, or from a recorder placed near a speaker. Each has strengths, and using two is the safest choice.

Speak to the DJ, band or venue technician early in the day. Ask whether you can take a feed, and which output to use. Agree that they will not change the microphone or levels without telling you.

Setting levels and avoiding distortion

• Set levels for the loudest moment, not the average. Speeches often have bursts of laughter or applause.
• Leave headroom. Recording a little quieter and raising it in the edit is safer than clipping, which usually cannot be repaired.
• Use 32-bit float recording if your recorder offers it, since it is far more forgiving of unexpected loud sounds. Still set sensible levels.
• Monitor with headphones whenever you can, at least at the start of each part of the day.

Recording ceremonies with restrictions

Some religious and civil ceremonies limit where filmmakers can stand or whether microphones can be placed on the officiant. Ask the couple and the officiant well before the day what is allowed. Where you cannot place a lavalier, a small recorder near the front, a feed from the venue's system or a well-placed shotgun microphone may be the best options. Respecting the rules of the ceremony always comes first.

Dealing with wind, music and noise

Outdoor ceremonies bring wind, which can ruin a lavalier recording. Use the furry windscreens made for your microphones and place them under a layer of clothing where possible. Near the sea or under trees, a recorder behind the officiant adds protection. For indoor speeches, background music is the main challenge: ask for music to be lowered during speeches, and keep your recorder close to the voice rather than the speakers.

A wedding day audio checklist

• Batteries charged and spares packed for every recorder and transmitter
• Memory cards formatted in the recorders after the previous wedding was backed up
• Clocks and dates set correctly on recorders to make syncing easier
• Lavaliers fitted and tested before the ceremony, with levels checked on headphones
• Backup recorder placed near the officiant or lectern
• Conversation with the DJ, band or technician about a feed for speeches
• Recorders started early and left running through the ceremony and speeches
• Cards and recorders collected and kept together at the end of the night

Run through the list on arrival and again before speeches. Audio problems are almost always preventable, and most come from a flat battery or a recorder that was never started.

Syncing and cleaning audio in the edit

1. 1Keep camera audio as a referenceEven if it will not be used, camera audio lets you sync external recordings by waveform.
2. 2Sync before you cutLine up every source for the ceremony and speeches on the timeline, then choose the clearest for each moment.
3. 3Clean gentlyReduce background noise and hum carefully. Heavy processing makes voices sound artificial.
4. 4Balance with musicLower music under spoken words and check the mix on phone speakers, a laptop and a TV.

Delivering audio couples will actually hear

Most couples first watch their film on whatever device is nearest. Encourage them to use a TV or good speakers instead, where the work you put into the audio is noticeable. Our guide on watching a wedding film on a TV explains the simplest ways to get a film onto the big screen, and 4K film streaming covers how the picture and the separate audio track are delivered.