How Long Does It Take to Edit a Wedding Video: A Simple Guide

Editing a wedding video takes time and a considerable amount of effort because it holds precious memories of a special day. However, no one wants to wait too long to see the final video and share it with their family and friends. So, in general, how much time does it take to edit a wedding video? While there is no one answer to this question, we can say that on average, it takes about 3 to 6 months.

However, there’s more to the story, and you really need to understand what goes into the post-production process of wedding videos to know what to expect.

How much time does it take to edit a wedding video?

Wedding video editing is a lot of work, therefore takes a while to complete the project. The average time (in man hours) to edit a wedding video is two weeks (around 14 days). However, the total turnaround time for wedding videos (from raw file submission to delivery of first draft) can be anywhere from 3-6 months.

This may seem like a long time to wait for the final product, but you’ll get a better end product compared to if the project is rushed. When working with an outside professional, like a freelancer or a company that outsources video editing services, the project duration is agreed upon by both parties agree before the work begins so that there is no confusion.

There are many factors determining the time it takes for wedding video editing, and look at each of them to know why.

Factors affecting wedding video editing time

The most obvious factor affecting editing time is the amount of raw footage the editor has to sift through. Although it does take up a significant amount of the professional’s time, it’s not the only determinant. Below is a list of some of the other factors:

1. Length of raw footage

   Weddings are, at the very least, a half-a-day event. Filming starts when the bride and groom start getting dressed for the big day- a time when only close family members and friends are present. So, it’s safe to say that you’ll have raw footage of about 5 to 6 hours. Editors have to go through all this footage and cut out extra and unnecessary bits. All this consumes a significant amount of the editor’s time and effort.

2. Quality of the video footage

   The time needed to work on poor quality footage will be longer than usual as the editor will have to make a lot of corrections. Not only that, they must also edit the clips together in a way that makes the video appealing. Higher-quality footage doesn’t suffer from the same problems, so the editing time won’t be lengthened by corrections.

3. Editing complexity

   The complexity of edits also determines how much time an editor will need to complete the wedding video. For example, if the client has requested special effects in the video, it makes the work a bit more complicated, require more time for project completion.

4. Production value

   The editing time also depends on whether the wedding video project is of high or low production value. When the client wants a high production value, it means that the filming crew will use sophisticated equipment (like drones) and multiple cameras to film the event. High production value doesn’t end at the filming stage, but carries forward in the way the footage is edited. Naturally, high-production value projects will be far more time and effort consuming than simpler projects.

5. Current workload

   Weddings usually occur during particular seasons, meaning that those undertaking professional wedding videography will be swamped with other wedding projects. Depending on how busy the season is, the wedding video editing time will be quite long. In such cases, they reach out to outside video editors to help them deliver the product on time.

6. Style of wedding video

   There are many types of wedding videos nowadays, and each style is of a different length. Some styles are short videos and may not take too long to edit. However, if a lot of creative editing styles are involved, the time taken will be just as long as a simple long video. The following are the wedding video styles and their editing durations:

   • Traditional style
     

     It’s a style of videography and editing that has been around for decades. Everything is shot as is and editing is done only to shorten the length and correct issues with the footage. There isn’t much creativity involved. The appeal of the traditional style of wedding videos is that they have a retro vide and reminds people of their parent’s time.
     Duration: about an hour or more

   • Cinematic wedding video
     

     The video here is lengthy and is done to make the event look grand and glamorous. The production value will be high and the wedding videographer will use equipment that is not typical of the ones used for regular wedding video styles. Even the editing in an artistic manner so the viewer feels like they are watching a movie.
     Duration: 15 minutes to 1 hour

   • Documentary style
     

     This is a very different style to the other types as it is very intimate in subject matter. They’ll be full of behind-the-scenes BTS footage, candid shots, interviews with close family and friends, and unscripted takes.
     Duration: about an hour or more

   • Wedding highlights
     

     Highlights are short videos that give you an overview of the whole event. They cover important moments like the bride and groom meeting face-to-face, recitation of the vows, exchanging the rings, the first kiss as man and wife, entrance into the reception venue, the father-bride dance, and the couple’s first dance.
     Duration: around 3 to 5 minutes

   • Short film wedding videos
     

     The wedding videos here are made in the style of a creative and personal short film. It is quite a unique style as the focus is more on the couple’s love story rather than on the ceremony and celebration.
     Duration: about 10 to 15 minutes

   • Teaser wedding videos
     

     Teasers are extremely short videos and are similar to product and movie teasers that only hint at what’s to come. They are packed with beautiful imagery and emotion to get the viewer excited for the longer version.
     Duration: 60 to 90 seconds

7. Type of software you are using

   The type of video editing software you are using for weddings is another factor that determines the editing time. Some software are pre-loaded royalty-free audio, graphics, effects, etc., which makes it easier to edit videos as you don’t have to do these things from scratch. Moreover, the rendering capabilities also differ, leading to slower or faster exports of the final video. Below is a brief list of video editing software you can use for weddings:

   • Adobe Premiere Pro
     

     It is very popular with most professional editors across various industries. If you are using other Adobe software (Photoshop, Illustrator) for the editing project, you can easily import the files from them.

   • DaVinci Resolve
     

     DaVinci Resolve is a very powerful video editing tool that is preferred especially in the movie-making industry, mainly for special effects. It also has unique features that speed up the post-production process for wedding videos. One such features is the integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) that can identify faces and edit the footage accordingly.

   • VSDC Video Editor
     

     It is marketed as a free video editing tool, but you can expand the available features by buying the paid version. In the free version, you can make use of features like Instagram filters, spilt-screen effects, color correction, etc. In the paid version, you get more advanced features like motion tracking, video stabilizer, video masking, and more.

   • HitFilm Express
     

     HitFilm Express gives you the option to edit high-resolution footage like 4K, 3D, 2D, as well as VFX. You can get this software for free, but for more advanced projects, it’s better to go for the paid version.

   • Clipchamp
     

     Clipchamp is a free cloud-based video editing tool you can use to edit videos on your internet browser. There’s also an app version that you can use to edit videos on your phone. Clipchamp has excellent video compression capabilities that still produce good quality videos that don’t take up too much storage space.

   • PowerDirector
     

     Like many other video editing tools today, PowerDirector (by CyberLink) comes with AI enhancements that make editing easier. It also is pre-loaded with multiple templates, titles, transitions, etc.

   • Lightworks
     

     Lightworks is an all-in-one editing tool with video and audio manipulating capabilities. Much like DaVinci Resolve, it is quite popular among filmmakers. Many like using Lightworks because it lets you create VFX (visual effects) and correct and grade your colors easily. So, if you are making a cinematic-style wedding video, you can’t go wrong with Lightworks.

8. Hardware

   The wedding video editing time is also heavily reliant on the hardware (computer system). There’s no point in getting the latest video editing software for weddings when the computer is so outdated and low-spec that you can’t even load the program , forget rendering the video. Video editors always work with upgraded and powerful computer systems so that they can use the latest tools and render the final product as fast as possible.

9. Editor’s experience level

   Lastly, but just as equally important as the rest, is the video editor’s skill. The more experienced a professional is, the quicker they’ll be able to deliver your video. Skilled editors have the knowledge and the instincts to instantly understand what you are looking for in your wedding video and providing you with the expected results. They are also familiar enough with the tools and processes that they can work quickly and efficiently, without compromising on the quality of the outcome.

What is the wedding video timeline?

This is a brief look at what the timeline or editing workflow for wedding videos generally looks like once the project begins:

1. Culling the video clips to get rid of all the extra and unnecessary footage and choosing the best clips that will go in the final video.
2. Organize the clips in the proper order according to the script or sequence of events.
3. Trimming, cutting, and splicing the selected clips and putting them in order on the timeline of the editing software.
4. Correcting the color issues in the clips to ensure that the overall video looks uniform.
5. Color grading the clips to make them look stylistic according to the theme or intention of the client.
6. Inserting appropriate transitions, VFX, graphics, background music, sound effects, voiceovers, etc.
7. Fine-tuning the overall video to make it look as good and seamless as possible and creating the first draft.
8. Submitting the first draft to the client for approval or revision requests.
9. Implementing the revisions and changes.
10. Submitting the final draft for approval from the client.

So, what are the takeaways?

For one, we can safely conclude the wedding video editing is a time-intensive process that can take 3-6 months to complete. Another point we can take from this discussion is that no editing projects are the same, so the editing time will depend on multiple different factors, like the length of the raw footage, style of video, software and hardware, editor’s skill level, etc.

If you are outsourcing the work of wedding video editing, ask them about the timeline and turnaround time. Some professionals take their time, but larger outsourcing companies usually have a large staff of editors, so they can submit the final video in 2-3 months’ time.