How to Live Stream a Wedding in 2020
Why Live Stream Your Wedding?
When someone special can’t attend your wedding, it can feel heartbreaking. Luckily, with today’s technology, it’s easy to live stream your wedding letting them feel included and putting your (and family’s!) hearts at ease. Live streaming lets you share the intimate and memorable moments of your wedding with friends and family who are unable to attend the event in person. Streaming key elements of your wedding is a wonderful way to include anyone who's unavailable to be there. You might have guests living abroad or across state lines, loved ones who are unwell, or guests unable to travel.
While not an integral part of your wedding, live streaming is becoming increasingly popular, so let's run through how to do it well so that your virtual guests aren't left wondering why they can only see the floor!
The costs of live streaming a wedding vary—choose a DIY option, nominate a dependable guest to coordinate or hire a professional. Our team at A2B Weddings can put your mind at ease and handle everything for you. Check out our bookings page to explore our pricing for live streaming. Alternatively, you can contact us directly to get started and answer all the questions you may have.
Who Should Stream Your Wedding?
With a bit of in-advance planning, streaming your wedding is a simple task. Enlist your friend or family member to help you do it. You could also use a tripod and iPhone/camera. Make sure to put someone in charge to start and finish the streaming. If you are eloping, or don’t feel comfortable asking your friends, talk to your photographer or other vendors to see if they can help during the ceremony. A2B weddings provide ceremony streaming options to add to your wedding videography package.
Equipment to Live Stream
To keep things simple, the best tool to live stream your wedding is a smartphone. Modern iPhone and Android cameras have stunning video quality. It’s all you need to record and live stream a wedding. Tripod is great to have but not a must.
Dealing with Shaky Hands
Newer iPhones and Android phones have Optical and Electronic video stabilization feature. A great option is to put your phone on a little smartphone tripod ($24).
Audio Quality
Your phone’s built-in microphone is going to do a great job at an indoor ceremony.
If the ceremony is outside and it’s windy, you can improve the audio by adding an external microphone. Amazon offers microphone kits with a mount for about $55. Point the external microphone towards venue speakers, or towards the couple (if there is no sound system in the venue).
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR LIVE STREAMING AUDIO
Check for nearby devices that might cause interference (like cell phone chirrups)
Switch off anything noisy, like fans, and place the microphone away from rustling dresses!
Angle the microphone to directly face the person you want to hear
Check if your device has an 'Ambient Noise Reduction' option in the settings menu
If you're using a laptop, make sure the mic is plugged into the microphone jack and not the speaker jack. You can also try unplugging the power cable and switching to battery power for less audio interference
Where to place your tripod
Consider how the ceremony will unfold, and put it close to the action.
Inside the gazebo (so both the bride and groom are in the frame) for a unique behind-the-scenes angle. This way you can capture the wedding party processional.
In the middle of the aisle focusing on the ceremony (can be placed there after everyone is in).
From one of the guest's seat or behind the seats.
DECIDING ON YOUR LIVESTREAM POV
The Point of View (POV) means choosing a place to put your device so that virtual guests get a great view of the proceedings. You want to choose a location that gives them a clear view but also doesn't obstruct other participants.
If you decide to go low-key, ask a front-row guest to log into a streaming service, share the link and hold their smartphone up as you say your vows. Recent Android and iPhones all contain optical and electronic image stabilization features which will make it easier for your at-home attendees to watch.
For a more hands-off but effective route, set up a device on a tripod and have a guest start the stream as the wedding party take their places. This way, the camera won't joggle, and your virtual guests can feel like part of the crowd. The cost for a lightweight standing tripod can range from $30 to $$$, or you may be able to borrow one from your photographer - or you can connect a selfie stick phone mount.
Positioning a camera aisle-side in the second row of seating can be unobtrusive but effective. If you're using a tripod, then give it it's own 'seat'. This will ensure it isn't jostled. Once the guests of honor are in position, the person responsible for the livestream can nudge it out into the aisle slightly to give your virtual guests a clear view that matches what all your other guests can see.
If you want to go for a slightly fancier set up, then place the camera on a tripod behind the last row of guests and film them as they arrive. A nominated guest can keep the camera pointed towards the back of the venue as the wedding processional takes place. After you are in position for your ceremony, your live streaming buddy can move the camera to the center of the aisle facing your ceremony backdrop. They can then zoom in on you two to give your virtual guests an unparalleled view. Then as you walk up the aisle after your vows, you can wave to the camera (and an attendee can move it at the last second so you can make your way past).
If you have plenty of space, placing the camera next to the officiant creates a beautiful behind-the-scenes perspective. Set up a tripod at head-height for the perfect angle as you say your vows. Your virtual guests will be able to look out on the processional and all your in-person attendees ahead of your ceremony.
A fun alternative involves a GorillaPod and placing your device among your ceremony florals above you. This will give your guests a unique perspective and is guaranteed not to block anyone's view. For this option, you will probably want to set up a 'remote start' or have the feed running ahead of time so that you can place the camera in advance and guests later join you when everything is all set up perfectly.
You can get really creative if that's your style—consider adding a camera in your bouquet, sending up a drone, placing a smartphone in the best man's jacket pocket or at the bar. If you decide to stream via a zoom call you could place numerous smartphones around your venue to add extra viewpoints for your at-home attendees.
With your streaming set up all planned, don't forget about your audience. Make sure to take a few moments to look directly at the camera throughout the event; this will make your guests feel more engaged. They should feel like a valued part of your celebration.
You can also decide if you want to keep a recording of your live feed. Most streaming services offer this option but it must be selected at the beginning of the live stream. Many couples tell us they enjoy seeing what their virtual guests experienced at a later date.
Internet Connectivity
Test internet connectivity in advance. When visiting the venue, connect to their WiFi network and measure internet upload speed with the SpeedTest app directly by the ceremony site. Good upload speed to shoot for is 10Mbps.
If there is no WiFi, it’s possible to use the mobile internet. Check the speed at ceremony site using the same app. Make sure you have enough data in your plan. A 30-minute video stream can consume around 1GB of data.
Recording the Video
The app you’re using for streaming should be able to to record the video on the servers while optimizing the streaming video for the network. You should be able to have a downloadable link of the streamed video after the wedding.
SETTING UP YOUR DEVICE
You can stream via a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or a newer GoPro. There is no right or wrong, but select a device with a good camera and make sure to clean the lens before you start!
If your ceremony is outside, then investing in an external microphone with a sound baffle makes sense. You can pick up low-cost versions that plug directly into a smartphone for under $50. Using a baffle (AKA Wind Shield) will cut the noise from a light breeze, guest chatter, or background distractions.
If you decide to take a professional route, you can add radio mikes for you, your fiancé, and your officiant. This option guarantees great sound, but unless you already have the equipment, it is usually easier (and more cost-effective) to ask your videographer for help. A2B Weddings provides services like this to add on to your Video Package
Platform and App
New streaming options are developed every day but most couples choose Facebook Live, Instagram TV, or YouTube Live. You can also go with Livestream from Vimeo, relative newcomer dacast, or everyone's new favorite, Zoom. Several wedding companies have also started dedicated streaming services. If this takes your fancy, check out: Joy, EventLive, Wedfuly or My Streaming Wedding.
Facebook streaming is free for any number of participants, and you can show off your event for eight hours after you press 'start live video'.
If you and your guests use iPhones/iPads, then Apple FaceTime is also free and allows up to 32 people to join in.
YouTube Live is free for unlimited viewers and you can stream in a single video for up to 12 hours. We love this option if you want to be able to re-watch your live stream (again and again) as YouTube will automatically save your wedding live stream.
If you have a free Zoom account, you can broadcast on a private cloud for 40 minutes and up to 100 participants. You can pay $14.99 for a monthly “pro” zoom account or increase bandwidth to 500 participants with a $50 fee.
Google Hangouts recently had a makeover and is now known as Google Meet. It's another free tool and is easy for anyone with a Gmail account. As standard, Google Meet only lets 25 people join a video call but through September 30, 2020, G Suite customers have free access to advanced Google Meet video conference features, such as larger meetings (up to 250 participants), live streaming, and recording.
Social network giants are offering live streaming along with their apps: Facebook Live, Youtube Live, Instagram Live, Twitter Periscope, Amazon Twitch. It’s not a good idea to use them for your wedding:
It’s hard to ensure privacy and keep exes, co-workers or other random uninvited people from coming across your wedding stream.
Since there may be copyrighted background music at your wedding the streams can be automatically blocked/deleted.
Platforms like Twitch or Instagram delete videos after a certain short time.
Most of these platforms require your guests to have account and apps installed which might confuse the older generation.
Other apps are meant for one-one calls (FaceTime, Skype) or conference calls (Zoom, Google Hangouts, GoToWebinar). None of them allow saving the video to your phone while streaming.
Professional platforms (Vimeo Livestream, DaCast, etc) require you to get more in-depth knowledge, have high monthly subscription fees or don’t have an easy way to invite your guests.
VIEW-ONLY OR ACTIVE VIRTUAL PARTICIPANTS?
You have the option with most streaming platforms to decide ahead of time if you would like participants to be able to join in via audio so that everyone can hear them clap, oooh & ah! For most wedding live streams, the virtual guests are automatically set to mute, and they have their own cameras turned off.
You can also decide if only people with the link can join your live stream. This is important if you want to keep your stream private. If you want guests to join in via video and audio (using Zoom, Google Meet or GoToMeeting), then you should only give your link to specific participants.
If you are streaming more of your wedding than simply the ceremony then there are multiple opportunities to invite virtual guests to participate:
Start the video experience ahead of your ceremony start time and have virtual guests join unmuted so that they can greet each other. Ask all your in-person attendees to say hello as they pass the camera on their way to their seats.
Share the live stream link with all your guests whether or not they are attending in person—that way they can dip into the live feed during cocktail hour or after the ceremony to hear comments from virtual attendees and make everyone feel part of the buzz.
After the speeches, you can create a virtual shout out. Ask key at-home guests to prepare something they want to say and then create a loose run order, so they know when they will be called upon to share their thoughts. This is also an awesome time for you to ask in-person attendees to address your virtual guests too.
Make your stream interactive by letting virtual wedding guests know that a member of your wedding party will read their chat messages to the crowd at a certain time.
Want to do something extra special for your virtual guests? Ahead of your wedding day create an 'absent buds' care package to ship them ahead of time. You can include a formal virtual participant invitation, a copy of your program and wedding favors, a cocktail mix so they can enjoy your signature cocktail, and your wedding cake recipe formulated for cupcakes. Ask your virtual guests to dress up if they wish, so they feel fully involved.
8 FINAL TAKEAWAYS TO MAKE YOUR LIVE STREAM AWESOME
Improving your live stream video and sound quality is easy to do and can make a big difference for your virtual guests. Take a look at these eight expert live stream tips from the professionals:
Give your at-home guests a formal invitation with the streaming address ahead of time so they can prepare to watch comfortably
Use a high-quality smartphone, camera or webcam for streaming.
Invest in a tripod, available from online retailers like Amazon or Best Buy.
Add an exterior smartphone microphone attachment—check out these examples.
Test out your live stream ahead of the official ceremony by using an “only me” privacy setting—good to test camera and stream settings or signal strength.
Just as with any event, openings and closings are important. Think about the best time to start the live stream and the ideal time to end it. You might even prepare a schedule to share with your virtual guests. Many guests will be happy to tune in for just your highlight moments.
It's helpful to inform viewers beforehand so they are ready for when you start and end the feed.
Nominate a trusted guest to MC your livestream so everyone knows what is happening, what to expect, and make introductions.
Think about where you position the camera—you want to be close enough to capture sound but not in the way of other guests.
Charge your device to the max so that you don't lose power midway through an important moment!
Happy Streaming!