Building a highlight in 7 steps

Before you begin,

a few rules:

We sell highlights at varying lengths. Please double check how long of a highlight video you need to make before starting.

Don’t edit using a 60 fps timeline. Please edit using a 23.976 fps timeline. Export the videos at 23.976 as well.

Please slow 60 FPS footage down to 40% speed.

Don’t make a sappy video. Please use funny audio and clips where people are having a good time.

Don't use dips to black or fades to black when transitioning.  Please use jump cuts timed with the beat of the music.

Don’t color correct OR color grade on the clips themselves. Please edit all color on an adjustment layer above the clip.

Step 1: Find the crescendos & decrescendos.

Listen to the music track a few times. Ideally, we want to find at least 2 moments in the music where the song changes/ picks up/ swells . These 2 moments should align with:

  1. The first time we hear an audio clip

  2. When we hear, “You may now kiss the bride”.

Note: You can increase/decrease the volume but please don’t change the music.

Step 3: Find the best place to put that audio.

Now take all those funny anecdotes and teary vows and place them with the music. The sound bites don’t have to be in chronological order. My usual order is this:

-a few beat of just music(no audio)

-funny anecdote about bride from speeches or vows

-funny anecdote about groom from speeches or vows

-officiant welcome/joke

-best vow audio

-you may now kiss the bride

-speeches and cheers

Step 5: Overlaying video clips.

  • Start the video with the best clips of the couple

    • Found in the OUTDOOR PORTRAIT FOOTAGE folder

  • Try to keep things chronological in the middle.

    • PREP then OUTDOOR PORTRAIT FOOTAGE then CEREMONY then RECEPTION

  • End the video with clips of the couple.

    • Found in the OUTDOOR PORTRAIT FOOTAGE folder

Note: Please make sure jump cuts(edits between clips) are timed to the beat of the music.

Step 7: Finishing touches

Download all the finishing touches at this link

  • Add the couple’s names using ‘Big John’ font in this format: “Bride + Groom”

  • Add Big Day’s bumper on the end

  • Add ambient sounds(claps, laughter, cheering, birds, wind, water sounds)

Step 2: Find the best ceremony/speech audio.

We are looking for:

  1. Origin stories(first date, first impressions)

  2. Funny comments, anecdotes, stories(If the audience or couple laughs, that’s gold)

  3. People crying through vows/speeches

  4. Towards the end of a speech, they usually wish the couple well right between “raise your glass” and “cheers”.

    Note: Please try to include at least one sound bite from the officiant, vows, each toast.

Step 4: Choose the best video clips.

We are looking for video clips of:

  • Main moments- bride getting ready, first look, first kiss, special dances…

  • People laughing, hugging, kissing, dancing, cheersing, crying, dancing…etc.

    • We want dynamic movement

  • Slow clips shot in 60 fps clips down to 40% speed

Step 6: Color

Do not correct or grade the video clips themselves. Create 3 adjustment layers on the timeline above the video clips:

  • 1st adjustment layer is for correction- white balance, saturation, contrast…

  • 2nd adjustment layer is for grading- Use one of the stock Kodak 5218 LUTs in premiere at 40 percent.

  • 3rd adjustment layer is for HSL secondary skin tones-Use the dropper on bride’s skin.

    • Toggle color gray and make sure her skin is highlighted

      • Add a little denoise/blur

      • Reduce saturation by 3%-8%

      • Increase contrast & sharpness by 5%-10%