Bright Sight planning guide
Highlight film or documentary wedding film: what is the difference?
A highlight film is a short, cinematic story of the day. A documentary film follows the celebration in more detail and in order. Our standard videography and combined packages include both.
Two edits, two ways to remember the day
Swipe across to compare both films →
| What matters | Highlight film | Documentary edit |
|---|---|---|
| Typical length | 7–10 minutes | 40+ minutes, depending on the ceremony, speeches and coverage |
| How it is edited | A cinematic story that may move between parts of the day | A longer edit following the celebration chronologically |
| What you revisit | Selected moments, voices and the feeling of the wedding | More of the ceremony, speeches and celebrations in sequence |
| A good fit for | Rewatching often and sharing the story | Sitting down together to revisit more of what happened |
| Standard package | Included in our standard video and combined packages | Included in our standard video and combined packages; removal is an optional custom choice |
Watch a real highlight at Coombe Lodge
Becky and Kieran’s film is an example of the shorter, cinematic edit. Listen to the voices and watch how moments from the day are brought together. This is the highlight, not their documentary film.
Watch Becky and Kieran’s film on its own page, or explore more wedding films. For current inclusions, compare the videography package and photo and video team package.
The highlight: the feeling of your wedding
Our highlight films are usually 7–10 minutes. They bring together movement, sound and selected moments into a story you can return to easily or share with family and friends. The edit may move between different parts of the day to connect its emotions and voices.
Think about whether you respond to the pacing, sound and way people are shown when watching examples. A beautiful venue matters less than whether a film makes you feel connected to the people in it. Watch with sound and explore more than one wedding. Our guide to hearing your vows and speeches in your film explains where you hear the sound in each film.
The documentary: more room for the day to unfold
The documentary edit is typically 40+ minutes and follows the day chronologically. It includes much more footage from the ceremony, speeches and celebrations. It is a separate edit with its own pace, rather than the highlight film with extra clips added.
For many couples, this is the film they sit down to watch when they want to revisit more of what happened. Exact length depends on the events and coverage of your wedding; a shorter ceremony naturally produces different footage from a long ceremony and several speeches.
What is included in a Bright Sight package?
Our standard videography and photo-and-video team packages include a highlight film and a documentary edit, with 10.5 hours of coverage. Luxury and Platinum add coverage and other inclusions. The package pages show the current details and prices.
Our custom calculators also let you choose a package without the documentary edit. Only remove it if the longer record is something you are comfortable going without. A vertical highlight, social reels and raw footage are separate choices with different purposes; they are not interchangeable with the main films.
Choose the extras for how you will use them
A vertical highlight is designed for upright viewing on a phone. Social reels are shorter pieces for sharing. Raw footage is unedited material and does not replace the pacing, sound work and storytelling of a finished film.
If sharing quickly or preserving particular speeches matters to you, tell us before booking. We can help you understand which deliverables support that aim. Keep the names of your chosen films and extras in your package summary so you know exactly what you have selected.
When will you receive the films?
Each piece of content arrives roughly a month after the last, with photographs first, then the highlight film, then the documentary. The timings are the same whichever package you choose, and in peak summer they can vary. We will confirm expectations for your booking.
Start with the wedding films portfolio, then compare the videography and team packages. If you already have a photographer, tell us about your plans so we can discuss working alongside them.
Questions couples ask
How long is a wedding highlight film?
Our highlight films are usually 7 to 10 minutes. They are a cinematic story of the day, designed to be rewatched and shared.
How long is a wedding documentary film?
Our documentary film is typically 40+ minutes. It is a separate, longer edit that follows the day in order, with more of the ceremony, speeches and celebrations.
Are both films included in a package?
Our standard videography and photo and video packages include both a highlight film and a documentary film. Luxury and Platinum add coverage and other inclusions, and our custom calculators let you choose a package without the documentary edit.
When will we receive the films?
Each piece of content arrives roughly a month after the last, with the highlight film first and the documentary after it. In peak summer the timings can vary.
What is a vertical highlight, and is raw footage the same as a film?
A vertical highlight is designed for upright viewing on a phone, and is available as an extra for £99. Raw footage is unedited material, available as an extra for £399, and it does not replace the edited films.