Wedding video frame rate: what to shoot and what you get back
Most wedding videographers shoot at a standard cinematic or broadcast frame rate for the bulk of the day and switch to a high frame rate for moments they want in slow motion, such as the walk down the aisle, confetti or the first dance spin. Pick one base rate for the whole wedding and keep every camera on it. WeddingEditor accepts footage from several cameras in one project, and its AI editing delivers the finished edit as a 1080p H.264 MP4. Frame rate choices on the day are yours; WeddingEditor does not change how you shoot.
Creating an account is free; you only pay when you are ready to start an edit.
Practical frame rate habits for wedding days
Shooting habits that make any edit, yours or WeddingEditor's, easier to put together.
One base rate for every camera
Set every camera, including the second shooter's and any drone, to the same base rate before the day starts. Mixed base rates are the most common cause of stuttery motion in wedding films.
High frame rates on purpose
Use slow-motion settings for specific moments rather than leaving a camera there all day. Footage shot at high rates and played at normal speed looks oddly smooth for speeches.
Match shutter to rate
Setting shutter speed in step with your frame rate, as most videographers learn early, keeps motion natural. Dancing and handheld shots show the difference most when it is off.
Note it on your shot list
Write which moments you plan in slow motion so second shooters know when to switch, and switch back.
What frame rate means for a wedding video
Frame rate is the number of still images a camera records each second. It shapes how motion feels: lower standard rates give a filmic look with natural motion blur, while higher rates capture more images per second and can be slowed down for smooth slow motion. In a wedding, frame rate is also a coordination question, because several cameras and sometimes a drone record the same moments from different angles. If those cameras run at different base rates, cutting between them can make motion jump. Delivery adds a final question: the exported film has one frame rate, and footage at other rates is conformed to it. Planning the rate before the day saves time in every edit afterwards, and it is easier to agree on with a second shooter during the booking than on the morning of the wedding.
Not the same as resolution. Frame rate is images per second; resolution is the number of pixels in each image, such as 1080p or 4K.
Sending mixed-rate footage to WeddingEditor
- 1
Create the wedding project
Choose Highlight Reel or Social Teaser when you set it up.
- 2
Upload originals from every camera
Send the camera originals, standard and slow-motion clips alike. There is no need to conform, rename or make proxies first.
- 3
Flag slow-motion moments
In the preferences, mention the moments you captured in slow motion that matter most. The AI editing shapes the edit from your answers. Then pay or use a credit to start.
- 4
Check the delivered edit
Download the 1080p MP4 when it is published, watch fast movement closely and use a revision round if something looks wrong.
How WeddingEditor handles what you shot
Every camera in one project
Footage from several cameras goes into one wedding project.
Drone and 4K uploads
Drone and 4K clips can be uploaded; the edit is delivered at 1080p.
No transcoding needed
You do not rename, sort or make proxies before upload.
Large files
Each file can be up to 5 GB, with no limit on file count or project size.
Edits made by WeddingEditor's AI editing
Each full edit is made by WeddingEditor's AI editing and delivered to your project.
Revisions
Up to two revision rounds are included with every full edit.
Frame rate limits to keep in mind
No choice of delivery rate
You cannot choose the frame rate or resolution of the delivered file; it is a 1080p H.264 MP4.
No 4K delivery
Uploading 4K does not produce a 4K edit.
Works with what was captured
Consistent, deliberate settings on the day still matter: the edit can only use what each camera recorded.
Not same day
Processing typically takes 24 to 72 hours, with no guaranteed turnaround.
Frame rate choices on a wedding day
| Moment | Common approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Speeches and vows | Base rate | Natural lip movement and sound |
| Processional and first look | High rate for slow motion | Lets emotion breathe |
| First dance spins and confetti | High rate | Smooth, dreamy motion |
| Drone establishing shots | Base rate or high rate | Match the edit's feel |
| Getting ready details | Either | Depends on the style you want |
Pricing per wedding
One Wedding is $119 one-time for one wedding. Subscriptions are Solo at $99 per month, 1 wedding credit, Pro at $249 per month, 3 wedding credits and Studio at $599 per month, 8 wedding credits, and one credit covers one wedding edit.
| WeddingEditor plan | Price |
|---|---|
| One Wedding | $119 one-time for one wedding |
| Solo | $99 per month, 1 wedding credit |
| Pro | $249 per month, 3 wedding credits |
| Studio | $599 per month, 8 wedding credits |
| Try Before You Buy | $10 one-time for a short sample edit from your own footage |
Wedding video frame rate questions
What is the best frame rate for a wedding video?
There is no single best rate. Most videographers pick one standard base rate for the whole day and use higher rates only for moments planned as slow motion. Consistency across cameras matters more than the exact number.
Should I shoot the whole wedding in slow motion?
No. Speeches and vows look and sound wrong slowed down, and high rates use more storage and light. Use slow motion on purpose for a few moments.
Does frame size matter as much as frame rate?
They are separate choices. Frame size is resolution. WeddingEditor accepts 4K uploads but delivers the edit at 1080p, so very high resolutions mainly help if you reframe in your own edit.
Can I upload clips at different frame rates?
Yes, you can upload whatever your cameras recorded. Mixed base rates can still make motion look uneven in any edit, so matching settings on the day is the best fix.
What frame rate is the WeddingEditor edit?
The delivered file is a 1080p H.264 MP4. Your editor reports its frame rate when you import it, and you can match your finishing timeline to it.
Do I need to convert footage before uploading?
No. You do not need to rename, sort or make proxies. Upload the camera originals.
Does drone footage need the same frame rate as the cameras?
Ideally yes, or a rate planned for slow motion. Drone clips can be uploaded alongside camera footage in the same project.
What happens if a second shooter used the wrong setting?
Upload the footage anyway and mention it in your preference answers or revision notes. The AI editing works from what you upload, and you can review the result in the delivered edit and request changes in one of the revision rounds (up to two are included).
Should the Social Teaser use more slow motion than the highlight?
Short social films often lean on a few slow, striking moments because they are watched quickly. If you want that feel, capture a handful of planned slow-motion shots and say in your preferences which moments you would like the teaser to favor.
How do I avoid flicker under reception lights?
Flicker usually comes from a shutter speed that clashes with the lighting. Test your camera settings under the venue's lights before guests arrive, and adjust shutter rather than frame rate where you can.
Shoot it your way, hand off the edit
Upload every camera from your next wedding and get a finished 1080p edit back.
Start your first wedding