Why most briefs fail
Most briefs fail in one of three ways:
- They’re all adjectives. “Cinematic, emotional, timeless” describes nearly every wedding film ever made. An editor can’t act on it.
- They have no references. Words mean different things to different people. “Warm” might mean golden to you and orange to someone else.
- They’re written once and never updated. Your style changes. Your brief should too.
The fix is to be specific, show rather than tell, and treat the brief as a living document.
The 9 sections of a good brief
1. Story and structure
How do your films usually open and close? Do you build the story around vows, letters, speeches, or the officiant? Do you follow the day in order or build a non-linear arc?
Example: “Open on the couple’s letters over getting-ready details. Vows are the centerpiece. End on the sparkler exit, no slow fade to black.”
2. Pacing
Slow and lingering, or energetic? How long do you hold on a reaction? Do you cut on the beat or between beats?
Example: “Hold emotional reactions for at least two seconds. Avoid fast montage except during the party section.”
3. Music
Genre, energy, vocals or instrumental, and who’s supplying it. Name tracks or artists you like and dislike.
Example: “Indie-folk or acoustic, with vocals only in the final third. No EDM, no orchestral trailer music. Use a licensed track unless I send one.”
4. Audio priorities
Which speech audio matters most? Do you use ambient sound under music? Where should music drop out entirely?
Example: “Vows are always audible. Use one toast line maximum. Let the room noise come up during the first kiss.”
5. Color
Describe your look and send references and LUTs. Mention what you never want.
Example: “Warm, soft contrast, slightly faded blacks. Skin should never go orange. Greens muted. LUTs attached.”
6. Titles and graphics
Do you use an opening title, names, a date, a lower third, your logo? Font and placement? Or none?
Example: “Couple’s first names + date at 0:10, centered, font attached. No logo. No end credits.”
7. Must-include and never-include moments
The moments every film has, plus anything that should stay out.
Example: “Always: first look, vows, rings, kiss, first dance, parent reactions. Never: guests eating, the DJ booth, phones in shot if avoidable.”
8. Deliverable specs
Resolution, frame rate, codec, aspect ratios and length.
Example: “4K UHD, 23.976fps, H.264 for delivery plus ProRes 422 master. Highlight 4–6 minutes. Vertical teaser at 1080×1920.”
9. References
Two or three of your own films, with timestamps and notes on what you love about each moment.
Example: “Film A, 0:45–1:20: this is exactly how I want speech audio to sit under music. Film B, 3:10: this is my ideal ending.”
How to annotate reference films
Don’t just send links. Add timestamps and a short note:
| Film | Timestamp | What to copy |
|---|---|---|
| Smith wedding | 0:00–0:30 | The opening: letter audio over detail shots |
| Smith wedding | 2:15–2:40 | Music drops out for the vows |
| Lee wedding | 4:05–end | The ending: hard cut to black on the last beat |
| Lee wedding | throughout | Color and skin tones |
Three or four annotated moments are worth more than ten unannotated films.
Wedding-specific notes to add each time
Your general brief covers your style. Each wedding also needs a short note:
- Couple’s names and wedding date
- Order of events, if unusual
- Key people: parents, grandparents, wedding party (names help)
- Cultural or religious moments that matter
- Anything sensitive to avoid (a family member who shouldn’t feature, for example)
- Which camera and audio files cover which moments
Common mistakes
- Too long. Keep the core brief to two pages. Editors need to remember it.
- Contradictions. “Fast-paced” and “lingering” in the same brief. Pick one, or say when each applies.
- Unexplained references. If you send someone else’s film as a reference, say which parts to copy.
- No priorities. If everything is a must, nothing is. Mark the top three rules.
- Never updating it. After each revision round, add what you corrected.
Free template (copy and paste)
WEDDING FILM STYLE BRIEF: [Your studio name]
Last updated: [date]
TOP 3 RULES
1.
2.
3.
1. STORY & STRUCTURE
- Opening:
- Centerpiece:
- Ending:
- Linear or non-linear:
2. PACING
- Overall energy:
- Hold on reactions:
- Cutting to music:
3. MUSIC
- Genre / mood:
- Vocals or instrumental:
- Tracks or artists I like:
- Avoid:
- Who supplies the track:
4. AUDIO
- Must be audible:
- Speech lines per film (max):
- Ambient sound:
- Where music drops out:
5. COLOR
- Describe the look:
- Skin tones:
- Never:
- LUTs attached: yes / no
6. TITLES & GRAPHICS
- Opening title:
- Names / date:
- Logo:
- Font file attached: yes / no
7. MOMENTS
- Always include:
- Never include:
8. DELIVERABLES
- Resolution / frame rate:
- Codec(s):
- Aspect ratios:
- Lengths:
9. REFERENCES (with timestamps)
- Film 1 link — timestamps — what to copy:
- Film 2 link — timestamps — what to copy:
- Film 3 link — timestamps — what to copy:
PER-WEDDING NOTES
- Couple / date:
- Order of events:
- Key people:
- Cultural or religious moments:
- Sensitive notes:
Use it with us
When you send a wedding to WeddingVideosEditor, your brief becomes a style sheet attached to your account. Every edit is checked against it in our two-stage review, and your revision notes update it, so each wedding needs fewer notes than the last.
Try it on one wedding: your first highlight film is $199 instead of $349. Then see how the handoff works and how to send your footage.
