How to Have A Hybrid Live Stream Wedding

Updated October 13, 2021

Photo credit: Three Region. Photography

Many couples who come to us looking for wedding live streaming options end up wondering how it works when they are still having a relatively (albeit smaller) normal, in-person wedding. What part do you live stream? What’s it like for in-person and at-home guests?

We totally understand why you’d have these questions. Adding a virtual element to a wedding is such a new concept. But just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s a fad. Below, we’re going to be discussing how to have a hybrid wedding: a wedding that has both in-person guests and guests watching your wedding live stream online. 

What a hybrid wedding looks like.

A hybrid virtual and in-person wedding looks almost identical to a normal wedding - or at least it should. The wedding party will process down the aisle, the ceremony will commence and then everyone will recess back down the aisle.

In the height of the pandemic, having a Zoom wedding where you interact with guests via video chat was a way to go virtual when literally no one could come to your wedding. By now, though, you want to use something that is unobtrusive - that doesn’t take you - or your in-person guests - out of the moment. 

The main difference between a regular wedding and a hybrid wedding for the people getting married is that there will be devices (usually phones on tripods) set up to live stream your wedding to remote guests. These devices are usually slim and don’t take up much space or block the view. 

Couples want hybrid weddings.

We recently surveyed engaged and newly married couples, and they agreed that pandemic or not, a virtual component to a wedding is essential. In fact, 70% of our respondents agreed that they would still live stream their wedding, regardless of COVID restrictions. The main reason being for VIPs who can’t attend. Of those surveyed, 90% said they see live streaming as a service that will be important after the pandemic. 

What comes after the ceremony?

Here’s where things may change just a little bit. 

Depending on what you want to stream to your at-home guests, you might do things a little out-of-order. 

For example, rather than having cocktail hour, you might go straight from the ceremony into the first dances and then into toasts. These moments will be in front of one of your streaming devices, which can stay put at the ceremony area or be moved into the reception area. 

After the at-home guests see the special moments, you and your new lawfully wedded partner can come up to the camera, say goodbye to your online guests and continue into dinner and dancing for the rest of the evening.

This is a way to include at-home guests in those important moments without ignoring in-person wedding guests. 

Why choose to live stream your hybrid wedding.

You may be thinking, “Why shouldn’t I just use Zoom?” or “Can’t I just stream my wedding on Facebook or Instagram?”

Well, there are a few reasons that we think the above aren’t the best options. First, is simply the ease-of-use for guests. With Zoom and social media platforms, guests will need to have an account and log in. For Zoom, in particular, guests will have to be admitted by a moderator.

With LoveStream, guests simply click on the URL we provide you with and they’re immediately on the page where your wedding live stream will display. If you want an added layer of security, you can also include a password that they must type in before entering – but there is still no need for them to log in or submit their email.

The second reason to choose LoveStream is that when streaming to social media platforms, you need to be careful about music rights. Facebook has algorithms that detect copyrighted music and can automatically shut your stream down. 

With LoveStream, we’ve purchased music rights from all of the major labels to ensure your first dance -- whether to Ed Sheeran, Elvis, Etta James or someone else -- can play on!

A third reason to choose LoveStream? It’s a one-way wedding live stream. 

This means that your at-home guests don’t have to turn on their microphones or cameras because they won’t be on the screen. 

They simply watch and revel in the magic of the day! This also means that you, as the wedding couple, don’t have to split your time between a screen and your in-person guests. Most of our couples will come up to the camera after the ceremony, address the online guests and thank them for watching and then continue on with the reception as normal. 

This ensures the event feels like a wedding and not a work call.

Ready to start planning?

LoveStream weddings ensure everyone on your guest list can RSVP ‘yes’ to your wedding. Like our survey proved, 90% of couples think that live streaming will remain an important vendor even after the pandemic. 

Make sure to book your live stream wedding package today!