Why Live Streaming is a Must-Have Wedding Vendor
LoveStream couple Taryn & Jayaji; Photo by Wiley Putnam
Updated November 15, 2021
Venue, caterer, bakery, officiant, florist, DJ, bartender, photographer and live streamer: what do these all have in common? They are all essential vendors to have at your wedding!
The list of must-have wedding vendors has changed over the years. Those oh-you-gotta-have-them vendors have come and gone as couples decide where the most important place to put their budget is. And in 2021 and 2202, one must-have wedding vendor is topping the list: someone to live stream your wedding.
Live streaming your wedding took off in March 2020 as the world shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. But is it still necessary? We’d say so.
Weddings in 2022 will look a lot different than they have in previous years, even as COVID cases decline and people feel more comfortable hosting or attending gatherings.
This year, many couples are downsizing their guest lists by choice, not by necessity. This move results in couples looking for a way to still share their wedding with everybody they love, without actually having all of those people attend in-person.
How to Include More Guests At Your Wedding
If you’re one of the many couples deciding to downsize in 2022, you might be wondering how you can still make all of your loved ones feel included. After all, you don’t want to give anyone a bad case of FOMO.
The best solution: live stream your wedding. A wedding live stream is a simple, affordable and effective way to share your wedding in real-time with any guests who can’t be there, whether due to something on your end (like guest count and budget), or something on their end (like canceled flights or other plans on the big day).
If you were having an outdoor wedding in spring, you would most likely plan to have a tent available in case of rain. Hiring a live streaming vendor is the ultimate contingency plan for unexpected (or expected) hiccups involving guests.
Make Live Stream Wedding Guests Feel Included
Does wedding live streaming actually make people feel like they are there celebrating with you? With LoveStream it does.
Emma and Milind, one of our past LoveStream couples, said, “We cannot put in words how happy we have been with Lovestream from the very start. Our friends and family felt they were present and got to see the entire wedding ceremony and other highlights.”
Another couple, Beau and Aidan, said, “Working with the staff was very easy and our guests from afar who could not make it, LOVED IT.”
While our live streams are one-way, your guests can still interact via the live chat and leave you well wishes in your virtual guest book.
And, of course, walking up to the streaming device after the wedding and giving a special shout-out to at-home guests make them feel welcome. Most of our couples choose to do this during their wedding live stream as a ‘thank you’ to guests who took the time out of their day to help celebrate.
Check out this sample goodbye message from one of our couples!
Live Stream Wedding Versus Zoom Wedding
Zoom has become an essential part of life after the pandemic, especially when it comes to work and online learning. The two-way video conferencing app makes it easy and quick to communicate. But we personally don’t think it’s the best option for a wedding that will have both in-person and at-home guests, as it takes the couple away from the party.
Of course, celebrating with those at home is important too, but that’s why we pack our couples’ websites with interactive features! Plus, you can still have an officiant (where legal) or guest speaker join your stream live with our Premium package.
Want even more information about using Zoom to live stream your wedding? Check out our complete comparison guide between LoveStream and other wedding live stream options.
When Do You Need to Book Your Wedding Live Stream?
Most of our couples book their virtual wedding 30-45 days prior to their wedding day. That said, we’ve had people book as soon as three days out or over a year out.
Live streaming your wedding might feel new, but remember, Princess Diana and Prince Charles live streamed their wedding to the entire world in 1981! So, trust us, you’re in good hands.
The sooner you book, the better! Booking early means you will receive your live stream URL in plenty of time to add it to your printed wedding invitations – making it super simple for your virtual guests. You can also skip the standard wedding website creation, because we’ll make one for you. It’s that easy.
Add Us to Your List of Wedding Vendors
We’d love to help make your wedding day perfect for those guests who can’t be there in-person.
Whether you have always dreamed of an intimate ceremony or your guest list has been slashed due to budget, we’ll be there to help make sure all of your loved ones can celebrate with you.
To get started, browse our wedding live stream packages or book a meeting with our team below.