Behind the Scenes: A Day with Firm Films at a Lake Como Wedding
What does a wedding day actually look like for the videography team. Couples often ask this during the planning call, partly out of curiosity and partly because understanding the team's rhythm helps with planning the timeline. This article walks through a typical Lake Como wedding day from the Firm Films perspective.
The Morning: Preparation and Arrival
The day begins about five hours before the ceremony. The team arrives at the bridal hotel suite around 90 minutes before the bride is fully ready. The lead cinematographer covers the bride, the second cinematographer covers the groom at his preparation location, and the sound engineer arrives at the ceremony venue to prepare the audio setup.
Bridal preparation footage runs continuously. Details first, then the dressing sequence, then the final reveal. The cinematographer documents what unfolds rather than directing. By the time the bride is ready to leave for the boat, we have already captured most of the morning section of the highlight reel.
The Ceremony Window: Coordination at the Venue
The team converges at the venue about an hour before the ceremony. The sound engineer finalizes microphone setup. The cinematographers walk the ceremony location with the planner to confirm positions. Cameras are tested and memory cards verified.
Guests begin arriving. We capture arrival sequences and details around the venue. The boat arrival of the couple, when it happens, is filmed from multiple positions.
The ceremony itself runs 30 to 45 minutes. Two cameras cover continuously. The sound engineer monitors audio levels. After the ceremony, the aperitif and portrait window begins, and the team splits to cover both simultaneously.
The Reception: Pace, Speeches, and the Final Hours
The reception at the partner dinner venue runs four to six hours. Coverage shifts to documentary mode. We capture guest interactions, the speeches, the dance floor, and the late evening atmosphere.
Equipment shifts to lighter handheld setups. We move constantly. By the end of the reception, we have approximately 8 hours of usable footage plus the morning preparation material, all of which will be cut down to a six minute highlight reel during the eight to twelve weeks of post production.
The team typically wraps coverage between 11 PM and 1 AM, depending on the wedding's pacing. We back up footage that night and travel back to base the following morning.
Behind the Scenes FAQ
How many people on your team?
Two cinematographers and a sound engineer for the standard package.
Do you eat at the wedding?
Yes. Vendor meals are typically arranged by the planner.
What if we want behind the scenes content shared on social media?
Possible by arrangement. We can capture brief BTS content during the day.
How tired are you at the end of the day?
Tired but the work is good. Most weddings leave the team energized rather than drained.