What's the Difference Between a Highlight Film and a Feature Film?

When you're researching wedding videography packages, you'll often come across terms like "highlight film" and "feature film" without much explanation of what each actually involves. Many couples find themselves wondering what these different film types include, why they might need both, and which one will best preserve their wedding memories.

As a wedding videographer with over 11 years of experience, I've seen firsthand how these two film formats serve different but complementary purposes. Let's break down exactly what each film type offers so you can make an informed decision about your wedding video package.

What is a Highlight Film?

A highlight film is a short, cinematic summary of your wedding day, typically ranging from 30 seconds to 6 minutes depending on your package. Think of it as the emotional "movie trailer" of your wedding—capturing the essence, atmosphere, and key moments in a concise, shareable format.

Key characteristics of a highlight film:

• Short and impactful – Designed to evoke emotion in a brief viewing experience

• Highly stylised – Features creative editing, carefully selected music, and cinematic colour grading

• Non-chronological – Often arranged for emotional impact rather than timeline accuracy

• Shareable – Perfect for social media and sharing with extended friends and family

• Emotional storytelling – Prioritises feeling over comprehensive documentation

My Gold Package includes a 3-5 minute highlight film, while the Platinum Package offers a slightly longer 4-6 minute version, allowing for more depth and detail in the storytelling.

What a highlight film includes:

A typical highlight film features brief snippets of your day's most visually striking and emotionally powerful moments, including:

• Getting ready shots (elegant details and anticipation)

• First look reactions

• Ceremony highlights (walking down the aisle, ring exchange, first kiss)

• Speech excerpts (often used as voiceover)

• First dance moments

• Venue details and decor

• Candid guest interactions

• Natural couple portraits

Not every highlight film will contain all these elements—each is custom crafted to tell your unique story in the most compelling way. If you're curious about what moments typically make the most impact in these films, my article on The Most Overlooked Wedding Moments That Deserve to Be Filmed provides additional insight.

What is a Feature Film?

A feature film is a longer, more comprehensive documentary-style recording of your wedding day, typically running between 30-90 minutes depending on your package and the length of key events.

Key characteristics of a feature film:

• Longer format – Allows full coverage of important moments

• Documentary approach – Prioritises completeness over stylistic editing

• Chronological – Follows the natural flow and timeline of your day

• Complete coverage – Captures speeches, vows, and ceremonies in full

• Keepsake quality – Designed for repeated viewing over the years, especially on anniversaries

My Gold Package includes a feature film of 30-80 minutes, while the Platinum Package offers a more extensive 45-90 minute version, depending on the length of your day's events.

What a feature film includes:

A feature film typically includes:

• Full ceremony (uncut or lightly edited)

• Complete speeches

• Entire first dance

• Father-daughter/mother-son dances

• Extended preparation footage

• Full wedding party introductions

• Cake cutting and other traditions

• Extended reception coverage

Feature films often include chapter markers, making it easy to jump to specific moments you want to revisit. While highlight films prioritise style and emotional impact, feature films ensure you don't miss a single important moment or word.

Which One Is Right for You?

The truth is, both film types serve valuable but different purposes in preserving your wedding memories:

Choose a highlight film if:

• You primarily want something to share on social media

• You value artistic storytelling over comprehensive documentation

• You prefer a quick emotional hit rather than a longer viewing experience

• You have a limited budget and must choose just one option

Choose a feature film if:

• You want to hear your full vows and speeches

• Documentation of complete moments is important to you

• You're unlikely to rewatch a longer film but want it for the archive

• Family members who couldn't attend want to experience the day fully

As outlined in my guide on How to Choose the Right Wedding Videography Package for Your Big Day, the best approach is actually to have both—which is why my Gold and Platinum packages include both film types.

Why I Offer Both in My Gold & Platinum Packages

After years of working with couples, I've found that the most satisfied clients are those who receive both film types. Here's why:

1. Different viewing contexts – The highlight film is perfect for immediate sharing and regular rewatching, while the feature film becomes increasingly valuable over time for revisiting specific moments and words.

2. Complementary storytelling – The highlight film captures the emotional essence, while the feature film preserves the complete story with all its details.

3. Meeting various needs – Different family members often want different things—parents might want to hear the full ceremony, while friends appreciate a quick highlight.

4. Long-term value – What seems less important now (like full speeches) often becomes treasured years later when memories fade or loved ones are no longer with us.

As explained in Why You Need a Wedding Videographer: Relive Your Special Day Forever, these films become more valuable over time, not less.

Real Examples: How Couples Use Each Film

Understanding how real couples use their wedding films can help illustrate the value of having both formats:

Sarah and James received both films and found distinct uses for each. They shared their highlight film immediately on social media, receiving dozens of comments from friends who couldn't attend. Six months later, on their first anniversary, they watched their feature film with a bottle of champagne, reliving every word of their personally written vows—something the highlight film simply couldn't include in its entirety.

Emma and Christopher initially questioned whether they needed a feature film, believing they'd only watch the highlight. However, when Emma's grandmother passed away eighteen months after their wedding, having the full feature film with her heartfelt speech became priceless—a family keepsake they've watched multiple times since.

Michael and David found their highlight film perfect for their busy lifestyle—watching it on anniversaries when time was limited. But when planning their vow renewal five years later, they revisited their feature film to remember exactly what they promised each other, finding it invaluable for writing their new vows.

These real experiences highlight why having both film types provides the most complete preservation of your wedding day. When researching videographers, it's worth noting whether they include both formats, as suggested in 5 Things to Look for When Hiring a Wedding Videographer.

Choosing the Right Package for Your Needs

When deciding between packages that offer different combinations of highlight and feature films, consider:

• How you plan to share your wedding – Social media, family viewing, or both?

• What moments matter most – Just the emotional highlights or every spoken word?

• Your budget priorities – Is comprehensive video coverage a top priority?

• Future considerations – What might you wish you had captured years from now?

My Wedding Videography Packages are designed with these considerations in mind, offering options that include both film types at different price points and coverage levels.

The Perfect Pairing

Rather than seeing highlight and feature films as an either/or choice, consider them complementary parts of your complete wedding story. The highlight film gives you the emotional essence—perfect for regular rewatching and sharing—while the feature film ensures not a single precious moment or word is lost to time.

Together, they provide both the quick emotional connection and the comprehensive documentation that truly preserves your wedding day for generations to come.

Have questions about which film type or package might be right for your wedding? Get in touch for a friendly chat about your specific needs and vision.