Wedding guests show up for reception carrying gifts in either monetary or tangible form. For the former they deliver the envelopes with cash, cheque or gift certificate. For the latter, they carry boxes or gift bags. All the treasure is being put on the gift table for display purpose. Envelopes may be put in the slotted box (piggy-bank) or a fancy bird cage, which goes on the same table, unless bride and groom take it away for security.
All you need is patience. Let all the gifts, or at least most of them to get collected. It may happen during receiving line or cocktail hour.
Start shooting at one end of the gift table and keep rolling panning camera slowly towards another end. Give few close-ups of the most spectacular details. Use you camera light if necessary.
Speeches may be held after the dinner or throughout the dinner between the courses. The speakers may use podium and house microphone, or they may stand up and speak to DJ’s wireless mic. You should be ready to any situation.
If the speeches are going to be held at the podium, find best position for your tripod and a light. Best in your circumstances will be determined by:
- close enough to be able to zoom in and pan from the speaker to the head table and back, and far enough to leave the clear view of the podium for the guests;
- out of the caterers way: you don’t want to make enemies, try to be friends with all your colleagues;
close enough to the source of power for your light; and in any case, tape over your power cable.
If the speeches are going to be held at the tables, you have no choice other that go handheld and run from person to person. Make sure you always good for tapes and batteries. Some guests may speak forever, especially after a couple of drinks.
If the persons speaking are going to use DJ’s wireless microphone, you may:
- try to hook up to DJ’s system (at your own risk);
- attach your microphone to DJ’s microphone (looks ugly on tape);
- or to mic the speaker.
For the last option you may want to use a microphone (EV 635) on a stand pointed at the speaker, or to hang your lavaliere microphone from the top of the speaker.
I am using short (12”) hand-made fishing rod and adjusting the length of the cord, so the mic itself is located right across from the main speaker.
The sound from the speaker may be very loud, so adjust transmitter’s gain low enough to avoid distortion.
As for speeches themselves, stay on medium shot, zoom in if the person speaking goes too sentimental, pan off to the head table to show bride’s and groom’s reaction. Pan to other bridal party members within your range during bride’s and groom’s speech when they mention bridesmaids, ushers or parents.
