Why I Wear a Bow Tie as a Catholic Wedding Videographer
Any guest invited to a wedding focuses on their attire. No one will question the importance of dressing the part, in fact, people would often consider casual dress at a wedding out of place. When couples hire me to film their Catholic wedding, I am invited as a guest, too. Because I am invited as a guest, because I film in a church, and because of the nature of the work I do, I find it is most appropriate to dress up and wear a bow tie to the weddings I film.
Firstly, some wedding vendors come for part of the day, do their work, and leave. Alternatively, my responsibility is to stay for the full day and film every detail from the big and to the small moments. I find that dressing like a guest is a great way to respect the formal setting. Additionally, I emphasize a documentary style that captures candid moments and tells the stories found in the background. Dressing as a guest allows me to be less obtrusive and capture more authenticity.
Respecting the formal setting is also applied to the wedding Mass. Catholic weddings typically have a Mass in a Church to start the day. This is where the body of Christ is present in the Eucharist. It is quite literally Jesus’ home. Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Therefore, I dress up in churches out of respect, honor, and love. Even though I am working, I am also coming to see my King and Lord and to pray for you on your wedding day.
“As a wedding videographer, I think of myself as a guest of the soon-to-be married couple and a guest of Jesus himself during the Mass.”
This, then, brings us to the bow tie. In some ways, dressing up makes the physical work of wedding videography more challenging. I’d say the benefits outweigh the cons. But the main reason I choose a bow tie over a regular tie is because the bow tie does not interfere with my work. Let me explain. Videography requires a lot of bending so as not to block any family members from witnessing the vows, leaning to capture the kiss as the couple exits the church, stretching to get a bird’s eye view of the dance floor. With a regular tie, it would get in the way of my hands picking up equipment and moving around. However, with a bow tie, the tie stays close to my neck and does not get in the way. This permits me to move quickly and freely without interference.
What we wear implicitly affects our mood and sets the tone of the day. A wedding is a day of joy and formality. As a wedding videographer, I think of myself as a guest of the soon-to-be married couple and a guest of Jesus himself during the Mass. Therefore, I must respect the formality. Having a bow tie in particular makes working with the equipment easier compared to a regular tie. These small details help frame my mind to produce high quality Catholic wedding videography and seamlessly interact with the couple and guests. May God bless you as you continue to prepare for your wedding!
