Can You Bring Your Own Videographer to a Las Vegas Chapel?
How to find out if your Las Vegas wedding chapel allows an outside videographer, what to ask before you book, and what to send them.
It depends on the chapel. Some let an outside videographer film the ceremony, some only let them shoot outside, and some do not allow them at all. Here is how to find out before you pay a deposit, and what to ask so the day goes smoothly.
Why this question matters
The chapel will not bring this up for you. It is up to you to ask, and the best time is before you pick the chapel, not after.
Most Las Vegas chapels sell a package that includes photos, and some include video. Their in-house team is usually fine. But if you want a film made by someone who shoots cinematic work, you will want to bring your own.
A chapel that charges for outside video, or only lets you film outside, is not a bad chapel. You just need to know before you book it, so the fee and the rules are part of how you choose.
What chapels usually say
Policies fall into a few groups. Always confirm the current rule with the chapel directly, because policies change.
- Outside videographers welcome. No extra charge.
- Outside videographers allowed for a fee. You pay a vendor or access fee.
- Outside only. Your videographer can film outside the chapel, but not inside.
- In-house team only. Outside photographers and videographers are not allowed.
Some chapels also set their own rules about where an outside vendor can stand, how long they can stay, and whether they can be in the room during other couples' ceremonies.
What to ask the chapel
Send these questions by email, so you have the answers in writing.
- Do you allow an outside videographer for our ceremony?
- Is there a fee? When is it due?
- How long is our ceremony slot, and is there time before or after for photos?
- Where can the videographer stand or move during the ceremony?
- Can we get clean audio from the officiant's microphone, or does our videographer need to place their own?
- Are there any rooms or areas that are off limits for filming?
Audio is the one people forget. Vows are the heart of the film, and a chapel can be hard to record in. A little planning with the chapel makes a big difference.
What to send the chapel
Short and polite works best. Something like this:
Hi, we are getting married at your chapel on [date] at [time]. We would like to bring our own videographer, [name]. Can you confirm that is allowed, if there is a fee, and where they can stand during the ceremony? Thank you.
Keep the reply. If something changes on the day, you have it in writing.
What your videographer needs from you
- The chapel name, date, and ceremony time
- The chapel's written OK for outside video
- The ceremony slot length and any rules about where to stand
- Where you want to go after the ceremony, for the rest of the film
A chapel film from us
Our Chapel package is $500. You get one hour of coverage, the ceremony plus one nearby spot, a 2 to 3 minute film, full ceremony audio, and delivery in 2 weeks (ask about rush delivery). Every package includes planning help, cinema camera coverage, a color graded film, and licensed music.
Want more than the chapel? Our Downtown package is $750 and adds a Fremont Street walk. Our Desert & Lights package is $1,000 and adds a desert location and a longer film. You can see all three and the films we have made on the elopements page.
What happened when we tried
At the Little Vegas Chapel, we were allowed to film a ceremony on a phone on a tripod, at no extra cost. A phone on a tripod is not the same as bringing a videographer with cinema cameras and microphones, so ask about the exact setup you have in mind and do not assume one answer covers the other.
At the Little Church of the West, we were only allowed to shoot outside the gate. We were told an outside videographer could film inside for a fee, about $500, so the answer was not a flat no. Still, it is a cost you want to know about before you book. Fees change, so get the current number from the chapel yourself.
Downtown was the opposite. On our Fremont Street shoot, nobody asked us to stop, so we were able to film the walk and the lights without a problem. Rules on the street are different from rules inside a chapel, and they can change, so do not treat that as a guarantee.
Ready to check your date?
Tell us your chapel and your date and we will tell you if we can film it, usually within 24 hours. Check your date.
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