Before you go:

• As with all vendors, consider how much of a budget priority your wedding video is in the grand scheme of your grand event. The combination of your photographer and videographer costs typically average 10 percent of your total budget.
• Consider how much wedding day coverage you want and/or need. Are you only looking for documentation of your "I dos" or do you want a keepsake of the entire wedding day from start to finish?
• Do some research. Today's best videographers are at your fingertips thanks to the internet. Log on and watch clips from their latest events online before you schedule a sit down.

Questions to ask:

• What kind of professional training and experience does your videographer bring to your wedding weekend experience?
• What kind of media format do they prefer, film or digital, and why?
• How long will they be on-site to capture your big moments?
• How do they handle themselves among large, loud crowds common to the wedding party experience?
• What kind of final product can you expect to see? If you want more for family and friends, what are the costs associated with extra copies?
• How many cameramen are included will be on-hand to document the day?
• What kind of equipment does your videogapher carry in case of equipment failures or damage?
• What can you expect from your videographers the day of the wedding - shooting from the sidelines or interviewing guests?

• Keep all payment balance, deadline and contract information in one, easy to find place. And remember, no vendor is yours unless you have a signed contract in your hands.
• Ask for everything in writing. If during the sales process, your vendor contact promises any extras or cost-cutting deals, make sure you can easily refer to that in an email, letter or contract.
• Make sure you give your videographer a schedule or outline of what to expect on your wedding day so that he or she can be in place and rolling, ready to capture your memories in action.
• Depending on the length of your coverage, if your videographer is signed on for a full day, make sure you include them your final numbers for the caterer. It is customary to feed any vendors present during the reception.

• If you videographer is associated with a company that offers other wedding-related services (like a DJ/Video or Photo/Video combo), are there any discounts available if you book multiple services with them?
• Ask about discounts for non-Saturday events.