In a world where social media plays a major role in how we remember our milestones, wedding content creators have emerged as one of the newest and most buzzworthy additions to the modern wedding vendor lineup. Their job? To capture and deliver casual, candid, and highly shareable digital content of your big day—often as it’s happening. But with this growing trend, couples are now asking: is it worth hiring a professional content creator, or can a tech-savvy guest do the job just as well?
What Exactly Does a Wedding Content Creator Do?
Unlike your photographer or videographer, a wedding content creator is focused on fast-turnaround and behind-the-scenes storytelling of your special day. They specialize in vertical videos, Reels, and TikToks that highlight the fun, emotional, and unfiltered moments of the wedding day. As seasoned wedding pro Chip Dizard explained on the Hue I Do podcast, “Content creation in my opinion is just another morph of the industry… people now want to book video and photo together as a package. I’m seeing that a lot.”
These creators don’t replace your traditional vendors—they supplement them by capturing a side of the celebration that often goes unseen. Their content is designed to be shared instantly or within a day or two, offering that immediate emotional rush while you wait for professional edits.
Why Hire a Professional Content Creator?
Hiring a pro comes with serious perks. You get someone who’s trained to find the angles, follow the light, and deliver polished, on-brand footage ready for social sharing. Plus, they come prepared to handle your wedding with intention—not just to film, but to curate. Chip described the shift from resistance to opportunity in the vendor world: “I’m in favor of it because I know there’s a business aspect to it… if you can get a piece of that billion-dollar industry in a wedding business, go for it.”
A major benefit is freeing your guests to enjoy themselves. As Ashleigh, one of the podcast hosts, put it, “Let these girls focus. Let the wedding party focus.” Professionals ensure your wedding party isn’t stressed out managing phone batteries or missing moments while trying to capture them.
Of course, this comes at a cost—somewhere between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on experience and scope. And you’ll want your content creator to coordinate closely with your photo and video team to avoid blocking shots or duplicating efforts. “It is not a competition… we’re all working for you, the couple,” Chip noted.
Can a Guest Handle It Instead?
Opting to let a guest document your day is a budget-friendly alternative that works well for intimate or casual weddings. Many couples assign a friend with a good eye and a newer phone to casually film snippets throughout the day.
Chip shared that if he had to choose and couldn’t hire a pro, he’d go with a guest: “I want my wedding party people to focus and to be part of the thing… If I didn’t hire somebody, I would have a wedding guest because that way they feel very important and very valued.”
However, this option comes with its own risks. Guests might be distracted, miss key moments, or lack the creative direction needed to capture your day beautifully. There’s also no guarantee that the footage will be usable—or even delivered at all. And while your guest may be excited in the moment, they may not be prepared for the responsibility that comes with documenting someone else’s milestone. So if you make the decision to let a guest handle, it, set expectations in advance.
How to Make the Right Call
To choose the best route for your wedding, start by identifying your content priorities. Do you want same-day Reels or a viral TikTok edit? Is your wedding visual-heavy, with a focus on aesthetics and design? Do you already have a videographer booked, and will they work seamlessly with an additional camera in the mix?
As Chip said, “If we’re going to do this, let’s do it well and let’s have some guidance… it’s going to be a little messy at first, but guess what? We can make it better.”
If you’re leaning toward hiring, consider looking for photographers who offer bundled services or already work with content creators as part of their package. “The smart photographers are doing this… because if [the creator is] under my fold, I can control what happens,” Chip advised.
In Conclusion
Whether you hire a pro or go the DIY route with a guest, one thing is clear—content creation is not just a trend; it’s a reflection of how modern couples want to remember and share their day. The decision comes down to your wedding style, budget, and how you want to relive those moments.
After all, as Chip reminded us, “These are moments that families may never get back together for… we just want to make sure we capture these moments.”
