Seven Commandments for Live Streaming a South Asian Wedding (or Event)

By Arjita | 09 Dec 2020 | 4 min read

To all of the couples planning virtual micro weddings or events, we recently published pros and cons about the different streaming platforms and how to pick the right one for you. This post will take you through best-in-class tips for making sure your live stream is a success!

Dress Rehearsal: As mentioned in Southern Bride, make sure you have a "dress rehearsal" and practice live streaming ahead of the events. When live streaming is such an integral part of the wedding, you want to make sure you take time to practice how live streaming will take place, do a thorough tech check, and assign responsibilities (to vendors or friends) ahead of the key events.
Reliable Internet Connection: Triple check that your internet connection is reliable and consider have a secondary hotspot as a backup. A venue that we recently visited for an engagement had their internet go down the day of the wedding. Happily, which focuses on creating seamless digital events by bringing together virtual event specialists, recommends upgrading to higher speed wifi if you can just for your big day.
Studio Lighting: Check your lighting ahead of time. Perhaps even consider setting up studio lighting to make sure your guests have a good experience. With outdoor weather variances and indoor venue lighting, lighting can be unpredictable. Lighting is one of the key features that can make a livestream visually engaging, so instead of betting on venue lighting, we recommend setting up external lighting to ensure your guests can see clearly.
Good on Battery: Ensure that your device (laptop/phone) is fully charged and that you have a charger or power bank handy. We just went to a wedding recently where they had to delay the ceremony until one of the guests came back with a charger.
No Interruptions: Turn off the sleep function and any notifications, so your live stream does not get interrupted.
Designated Livestream Point of Contact: As Lisa Corsillo mentioned in NY Mag, it's important to have someone other than yourself in charge. Have a designated family member, friend or hired professional responsible for the live stream, so you can focus on your wedding rather than troubleshooting tech issues.
Professional Equipment: If you have enough people running on point, consider 2-3 tripods and a microphone for clear sound. In Vogue, Wedfuly cofounder and CEO Caroline Creidenberg recommend that couples set up a few different tripods for different views: “On our end, we switch between the different views, so when [the bride and groom walk down the aisle], for example, you don't just all of a sudden see them show up on the screen. We have devices on each of their faces so that when they do their vows, we show their respective faces.” And don’t forget the element of sound: “We usually recommend the couple has either a microphone or even AirPods, for the voice aspect.”