TL;DR
A Same Day Edit (SDE) is a 3–5 minute film cut and screened at your reception, the same day it was shot. It costs 30–50% more than a standard package because it requires a dedicated edit team working in parallel with the shooting crew. UK SDE packages run £1,200–£2,500 as an add-on; standalone SDE-inclusive packages start at £5,000. The premiere moment — watching your morning together on a screen during dinner — is one of the highest-impact experiences MKTRL delivers. About 15% of our 2026 couples book it. It is not right for every wedding.
What a Same Day Edit actually is
The SDE concept originated in South Asian and East Asian wedding traditions where the celebration runs long enough to screen content within the same event. It has since moved into mainstream UK and EU wedding culture, particularly at larger venues with AV infrastructure.
The mechanics are straightforward: while Shooter 1 continues filming the reception, Shooter 2 (or a dedicated editor) takes the morning footage — getting ready, first look, ceremony, cocktail hour — and cuts a 3–5 minute film. That film is exported, colour corrected, scored with licensed music, and screened during dinner or the first dance introduction. Total production time: 4–6 hours from first shot to premiere.
This is different from the full highlight film and feature film that arrive weeks later. The SDE is designed for the room — emotional, raw, fast-cut. It doesn't need to be perfect. It needs to land.
The SDE process, hour by hour
Time | What's happening | Who |
|---|---|---|
08:00–12:00 | Morning prep, bride/groom getting ready, detail shots | Shooting crew (Shooter 1 + 2) |
12:00–14:30 | Ceremony + confetti/exit | Full crew |
14:30 | Editor receives first card dump; begins rough assembly | Editor (on-site or remote) |
14:30–17:00 | Cocktail hour, family portraits, couple portraits | Shooting crew continues |
15:00–18:30 | Edit, colour grade, music sync, export | Editor |
18:30–19:00 | File transferred to venue AV system, screened at dinner | Editor + venue AV team |
The edit team needs a reliable, fast laptop (Apple M-series or equivalent), a calibrated monitor for colour work, and a venue with HDMI or video input. Always confirm AV compatibility with the venue in advance — projectors, smart TVs, and PA systems vary significantly.
Cost: what you're actually paying for
The SDE premium exists because it requires additional labour — an editor who is not shooting. You cannot achieve a Same Day Edit with one person alone doing both jobs.
Cost component | UK estimate (2026) |
|---|---|
Dedicated editor day rate | £600–£1,000 |
Additional shooter (if needed) | £400–£700 |
Licensed SDE music | £50–£150 (Artlist/Musicbed) |
AV setup and screening support | £100–£300 |
Total add-on cost | £1,200–£2,500 |
Studios that offer SDE as part of a comprehensive package (rather than as an add-on) typically price those packages at £5,500–£9,000 in the UK, reflecting the full crew and edit infrastructure required.
The SDE does not replace your full highlight or feature film. Those are still produced in the weeks after your wedding. You are paying for the premiere experience, not a substitute for the finished work.
Equipment requirements for SDE
SDE production demands more from the crew than a standard shoot. Minimum requirements:
Primary camera: Full-frame mirrorless with reliable autofocus (Sony FX3, Canon R5C, or equivalent). Footage must be usable immediately — no slow rendering codecs.
Recording format: Proxy workflow (e.g., Sony XAVC-S Proxy) so the editor receives lightweight files alongside full-res masters.
Edit laptop: Apple M3 Pro or equivalent, minimum 32GB RAM. DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro, pre-configured colour pipeline.
Audio: Ceremony lav audio must be isolated and synced within 30 minutes of ceremony end.
Connectivity: On-site WiFi or local network for file transfer, or fast SSD hand-off workflow.
Output: MP4, H.264 or H.265, screened via HDMI or the venue's preferred AV input.
When to book SDE — and when not to
SDE works well for:
Weddings with 100+ guests and a formal dinner reception with a natural screening moment.
Venues with existing AV infrastructure (a ballroom screen, projector, or large display).
Couples who want a "wow" moment during the reception — particularly if the wedding has strong visual content (ornate ceremony space, dramatic landscape, expressive guests).
Cultural weddings with long evening programmes that include entertainment and presentation slots.
SDE is less suitable for:
Intimate weddings under 40 guests where a screening feels forced or theatrical.
Venues without AV infrastructure or with restrictions on displaying screens during dinner service.
Couples who want to experience their wedding without a production-oriented crew structure. SDE requires more crew coordination, which means slightly more presence.
Very late ceremony times (after 15:00) where the edit window collapses to under 3 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a Same Day Edit film?
Typically 3–5 minutes. Longer than 5 minutes risks losing the audience's attention during a live event. Shorter than 3 minutes doesn't do justice to the morning footage. The SDE is a teaser, not the full film.
Can we choose the music for the SDE?
Yes, but it must be pre-agreed before the wedding day. The editor cannot spend 45 minutes on music selection during the 4-hour edit window. Give your videographer 2–3 licensed track options in advance and they'll select the best fit once they see the footage.
What if the edit isn't ready on time?
Professional SDE teams build a buffer into the timeline. If the screening window shifts (dinner runs late, speeches overrun), a 30-minute delay is manageable. A full postponement to after the first dance is usually the fallback. This is rare and should be covered in the contract.
Does the SDE affect the quality of the main film?
Not if the crew is properly structured. Because a dedicated editor handles the SDE, the shooters continue capturing the reception without interruption. Both deliverables maintain quality. Problems arise when studios attempt SDE with a single person doing both roles — avoid this configuration.
Is SDE available for destination weddings?
Yes, but with added logistics. The editor travels with the crew, adding a third person to the travel budget (£400–£800 additional travel cost for EU destinations). Venue AV requirements must be confirmed with the local coordinator at least 2 months in advance, as EU venues vary significantly in AV capability.
We have a projector at our venue — is that enough?
Check the projector's input type (HDMI vs VGA vs DisplayPort) and the room's ambient light at dinner time. A projector in a bright room at golden-hour dinner service will wash out. A proper screen or large-format display works better in mixed light conditions. Your videographer should check this during a venue recce.
Related guides
How to hire a wedding videographer (full process)
Wedding video cost by country (2026)
Destination wedding film: planning and what to expect
Cinematic vs documentary wedding film