Why Every Couple Now Wants the Behind-the-Scenes of Their Wedding Captured

With the wedding season settling in, it is once again the time for Instagram-worthy pictures, candids and cinematic films that capture the magic of a grand Indian wedding. But one thing that has taken weddings by storm is not the perfection of each moment, in fact, the imperfection of it all. From the chaotic wedding planning to the last-minute re-arrangements that take place before the wedding, and make up for that perfect behind-the-scenes for a picture-perfect wedding.

Weddings, today, are no longer just about the final frame; rather, they are about the moments before and in between. The nervous breaths before walking down the aisle, the accidental lipstick smudge that is caught on camera, the groomsmen hyping the groom in the green rooms, all these unscripted and unplanned moments now make up for the absolute magic that couples now want to get captured at their weddings.

In an era where everyone wants carefully curated reels and picture-perfect albums, an unexpected shift took over weddings when couples started craving the real instead of the smoothed-out version. Not the colour-graded, slow-motion highlight reel but the messy, funny, emotional, chaotic, blink-and-you-miss-it moments that actually make up a wedding day.

Enter behind-the-scenes, or the BTS wedding films, that capture the unfiltered moments during a wedding and feel less like a production and more like your favourite memory. It’s raw, personal, imperfect, and packed with personality. But how did these become a favourite for couples, and why do couples today increasingly look to get the behind-the-scenes of their weddings filmed?

What Led To The Rise In The Trend Of Wedding BTS?

According to Dhiraj Sanil of Reels and Frames, social media, especially Instagram, has played a huge role in driving the trend of couples wanting behind-the-scenes footage at their weddings. “The algorithm now favors content that feels raw and real, often shot on phones rather than professional cameras. People have grown to enjoy seeing unfiltered, spontaneous moments, which has created a demand for similar “BTS-style” memories from their own weddings.”

Meanwhile, Shanaya and Nitin of Nitin Arora Photography believe that couples today want more than the “perfect” wedding film; they want the real wedding. “So much happens on the day that they don’t get to see. BTS gives them the full picture: the fun, the stress, the emotions, the little things that get missed. It’s almost like giving them access to the wedding they were too busy to notice,” the duo shares.

They further highlight that when couples see their BTS later, they usually say, ‘We didn’t even know this happened!’ “And that lets them experience the wedding from the outside, the excitement in the room, the conversations, the jokes, the chaos. The big cinematic film is beautiful, but BTS helps them relive the energy of the day.”

Dhiraj believes that the behind-the-scenes footage captures the moments before the moments and therefore helps the couples relive more authentic moments. “The anticipation, nerves, laughter, and chaos that lead up to the big events. These are the most emotionally charged parts of a wedding day. Watching them later helps couples reconnect with exactly how they felt in those fleeting, honest moments.”

Do BTS Films Capture More Authentic Moments?

The experts ponder how BTS films capture emotions that polished videos often miss. Shanaya and Nitin share that the polished videos are curated. “BTS is observational and it catches the things that happen in between, from a parent fixing the groom’s collar, friends calming the bride, to a sibling tearing up quietly and a cute fight over jewellery or dupatta.” They share that these moments rarely make it into the cinematic edit, but they’re the ones couples feel most connected to later.

However, Dhiraj highlights that a polished film doesn’t necessarily miss emotion; it’s just crafted differently. “BTS videos rely on real audio and raw, unfiltered footage, which gives them a 'live' feel.” According to him, both styles serve distinct purposes. The BTS captures spontaneity, while the cinematic film weaves a timeless story. The key is understanding what style the couple envisions for their memories.

Discussing the role of planners, photographers and content creators in shaping this new style, Shanaya and Nitin state that everyone is more collaborative now. “Planners set the flow, photographers capture the main story, and content creators fill in the gaps.” According to the duo, when teams communicate well, the BTS becomes a natural part of the wedding instead of a separate production.

Dhiraj seconds Shanaya and Nitin and shares that everyone plays a part in bringing the couple’s vision to life. “The industry now recognises that while professional photo and video teams focus on high-quality cinematic storytelling, content creators often using their phones fill the gap for instant, social-ready snippets. Planners also help integrate both worlds seamlessly, ensuring that everything runs smoothly without overlapping efforts.”

Are BTS Just Easily Shareable Or, In Fact, Real?

But do couples see BTS as more real or more shareable? Shanaya and Nitin believe that couples see BTS as both. They share that it’s real because nothing is staged, the couples get to see their true personalities and family dynamics. “And it’s shareable because it’s fun, quick, and relatable. A 10-second clip of the bride laughing with her best friend connects more than a perfect posed shot.”

Dhiraj agrees to the same and shares that BTS clips are instantly shareable, which satisfies today’s social media urge. “While the longer trailers are more timeless, both are totally real and shareable for the couple.” 

“Content Creation teams have reduced a lot of pressure for couples,” Nitin and Shanaya share as they ponder how these teams have changed the wedding experience. “Earlier, couples would keep thinking, ‘Hope someone is capturing this.’ Now they can relax because there’s a team dedicated to those moments. For guests too, BTS often makes them feel included; their reactions and interactions matter more now.”

Dhiraj believes that content creators have bridged the gap between professional production and instant sharing. “While professional teams focus on cinematic, long-form storytelling, content creators can quickly capture trends, reactions, and fun BTS snippets for social media.”

He highlights that while many feel that there is a conflict, he believes that this division of roles has helped both teams focus better, one on immediacy, the other on legacy.

Will The Trend Of BTS Change Future Wedding Albums?

Is this trend changing what future wedding albums and videos will look like? All three of the experts agree. “Couples want a more honest record of the day, not just the highlights. We see the future moving towards storytelling that feels personal and real rather than only grand and polished,” Shanaya and Nitin share. While they highlight that wedding stories are becoming a mix of cinematic visuals, candid photos and documentary-style BTS, Dhiraj believes that the growing trend of BTS has already changed how wedding albums and videos look like and he presses that this change is here to stay.  

“We’re moving towards a future where vertical, phone-first formats may become the norm. That said, horizontal, cinematic storytelling still has its place,” he shares while concluding, “Watching your wedding film on a big screen uninterrupted, with loved ones offers an experience that no phone screen can replace. Vertical content may be great for sharing, but horizontal films will always be about feeling. We hope the value of horizontal films holds up!”