Live streaming your wedding can be a great way to keep friends and family safe without them missing a single moment. Planning a live stream all starts with the platform you want to host it on! There's tons of different options, and each will have a different impact on how your guests interact. We've made a complete list of each major platform, including all their pros and cons, so you can make the right choice.
Why Does the Platform Matter?
Each platform has different levels of interaction between the online and physical guests. Being able to see and talk to online guests can be great during the reception/cocktail hour, but disruptive during the ceremony. In addition, some platforms require software downloads, account signup, or complicated settings to tune in. For elderly or less "techy" guests, this can be a struggle.
Zoom
Zoom has become one of the most used live platforms for meetings, webinars, and events. Zoom meetings allow for everyone to see and hear each other to give their congratulations.
Pros
See and hear your guests
Easy to send out invites
Can record everyone's reactions
Cons
Complicated for guests to join
Need to download software
Can cause disruptions during the ceremony
Youtube
Pros
Can be accessed through a single URL
No disruptions during the ceremony
High quality video stream
Cons
No guest webcams
Not as interactive
Facebook Live
Pros
Easy to setup
Can be found by friends
High quality video stream
Cons
Difficult to manage invites
Not as interactive
Pros
Easy to setup on a phone
Can be found by followers
Cons
Requires viewers to download app and create account
Can't be made private
Difficult to manage invites
Our Recommendation
When we run our wedding live streams, we usually suggest having 2 separate platforms! We have the ceremony streamed on Youtube or Zoom Webinar to prevent interruptions and make it easy to join. During the reception or cocktail hour we switch to a Zoom Meeting to allow everyone to see each other and give congratulations! This gives the best of both, allowing for interaction when you want it, and simplicity when you don't.
Still confused about which platform to use? Give us a shout! A free consultation is on us, even if you end up running the live stream yourself. We'll help you sort through all the options and find the platform that's right for your wedding!
Comments