Begin a search for a videographer as early as you can -- even a year ahead of time -- by asking friends and relatives for leads; or turn to a party planner, wedding consultant, or the catering director at the hotel or reception site. The photographer can also be a good source since he may have worked extensively with certain videographers.

References and Past Work
Start by calling videographers referred by several sources, then set up appointments to see the work of promising candidates. Make sure you get a sense of how a videographer captures a whole wedding; don't just watch a tape with clips from many weddings. Ask to see tapes of weddings similar to the one you're planning: If it's going to be a candlelight ceremony, for instance, review his work in low light. And if the videographer has shot at your wedding site, ask to see that tape.

If you review tapes in the studio rather than having them sent to you, be sure that the picture quality, or resolution, is identical to that of a home VCR. If you're meeting with a group of videographers, ask to see the tapes shot by the person who will cover the wedding. Even if you like what you see, request a list of the videographer's last three or four clients to use as references.

Judging Quality
You don't need to be a professional film critic to know if a video is well shot or not. Trust your instincts. There shouldn't be repeated blurriness, muddy colors, or poor framing. The picture shouldn't be shaky and the camera movement and angles should feel natural and comfortable. The scenes shouldn't drag, and transitions from scene to scene should not be noticeable. Also take note of the behavior of the other people on the tape; if they seem uncomfortable, it may be because the videographer was intrusive.

Cost
According to Roy Chapman of Wedding and Event Videographers Association, the fee for a wedding video begins at less than $1,000 and can rise to higher than $5,000. Draft a contract that will be signed by the bride and groom and the videographer stipulating what the total cost covers, including the method of editing and any special effects that will be edited in. Include the name of the videographer, requested attire, hours of coverage, arrival times, overtime fees, schedule for delivery, amount of deposit, payment schedule, and cancellation policy.