Yes, you will almost always be able to film video inside the church during the ceremony. That said, the parish priest sets the conditions. He decides where filming takes place from, at which moments, and how much the person holding the camera can move around. So the exact answer depends on your church and on what you agree with him before the wedding.
Rules that come up everywhere
Some rules come up almost everywhere. The first has to do with space. Whoever is filming won't be able to move freely around the church or walk up and down the aisles filming the guests. The usual approach is to work from one or two fixed positions. The second has to do with respect. In a church it is not permitted to film sensual videos or anything at odds with the setting. Some dioceses even have a ten-point code for the use of photo and video cameras in churches. Ask whether yours has one.
What about a drone?
And a drone? So far, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has said nothing that expressly prohibits using one to film Mass. Even so, the parish priest can say no. Inside his church, he has the final say.
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You choose the photographer
There is another question that comes up very often. During the preparations, sometimes the church itself tries to choose the photographer, the flowers, the organist or the music. Can the parish priest make you hire his photographer? No. Gerardo Ruiz, a lawyer at Legálitas, explained this during an online Q&A on weddings, baptisms and communions: no law allows the parish to impose the ceremony photographer, and neither does Canon Law. You can choose whoever you like. What that person will have to do is respect the church's rules.
A discreet corner is enough
Photographers who work in churches take this for granted. They adapt to what's there and to what they're allowed to do. A good wedding photograph and a good wedding video turn out just as well from a discreet corner.
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Three questions for the priest
Already have your date and church? Book an appointment with the parish priest and ask him three things: whether filming is allowed, from where, and whether there are any written rules. Note down what he tells you and pass it on to whoever will be doing your photography and video. That way nobody gets any surprises on the day.
Photography and video in Asturias
If you're still looking, Evan & Natalia Simon offer wedding photography and video for a select number of weddings in Gijón and across the rest of Asturias. They also work with brands and businesses. If you like, tell them about your church on a free call.
