What is Super 8mm Film, and Why Is It SOO Trendy for Weddings?
If you had told me a few years ago that couples would be choosing a vintage film format for their modern weddings, I wouldn’t have been surprised—but I would have been excited.
As a wedding photographer who also shoots video, I’ve always been drawn to storytelling that feels real, intentional, and emotional. Super 8mm film does exactly that. And lately, more couples are asking about it—not as a novelty, but as a meaningful way to preserve their wedding day.
So let’s break it down.
What Exactly Is Super 8mm Film?
Super 8mm film is an analog motion picture format introduced in the 1960s. Long before digital video, Super 8 was used to capture family memories—holidays, birthdays, everyday life. It was never meant to be perfect. It was meant to be personal.
When used for weddings today, Super 8 creates:
Soft grain and warm tones
Natural motion with subtle flicker
A nostalgic, home-movie feel
Imperfect beauty that feels timeless
Each roll of film is physically loaded into the camera, carefully exposed, then sent to a lab to be developed and scanned. There’s intention behind every frame—no endless recording, no instant playback, no reshoots.
And that’s part of the magic.
Why Super 8 Feels So Different From Digital Video
Digital wedding films are beautiful. They’re sharp, polished, and cinematic. But Super 8 isn’t trying to compete with digital—it’s doing something entirely different.
Super 8 captures weddings the way memories actually feel. Slightly blurred. Emotional. Fleeting.
As someone who approaches weddings with a photographer’s eye, I love how Super 8 forces me to slow down and anticipate moments instead of chasing them. I’m watching hands, light, movement, and emotion—waiting for the moment to unfold naturally.
The result is a film that feels lived-in, not produced.
Why Super 8 Wedding Films Are So Trendy Right Now
Super 8 isn’t trending because it’s vintage.
It’s trending because couples are craving authenticity.
Weddings today are less about tradition for tradition’s sake and more about experience. Couples want their day to feel personal, intimate, and intentional—and they want their memories to reflect that.
Super 8 fits perfectly into modern wedding culture because:
Couples are prioritizing feeling over perfection
Documentary-style coverage is in demand
Nostalgia is making a comeback in a digital world
Film offers a sensory experience digital can’t replicate
In a world of 4K video and constant content, Super 8 feels refreshing. It stands out by slowing things down.
The Emotional Pull of Film
There’s something about knowing your wedding was captured on physical film—something that existed in real life before becoming a digital file.
Super 8 films feel like heirlooms. Like something you’d stumble upon years from now and instantly be transported back to how it felt to be there.
As a photographer, I’ve always believed the most powerful images aren’t the sharpest ones—they’re the ones that make you feel something. Super 8 operates on that same emotional wavelength.
Why Couples Choose Super 8 for Their Wedding Day
Couples who choose Super 8 usually aren’t chasing trends—they’re following intuition.
They’re drawn to:
Artful, nostalgic storytelling
Nontraditional wedding days
Intentional design and meaningful details
Memories that feel timeless instead of trendy
Super 8 becomes the perfect complement to digital photography and video, adding texture and emotion without overpowering the day.
Super 8 Isn’t Just a Trend—It’s a Return
While Super 8 may feel “trendy” right now, it’s really a return to something we lost along the way: documenting life simply because it matters.
From behind my camera, I see it again and again—Super 8 allows couples to be present. There’s no pressure to perform, no need to recreate moments. It just exists alongside the day.
And that’s why I believe Super 8 isn’t going anywhere.
It’s not about going backward.
It’s about remembering what makes memories meaningful in the first place.
Are you looking to book a Super 8 videographer for your event or wedding? If so, feel free to inquire with me here. It would be an honor to be a part of your special day!