A sparkly shoe sets the scene as a wedding outfit reveal plays on Instagram. It’s just one of the many types of social media videos created by Dearly Beloved Social. Photo: Dearly Beloved Social
Dearly Beloved Social reimagines wedding videos for the social media age.
Planning a wedding comes with a large set of checklists, from finding the perfect dress to selecting who will capture moments from the big day. While planning her own wedding, content creator and influencer Shelby Stahl was inspired to grow her established business by offering something she knew other couples would find beneficial.
“I wanted to create another option for couples so the specialness of their day can be captured but not at the level of investment that a videographer would bring,” she says. “Videographers can run from $4,000 to $12,000, and while I loved having a videographer, I know there are a lot of couples who cannot afford that or aren’t looking for that cinematic video. A lot of couples are just looking for something to share on social media or just keep for themselves.”
As the owner of Beloved Social, an agency that specializes in content creation, copywriting, editing, influencer management and more, Stahl used her own experience to expand on what she is already good at and started Dearly Beloved Social. The spinoff company creates authentic, real-time photos, videos and the latest TikTok trends. “We’re there to capture the special, candid moments of the day,” she says. “We want to be your friends in the room. We use our people skills as content creators to create a safe, comfortable space.”
Stahl and her team, Emilie Gruell and Hannah Swenson, have filmed weddings across the Twin Cities, including several for couples from Edina. They focus on getting the video the bride or groom are looking to share on their socials or one they want to keep in their camera roll for themselves to enjoy while scrolling long after the wedding guests leave. “There’s a misconception that what we do is just for the girls on Instagram,” Stahl says. “You don’t have to post it. You can have something that holds a lot of value for you personally.”
Stahl says having a team of three allows for a level of confidence in couples who hire them. Many people in the up-and-coming social media-based industry work as solo entrepreneurs. “We’re a really strong team, and we have a 48-hour window to deliver raw content,” she says. “Within a week, we do additional edits or specific trends. We’ll edit that with you, depending on the package purchased.” The quick turnaround allows the opportunity for couples to relive their day almost instantly. “It helps hold over couples waiting for their wedding photos or video,” Stahl says.
As a queer-owned business, Stahl says Dearly Beloved Social is committed to inclusivity and ensures all couples are celebrated in whatever way brings them joy on their special day. “We just want everyone to be able to have footage of their day,” Stahl says. “Video captures moments and feelings. I’m often told people wish they had more videos of their wedding … I want to be an accessible, affordable option for couples to complement their wedding photographers and videographers,” Stahl says.
Dearly Beloved Social
Instagram: @belovedsocial
