Commissioned animated films · The Better Best Man
Your love story, commissioned as a short animated film
This isn't a template or an order form. It's a small piece of art made for two people. You tell us your story, and we turn it into a short animated wedding video that feels like yours.
What Jon and Mikaela said
★★★★★
An Unforgettable Highlight of Our Wedding!
One of the most special and memorable parts of our wedding was getting to share our love story in such a unique, creative, and beautifully animated way!
We featured the video as a special surprise from our best man, giving guests access through QR codes we placed throughout our wedding. The response was incredible. Our friends and family were absolutely blown away, and it quickly became one of the most talked-about elements of the celebration.
Read the full review
What made it so meaningful was seeing our story brought to life in a way that was both artistic and deeply personal. It captured something that photos and traditional wedding keepsakes simply can’t replicate.
And the best part? The excitement didn’t end when the wedding was over. Weeks later, friends and family are still watching, sharing, and talking about the video!
Of all the personal touches we incorporated into our wedding, this was genuinely one of our favorites. It’s an incredible keepsake that we’ll treasure for years to come, and I can’t recommend it highly enough to any couple looking for something truly special.
What is an animated wedding video?
It's a short cartoon film about your relationship, and you two are the main characters. We draw you from your photos and build each scene from your real story: how you met, the proposal, the wedding, and whatever else matters to you. We recommend 60 seconds. It's long enough to tell the whole story without losing the room. Ours are commissioned one at a time, so no two are alike.
It starts with your story
Until now, we only made these for friends and family. If you know us, you know. Now we're opening it up to everyone.
After you book, you'll get a link to your story form. Answer the questions, upload your photos and send it over. If we have questions, we'll email you, and if a quick call would help, we'll hop on one. Whatever works for you. The more you tell us, the better your film turns out.
Start your commission.
A $100 deposit puts you on our calendar. It counts toward your total and is fully refundable until we begin.
Tell us your story.
Fill out the story form and upload your photos. Take your time.
We make your film.
It takes about 2 weeks once we have your story and photos. You see it before it's final and get one round of small fixes.
Your premiere.
Play it at the reception, send it to your guests, or keep it for the two of you.
Your story, told in moments
Every love story has its big moments. You pick the ones that matter, and we turn them into scenes.
How you met
The party, the app, the coffee shop, the class.
The first date
Where you went and what happened.
Falling for each other
Trips, inside jokes, the dog, the first apartment.
The proposal
Where, how, and what they said.
Engaged life
Planning, moving in, the countdown.
The wedding day
Your venue, your look, your first dance.
What's next
A new home, a baby on the way, the next adventure.
Any order works. Start at the altar and flash back, or tell it front to back. Your film's length decides how many moments fit. You'll see the counts in the prices below.
You don't need to have it figured out.
Our story form walks you through each moment with a few simple questions. A few sentences each is plenty. If you have photos from a moment, you can upload them right there.
How much does an animated wedding video cost?
Commissions start at $395. The price depends on length, because a longer film means more moments and more scenes.
- 30 seconds$3952 or 3 moments
- 60 seconds$7504 or 5 moments
- 90 seconds$1,0506 or 7 moments, with an opening title
- 2 minutes$1,3508 or more moments, with an opening title. The length of our sample.
Need it sooner, want a version shaped for phones, or have a pet, kid or someone from the wedding party who belongs in the story? We can do all of that. We'll sort it out by email. 2 minutes is the longest we make.
Where can we play it?
- On the big screen at the receptionRight before your first dance is a great moment.
- On a projectorAny blank wall or white sheet works during cocktail hour.
- With a QR code on the tablesGuests scan it from their table card or menu.
- As your save-the-dateText or email it instead of mailing a card.
- On your wedding websitePut it at the top so it's the first thing guests see.
- At the rehearsal dinnerShow it to your closest family and friends the night before.
- On your thank-you cardsAdd a QR code so guests can watch it again at home.
- As an anniversary giftIt makes a great surprise for your first anniversary.
Who is it for?
Couples who want something at their wedding nobody has seen before. Best men and maids of honor looking for a gift that goes with the speech. Parents who want a keepsake of their kid's story. If you're giving it as a surprise, you can fill out the story form for them.
How we work together
You bring the story. We bring the art. Like any commission, the artistic direction is ours, and that's what keeps every film looking the way you see here.
What you send
Photos, your stories, and references for the things that matter to you, like your dog, your venue or the dress. We'll work them in where we reasonably can.
What we decide
The animation style, how each scene looks, the order of the story and the music. We'll always listen to your ideas and work in what we reasonably can.
Music
Every film gets an original instrumental track made just for it, so it's safe to post. We can't add popular songs, but we'll send you a copy with no music so you can play your own song at the reception.
Changes
You see your video before it's final and get one round of small fixes, like a hair color, an outfit or a name spelling. Changes to the style, scenes or music aren't included.
Sharing
We may show your video as an example of our work. If you'd rather we didn't, uncheck the box in your story form.
Meet the team
We're Jon and Caleb, the co-founders of The Better Best Man. We do the creative work behind everything BBM puts out, from the Reels to the speech guides to these films. On every commission, we shape the story and the creative direction together.
Caleb handles the animation and motion graphics. He made the first film as a wedding gift for Jon and Mikaela, and it's the sample at the top of this page.
Jon writes the words and handles the music. He also runs the BBM brand and community, and he's the voice behind the Reels. He's the groom in our sample video, so he knows what it feels like to see your own story on screen.
Start a commission
It's $100 to get on our calendar. That counts toward your total, and it's fully refundable until we begin. After you book, we'll send you a link to your story form.
Questions people ask
Who makes these videos?
The Better Best Man, run by co-founders Jon Bruhin and Caleb Rabadan. We shape the story and creative direction together. Caleb handles the animation and motion graphics, and Jon writes the words and handles the music. We started making these after Caleb made one for Jon and Mikaela's wedding.
Do you use AI to make these?
Yes. We use AI animation tools, and we direct, edit and finish every film ourselves. That's how we can make something this personal in about 2 weeks.
Do we have to get on a call?
No. Most commissions happen through our story form and email. If a quick call would help, we're happy to set one up.
How much does a custom animated wedding video cost?
Ours cost $395 for 30 seconds, $750 for 60 seconds, $1,050 for 90 seconds and $1,350 for 2 minutes. You start a commission with a $100 deposit that counts toward the price.
How long does it take to make?
About 2 weeks once we have your story and photos. If your date is close, we can do it in 5 days for an extra $250.
Will it actually look like us?
Yes, in our animated style. We match your hair, face and style from your photos. You see it before it's final and get one round of small fixes.
Can we choose the style or direct the scenes?
The style and scene direction are ours. That's how every video keeps the look you see in our sample. You choose the moments and send references, and we include them where we reasonably can.
What do we need to send?
8 to 15 clear photos of each of you, with your face from a few angles and a couple of full-length shots, plus 3 to 5 photos of your venue and any photos from your big moments. You upload everything through your story form after you book. If it's easier, share a link to an album or reply to your booking email with everything.
What if we're not good at telling our story?
That's what the story form is for. It asks simple questions for each moment, and a few sentences each is plenty. We'll email you if we need more.
Do we need photos of every moment?
No. Photos from a moment help us get the details right, like the restaurant or the place you got engaged, but your description is enough.
Can we tell our story in a different order?
Yes. You can start at the wedding and flash back to how you met, or tell it front to back. Tell us how you'd like it to flow and we'll build the scenes around it.
Where can we show it at the wedding?
The most popular spot is the reception screen or a projector, right before the first dance. You can also share it with a QR code on the tables, use it as a save-the-date or put it on your wedding website.
Can we use our own song?
Every film gets an original instrumental track made just for it, so it's safe to post online. We can't add popular songs, but we'll send you a copy with no music so you can play your own song at the reception.
Is the deposit refundable?
Yes. You can get your $100 back any time before we begin. After that, it goes toward your film.
Can I give it as a gift?
Yes. It makes a great gift from a best man, maid of honor or parent. Tell us it's a surprise and you can fill out the story form for them.
Can we share it?
Yes, it's yours. Post it, project it or send it to family.
Who owns the film?
You do, for personal use. Play it, post it, share it. We keep the right to show it as an example of our work unless you ask us not to.