Creating A Wedding Slideshow Backdrop: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding slideshows are a fun way to showcase the journey of the couple and create a dialogue with guests. They can be played during the wedding or at the rehearsal dinner. The length of the slideshow can vary depending on whether it is playing in the background or if there is a dedicated time for guests to watch it. A good length for a slideshow that is being watched by all guests is 5-10 minutes, which equates to 60-120 photos. For a slideshow playing in the background, a longer presentation is fine. There are many tools and software available to create a wedding slideshow, such as Canva, iMovie, PowerPoint, Adobe Express, Smilebox, Animotica, Animoto, and Adobe Spark. These tools offer various features such as templates, drag-and-drop interfaces, captioning, and the ability to add music and transitions. When creating a wedding slideshow, it is important to choose a theme, select appropriate photos and videos, and determine the length and display method.

Choosing a theme

Consider your journey as a couple:

Think about the milestones in your relationship, such as your first date, anniversaries, and the proposal. These moments can be a great source of inspiration for your slideshow theme. For example, if you have a lot of photos from your travels together, you could create a travel-themed slideshow.

Involve your friends and family:

Your wedding slideshow doesn't have to be just about you and your partner. Include photos and videos of your friends and family, especially those who will be attending the wedding. This will make your slideshow more collaborative and engaging for your guests. You can even crowdsource content from them to include in your slideshow.

Focus on a specific time period:

A popular theme for wedding slideshows is to showcase the couple's past, present, and future. This can include funny childhood photos, romantic moments from the present, and even aspirations for the future. It's a great way to give your guests a glimpse into your individual lives before you met, as well as your life together.

Match your wedding colours:

If you want a more elegant and cohesive look, consider using your wedding colours as the theme for your slideshow. This can be reflected in the background, text colour, and even the outfits in the photos you choose. This will create a seamless visual connection between your slideshow and the rest of your wedding decor.

Tell a story:

Think of your slideshow as a narrative. It can be a love story, a funny tale, or even a documentary-style presentation. For example, you could create a slideshow that tells the story of how you met, your first date, and the milestones that led to your wedding day. Adding captions or subtitles to your photos can also help convey your story.

Use pre-made templates:

If you're looking for inspiration, there are many websites that offer free customizable wedding slideshow templates. These templates come in various styles, such as elegant, romantic, minimal, floral, or quirky. You can browse these templates and choose one that aligns with your theme. This will give you a starting point that you can further customize with your photos, videos, and personal touches.

Selecting software

There are many software options available to create a wedding slideshow, with some of the most popular being Smilebox, Animaker, SmartSHOW 3D, and Animoto. When selecting software, it's important to consider the features that are most important to you. Do you want a simple, drag-and-drop interface, or do you need more advanced customisation options? Do you want to be able to upload your own photos, videos, and music, or will you be using stock content? What kind of themes or templates do you want to choose from?

Smilebox is a free online wedding slideshow maker that offers a variety of customisation options, including music, colours, text, and animation. It also allows you to upload photos from your computer, phone, and social media accounts. You can save and share your slideshow via social media or email, and even use it as a unique wedding invitation.

Animaker is another popular option, offering 500+ wedding slideshow templates, 100+ special royalty-free music tracks, and a huge library of animated assets, GIFs, and transition effects. You can also convert your horizontal wedding slideshow to a vertical format with a single click, making it easy to share on smartphones.

SmartSHOW 3D is a versatile software that combines an easy drag-and-drop workflow with a rich toolkit. It offers a collection of pre-designed templates, a built-in photo editor, and a music library. You can also create a wedding video from scratch using the software's library of animations, transitions, and 3D collages.

Animoto is a free online video maker with simple drag-and-drop tools and a number of beautiful wedding templates. It also has a free music library to elevate your slideshow. However, it requires an internet connection and may pose a potential privacy breach as you need to upload your photos to the website.

Other software options include Adobe Spark, Keynote, and PowerPoint. If you're looking for a more comprehensive solution, you can also hire a graphic designer or audiovisual professional to help you create your slideshow.

Picking photos and videos

Variety is Key:

Aim for a mix of photos and videos that showcase different phases of your life. Include pictures from your childhood, single life, and milestones in your relationship, such as your first date, anniversaries, and the proposal. This will give your guests a glimpse into your individual journeys and the story of your relationship.

Quality Matters:

Choose high-quality, high-resolution images that will look clear and crisp during the slideshow. This is especially important if the slideshow will be displayed on a large screen, as low-resolution images may appear blurry or pixelated.

Include Loved Ones:

While the slideshow is primarily about you and your partner, consider adding photos and videos with your close friends and family members. It's a wonderful way to showcase the important people in your life and make your guests feel included. Look for images where your loved ones are sharing special moments with you, whether it's a hug, a laugh, or a fun activity.

Keep it Appropriate:

Remember that your wedding guests will include people of all ages and backgrounds. Choose images and videos that are tasteful and suitable for everyone. Avoid anything that might be considered inappropriate or offensive.

Consider Captions:

If your slideshow will include images or videos from various stages of your life, consider adding captions or subtitles to provide context. This is especially helpful if your guests may not recognise the locations or dates of certain memories. Captions can add a narrative element to your slideshow, making it easier for guests to follow your love story.

Seek Help if Needed:

Curating photos and videos can be a challenging task, so don't hesitate to ask for help. Enlist the assistance of a close friend or family member who can provide an objective perspective. They can help you select the most flattering and meaningful images, ensuring that your slideshow is engaging and well-received by your guests.

Adding music

There are a few ways to approach adding music to your slideshow. Firstly, you could choose songs that are meaningful to you as a couple. Perhaps you have a song that you danced to at a memorable event, or a song that played during your first date. Adding songs like this will make your slideshow extra special and unique to your love story.

You could also opt for popular wedding songs, or fun, upbeat wedding music. If you are creating a bright and fun slideshow with lots of humour and pictures with friends, this type of music will pair well with your visuals. If your slideshow is more focused on the romance of your relationship, slower, more romantic songs will be a better fit.

You can also choose to use just a portion of each song, such as the chorus, to keep the energy up and allow you to include more songs. You can also adjust the volume of the songs and add fade-in and fade-out effects to make the music match your slideshow perfectly.

If you are unsure about which songs to choose, there are online slideshow makers that offer free music libraries to help you find the perfect fit. Smilebox, for example, offers professionally-designed templates and the ability to add music and captions to your slideshow. FlexClip is another free tool that offers royalty-free stock music and pre-made slideshow templates.

Displaying the slideshow

Displaying your wedding slideshow is the final step in sharing your love story with your guests. Here are some tips to ensure your slideshow is presented in the best way possible.

Firstly, decide whether you want to display your slideshow at an organised time, where all your guests will watch simultaneously, or whether you want it to play in the background during your cocktail hour or reception. If you opt for the former, keep the slideshow under five minutes to maintain your guests' interest. If you choose the latter, a longer presentation is more suitable.

Next, consider the equipment you will need. If you want to display your slideshow on a large screen, you will likely need a projector. Otherwise, a big-screen television will often suffice.

Finally, assign someone to be in charge of setting up and playing the slideshow on the day. This could be your DJ or a tech-savvy member of the wedding party. This will ensure that everything runs smoothly and that any technical problems are swiftly addressed.

Frequently asked questions