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

A wedding rehearsal slideshow is a great way to showcase the couple's love story and put their romance into perspective. It can be played at the rehearsal dinner or reception and typically includes photos and videos from their lives, including childhood pictures, romantic snaps, and photos with friends and family. The slideshow can be made using various software and apps, such as Smilebox, Animotica, Animoto, Adobe Spark, Slidely, Movavi, iMovie, PowerPoint, and Canva. It should be kept short and sweet, with a duration of around 5-10 minutes, and paired with sentimental music to create a memorable and engaging presentation for guests.

Selecting photos and videos

Quality Over Quantity

It is better to choose high-quality, high-resolution photos that will look good when projected onto a large screen. Select the best photos that showcase your relationship and key milestones. You can include photos from your childhood, single life, and life as a couple.

Variety is Key

While the slideshow is about the happy couple, it is important to include photos with friends and family as well. Your guests will love seeing photos of themselves with the couple, and it's a great way to show how important these people are to you. A variety of photos will also make the slideshow more interesting.

Tell Your Love Story

Arrange the photos in chronological order, starting from when you first met to the present day. This will help your guests follow your love story and see your relationship's progression. Include photos from your first date, anniversaries, and the proposal if you have them.

Include Video Clips

Adding video clips from past vacations, dates, or milestones is a great way to make your slideshow more dynamic and entertaining. Keep the video clips short, around 10-20 seconds, to maintain your guests' attention.

Keep it Appropriate

Remember that your wedding slideshow will be viewed by a diverse audience, so choose photos and videos that are appropriate for all guests.

Ask for Help

If you're unsure which photos to choose, don't hesitate to ask your friends and family for their opinions. They may also have photos of you that you can include in the slideshow.

Choosing a template

There are many different templates available online, and some of the best wedding slideshow makers offer a range of wedding-specific templates. Smilebox, for example, offers a variety of wedding slideshow templates that can be customized with music, colors, text, and animation. Animoto is another great option, offering beautiful wedding templates with simple drag-and-drop tools. If you're looking for something more unique, Adobe Spark offers professionally designed templates with a focus on business-oriented slideshows, which could be a good option if you want to create a more modern or unconventional wedding slideshow.

When choosing a template, consider the overall aesthetic you want to achieve. Do you want something simple and elegant, or fun and playful? The template you choose should complement your photos and videos, not overwhelm them. Consider the color scheme, font style, and layout of the template, and how well they match the tone of your wedding.

In addition to the visual design, also think about the functionality of the template. How many photos and videos can it accommodate? Does it allow for text overlays or captions? Can you add music or other audio? Make sure the template you choose has all the features you need to effectively tell your story.

Finally, don't be afraid to get creative and think outside the box. If you can't find a template that perfectly matches your vision, consider combining elements from different templates or customizing a basic template to make it your own. With a little bit of creativity and experimentation, you can design a wedding slideshow that's truly unique and personalized.

Adding music

Choosing the Right Music

Select songs that are significant and meaningful to you and your partner. Consider songs that hold special memories, such as your favourite dance song or a song that played on your first date. You can also opt for popular wedding songs or fun, upbeat tunes that match the tone of your slideshow. If you're looking for a sentimental option, go for one of your first dance runner-up songs.

Creating the Right Atmosphere

When choosing your music, consider the tone and atmosphere you want to create. If your slideshow is bright, fun, and humorous with lots of pictures of friends, pair it with happy and upbeat music. On the other hand, if your slideshow focuses on romance and intimate moments, slower and more sentimental songs will create a fitting atmosphere.

Using Music to Maintain Interest

To keep your guests engaged, use only a portion of each song, such as the chorus. This will help maintain their interest and allow you to include a greater variety of songs.

Timing and Transitions

Ensure that your music matches the length of your slideshow. If it's playing during your rehearsal dinner, pair the images with a soundtrack that lasts throughout the event. If your slideshow is shorter, you can include several songs to create a playlist that extends slightly beyond the length of your slideshow.

Using Slideshow Software

Slideshow-building tools like Smilebox, Animoto, and iPhoto offer features that make it easy to add music to your slideshow. Smilebox, for example, provides a music library and the ability to upload your own songs. iPhoto allows you to choose music from your iTunes library and arrange the tracks in your desired sequence.

Technical Considerations

Don't forget to bring external speakers if your slideshow includes music. Check with your venue to ensure they have the necessary equipment and can assist you in testing the setup before the big day.

By following these steps and considering the impact of music on the overall presentation, you can effectively incorporate this element into your wedding rehearsal slideshow.

Viewing and editing

Once you've selected your photos and videos, and decided on a theme, it's time to start viewing and editing your wedding slideshow.

First, you'll need to choose a slideshow-building tool or software. If you have a Mac, iPhoto is a great option as it likely came pre-loaded on your machine. Other options include free online tools such as Smilebox, Animoto, Adobe Spark, Slidely, Movavi, and Canva. If you're already familiar with PowerPoint, this is another good option for creating your slideshow, but be sure to avoid business-oriented layouts so your slideshow doesn't look like a work presentation.

After selecting your software, upload your chosen photos and videos, and arrange them in your desired order. Most software will allow you to choose a template and then drag and drop your media into place. You can also add captions, text overlays, and stickers to your slides.

Next, add music to your slideshow. Choose songs that are significant to you as a couple, such as your favourite dance track or a song that played on your first date. You can also select from popular wedding slideshow songs or opt for fun, upbeat music if your slideshow has a lot of humour. If you plan to play your slideshow in the background during your event, you may want to forgo the music so that it doesn't compete with other ambient noise.

Once you've added your media and music, it's time to preview your slideshow. Watch it from start to finish and make any necessary tweaks, such as moving photos or songs around or adjusting the length of time each photo is displayed.

Finally, export your slideshow and save it to your computer or device. You may need to select a specific format, such as MP4 or MOV, depending on how you plan to display your slideshow. You can also burn your slideshow to a DVD or share it via email or social media.

Be sure to test your slideshow on the equipment you'll be using at your event, and don't forget to bring all the necessary cables and power cords!

Displaying the slideshow

Displaying your wedding slideshow is the moment all your hard work pays off. There are a few things to consider when it comes to sharing your creation with your guests.

Firstly, check with your venue to see what equipment they have available. You will likely need a laptop or tablet, a projector, a screen or pale-coloured wall, and the correct cables to connect your device to the projector. You may also need external speakers if your slideshow includes music.

If you are playing your slideshow during the rehearsal dinner, you may want to pair it with a soundtrack to play throughout the night. If you are playing it during the reception, it is best to leave it music-free so that your DJ or band can create the ambiance.

If you want to display your slideshow on a large movie-style screen, you will need a projector. Otherwise, a big-screen television will often suffice. You can also broadcast your slideshow directly from a tablet or laptop, or burn it to a DVD to play through a laptop.

Get creative with your projection and consider projecting your slideshow onto the ceiling of a tent or onto a pool. Just be sure to check all projection possibilities in advance and ensure your background colours are suitably adjusted to make the perfect contrast with your projection space.

Frequently asked questions