Creating Wedding Slideshows With Windows Movie Maker

Wedding slideshows are a great way to showcase the love story of a couple and can be used on many occasions, such as an engagement party, rehearsal dinner, or wedding reception. Creating a wedding slideshow with Windows Movie Maker is easy and allows you to add your personal touch. In a few simple steps, you can create a memorable slideshow with your choice of music, photos, and videos. You can also add special effects, transitions, and titles to make your slideshow engaging and entertaining for your guests. With Windows Movie Maker, you have the option to control every detail of the slideshow creation process or use the automatic Slideshow Wizard mode. This guide will teach you how to make a wedding slideshow with Windows Movie Maker, from selecting the right tools to customizing and sharing your final product.

Picking a suitable slideshow maker

• Ease of use: Select a slideshow maker that is user-friendly and intuitive, especially if you are a beginner. Some software offers a simple drag-and-drop interface, while others may have a steeper learning curve.
• Customization options: Look for a slideshow maker that offers a wide range of templates, themes, and customization options to personalize your slideshow. This includes the ability to add text, animations, and transitions to make your slideshow unique.
• Media compatibility: Ensure that the slideshow maker supports various media formats, such as photos, videos, and music tracks. This will allow you to incorporate different types of content into your slideshow.
• Sharing and export options: Choose a slideshow maker that allows you to easily share your creation with others. Look for software that offers professional-quality exports and the ability to share on social media or via email.
• Device compatibility: Consider the devices you will be using to create and display your slideshow. Some slideshow makers are designed for specific operating systems, such as Windows or Mac, while others offer online or mobile versions.

• FlexClip: FlexClip offers a wide range of romantic wedding slideshow templates and an extensive media library. It provides basic photo editing tools and animations to enhance your slideshow. However, it may require a premium plan to access more advanced features.
• Kizoa: Kizoa allows for customization of scene duration, transitions, and audio volume. It supports various display modes, including landscape, square, or portrait. However, it may not handle a large number of photos uploaded simultaneously.
• Renderforest: Renderforest offers beautiful wedding slideshow templates, some with 3D frames and overlays. While it provides many editing tools, there may be limitations in accessing certain features.
• Movavi Slideshow Maker: Movavi is compatible with both Windows and Mac and offers a wide range of tools and elements, such as transition effects, photo filters, stickers, and captions. However, the abundance of professional features may be overwhelming for beginners.
• Muvee Wedding Studio: Muvee Wedding Studio provides an intuitive workflow, making it ideal for beginners. You can easily add photos, music files, and videos to create a professional-looking slideshow. However, some templates and add-ons may be limited.
• Smilebox: Smilebox offers a simple and enjoyable slideshow creation process with a variety of templates and customization options. It provides options for music, colours, text, and animation to express your feelings and set the right tone for your wedding.
• Animaker: Animaker offers 500+ wedding slideshow templates and 100+ special royalty-free music tracks. It provides a user-friendly interface and allows for extensive customization with animated assets, GIFs, and transition effects.

Choosing your photos

Choosing the photos for your wedding slideshow is a very important step in the process. The images you include should tell the story of your time as a couple and showcase different phases of your life, from childhood to single life to life as a couple. This is a great opportunity to include photos of key milestones, such as your first date, anniversaries, and the proposal. While the slideshow is primarily about you, it's a good idea to include photos of your close friends and family as well, as they will likely be looking forward to seeing themselves in the slideshow.

When selecting photos, aim for high-quality, high-resolution images that will show up well when projected and can be seen clearly from a distance. Try to choose mostly horizontal photos, as these fill the screen better than vertical ones. Candid, action shots are usually better than posed portraits, and it's best to avoid low-light images, grainy pictures, and large group photos or long-distance shots.

If you're creating a chronological slideshow, you can start with childhood photos of the bride and groom, followed by photos of you both together. Alternatively, you can alternate childhood photos to show the bride and groom growing up simultaneously, perhaps even doing the same activities. If you have a specific theme for your slideshow, such as "Past, Present, Future," you can select photos that fit within that theme.

For a standard-length slideshow, aim to include around 25-60 photos, depending on whether you also plan to include video clips. If you're playing the slideshow in the background at an event, you can make it longer, but if you're displaying it during a dedicated time slot, it's best to keep it under five minutes to maintain your guests' interest.

Once you've selected your photos, you can use a platform like Smilebox or Canva to create your slideshow, adding music, text, and animations to make it truly memorable.

Adding music

Using FilmForth Slideshow Maker:

• Click on the audio track in the timeline.
• Click "Add audio".
• Choose your music: select from the ready-made music library, upload your own music, or record and add your voice.
• Trim the audio: drag the handlebar of the audio track in the timeline to adjust its length.

Using Movavi Slideshow Maker:

Slideshow Wizard Mode:

• Drag and drop your music files into the working area, or click "+Music" in the "Music" tab to import music files.
• Choose a song: select a song that holds a special meaning for the couple or pick from the built-in music library.

Manual Mode:

• Click the "Add Media Files" button to import your music or other audio files.
• Alternatively, click "Music" to use soundtracks from the program's media library.

Using Microsoft Movie Maker:

• Go to the "Edit soundtrack" tab.
• Click "Insert music" to browse and select your music files.
• You can also record your own audio if you prefer.

Using Icecream Slideshow Maker:

• Use the "Add Audio" button or simply drag and drop your music files into the program.
• Reorder the music files if needed.
• Loop the background audio, set the offset, and adjust the fade as desired.

Remember to choose music that complements the mood and theme of your wedding slideshow. You can also adjust the volume of the music to ensure it accompanies your slideshow without being too distracting.

Customising your slideshow

Customising your wedding slideshow is a fun and creative process that will truly make it your own. There are many ways to personalise your slideshow and make it unique to you and your partner. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Choose a Theme

Firstly, decide on a theme for your slideshow. This could be as simple as choosing a colour scheme that matches your wedding colours or a template that reflects your wedding style. You could also get creative and choose a theme that reflects your interests as a couple. For example, if you both love a particular movie, you could create a slideshow that mimics the style of that film.

Select Your Photos and Videos

The photos and videos you choose to include in your slideshow should tell the story of your relationship. Include images from different phases of your life, such as your childhood, single life, and life as a couple. Make sure to include key milestones, such as your first date, anniversaries, and the proposal. Don't forget to include your friends and family too, as they will likely be looking out for images of themselves, and it's a nice way to show how important they are to you.

Add Transitions and Effects

To make your slideshow flow smoothly, add transitions between your photos and videos. You can choose from a variety of effects, such as fades, or get more creative with special visual effects and filters. These will add a touch of magic and elegance to your slideshow.

Pick Your Music

Adding music to your slideshow will make it more engaging and entertaining for your guests. 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 could also include popular wedding songs or choose music that reflects the tone of your slideshow. For example, if your slideshow is bright and fun, pair it with happy and upbeat music.

Include Titles and Captions

Add unique titles and captions to your slideshow to make it more personal. Include quotes and personal wishes, and don't forget to include the happy couple's names!

Voiceovers and Interviews

For a truly unique slideshow, consider including a voiceover or interview with you and your partner. This could be a fun way to share your story and will add a layer of emotion and intimacy to your slideshow.

Remember, the customisation options are endless, and the most important thing is to choose elements that reflect your personality and style. With these ideas, you can create a memorable and engaging wedding slideshow that will wow your guests!

Saving and sharing your slideshow

Once you've created your wedding slideshow, you'll want to save and share it with your friends and family. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do that using Windows Movie Maker:

Saving your slideshow

• Click on the "File" button located on the top-left corner of the Windows Movie Maker window to open the file panel.
• Click on the "Save project" option from the project toolbar to save your project for future edits. Enter a name for your project and select "OK". Note that a project is not a video file and can only be opened by Windows Movie Maker via the Manage Projects page.
• If you want to export your project as a video file, select "Save video" from the project toolbar. You can choose the location to store the output video file, and it can be opened with most video player software.
• Choose the appropriate video encoding options for your output video file. This includes selecting the resolution, frame rate, video format, video encoder, and bitrate. These settings will impact the quality and file size of your slideshow video.
• If you want to save your slideshow video using the recommended settings, go to the ribbon and click the "Save movie" button in the "Share" section on the Home tab. This will use settings that balance file size and video quality.
• Type a file name and choose the video file type you want: MPEG Video File (*.mp4) or Windows Media Video File (*.wmv).

Sharing your slideshow

• After saving your slideshow, you can share it with your loved ones in several ways. Windows Movie Maker allows direct uploading to social media platforms and websites, including OneDrive, YouTube, Facebook, Flickr, Vimeo, and Flickr.
• If you want to share your slideshow via email or burn it to a DVD, you can use Windows Movie Maker's pre-set video settings. Click the small triangle on the "Save movie" button and select the appropriate option from the drop-down menu.
• You can also create a custom setting for your slideshow video by clicking on the "Create custom setting" button in the "Save movie" sub-menu. Here, you can adjust the width, height, bit rate, frame rate, and audio format to optimise the video for playback on specific devices.
• Once you've saved your slideshow with the desired settings, you can share the video file via email, messaging apps, or by uploading it to a platform of your choice.

Remember to save your work frequently to avoid losing any progress. Now you're ready to showcase your wedding slideshow and share those precious moments with your loved ones!

Frequently asked questions