Wedding Slide Show: Best Tools For A Memorable Display

what to use for a slide show at a wedding

Wedding slideshows are a great way to showcase your story as a couple and to give guests a fun and engaging way to connect with you and each other. They can be used to reminisce about the past, present, and future, with photos and videos from your childhood, first date, anniversaries, and proposal. You can also include your family and friends in the slideshow, as they are an important part of your life and can make the slideshow more interesting. Slideshows can be played during the rehearsal dinner, cocktail hour, or reception, either as a dedicated viewing or in the background. There are many tools available to create a wedding slideshow, such as Smilebox and Canva, which offer customizable templates, music, and sharing options.

Characteristics Values
Number of photos 25-30 photos
Length Less than 5 minutes
Theme Couple's past, present and future, summer memories, etc.
Music "Summer" by Calvin Harris, "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves, "Never Grow Up" by Taylor Swift, "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri, etc.
Video clips Childhood videos, first date, anniversaries, proposal, choreographed dance, etc.
Text Subtitles or captions with location and date
Software Smilebox, Canva

shunbridal

Photos and videos

You can include photos and videos from summer memories, such as beach trips, backyard barbecues, or favourite summertime activities as a couple or with family. You could also centre your slideshow around your travels, including photos and videos from previous trips as a couple and with family.

Another popular theme for wedding slideshows is a couple's past, present, and future. You can include funny or embarrassing childhood photos and videos, as well as romantic photos and videos of milestones like your first date, anniversaries, or the proposal. Don't feel like you have to keep the slideshow just about the couple—include friends and family too, as it's a nice way to show how important they are to you and makes the slideshow more interesting.

You can use photos and videos from your phone's camera roll or memory cards from cameras or video cameras. You can also crowdsource content from friends and family who may have relevant photos.

There are many free online slideshow makers available, such as Smilebox and Canva, which offer templates, customisation options, and the ability to add music and captions.

shunbridal

Music

The type of slideshow you create will influence your music selection. If you want an upbeat and happy slideshow, choose more energetic and lively songs. On the other hand, if you're aiming for a more romantic and somber tone, opt for classic love songs or ballads. For instance, "Still The One" by Shania Twain or "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong are recommended choices by wedding experts.

It's also essential to consider the length of your slideshow. A maximum of 6 to 10 minutes is ideal to hold your guests' attention. Choose 2 to 3 songs that match the overall mood you want to create. If you're showcasing milestones in the couple's lives, you might want to select songs that have a nostalgic feel or match the era of the photos. For instance, a song about summer, such as "Summer" by Calvin Harris or "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves, could be perfect for a summer wedding slideshow.

While it's essential to consider themes and tones, ultimately, the music you choose should resonate with you as a couple. Select songs that hold personal meaning or convey the message you want to express through your slideshow. Whether it's a modern love song or a timeless classic, ensure that it reflects your personalities and the story you want to tell.

Creating a wedding slideshow with music is a fun and creative process. Don't be afraid to explore different options and trust your instincts when selecting the perfect soundtrack for this special moment.

shunbridal

Themes

Wedding slideshows are a great way to showcase your story as a couple and allow your guests to connect with you and each other. When it comes to themes, here are some ideas to consider:

Past, Present, and Future:

This theme focuses on the couple's journey from the past to the present and looks forward to the future. You can include childhood photos and videos, romantic photos, and even pictures from the first time you met or your first date. This theme can be paired with songs like "Never Grow Up" by Taylor Swift and "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri.

Summer Love:

For a summer wedding, create a feel-good slideshow filled with summer memories. Include photos and videos from beach trips, backyard barbecues, or your favourite summertime activities as a couple or with family. Pair this theme with summer-themed songs like "Summer" by Calvin Harris and "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves.

Love Story:

Share your love story with your guests through a romantic montage of photos and videos. Begin with photos from your first dates and end with the proposal. You can also include milestones like anniversaries. This theme can be enhanced with carefully selected music and text.

Humorous Memories:

Create a fun and humorous slideshow with plenty of pictures featuring your friends and family. Upbeat and happy music will complement this theme well. You can include funny childhood videos or memories of fun times with your loved ones.

Travel Tales:

If you're a travelling couple or having a destination wedding, create a slideshow centred around your travels. Include photos and videos from your previous trips as a couple and with family. This theme can be a wonderful way to showcase your adventures and experiences together.

Remember, you can customise your slideshow to fit your unique taste and style. You can also involve your friends, family, or wedding party to make it more collaborative and engaging for your guests.

shunbridal

Timing

If you opt for a designated time slot for everyone to watch the slideshow together, it's recommended to keep it brief. The ideal length is said to be around 30 photos or less than 5 minutes to maintain your guests' interest. This timing ensures that your guests remain engaged and don't lose focus.

However, if you prefer to have the slideshow playing in the background during the cocktail reception or dinner, a longer presentation is perfectly acceptable. This approach allows guests to view the slideshow at their leisure without feeling obligated to watch continuously.

When deciding on the timing, consider the content and pace of your slideshow. You can maintain the energy and engagement by using portions of multiple songs or varying the pace with different types of content, such as photos, videos, and even voiceovers.

Additionally, you may want to time your slideshow to align with specific moments during the wedding festivities. For example, you could set aside time during the rehearsal dinner or reception for guests to actively view the slideshow together, creating a shared experience. Alternatively, you can choose to have it playing subtly in the background during these events, allowing guests to glance at it casually.

Lastly, don't forget to consider the overall flow of your wedding festivities when timing your slideshow. You can use it as an icebreaker during lulls in the event or as a fun intermission between other activities. By timing it appropriately, you can ensure that the slideshow complements the natural flow of your wedding celebrations.

Spotify at Weddings: Is It Legal?

You may want to see also

shunbridal

Friends and family

Wedding slideshows are a great way to showcase your story as a couple and give guests, especially friends and family, a fun way to connect with you and each other. It is a chance to reminisce and for your guests to feel involved.

It is important to remember that while the slideshow is about you, not all the pictures should be of just the two of you. Your friends and family will be looking out for images of themselves with you, so be sure to include those. It is a nice way to show how important these people are to you and makes the slideshow more interesting. You can also interview your friends and family about your story as a couple and record their words of marriage advice.

If you are having a destination wedding, you can centre your wedding slideshow around your previous travels, both as a couple and with family and friends. A summer wedding slideshow could be filled with summer memories, such as photos and videos from the beach, backyard barbecues, or favourite summertime activities.

You can also include funny or embarrassing childhood photos and videos of yourselves, as well as romantic photos. If you have any photos from the first time you met or your first date, be sure to include those too. You can also include milestones like anniversaries or the proposal.

A bright, fun slideshow with humour and pictures with friends pairs well with happy, upbeat music. You can also choose music that is significant to you as a couple.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

- Include at least 25 photos.

- If you opt for a designated time for guests to watch the slideshow, keep it under five minutes or use less than 30 photos to avoid losing your guests' interest.

- If you're playing the slideshow in the background, a longer presentation is fine.

- Add captions with the location and date to provide context.

- Include photos and videos of your friends and family.

- Choose music that is significant to you as a couple.

You can use various themes for your wedding slideshow, such as:

- A couple's past, present, and future: Include funny childhood photos, romantic photos, and pictures from your first date or first meeting.

- Summer memories: If you're having a summer wedding, create a feel-good slideshow with photos and videos from beach trips, backyard barbecues, and summertime activities. Pair it with summer-themed songs.

- Travel: If you're a travelling couple or having a destination wedding, create a slideshow centred around your travels, including photos and videos from your journeys.

You can use various online tools and templates to create your wedding slideshow, such as Smilebox and Canva. These platforms offer customizable templates, user-friendly editing tools, and the ability to add music and captions.

Written by
Reviewed by

Explore related products

Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment