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Captivating slide shows
We’ve all been there. A captive audience waiting for food when, suddenly, the lights dim
and a slide show featuring music from Whitney Houston and pictures of the wedding
couple begins.
Now it’s your turn. You’re engaged, you’ve forgotten your torturous brushes with slide
show tyranny, and you’re thinking that maybe a slide show is a good idea. It can be…if
you use your slide show to tell your story. Consider the needs of your guests and involve
them in the creation of your slide show to make it a memorable part of your reception.
First, tell your story. How did you meet? Do you have pictures of your days as a fledgling
couple? Are there special moments in your relationship that you want to share with your
guests? Perhaps you graduated together, entered a pie-eating contest, or took a trip to the
Grand Canyon. Find engaging photos of the two of you in action, rather than several
photos of the two of you standing together, smiling at the camera. Although the outfits
and backdrops may change, if all of your photos are basically the same, they are sure to
bore your audience. Action photos might include bowling shots, hiking, food fights, a day
at a local garden or amusement park – whatever you do together that is fun and
interesting to you will most likely be interesting to your audience as well. Next, consider
using recent photos, maybe of your engagement, a recent dinner or party, or photos taken
while planning the wedding. Maybe you went wine tasting or cake tasting, or took dance
classes – all of these are entertaining and tell your story.
Next, consider your audience. Presumably, most of your guests are friends and relatives.
Including photos of yourselves with your guests will interest them. Your guests will sit
on the edge of their seat wondering whether the next photo will include them. The photos
you select should always be tasteful and flattering. Your slide show is not an opportunity
to embarrass anyone, but rather a time to thank them for being part of your life as a
couple. Maybe you camped with part of your family last summer, or stayed with your
grandparents when you visited Chicago. Include a photo with all of you together. Holiday
photos are also nice to include. Maybe some photos include the groom with his best man
on a surf trip, or you and a bridesmaid horseback riding – these photos are priceless for
telling your story and involving your guests.
Another way to involve your guests is to collect photos and stories from them. Several
websites, such as Memorypost.com, now allow you to invite friends and relatives to
upload photos and share memories. You can gather these stories and quote them in your
slide show. You never know if Uncle Al and Aunt Mabel have an absolutely adorable
photo of the two of you from last year’s Fourth of July party, unless you ask. A website
makes gathering the photos easy and hassle-free. Send out an e-mail telling your close
friends and family members that you’re putting together a slide show for your wedding
reception. Give them at least a month to assemble materials and post them on your
website. Invite everyone to share unique stories about you, individually or as a couple,
and ask their permission to quote them in the slide show. Let them know that the slide
show will be short, so while you will try to include everyone’s photos and stories, some
may be left out, but will still be a cherished keepsake. Everyone will feel a part of your
story and your slide show presentation if you involve them in the planning.
Now, about the music: pick songs that are special to you. Be original. We’ve all been to
weddings where the songs seem to be part of a “wedding playlist.” If you feel “Greatest
Love of All” really describes you as a couple, then use it, however, if “Funky Cold
Medina” is more your style, it will provide a better backdrop.
Finally, always do a practice run to make sure that everything works.
Monica Bulger is co-creator of Memorypost.com, an online scrapbook where guests can
collaboratively create personal websites to share photos and stories.
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