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We were planning on showing a slideshow at our wedding including 3 songs. One of me growing up, my fiance and one showing pics of us together. We planned on showing this on a big screen during the reception. It would probably take 12-13 minutes. Is this okay to do, or do the guests get bored etc. like I was told they do? I see nothing wrong w/ it, but am worried as I don't want guests to be irritated or bored etc. If you are doing slideshows, how are you doing it? I guess the other option would be to let it roll outside on a laptop? But I liked the idea of all of us watching together. Please let me know what you think!!Thanks:)
My gut feeling is to go with it but don't make guests feel obligated to watch--that's the best way to avoid boredom or irritation.
I am a fan of the constant loop slideshows at weddings but you can do whatever you would like!
But my suggestion is that 13 minutes is quite long! I would probably try and keep it down to 8min if you are going to make it a part of the reception!
I think 12 minutes is very long if you're expecting everyone to sit and watch the whole thing as part of the reception. If it will be on loop all night for people to watch at their leisure then I think it's fine.
I like to see slideshows at weddings (even though I know some people don't like it), because I do think it's cute, but I agree that 13 minutes is a bit long. Maybe you can do 2 songs, 1 song for both of you growing up and 1 song for you together...sticking to approximately 7-8 minutes. Or even better the looping slideshow, like @Future Mrs. Martin suggested.
Yeah, either have it looping in the background if it's so long (I wouldn't want to watch for 13 minutes straight!), or shorten it. Consider doing part of three different songs - a lot of songs have very natural breaks where you can fade out/into the next song.
If it's not too distracting, I'd say have it loop in the background with the music relatively quiet. I went to a wedding with a 15 minute slideshow where the music nearly blasted out my eardrums and the wedding party had to stand up to watch - thus blocking my whole table's view of the entire slideshow. It was a really miserable 15 minutes.
I wouldn't make everyone watch a slideshow, but I would have it looping over somewhere so people can have a look at it when they want.
We're a slideshow (it'll be one the screensaver on the computer screen where most can see it) of our wedding, as we're running away in the morning to get married so my photographer thought it would be a nice idea to quickly rush home after the ceremony and couple shots are done and do some quick edits and do a CD slideshow so that we can have that playing during our BBQ Dinner after we announce that we got married. No one will be made to watch, it'll just be on the screen. Our music is being played off the computer so thats why i'll put the pictures on screensaver
just keep in mind that if the slideshow is going to be behind the high table that its gonna be hard for the bridal party to see the slideshow.. slideshows can be cute but only executed properly
I think 12 - 13 minutes is really long for people to sit and watch. Think of a too-long toast/speech - it gets bad even when it's good. I've seen it done where it was just continually running during the reception (without the accompanying music, of course) and also where they had it set up in a different room for people to watch at their leisure. Both were really nice.
Okay...Well thank you ladies! I guess I'll have to figure out a plan B- BUMMER!
We're playing ours during our first dance + dances with our parents. Double bonus that FI is shy and doesn't want too much attention on us while dancing. ;-) Maybe think about doing something like that if the logistics allow?
Maybe you could just do it at the rehearsal dinner? We had thought about having one at our wedding but my parents complained so much about that idea. So we did it at the rehearsal dinner instead and I think people liked it. It was a cute video. Ours was 6 minutes long.
I'd honestly get really antsy during even an 8 minute slideshow. It's just a long time to sit in silence. If I know the couple well, I've probably seen some or most of the "couple-ly" pictures and often the childhood photos from at least half of the couple. If I'm attending the wedding of my fiancé's friends. . .I'd probably just be bored (to put it bluntly)
The last wedding I went to had a digital picture frame set up at the guestbook table. Maybe there is a way you could do something similar--even have three separate frames so you could have one for you, your partner, and the couple. Those who want to watch everything can, those who are less interested don't have to sit and squirm.
12 minutes is long. We had ours - 3 songs, 23 pics for each song. One of me growing up - one of him - and of course the "us" pics.
everyone LOVED it at ours - but, again, we had short songs. i say go for the slideshow but keep it shorter than 12 minutes. I think ours was like 6 or 7 minutes.
You could always play it at the rehearsal dinner with the music and then for the reception have it playing but without music in the background so that people can watch it if they want to.
Ive always liked watching wedding slide shows! But I've only ever seen them at weddings where I knew the bride/groom really well.
I've seen slide shows at several weddings. One did something similar to what you are suggesting, but I don't think it was that long. Another friend used the screen that we use for praise music and announcements to run their slideshow while people were being seated before the wedding. Another friend used a television in the greeting area lobby of the church so that people could watch it as they arrived and while they waited for pictures to be completed etc. I probably liked that choice best of all because it wasn't in a sacred space, and you only had to watch it if you wanted to... The other thing that I have noticed about slideshows is that they are more fun to watch if you include other people in the photos... So yes you can have a couple of photos that feature only you, but if you include photos of family and friends throughout the years of your life then everyone has more fun watching the years go by. And make sure that you include places and people that have made a difference in your life! I like you idea of going through the years with each of you as a couple, you might be able to combine these photos and use music that matches the times and the ages you were...
My daughter had what the DJ called a 'video montage'...my daughter rounded up 125 photos--her childhood, her fiance's childhood photos & family & friend shots set to different songs...it was played on a big screen once dinner was served. It was a huge hit!The music chosen to go with the photos kept everyone's attention and of course there were mostly funny photos shown so there was alot of guests cheering! Probably the best spent money IMO for the reception!
my fiance and i are doing a slideshow with our engament pictures and us togther through the years just casually running throughout so noone is forced to watch or anything just something cute and nice
We are having a video shown at the reception while everyone is eating. It will probably be no more than 6 minutes long.
I recently went to a wedding where the couple did a slideshow. I'm sorry, but yes, I got incredibly bored. A lot of the pictures I couldnt tell who was who, because they were photos of people when they were younger. Pictures when people are growing, lets face it the photo quality wasn't that great back then and that made it hard too to see who was in the pictures. That couple also did it for 3 songs. Everyone at the table I was sitting at said it should have been cut out, or cut in half.
I will not be doing a slideshow but if it makes you happy, and would make your day more special for you, knock yourself out 
We are doiing a 11 minute slideshow. My sister also had one. Seemed like people enjoyed hers. I say people can suck it up; it's your day.
I think it would be cute if it was just looping with no music. that way people who wanted to watch it could, but no one would be bored if they didnt want to watch it.
We are having ours play at our rehearsal dinner only, and then copies will be available on actual wedding day for guests to take if they would like.
For some reason, this topic really gets me! I've heard several people (ie friends) saying that slideshows are boring. Whatever..I mean, I ask you to celebrate one of my most important days with me, take you out to a nice dinner, pay for your drinks, and you have the audacity to act like they're being put out by having to watch something for 10-15 minutes. It's not like I'm showing you a slideshow of my timeshare in Boca, and I'm going to ask you to invest at the end. It's photos of important people in my life and my fiances... I'd assume if you were one of those people, you'd be excited to see it.
BTW-- a way to cut down on boredom is to play it while dinner is being served. Yes, everyone's attention is a little diminished, but everyone gets to experience it together.
I have never seen a slideshow at a wedding. But I always LOVE them at rehearsal dinners. In fact, it's the part I look forward to the most. One tip - the best slideshow I ever saw was one that incorporated tons of pictures of the B & G's friends.
`12-13 Minutes is LONG. My dad is putting one together for us, but it will be 4-5 minutes, tops.
I think that it's a cute idea though...it's something good to use for parent dances if you're worried about all-eyes-on-you.
I think a slideshow is a nice idea, but I think 12 minutes is waay to long. I would stick to 10 minutes MAX, but try to keep it shorter than that.
I'm a designer, and anything like this is sure to draw out way too long. Keep it 5 minutes, get your message across, and be done with it.
I say go for it. We are having a slideshow of pics of FI and me from baby to engagement pics. It'll be playing while guests are being seated.
I would be bored as hell if I was forced to watch a 12 minute slideshow, but if it was looping in the background, I'd probably watch most of it in small doses.
I think it's cute but my fiance said that people are only interested in the picture if they're in it and I do see his point on it. I like the looping idea and having it play during dinner.
@danadelphia: DITTO. My cousin did this at her wedding, and it seemed the only people who truly enjoyed it where the bride, groom and their parents. Like you, I would also steal glances of a looping video, tho.
Plus, your reception is going to fly by, and that 12 minutes could be used for both you and your guests to dance and have fun!
I am all for slideshows but I'm not sure I could sit and watch one for 13 minutes my mind would start wandering about 5 minutes in...
Maybe shorten it or have it looping in the background like others have suggested.
A background loop is fantastic if you have it on during the pre-dinner/lunch mingling. It gives people something to look at and chat about, and may serve as an icebreaker of sorts.
To be the curmudgeon here, I personally find it boring when we are forced to sit and watch a slideshow, unless I know the couple well, or I was with them when they grew up, or they somehow managed to find lots of very entertaining shots that communicated a lot about their relationship.
So 13 minutes sounds at least 8 minutes too long. But if your wedding is completely composed of very close friends and family (who I would recommend you include in the show), then they may like it. If your audience is inclined to be sentimental they will like it.
You might be surprised how little time you need for a great slideshow that won't get boring. We picked one short song, 2:34, and included 46 photos, which was plenty. We showed it at the rehearsal dinner but I think it's perfectly appropriate to have it at the wedding. Here is ours, if you're interested:
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