Reminders of the Past Help Conquer the Future

This is a special thank you to my stepfather who put a lot of work into this slideshow. We did experience a few technical difficulties but it was amazing. Thank you so much to him. Please watch and then feel free to give him props, here. Slideshows are particularly common these days as a way to remember (and occasionally embarrass) the new couple by reminding them how naughty they really were. They can be played throughout receptions or even rehearsal dinners and guests can view at their leisure, or you can set up a specific time where they are to be played so the show gets attention at the masses.



Now when doing a slideshow, as common as they are now its not likely you won't have one, its important to plan everything out. Down to the last detail. This means pictures, equipment, and many other things. Make sure that you talk to your DJ about connecting to his/her's sound system to ensure volume is loud enough. And triple check that everything works and looks correct. Find out if your reception hall has a projector or if you need to provide your own. (Ours had the projector but it was attached into the ceiling and we weren't quite sure how to connect it. So we had to use a projector of my then-fiance's grandfathers, which then left us without the built-in sound system, a problem that made itself apparent when the show started and the guests didn't quiet down.)

First its important to provide enough pictures. Ask my stepdad, the week before the wedding he was still asking me for more pictures. I didn't give him very many pictures of me as he is married to my mom who does have the majority of my younger pictures but I gave him some from about thirteen on. Then, after tapping into my future in-laws resources I scanned in a bunch of pictures of my then-fiance. Making sure to include as many siblings as possible. (I sadly didn't think to go through the checklist of my siblings. Sorry, Ian) But its important to include important people in yours and your fiance's lives. Parents, aunts, siblings, whomever...

You can create these slideshows in a variety of programs. Most commonly used are Windows Movie Maker and Power Point. Make sure that when you export these shows from these programs that all files are kept together. Occasionally, people just put the show on the disc and forget about the music. This leaves the room very quiet (if you're lucky) or pictures that don't show up. That is why EXPORT is the best, and really the only option. If music isn't important to you, fear not. It may work out better if its not used, particularly if you plan on putting the show on loop and having it play all night.

Now I chose to delegate this job to my stepdad (he owed me as I made one for his 40th birthday party), but you can also choose to make it on your own. Just make sure you tap all resources for pictures: aunts, grandparents, parents, siblings.... you never know when you'll find a golden one. :) Should you choose to have someone else make a slideshow, make sure to get that job to them early enough that you still have time to preview it before the big display. You don't want any too-embarassing photos of you or your spouse.

Anyway, this is an easy way to display some pictures of you both prior to the nuptials without having tons of pictures laying around at risk of being ruined. Electronics are in fact the wave of the future, and the future is now. So, don't spend the rest of your future with your spouse wallowing in the guilt of a ruined heirloom.

Thanks again John, it was amazingly wonderful.