Slideshow at Wedding

Honestly, I would have it on in the background during cocktail hour, that way you don't have to worry about cutting it - don't hold people hostage and make them watch, super awkward. iphoto has an automatic slideshow maker that gives standard slidetime I believe

ETA; clarity

We didn't have a slideshow per se. At our first reception (family and old friends) we put a bunch of old photos featuring the guests seated at each table on the centerpiece. People were like "OMG, look at this picture of us from when we were kids" etc. They took them home with them.

At the second reception (friends from the church where I work and where we met), we displayed a bunch of framed wedding photos of couples who had been married 10 years or more. People LOVED seeing these as they walked into the social hall and found their seats.

At both receptions, we showed a 6 minute video on how we met and got together, using about 15 old photos, sped-up video of me drawing cartoons (thanks for the art degree, Mom!), and a bunch of stills of us acting out some highlights of our 3-year friendship turned relationship. Length was perfect.

Don't make your guests sit through 6 minutes of pictures. You don't even want toasts to last more than 2.

If you have it playing the background as a loop that's OK - but I'm not a fan of this kind of thing being the sort of thing you make your guests sit through. Either, I know you well enough to have seen the pictures before, or I don't know you well enough to care to watch even a five minute slideshow of baby pictures. But that's just my opinion.

We are going to play ours at the rehearsal dinner. The slideshow really means the most to those closest to the bride and groom

The ones I've seen are always during cocktail hour or during the time guest arriving and the ceremony starting.

Like 2-3 minutes for a slideshow. If you can't cut it down I would suggest (1) playing it on a loop during cocktail hour or (2) having a friend or cousin edit it for you. It may be hard for someone close to you, like your mom for example, to make the cuts.

If its playing in the background fine but I wouldn't have it be a main event. I have seen someone play a short one while they did the first dance. I don't know why but I associate slideshows of old pictures more with a funeral.

Background only, 10 seconds per slide but if the pic has a lot of people or is generally "busy" give it extra time. You can loop it or not but don't expect people to sit there and watch it. They won't.

I wasn't thinking about doing a slideshow, but have the option too. Our screen is not in the same room as cocktail hour. So I am going to add another question to this post.

What about a 2-3 minute slideshow while guests are taking their seats?

Or right before the grand entrance?

I can't stand slideshows of any length. If you must have something, put a picture of you both at each table . ONE picture. I just went to a shower that did this and it was fine.

I made one for two of my cousins. We showed them in their full length at the rehearsal dinners (it was the real deal, pictures throughout their whole lives, coordinated with music, etc) and they were about 30 minutes long. We just set them up at their wedding off to the side and just continuously played it and people could stop and watch if they wanted.

I also second the poster who recommended having someone else make it/edit it. Otherwise it just seems almost more narcissistic than it already is.

I think I'll be having a slideshow as well. But it will be playing in the background during cocktail hour.

@athena, should we make one for Allen Walter & Odie?

@emmy - that would be adorable! I know I take plenty of pictures to put in a slide show lol

Allen Walter and Odie slide show = yes yes and more YES!

Lol I didn't suggest having someone else edit it because it is narcissistic. I suggested having someone else edit it because they may be more objective. OP said "We were cute kids, so I'm having a hard time cutting it down" I'm sure they were cute kids but someone else can say "Ok, this picture is better than these 3" much more easily than a bride who is in love on cloud 9

We are tempted to do one since we think it will allow us more time to eat, however I don't care to take on another task and FH wants it, but doesn't want to do it..ugh.. It's not happening. They are super common though, I am pretty sure almost every wedding I have gone to has one but make it 7 minutes tops- the long ones get boring fast....

@Jacqui722 - yeah, I know you weren't suggesting it because it was narcissistic, I guessed why. I just agreed for different reasons.

Slideshows and that kind of thing SHOULD be done by someone else. Otherwise you are essentially indulging yourself.