A Growing Up Video for Your Wedding
Every wedding has the moment when the lights dim and a video plays. Most are slideshows. A growing up video does something different: it shows a person becoming who they are today, which is exactly who the room has come to celebrate.
The idea
Take photos of the bride or the groom from baby to now and turn them into one smooth video where each age flows into the next. It lasts about a minute, long enough to move people and short enough not to stall the evening.
Two people, two videos
Vidotory makes one video from one person's photos. For a wedding the nicest approach is usually two videos, one for each of you, played one after the other or side by side on two screens. Each is a separate project with its own photos and price. The Starter plan can be used only once per account, so choose a larger plan for the second video.
A few ways to use them:
- Reception reveal: play both before the first dance.
- Rehearsal dinner: a funny, warm warm-up for families who have not met.
- Gift to your parents: a short video of their child growing up, to play at the toast.
- Save the date or invitation: send the groom's video to the bride's family, or the other way round.
Choosing the photos
Follow the same rules as any growing up video: one clear photo for each stage of life, a face that is easy to see, and a youngest-to-oldest order. For a wedding video there are a few extras:
- Ask the parents. Mothers and grandmothers own the best baby and school photos. Ask early, then scan or photograph prints with good light.
- End on a recent photo that suits the day, such as an engagement photo or a favourite portrait, so the last frame feels like the person standing in front of everyone.
- Eight to twelve photos is a good range for a video of about 40 to 60 seconds.
On the day
- Check the file. You get an MP4, which plays on laptops, phones and almost every venue system. Test it on the actual projector or screen before the evening.
- Have a backup. Keep a copy on a USB stick and one in the cloud.
- Download early. Photos and videos are deleted automatically after 30 days, so save your video well before the wedding if you create it far in advance.
A note on timing
Create the videos a few weeks before the wedding. That leaves time to redo a transition you are not happy with (the Starter plan includes 2 redos, other plans include 5) and to collect any missing photos.
Create your video and give your guests the story behind the day. See the plans in the pricing section.