Choose songs that are meaningful to you as a couple — whether it’s the first song you danced to, the song you fell in love during, or the song that defines you as a couple. Your montage won’t only be shown at your wedding — it’s a compilation you’ll treasure for years to come, and if the songs you choose have a special meaning, then you are far less likely to tire of listening to these tunes year after year.
Elvis Presley’s “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” is a classic and certainly, the lyrics apply to ANY happy couple, but it’s slow tempo and drawn-out feel is far too sleepy for a quality slide show. Same goes for “Always and Forever” by Luther Vandross, “Nothing Compares to You” by Sinead O’Connor, and “Angel Eyes” by the Jeff Healey Band. These are all great songs, but see how you feel after listening to them 3 times in a row! Take your time and think — you can find songs with lyrics that are just as beautiful as these, but with a tempo that feels more cheerful and appropriate for a fun or nostalgic slide show.
Nobody says you have to choose songs all from the same decade, genre or artist. Feel free to mix it up, and let the music match your slideshow (or the phases of your life, if you’re creating a montage that starts with baby photos and progresses to couplehood).
Slideshows should be kept to a max of 10-12 minutes, which really only gives you time for 3-4 songs. Remember that you have picture books for a reason — for your keepsakes. You don’t have to include every memory, every great photo, or every song you love. In this case, less is definitely more.
Be sure to rent your projector in plenty of time for your wedding or rehearsal dinner. Get a projector rental quote from Projector123.com who offers fast, reliable affordable LCD projectors.
June 25th, 2009
Let’s face it — bridal showers can either be fun and enjoyable or boring and dull.
If you’ve got a close friend who’s getting married and you’ve taken on the task of planning her bridal shower, here is an easy instructional guide to get you started on those first hard-to-tackle steps.
Focus on the bride. Too many bridal showers fail because the planner is coming from the perspective of what SHE likes, instead of thinking of the bride herself. Business and leadership expert Stephen Covey says “Begin with the end in mind” but this can definitely apply to party planning too! Put yourself in the bride’s shoes for just a moment and imagine being totally happy at the END of the shower. What was it about the shower that made it so successful?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Depending on the size of the wedding, a bridal shower can be a huge undertaking, so don’t be afraid to ask another friend of the bride (or another bridesmaid or family member) for help. A few caveats: make sure it’s someone who knows the bride well AND whom you can work with (for example, the bride’s domineering aunt may not be the best choice), and talk up-front about how you envision sharing the expense, to ensure there aren’t any unpleasant surprises down the road.
Set a budget — and stick to it. Do your research and don’t go overboard. Choose 1 or 2 special areas to splurge on (flowers, favors, food, location, decoration, invitations, etc.), and keep the rest simple. Remember, you don’t have to spend a fortune to create a wonderful event for the bride and her friends & family.
Decide whether or not to make it a surprise. Remember: what would SHE like best? If it’s not going to be a surprise, be sure and choose a date that works well for the bride.
Choose a date and select a venue. These may go hand-in-hand, depending on the popularity of the venue you choose or the host’s availability if you have an in-home shower.
Once you’ve made it through these steps, the event will really start to come together. And if you’re planning to showcase the bride in a photo or video montage (highly recommended!) then remember to reserve your bridal shower projector rental from Projector123.com.
June 22nd, 2009
Summer time in America is generally the busiest bridal season of the year. If you’re a bride-to-be who is planning the wedding of her dreams, you’re no doubt looking for those extra-special touches that will make your wedding really shine.
Think you’re not “techy” enough for a photo or video montage? Think again.
Putting together your own photo or video montage is easier than you think. In fact, you may find that the toughest part involves choosing which photos to include, and which to leave out. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time for this task — although it’s not especially time-intensive, it can take awhile to gather childhood pix from parents and grandparents, and to collect yearbooks and snapshots from family and friends.
The next step involves choosing the perfect music for your slideshow, you can visit the iTunes store or Amazon.com to purchase copies of the songs. While sites like Limewire and Pandora may be fine for listening to music, you’ll want to ensure you have the highest quality sound for your slide show, so it makes sense to purchase a licensed copy if you don’t already own it on CD or MP3.
Computer applications are readily available to help you put together your montage, including iMovie (for the Mac) or PC software like Slide Show Maker, PowerPoint and Photo Story Platinum.
But don’t feel like you’ve got to take on this task all by yourself! Odds are, someone in your wedding party has the technical knowhow (and the enthusiasm) for spearheading this project. You’ve got plenty to take care of, so why not rely on your friends and family for support? Ask around and find out who loves technical projects in the family and then ask that person to collaborate with you and your groom on the photo montage. You’ll save yourself time and stress and the other person will surely be excited to give their time and talents to help make your day the best it can possibly be.
Another alternative is to use a service like One True Media, who can create your custom slide show for you.
Whatever option you choose, be sure to count on Projector123.com to deliver the professional-quality projector rental for your special day. Our experienced staff can assist you in choosing the right projector, selecting a screen or alternative viewing wall, and creating a smooth and gorgeous photo or video montage.
