The moment that gets parents teary at a reception is rarely the grand opening. It's a few words spoken by the couple themselves. A thank-you video puts those words over photos from childhood to now, in two or three minutes. It's different from a growth video: the growth video tells the couple's story; the thank-you video speaks to the parents.
What goes in
- Childhood photos with your parents: being held, hand in hand, family trips. Ten to twenty is enough.
- Key moments growing up: graduation, the first job, being cared for when sick. Use a photo if you have one; if not, a single line of text is enough.
- What you want to say: this is the heart of it. Recorded narration by the couple, or on-screen text.
- The ending: a recent family photo, or the wedding portrait that includes your parents.
Narration: recorded or written
- Recorded: the most genuine and the most moving. A phone in a quiet room is fine. If you stumble, re-record that part; you don't have to get it in one take.
- On-screen text: for couples who'd rather not record, or who want to say it live. The video carries the words and the music; you take the microphone at the reception.
- Both: short recorded lines in the video, the most important sentence said live.
Whichever you choose, write the words yourself, the way you normally speak. No rhymes, no formal phrases.
When to play it
Two common moments: before the toasts, right after the couple's speech, leading into inviting the parents on stage; or near the end before seeing guests off, when the room is quieter. We don't recommend the opening, when guests are still being seated and not watching the screen. Check the venue's equipment beforehand; see playing a wedding video at the venue.
What to organise before sending it to us
- Photos in chronological order, file names renamed 1, 2, 3.
- The narration recording, or the written text.
- The kind of music you'd like. On using a pop song, see can a wedding video use a pop song.
- The venue and screen ratio, usually 16:9.
Upload everything to Google Drive and send us the link; see how to send us your material. Within 48 hours we'll tell you whether we can help. If we can, we send a quote and you decide whether to go ahead.
Frequently asked questions
The old photos are prints. How do we send them?
Lay them flat near a window in daylight and photograph them with a phone, no flash. Or use a scanner. Faded or damaged prints can be restored first; see restoration services.
One video for both sets of parents, or two?
Either. Combined, it usually runs the groom's family first, then the bride's, about a minute each. Separate videos can be played at separate moments.
How far ahead should we send the material?
Four to six weeks before the wedding. See how long wedding video editing takes.
