Plan a wedding film from two childhoods
A practical wedding film plan: choose two photo timelines, bring them together and prepare a reliable screening at the venue.
By the Yearlight team4 min read
The short answer
Give each person their own photo sequence, from childhood to today, then choose one shared photo for the ending. Agree where the film fits in the celebration before adding music or titles. For the screening, test the downloaded file on the venue’s actual equipment and keep a second copy.
Let both stories have room
Gather photos independently before trying to balance the two collections. Use comparable life stages, not an identical number of photographs from every year. A school photo beside a family holiday can make sense if both show roughly the same age. Ask each person which relationships and memories they want included.
Choose the meeting point
Use a clear photo together for the ending. It can be a phone snapshot rather than an engagement portrait. In Yearlight, a couple film uses two timelines and a shared final photo; check a plan that includes couple mode. Do not build the plan around family mode with four timelines, which is still in development.
Agree with the venue before exporting
Ask the person running the screen for the required file type, dimensions, delivery deadline and audio setup. Do not rely on streaming or a phone adapter you have never tried.
| Ask about | Decide before the day |
|---|---|
| Screen and player | Which file formats and aspect ratio can they play? |
| Sound | Who starts the music, and where can you test the volume? |
| Timing | Who cues the film, and what happens immediately afterward? |
| Backup | Keep the final file on a second device or USB drive. |
Watch it as guests will watch it
Review faces, names, dates, the first seconds and the final frame. Listen through the speakers if possible. In Japan, confirm the venue’s profile-movie slot and delivery rules; in Korea, confirm the pre-ceremony placement. Use music you have permission to include. Exporting a song into a video does not itself clear the rights.
Before you start
- Both people have approved the photo selection.
- The shared ending photo is ready.
- The venue has tested the final downloaded file.
- A named person owns playback and the backup.
Questions, answered
- How long should our wedding film be?
- Decide from the running order and attention in the room, rather than a universal duration. Ask the venue for its slot first, then choose a compact story that fits it. More photos are not automatically better.
- Can we use childhood photos?
- Family photos from childhood onward are welcome, with permission from the people concerned and a parent or guardian for children. Leave out memories the family would prefer to keep private.