Long before they stood together on the wedding day, each of them was a child with a missing tooth, a funny haircut and a costume everyone remembers. A film that shows those two paths until they meet is one of the moments guests keep talking about after the event. In this article we gathered everything you need to make it: how many photos, in what order, who makes it, and when to play it.
What does a growing-up film of two partners look like?
In a growing-up film the photos flow into one another in one continuous motion, so you see a person grow and change before your eyes. It is not a slideshow, and it is not a fade from one photo to the next. A wedding film has two such stories: the baby who becomes a child, a teenager and an adult, and the other baby who goes through the same road in her own way. At the end the two stories meet.
The strength of the film is its simplicity. You do not need long texts or effects. Guests recognize the faces, discover photos they have never seen, and feel the years go by. If you would like to see how a growing-up film differs from a regular slideshow, we wrote about it here, and about the growing-up film in general on this page.
How many photos should I choose from each partner?
The most important rule is balance. If one partner has 30 photos and the other has 10, the film will feel like the story of one person with a guest. It is better to choose a similar number from each side, even if that means giving up a few good photos.
Every minute of the film holds 12 photos, so planning is easy:
| Film length | Total photos | From each partner | Shared photos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 minutes | 24 | 10 | 4 |
| 3 minutes | 36 | 15 | 6 |
| 4 minutes | 48 | 20 | 8 |
| 5 minutes | 60 | 25 | 10 |
For most weddings, 3 to 4 minutes is the right length. It is enough to go through all the years, and short enough that the room stays focused to the end. As you choose, try to cover every period: babyhood, preschool, school, the teenage years and the twenties. Sharp photos where the faces are clearly visible work best. You will find more on the number of photos in the how many photos you need chart.
In what order should I arrange the photos: each partner separately or alternating by age?
There are two good ways, and each one tells the story a little differently.
Each partner separately. First the childhood of one partner, from the first photo to adulthood, then the childhood of the other, and finally the shared photos. This order is clear and easy to follow, and guests from each side get "their part" in one run.
Alternating by age. A photo of him at age one, a photo of her at age one, then both in preschool, both in first grade, and so on. This order creates a feeling that the two people are growing up side by side and coming closer with every year. It takes a little more work, because you need to find photos from similar ages, but the result is especially moving.
In both ways, the strongest ending is the first photo of the two of them together. That is the moment when two stories become one. If you would like to add a few photos from the relationship after it, keep them few, so the film stays a childhood film and not a couple's album.
When should I start making the film before the wedding?
Making the film itself is quick, but collecting the photos takes time. The photos are with parents, in old albums, on siblings' phones and in boxes in the storage room. Here is a schedule that works:
6 weeks before: Ask the parents on both sides to look for childhood photos, and also siblings and close friends.
4 weeks before: Scan the photos from the albums. You can do this with your phone, as we explained in the guide to scanning old photos.
3 weeks before: Choose the photos and arrange them by age.
2 weeks before: Create the film, choose music and write an opening and a closing note. You will find wording ideas in the article on dedication texts.
1 week before: Send the file to the venue or the DJ and check that it plays on their screen.
At GrowingTale the free preview arrives within a few minutes (the first 2 animations are free, no credit card), and the full film is usually ready 10 to 20 minutes after payment. So most of the time goes to collecting photos, not to the film.
Who usually makes the film: friends, siblings or the couple themselves?
There is no single right answer, and each option has its own advantage.
Friends or siblings usually make the film as a surprise. The advantage is the moment itself: the couple sees the film for the first time together with all the guests. If you are preparing a surprise, it helps to have one contact person on each side of the family, who collects the photos from the parents without the couple noticing.
The couple themselves make the film when they want control over the choice. It can also be a lovely evening in a busy period: sitting together, going through old albums and laughing at photos you have not seen in years.
The parents sometimes make the film as a gift, especially when they are the ones who hold most of the photos. Here too it is worth coordinating between the two sides, so the balance is kept.
Whoever makes it does not need editing experience. At GrowingTale you upload the photos, arrange them, and add an opening, music and a closing note. The packages also include extra tries and photo swaps, depending on the package.
When do you play the film at the wedding?
A growing-up film needs attention. It works best when guests are seated, the lights are dimmed and the background music is paused. Here are the common moments:
- After the couple enters the hall. Guests are already in their places, and the film opens the emotional part of the evening.
- Before the speeches or toasts. The film sets the stage, and whoever speaks can refer to it.
- Before the first dance. Ending on the first photo of the two of them together connects straight to the moment they walk out to dance.
- At a family dinner before the wedding. If the big event is too loud, a small, intimate evening is an excellent place to show it.
It is less recommended to play a growing-up film on a loop during the reception, because people talk and miss the sequence. You download the full film in HD, in 16:9 and with no watermark, so it suits a projector, a large screen or a USB drive. We wrote about the technical side of showing it in a separate guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use black-and-white photos or scanned photos from an album?
Yes. Scanned photos, black-and-white photos, and photos from a phone or a camera all work. What matters is that the photo is sharp and the faces are clearly visible.
What do we do if one partner has far fewer childhood photos?
Match the other side to the smaller number, so both stories get a similar weight. Even 10 good photos from each side make a 2-minute film that feels complete.
Can I include photos with other people, like siblings or friends?
Yes, family photos can work nicely. It is best when in most photos you can clearly see the partner whose story the photo belongs to.
What music suits a film like this?
You can choose from the site's library or upload your own song. Many couples choose a song that is meaningful to them, and if the film is played before the first dance, it is worth choosing a song that does not clash with the mood of the dance song.
How much does a film like this cost?
The price is set by the package. A 1-minute film from 12 photos costs ₪79.90, a 3-minute film from 36 photos costs ₪219.90, and a 4-minute film from 48 photos costs ₪259.90. There is an exact package for any number of photos in between.
