This may be an old topic, but I can't seem to find any other thread about it. Maybe it was lost in the '06 meltdown I've heard so much about.

How do you do slideshows at receptions? Do you set up a table for a laptop & projector and project on the wall? Project on a screen? Where do you put the table... in the middle of the reception? Do you "dress up " your table? Any other hitches?

Again, sorry if this is old news. I've never seen anyone do it but would like to start myself.

THANKS!!!!!

i think most people just run it on their laptop monitor.. find a good location where people are gonna pass by or gather around and set it up and go.


by the way i just LOVE your avatar!

Rachel - I have two girls who assist me with slideshows. They are so awesome. I also have a third girl who is wanting to do it some if the other two are not available. If you ever need anyone, call me or email and I'll share their information with you.

Thanks! I guess you just have to get someone with a creative eye to pull the pics and run any actions on them. Laptop monitor is a good idea... but again, do you bring your own table w/table cloth, etc? Most tables I've seen at receptions are full of food, drinks (eek!), or are tables to discard your plates for the bus boys. Maybe I would bring my own table and deck it out with photo stuff so no one thought it was a place to set your food/drink.

Jill- I'll see you tonight! Robbin talked me into coming to the PUG meeting. Look forward to meeting you!

we speak to the venue ahead of time and let them know that we need a table near an outlet. we also talk with the venue about where we can 'work'. i HATE when someone (usually a group) stands over my shoulder. (it's not a photoshop seminar.) the b&g are the first to see the slideshow when it's ready, and then we set it up for all the guests.

This post, or one like it, may have been what you were looking for.

Here's my "an answer not the answer" that seems to work well...

I use one of these dealios with a cart skirt (black, fastens to the cart with velcro). Laptop sits on the middle shelf (hidden) and I have a Viewsonic 19" flat panel (widescreen display) which was only $249 at CompUSA. The cart was a little over $100 and the skirt (which I had to buy from a commercial AV equipt dealer) was about $50.

I use a Sandisk card reader and only upload the small jpegs. (Takes maybe 3 minutes for ~1200 images) One of the nice things about the cart is that I can use it first as my base for creating the slideshow (i.e. I can set up anywhere I want to work without depending on the catering staff to give me a table somewhere that will give me some privacy to not have people lurking over my shoulder).

I do event cards and I fan them out all over the top of the cart (so no one is tempted to set a drink down on the cart).

I prefer to put the show near the bar or the gift table. I figure if there is anything shady going on...a crook would probably steal the couple's wedding gifts (esp. the envelopes) before they'll mess around with something that looks like it's fairly secured. (Most people -- including most of my assistants! -- think that the reception site provides the AV cart so I guess that adds to component of "there are too many eyes around for me to mess with this thing.")

The downside to slideshows is that when you are ready to pack up and leave...that's usually the time you have 20 people gathered around your slideshow!!!