< Back to the Memory Planner Tool

Sample Memory Plan #1: "Everyone's Mom"

Sara is looking to create a slideshow for her mom's 70th Bithday celebration and asked us for help. Here's what we came up:

“Everyone’s Mom” — A 70th Birthday Celebration Slideshow

A warm, lively tribute that captures every side of your mom—her love, her humor, her strength, and the way she made everyone feel like family.

Summary

For your Mom’s 70th Birthday Celebration, this slideshow can feel like a full-hearted “mix of everything”—tender moments, big laughs, everyday snapshots, and the special way she showed up for kids and families beyond her own. The goal is a 6–10 minute story that feels joyful, grateful, and deeply personal.

Slideshow Segments

1) The Heart of Home

  • Media: Digital photos, photo albums
  • Overlay Caption: “Where you were, felt like home.”
  • Music (optional): “You’ve Got a Friend” (warm, familiar, and grateful)

2) Everyone’s Mom in Action

  • Media: VHS tapes or camcorder footage, digital photos
  • Overlay Caption: “She didn’t just raise kids—she raised spirits.”
  • Music (optional): “Count on Me” (bright, supportive, and upbeat)

3) The Fun, The Laughs, The Little Traditions

  • Media: Digital photos, VHS tapes or camcorder footage, photo albums
  • Overlay Caption: “The laughter still sounds like you.”
  • Music (optional): “Happy” (light, celebratory energy)

4) Love That Lasts (Family, Friends, and All the Kids She Loved)

  • Media: Digital photos, photo albums
  • Overlay Caption: “Loved by many. Known by all.”
  • Music (optional): “What a Wonderful World” (tender, timeless warmth)

5) 70 and Still the Center of the Circle

  • Media: Digital photos, VHS tapes or camcorder footage
  • Overlay Caption: “70 years of love—and still giving it away.”
  • Music (optional): “Best Day of My Life” (joyful, forward-looking)

Closing Segment

  • Final Message: “Mom, you’ve been the steady place, the loudest cheer, the safest hug, and the extra seat at the table. Thank you for loving so many of us like your own. Happy 70th—today we celebrate you.”
  • Music Suggestions: “Forever Young” and/or “Stand by Me”

What You’ll Need Digitized

  • VHS tapes or camcorder footage: Plan for 3–6 tapes, pulling a few short clips from each (5–15 seconds per clip) to sprinkle throughout—candid hellos to the camera, kids running around, family gatherings, birthday candles, holiday moments, everyday laughter, and the little “mom in the background making everything happen” scenes.
  • Digital photos: Aim for 60–100 photos total for a 6–10 minute slideshow—mix posed favorites with everyday snapshots (smiles in the kitchen, group photos with kids she cared for, celebrations, and quiet moments that show her warmth).
  • Photo albums: Use them as a source of additional photos you can include once digitized—especially the “everyone together” pages, handwritten notes visible in shots, and any pages that show her surrounded by kids and family.
  • Start now: Digitization is the longest lead-time item. Capture’s turnaround is typically 3–4 weeks, while other providers can take up to 12 weeks—getting this started early keeps everything calm and on track.

Timeline

  • 1 week to gather media
  • 3–4 weeks to digitize (if needed)
  • 2–3 weeks to build slideshow
  • Total: 6–8 weeks
  • Tip: Plan captions, structure, and music during digitization
  • Tools: Canva, PowerPoint, Google Slides, or iMovie

Sample Memory Plan #2: "Everyone's Mom"

Jake is looking to create a slideshow for his grandparent's 50th Anniversary to show love that has held steady through thick and thin. Here's what we came up:

For My Grandparents: 50th Anniversary Celebration Slideshow

A heartfelt, tearjerking tribute to a love that has held steady through everything. This story will feel like a warm embrace—tender, grateful, and forever.

Summary

For your grandparents’ 50th Anniversary Celebration, this slideshow will honor the quiet strength, shared laughter, and unwavering commitment that comes from “been through it all together and forever.” The tone will be heartfelt and tearjerking—built around the small, real moments that show how their love has carried a family.

Slideshow Segments

1) The Beginning of “Us”

  • Media: Photo albums featuring early portraits, candid snapshots of them side-by-side, handwritten dates or notes on the backs of prints, and any “firsts” captured in the albums.
  • Overlay Caption: “Two lives, one promise.”
  • Music (optional): “At Last” (instrumental or original) for a timeless, emotional opening.

2) Building a Life Together

  • Media: Photo albums showing home life and milestones—moving days, new spaces, simple routines, holiday tables, and the kind of everyday photos where love is in the background.
  • Overlay Caption: “Love is built in the ordinary.”
  • Music (optional): “What a Wonderful World” for warmth and gratitude.

3) The Family They Grew

  • Media: Photo albums with family group photos, celebrations, birthdays, graduations, and those slightly messy, real-life moments—someone mid-laugh, arms around shoulders, everyone squeezed into the frame.
  • Overlay Caption: “Because of you, we have this.”
  • Music (optional): “You’ve Got a Friend” for a loving, supportive feel.

4) Through It All: The Quiet Strength

  • Media: Photo albums that capture resilience—hospital visits or recovery moments if included, serious family gatherings, supportive hugs, and the gentle photos where they’re simply together, steady and close.
  • Overlay Caption: “Still choosing each other. Every day.”
  • Music (optional): “Make You Feel My Love” (instrumental or original) for a tearjerking, devoted tone.

5) Love That Lasts: Then, Now, Always

  • Media: Photo albums with more recent photos—anniversary dinners, family reunions, living-room smiles, holding hands, and any side-by-side portraits that echo the earliest images.
  • Overlay Caption: “Forever looks good on you.”
  • Music (optional): “The Prayer” (instrumental or original) for a powerful, reverent close to the story.

Closing Segment

  • Final Message: “50 years of love, loyalty, and showing up for each other—thank you for the life you built and the family you held together. Your love is our home. Happy 50th Anniversary.”
  • Music Suggestions: “Unforgettable” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (either instrumental or original versions).

What You’ll Need Digitized

  • Photo albums (assume these will be used and should be digitized).
  • Aim for 60–100 digital photos pulled from the albums to fit a 6–10 minute slideshow.
  • Look for a mix of: early couple portraits, holidays, birthdays, everyday laughter in kitchens/living rooms, family group photos, travel or outings (if included), and quiet candid moments (hand-holding, side-by-side smiles).
  • Start digitizing now to stay on track—Capture’s turnaround is typically 3–4 weeks, while other providers can take up to 12 weeks.

Timeline

  • 1 week to gather media
  • 3–4 weeks to digitize (if needed)
  • 2–3 weeks to build slideshow
  • Total: 6–8 weeks
  • Tip: Plan captions, structure, and music during digitization
  • Tools: Canva, PowerPoint, Google Slides, or iMovie
Ready to plan your slideshow?
Go back to the Memory Planner Tool >

Need some more inspiration? Check out our helpful blogs!

Estimate Your Project for Your Slideshow

Estimate Your Project for Your Slideshow

Do you have physical photos or videos you would like in your slideshow? Digitizing is the easiest way to get them added. Get a free quote within minutes to better understand what your digitization project might look like.

Get a Digitization Quote

Want to get a jumpstart on your project? Start digitizing right away! >

Frequently Asked Questions

For a slideshow for a memorial service, most families aim for 5–10 minutes so it fits comfortably into the program. If it will loop during a reception or open house, 10–20 minutes can work well (especially if it plays in the background). If you have a lot of video, consider making two versions: a shorter “service cut” and a longer “family cut.”
A practical guideline is 50–90 photos for ~5 minutes, 80–140 photos for ~8 minutes, and 100–170 photos for ~10 minutes—depending on pacing and how many video clips you include. If you’re creating a memorial tribute slideshow, Memory Planner will recommend a photo range based on your setting and tone.
Yes—start with a simple structure, keep captions minimal, and focus on meaningful photos. Memory Planner also recommends a practical timeline so you can create a memorial slideshow without feeling overwhelmed.
A simple “life chapters” structure works well: Early years → Family → Passions → Friends/Community → Legacy/Closing. If you have video, add short clips where they’re speaking, laughing, or interacting with family—those moments are powerful in a celebration of life slideshow.
That’s common. Your plan will prioritize digitizing tapes first and will suggest exactly what to look for (birthdays, holidays, family gatherings, “talking to camera,” candid laughter). This is especially helpful if you’re building a memorial tribute slideshow from old media.
Canva, iMovie, PowerPoint, Google Slides, and CapCut are all popular options. If you want a simple start, pick a tool you already know (PowerPoint/Google Slides) and keep your layout consistent. Memory Planner is tool-agnostic and works with any tribute slideshow maker.
Choose 1–3 songs that match the tone and won’t overpower the room. If lyrics feel too heavy, instrumentals are a great option. For music for memorial service slideshow choices, think: comforting, steady, and meaningful to the person or family.
Use a clean structure (childhood → “classic era” → family → today), keep captions short, and include a few “everyday” photos—not just posed shots. If you’re searching how to make a birthday slideshow, the key is pacing and specificity.
Go with upbeat, familiar tracks that fit the person’s vibe (pop/throwbacks/party classics). Memory Planner will suggest music direction based on the tone you choose, so it feels personal—not generic—especially for a 21st birthday songs for slideshow search.
Try a relationship-first arc: How it started → Building a life → Traditions → Family & friends → Still us. Add small details (favorite vacation spot, inside jokes, family rituals) so your 50th wedding anniversary slideshow ideas feel uniquely theirs.
Canva, iMovie, PowerPoint, Google Slides, and other editors all work—your plan is tool-agnostic.